Review: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (PS5)

The Ninja Gaiden franchise has been thriving for decades, evolving from brisk 2D action-platformers to sprawling, high-budget 3D spectacles. Though plenty remember the later hack-and-slash entries, the newest release, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, rewinds the timeline, returning to its side-scrolling DNA—and the result is a resounding triumph.

Set during the original game’s events, Ragebound centers on Kenji, Ryu’s apprentice, who tackles a separate mission to stave off a demonic onslaught.

Along the way—whether he likes it or not—he teams up with Kumori, a sworn enemy of the Hayabusa clan from the Black Spider ninja faction. Her spirit fuses with Kenji, letting players wield both warriors’ skills in a single body.

It’s a lean premise that justifies a steady stream of foes to carve through across a variety of imaginative locales.

At its heart, Ragebound is an action-platformer obsessed with lightning-fast fights and silky-smooth ninja locomotion. The game demands precision controls and fast reaction times, and luckily that’s exactly where it excels.

Traversing each stage and dropping enemies feels razor-sharp and deeply gratifying.

The Guillotine Boost—an aerial maneuver that rebounds off foes and projectiles to lengthen your jump—is hardly a revolutionary idea, yet here it slots in perfectly. Together with wall-springs and evasive flips, movement becomes precisely what hardcore fans hope for.

Standard adversaries fold in a single blow, whether by Kenji’s blade or Kumori’s throwing stars. Tougher warriors can soak up more hits, but these encounters are softened thanks to the Hypercharge system.

Certain foes glow blue or pink. Dispatch them with the matching attack type (melee for blue, ranged for pink) to enter Hypercharge, giving your next move monstrous damage for a brief window—perfect for slicing brutes in half.

Stringing together these finishes across deadly gauntlets never stops feeling great.

The mechanic rounds out combat that might otherwise lean monotonous. Enemy variety is healthy, and encounters are carefully crafted to force constant use of every tool at your disposal; only occasional cheap placements or boss attacks violate the flow, and these setpieces are rare.

Stage design is another high point. The corridors are largely linear, yet the locales and set pieces provide constant thrills and incentives to push forward.

After Kenji and Kumori fuse, you’ll periodically control Kumori outright at special demon gateways. You’re given a strict time limit to dash through miniature obstacle courses propelled by her kunai grapples.

This clever twist keeps Kumori integral to the journey, as her exclusive techniques are vital for advancing.

Each stage is tailor-made for replays. A results screen awards letter grades based on speed, kill count, and combo streaks, plus provides unique challenges for that map.

Sprinkle in secret trinkets, and the quest for perfect S-ranks becomes immediately addictive.

While the campaign clocks in at under ten hours, replay loops plus bonus Secret Ops stages can easily double that. Finish once and you’ll unlock an even tougher Hard mode—plenty of fodder for completionists.

One design choice left us lukewarm: loadouts. Golden scarabs sprinkled throughout stages purchase Talismans—passive buffs such as elevated damage when health is low or kunai that pierce targets.

These options are solid, but the Secret Arts group feels less impactful. Our Spider Weapon, a special attack drawing from the same meter as regular kunai, was routinely forgotten, and the high-powered Ragebound Arts are limited in number.

It’s a minor gripe; once you craft a favorite loadout it definitely shifts how you play. We simply yearned for a broader arsenal or stronger reasons to rotate it.

Whatever you equip, it all looks absolutely stunning. The pixel artistry is top-tier and animated with spectacular care—respectful of the classics while drenched in modern polish.

A final word on difficulty tuning: the default challenge feels bang-on—Ragebound is demanding, packed with punishing fights suited to the series’ legacy.

If you find yourself stuck, jump into Assist Mode to slow time, reduce damage, disable knockback, or tweak other parameters. Accessibility like this is always welcome.

Conversely, certain Talismans can ramp risks—think forcing a full-stage restart upon death or amplifying incoming hurt—so risk-takers can craft the exact experience they crave.

Offering so many sliders for challenge is commendable. Ninja Gaiden’s lore as a bruising gauntlet remains intact, yet the flexibility to tune tension ensures more people can join the fight—and it’s executed with aplomb.

Conclusion

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound revisits the brand’s birthplace with jaw-dropping flair. The gameplay core is razor-sharp, marrying blistering combat and agile traversal that constantly stress your reflexes. Every stage oozes extra objectives to chase and collectibles to discover, giving bite-sized levels a remarkable longevity. Layer on a gorgeous retro-modern art style and sprinkle only the smallest of gripes, and devotees should walk away thrilled with this nostalgic odyssey.