Review of NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound for PlayStation 5

Sure thing. Here’s a reimagined version:

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Alright, folks, buckle in because we’re diving deep into NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound—this nifty little gem from The Game Kitchen and DotEmu. Mind you, I had absolutely no clue why this series caught my eye again, but here we are. So, picture this: Ryu Hayabusa heads to America to deal with some fatherly business. Meanwhile, back at Hayabusa Village, things get messy when the human and demon realms decide now’s a good time for a little meet-and-greet. Naturally, chaos ensues. Enter Kenji Mozu, our young ninja hero, who’s now got to face a demon mob. Oh! And then there’s this twist—he teams up with Kumori, from the Black Spider Clan. Desperation, am I right? Turns out these events happen alongside the original NINJA GAIDEN game, which totally reshuffles everything we thought we knew. Or does it? Eh, your call.

Now, a couple of years back, I dove into Blasphemous 2 (absolute masterpiece, by the way) on the PS5, courtesy of The Game Kitchen and Team 17. So, here I was, raring to sink my teeth into Ragebound. Being the devoted NINJA GAIDEN fanatic that I am—flashback to those NES days and, yeah, those rowdy arcade experiences (when Tecmo and Koei were still doing their own thing)—my anticipation was through the roof. Or basement, if I’m honest. Because you gotta keep expectations grounded. Or maybe I don’t, ha!

Let’s get nerdy for a sec: you control your hero using your console’s left stick or D-Pad. Jump with X, swing your sword with Square. Here’s a pro tip from me to you: those projectiles your enemies throw at you? Slice right through and send ‘em flying back—‘cause why not, right? Jump onto walls, climb ‘em like you’re Spider-Man. Or Ninja-Man—whichever fits. Ceilings? You can stick to those too. Super handy for, you know, not getting crispified by lava or impaled by spikes. Which, by the way, sound like chewing tin foil. Don’t ask how I know.

Things get wild with the L1 and X combo mid-air—it’s a guillotine boost or something. Leap higher by slamming enemies or objects. And Kumori? He’s all about those Kunai throws from a distance. Press R1 to dodge. But do it when you’re actually in danger. You’d think dodging would be intuitive… and yet.

Chop down baddies showing an aura, and voila, you’ve got a power boost. That hypercharge attack you can launch? Yes, please! Especially when bosses try to ruin your day and bam, they’re dizzy. Plus, there’s that nifty ability to sacrifice health to charge your sword. Risky, I know. But like I said, desperate measures.

Levels? Full of challenges like avoiding spikes using ceilings or finishing a stage without dying. Collectibles play into this, too, if you’re a completionist. Or obsessive—I won’t judge.

Golden Scarabs—yes, they’re a thing—let you buy Dragon Talismans from Muramasa. These will make you more powerful. ‘Blood Frenzy’ talisman, for example, gives health back if you beat enemies when you’re on a streak. Then there’s ‘Traveler’s Blessing,’ which replenishes life at checkpoints. Handy, yes?

Yeah, there’s a trophy system, too. A whole bunch of ‘em. Bronze, Silver, Gold—staring you down like they own you. Guess some of us like ticking off achievements, huh?

That’s the scoop on Ragebound, folks! The adventure starts with Hayabusa’s American trip, a demon invasion, and Kenji getting mixed up with Kumori—fun times, right? Set alongside the original game storyline, it’s a treat. Or a trick. Eh, discover for yourself.

Accessibility options? The game ain’t leaving anyone behind. You can tweak game speed, damage effects, and more. Oh, and it’s Cross-Buy, meaning one buy gets you both the PS4 and PS5 versions. Nice touch, if I say so myself.

Oh, before I forget—this review’s based on a PS5 copy from DotEmu. Because apparently, that’s important.

Anyway, happy gaming or whatever.