Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
I just finished Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and I’m still riding that post-game high where your hands hurt a little, your brain is buzzing, and you’re already replaying boss fights in your head. This is one of those games that doesn’t just test your reflexes, it tests your patience, your adaptability, and your willingness to improve.
For some context: I’ve known the Ninja Gaiden franchise for years, but I’ve never actually played the classic NES titles, nor the 3D entries. So I came into Ragebound without nostalgia goggles or preconceived expectations. In a way, that made the experience feel very fresh.
Fast, Focused, and Unapologetically Intense
At its core, Ragebound is a fast-paced 2D side-scrolling action game, and it absolutely commits to that identity. Movement is tight, combat is precise, and the game constantly pushes you forward. There’s very little downtime, you’re either reacting, attacking, or preparing for the next split-second decision.
The difficulty is real, but what impressed me most is how fair it feels. When you die, you almost always know why. Every boss fight is demanding, but never cheap. Beating one doesn’t feel like luck, it feels earned. That sense of fulfillment after finally cracking a boss pattern is one of the game’s biggest strengths.
Mechanics, Music, and That Retro Soul
The game mechanics are excellent. Everything feels deliberate and responsive, the kind of control scheme where you start to trust the game completely. Once things click, you’re not fighting the controls, you’re fighting the game itself.
The music deserves special mention. It nails that retro vibe without sounding dated. The soundtrack fuels the action perfectly, pushing you through tough sections and making victories feel even sweeter. Combined with the visuals, Ragebound delivers a strong retro feeling, but with modern polish and modern control.
The One Frustration: Saving Progress
If I had to point out a real downside, it’s the lack of saving within a stage. You either beat the stage boss or you lose your progress. That design choice can be rough, especially when real life interrupts a good run.
That said, I was lucky to be playing on PS5. The console’s sleep feature ended up being a lifesaver, I used it a lot. Without it, I imagine this aspect would have been far more frustrating.
Final Thoughts
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound feels like a confident statement: this is what a modern retro action game should be. Challenging but fair, nostalgic yet refined, punishing but deeply rewarding. Even as someone with no direct history with the series, I felt fully pulled in by its design and execution.
It’s not a casual experience, and it doesn’t try to be. But if you’re willing to meet it on its terms, Ragebound delivers an intense, memorable ride, and that final boss victory feels so good.