[PlayStation 5] Review of NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound

Whoa, okay, so let’s talk about this wild ride. NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, right? The Game Kitchen and DotEmu have teamed up to do something fresh with this pixel art side-scrolling action thing going on. It’s like they pulled out the good ol’ paintbrush and splashed a whole lotta nostalgia all over it. Anyway, so there’s this dude, Ryu Hayabusa – yes, him again, zooming off to America, probably for some fatherly duty. But guess what? Chaos breaks loose at Hayabusa Village while he’s gone. Figures.

The human and demon worlds clash – dramatic, I know. Poor Kenji Mozu, a young ninja barely signed up for all this demon nonsense, leaps into action. I mean, what choice did he have? So he teams up with the Black Spider Clan. You read that right. Kumori, the deadly assassin joins in too. If you’re thinking that sounds like a heck of a backstory, you’re not wrong. Not even close. All this happens during the original NINJA GAIDEN events too. Mind = blown.

Can’t help but remember two years back when I was all hyped reviewing Blasphemous 2 on the PlayStation 5, thanks to The Game Kitchen. Man, those were some intense Metroidvania days. But enough about the past. Ragebound on PS5? Totally a next-level treat for NINJA GAIDEN fans, especially if you loved the NES version. Seriously, who didn’t?

Now, here’s the full breakdown of how you navigate this madness: left stick or D-Pad control the protagonist; X button for jumps; Square to slice those demon heads off. And yes, you can scale walls. I found myself clinging to the ceiling more than once, dodging every trap like I had spider DNA. Sharp spikes? No thanks.

Press L1 or X mid-air and get this guillotine boost. It’s almost like you’re flying, kind of. Kumori’s got Kunai, by the way. For distant combat. Square or Circle hurls them. See an attack coming? R1 is your dodge buddy. Honestly, it’s quite the dance.

And oh my—defeating those enemies with a flashy aura is like hitting the jackpot. You grab their aura, go into super-duper attack mode, and voilà, instant chaos unleashed. Not even bosses stand a chance when you hit ’em with a hypercharge attack. Just remember to hold down the Square button till you feel the power surge through you.

Each level feels like a mini-mission. You’ll want to conquer challenges like avoiding those nasty spikes from above. There’s some secret hunting involved too. Dodging fire without a scratch? Easier said than done, trust me. And yes, collecting all the game trophies? Gold star challenges, right here.

Those Golden Scarabs you find? Trade ’em to Muramasa. Score some Dragon Talismans and buff your character. Blood Frenzy recovers health mid-battle, but Traveler’s Blessing sounds cozy, fully restoring health at checkpoints. Choices, choices.

The trophy list—oh boy, it’s loaded. A Platinum trophy waits if you’re hardcore enough. Tasks like finishing the acts, unlocking secret endings, and slaying thousands of enemies. When they say it’s a game for completionists, they mean it.

Accessibility is there, you can tweak settings for a smoother ride. Hit flashes, game speed, and even knockback adjustments. And Assist Mode is a nice touch, offering a bit more control for folks who want it.

Launch day is tomorrow, for both PS4 and PS5. Bang for your buck, huh? $24.99 gets you both versions. And here’s the punchline: it’s all Cross-Buy, no extra cash drain.

Alright, I’m wrapping this up. NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is setting the stage, mixing nostalgia with a fresh twist. Dive in and see if Hayabusa Village can actually get a break from demons this time. Probably not.