Board 8 > Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound review zone

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.metacritic.com/game/ninja-gaiden-ragebound/
https://opencritic.com/game/18784/ninja-gaiden-ragebound

Ninja Gaiden is back in all new 2D sidescroller from your friends at Dotemu! Look I don't know about you, but Ninja Gaiden 2 on NES is one of my top 10 favorite games on the platform and while we've had a handful of games try to evoke that style (some of which are really great games) none of them are literal Ninja Gaiden. This time though while Ryu Hayabusa is in the game, you actually play as two new characters Kenji and Kumori. Ragebound may have been intended to be the table setter for Ninja Gaiden 4 later this year, but based on these reviews there's probably a good chance it ends up being the better of the two? I'm sad I'll have to wait until September to play it though because it's digital only at launch with physical release coming later. Currently it's averaging an 87% through 44 reviews and looks like it's giving fans of the series exactly what they wanted.

Noisy Pixel - 10/10
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a triumphant return to form for the series, delivering tight 2D action-platforming, masterful level design, and thrilling boss battles, all underscored by stylish pixel art and an energetic soundtrack. Though brief in runtime, its challenge, polish, and replayability make it an experience that every action platforming fan should play.

Game Informer - 9.5/10
Ragebound is tough to complete and even harder to master, but its hardest to put down. Its demanding with little frustration, engaging with few lulls, and ultimately, a reminder that while Ryus modern-day adventures can be great, theres still Ki to be found in Ninja Gaidens original dimensions.

IGN - 9/10
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a game Im going to be replaying for a long time. It looks and sounds incredible, and the fast but thoughtful combat is so damn satisfying that I had a hard time putting it down long enough to write this review. Juggling different types of attacks and powerful abilities as I break auras, time Hypercharges against intimidating foes, and bounce off of demons heads is a blast that is challenging and rewarding in equal measure. It just feels right. Ragebound may not star Ryu Hayabusa, but its definitely of the Dragon Lineage, and I know chasing level-specific challenges and high scores is going to be a part of my regular rotation. Ninja Gaiden fans, we were lost in the desert for a long time, but Ragebound is like running across an oasis; trust me when I tell you weve never been so back.

The Gamer - 9/10
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is so damn good that I would have been sad when it ended, no matter how long that took. The Game Kitchen has done an incredible job mixing the best elements of both generations of Ninja Gaiden, while adding enough new to make it stand out as its own take on the series. Its easily one of the best games in the series, and Ninja Gaiden 4 (as well as Shinobi: Art of Vengeance) is going to have a hell of a challenge surpassing it.

Worth Playing - 9/10
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a pitch-perfect revival of the NES classics. It captures the same fun run-and-slash feel of the original games while modernizing enough to be exciting to play, whether you're a returning fan or a newcomer. The fantastic soundtrack and excellent graphics elevate it and make the entire package shine. The closest thing I can come to as a complaint is the somewhat low difficulty level, and that is more in comparison to the franchise as a whole rather than this game being too easy. If you're a fan of action-platformers or a Ninja Gaiden fan in general, you'll find a ton to love in Ragebound.

GamesRadar - 8/10
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an incredible revival for a venerable series. Pitch-perfect controls, fantastic encounter design, and a tough-but-fair challenge elevate this well beyond a sea of other retro action games. If there's any room for complaint, it's that I simply want more - more levels, and more reasons to come back to them.

Dualshockers - 7.5/10
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a little uneven at times, particularly in the second half of the game, but it's still an enjoyable side-scroller. It's unmistakably loyal to the retro Ninja Gaiden games, refusing to flinch from its roots and delivering difficult combat while incorporating some of the style and flair from the modern 3D action games. It may not be as good as Ninja Gaiden 2, and nowhere near as iconic as Ninja Gaiden Black, but it's still a solid entry in the series and a great way to prepare for Ninja Gaiden 4.

Gamereactor UK - 6/10
I was excited to see what The Game Kitchen could do with Ninja Gaiden. Unfortunately, the answer is a bit disappointing. Ragebound is rock solid and feels really good in your hands, but it lacks spark, passion, X-factor, surprises. I could go on. At a time when sharp 2D action games are not exactly in short supply, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a solid revival of a classic series that will probably make the old core happy, but I would start somewhere else, Katana Zero, for example.

Kotaku
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound captures virtually everything that made 2D action games of yesteryear awesome while ironing out all the rough edges synonymous with that era of gaming. It looks spectacular, controls like a dream, and boasts levels that are worth experiencing over and over again. It does end too soon for its own good, and its short runtime may throw some people off. Aside from that, however, the developers at The Game Kitchen have proven themselves to be masters of their retro-inspired craft with this one. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a worthy successor to its NES predecessors, without a boomerang bird in sight.

didn't know this was happening, but it sounds good

I completed it on the day it released.
It's definitely a 9/10.

Finished this today. It's a very fun game.

The worst review for this recommending Katana Zero instead (a game that I despise with a burning passion) is the best possible endorsement of this game

Huh, what's wrong with Katana Zero? I've had that sitting in my Steam library waiting to play for a while...

I'm enjoying this game immensely.

Good game but it felt like it was missing something to put it into a higher tier.

this game looks pretty damn good

As someone who did not like the NES Ninja Gaiden games is this new one something that would make me rethink things?

Uh that was 40 years ago.

Times have kinda changed.

Grand_Kirby posted...

As someone who did not like the NES Ninja Gaiden games is this new one something that would make me rethink things?

It's nowhere near as difficult and there are "assist mode" settings you can enable to lower enemy damage and stuff like that. So it's more accessible but the gameplay still mostly boils down to jumping and slashing things in levels.

The whole game takes like 3-4 hours too so it's not exactly a big time investment. I wouldn't recommend it for $30 tbh but it was fun.

Grand_Kirby posted...

As someone who did not like the NES Ninja Gaiden games is this new one something that would make me rethink things?

Absolutely. The game feel is totally different. Much more smooth here