Review of NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound for PlayStation 5

Sure, here’s a reworked version of the article:

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So, this game… NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound. It’s like they took the wild energy of nostalgia and just exploded it into pixels. DotEmu and The Game Kitchen, right? They’ve cranked out another sidescroller madness. I remember the first time I bumped into this series, way back on the NES—yep, that ancient relic my older brother used to hog. Anyway, let’s dive into what’s happening this time.

Ryu Hayabusa heads off to America. Why? He’s honoring his dad’s will. Classic. Meanwhile, back home at Hayabusa Village, chaos! Apparently, the thin veil between demons and humans just ripped open like a cheap curtain. So now, you’ve got Kenji Mozu, a rookie ninja, stepping up. He pairs up with, get this, the Black Spider Clan. Kumori hops in—she’s an assassin with a mean edge. The story kinda overlaps with the original NINJA GAIDEN, which… I don’t know, maybe it’s a coincidence or maybe it’s genius. Who’s to say?

Two years ago, I tried out Blasphemous 2—same gang behind it—and man, what a ride that was. So, this new spin on PlayStation 5? Count me in. The Game Kitchen has my attention. And my thumbs.

Controls are what you’d expect—kinda. You can run around with either the D-Pad or left stick, hop with the X button, and slice away with Square. Oh yeah, you can cut through enemy stuff mid-air, which feels like cheating, but isn’t. Wall climbing? Ceiling cling? All here! Perfect for dodging things like spikes or sudden floor lava. I mean, who puts spikes casually in a hallway? Video game logic, I guess.

Now there’s a guillotine move—press L1 or X while you’re airborne, and off you go. Kumori, she’s got this Kunai thing happening. Useful for taking down foes without getting up close and personal. Dodge with R1, then launch into action with Square. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, Ragebound throws aura-wielding enemies at you. Beat ‘em up, grab their glowing aura, and unleash chaos. Hold down Square, and suddenly your sword’s all hypercharged. Handy for bosses, who just hate it, apparently.

There’s enough on the plate in each level to keep busy. Challenges like spike-dodging by ceiling walks, or speed runs not dying—a standard Tuesday. Plus, Muramasa’s shop accepts Golden Scarabs as currency. It’s a trade economy, folks. You get talismans to boost whatever skill’s weighing you down. Blood Frenzy for health during combos, or Traveller’s Blessing to get a health reset at checkpoints—take your pick.

By the way, if you’re a trophy hunter, there’s a whole list to snag. Bronze, Silver, Gold—get them all and bam, Platinum prestige! From completing game acts to slaying a very arbitrary 3,000 enemies. Or you know, doing level runs damage-free. Pressure much?

Options let you tweak for accessibility. Flash hits, Assist Mode—it’s all in there. Adjust game speed and damage. No judgment if you crank it down.

Long and short of it: NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is all pixel-art chaos and ninja nostalgia, landing tomorrow. Cross-buy means you grab it on PS4 or PS5 under the same ticket—twenty-five bucks, give or take. Time to sharpen those blades, folks.

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Disclaimer: Got my hands on a PS5 copy thanks to DotEmu.