Ninja Gaiden: RAGEBOUND – A Classic Reimagined
Ninja Gaiden: RAGEBOUND is exactly the kind of project that many companies have long imagined: licensing rights to partners to produce experiences within franchises that are or have been popular. In addition to the possibility of revitalizing the series, this allows their internal teams to continue with established plans. This game shows Koei Tecmo doing just that. While Team Ninja works on Nioh 3 (and possibly Wo Long 2), the Japanese company licensed the rights to DotEmu to produce a 2D Ninja Gaiden in the style of classics.
This is a hack and slash and platforming experience in side-scrolling fashion reminiscent of the 90s. It’s something that the current Team Ninja would probably have difficulty achieving, but in the hands of The Game Kitchen from Blasphemous, it becomes more than just a possibility, it becomes an idea that can electrify us.
Intense 2D Side-Scrolling Action
These threats are defeated in side-scrolling action that immediately transports you back to the 90s. Ninja Gaiden: RAGEBOUND is one of those games that after just a few minutes makes you feel immediately that you’re going to enjoy it, such is its atmosphere and the success with which the developer captures the essence of the era with improvements and advances allowed by current technology. This is evident in the fluidity of the action, at 60fps, and especially in the new mechanics.
In Ninja Gaiden: RAGEBOUND, most enemies are defeated with one blow, only a few stronger thugs and of course, the bosses, escape this rule. This means you dive into a beautiful hack and slash platformer with a rhythm that encourages you to improve performance. When you get into the rhythm and hit the timings right, you find yourself feeling an electricity in your body as everything goes smoothly, especially when you dodge an obstacle and defeat an enemy to continue without flaws or losing precious life.
A Blend of Past Essence with Fresh Ideas
The pixel art of Ninja Gaiden: RAGEBOUND deserves great praise, as well as the chosen way to tell the story (which is nothing special), the soundtrack, and how the glories of the past were respected, even with the updating of elements like controls and mechanics, show that The Game Kitchen knew what they were doing. At certain moments, the game fails to maintain the quality and the segments are less exciting, some levels are relatively basic, giving the impression that the developer simply copied what was already done.
However, when the extra challenges arrive, especially the timed ones with Kumori to get more items (including gold scarabs to exchange for buffs at Muramasa’s shop, where you can also acquire debuffs and make everything more difficult to get a better score), Ninja Gaiden: RAGEBOUND shines with a special flavor. Even though at certain moments, including several boss fights, The Game Kitchen seems to have lost energy, the overwhelming majority of the time, Ninja Gaiden: RAGEBOUND is a challenging and fair choreography.
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