Ninja Gaiden Ragebound – A Retro Revival of a Savage Series

Those who grew up in the NES era remember the Ninja Gaiden trilogy as a series of intense, fast-paced, and nearly impossible sidescrollers. The series went 3D in the early 2000s, but it hasn’t had a new 2D entry for years – until now. On July 31, Ninja Gaiden Ragebound returns the series to its 2D roots, bringing back the difficult platforming and adrenaline-pumping action.

The Ninja Gaiden Ragebound Trailer

The PlayStation State of Play revealed the game’s release date trailer. It shows off a glorious-looking hand-drawn art style for the cutscenes and beautiful pixel art for the gameplay. Even more exciting is a rock version of the classic music from the first NES Ninja Gaiden game, which is sure to get fans excited. With two playable characters, Kenji and Kumori, players can leap, stab, climb, and shurikens their way through a sidescrolling world with the fast-paced action the series is known for.

Expect Difficulty

In addition to the high-octane action that doesn’t let you take a breath, the series is also known for extreme difficulty. The gameplay footage in the trailer illustrates an incredibly skilled player slicing their way through enemies and making perfect jumps, but you can bet you won’t be quite so graceful on your first try. Just like how you died a lot in the NES trilogy and the 3D hack-and-slash entries, expect to die a lot here. Even the title “Ragebound” could indicate that you are in for a lot of rage.

Conclusion

Ninja Gaiden Ragebound looks like it will be a worthy revival of the series’ 2D roots. The trailer shows the familiar action of slicing through enemies as fast as you possibly can, which is sure to please fans of the NES trilogy. 2D platformers are alive and well, and this looks like a great blend of nostalgia and freshness. Just expect to die a lot.