Review: NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound for PlayStation 5

Sure thing, let’s dive into the delightful chaos of trying to explain “Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound.” So, picture this: pixels everywhere, action like a never-ending carnival, and, oh, the sidescrolling layered in nostalgia. The Game Kitchen and DotEmu really got their pots boiling with this latest chapter in a series that’s practically older than my morning coffee ritual. It’s like, seriously, why did they wait this long? But anyway, here we are.

So, we kick off with Ryu Hayabusa—yeah, that Ryu—zipping off to America because, who would’ve thought, his dad’s will said so. But bam! Cue the demon apocalypse because, of course, the universe can’t handle a moment’s peace. Enter Kenji Mozu, our rookie ninja, with less training and more spunk. And guess what? There’s a nice little twist—he teams up with the Black Spider Clan. I know, unexpected, right? That’s where Kumori, the slick assassin, swoops in. Honestly, are we still talking demons or some medieval soap opera?

Now, if I think back—sometimes I wish I wouldn’t—I was wrapping my head around Blasphemous 2 not that long ago. Frankly, The Game Kitchen totally had me hooked then. For anyone who’s forgotten (or wasn’t born yet), I grew up with the original Ninja Gaiden on the NES; and, let me tell you, those were the glory days. Maybe I’m getting sentimental—or maybe it’s those pixelated edges.

Now, once you decide to dive in, this is where things get real. The controls—classic but tailored, if you catch my drift. You’ve got your analog stick doing its thing, and button bashing like a symphony of chaos. Seriously, who climbed walls this easily before? Gravity decided to take a holiday every time you’re avoiding spikes or, heaven forbid, fire. It’s all fire and spikes nowadays, I swear.

And hey, there’s more button trickery with air boosts, kunai throwing—who doesn’t love a good kunai throw? Dodging attacks feels like trying to sidestep life’s little disasters. But when you get it right? Oh boy, pure bliss. The designers must have had an epiphany, or perhaps just a good night’s sleep.

I keep getting side-tracked, but remember those auras? The ones spilling out of dead enemies? You can bank on those for a massive power surge. It’s like grabbing a cup of coffee in the middle of an afternoon slump—pure lightning. You’d better time it right though, or you’ll just end up swinging like a lost pendulum. And sacrificing health for a supercharge? Risky but hey, no guts, no glory.

Now, challenges! This rage-filled universe insists on throwing objectives at you like confetti in a windstorm. Avoid spikes here, don’t die there, all in the name of completionists everywhere. You even get collectibles—think of them like tiny trophies for surviving this madness.

On a slightly more chill note, have you met Muramasa? He’s your go-to, offering Dragon Talismans for collected Golden Scarabs. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of trading? Plus, there’s something hilariously satisfying about recovering health mid-battle thanks to these talismans. Kind of like finding a dollar in your old jeans.

The icing on this cake of chaos? Trophies. Gotta catch ’em all, they say. From slaying bosses to uncovering secrets, it’s a collector’s paradise. Completing the game is like finally solving a jigsaw puzzle—oh wait, you forgot the last piece under the sofa.

Before I ramble off into oblivion, let’s touch on accessibility. Because hey, games should be for everyone, right? Assist Mode lets you tweak the game like a fine-tuned piano. Change the damage, adjust speed—it’s like having a game’s cheat sheet. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound drops as a Cross-Buy title, so one purchase does the trick for both PS4 and PS5. Nice, huh?

Wrapping this up—no promises—I got my hands on this review copy courtesy of DotEmu. Cheers for that! And for those ready to dive in, remember: it’s a wild ride out there, so grab your controller and, well, may the ninja odds be in your favor.