I usually get excited after I get to preview an upcoming sport. Who wouldn’t? Getting to take a look at a sport pre-release, after which attending to share that have is likely one of the joys of this job. However when a code for a brand new construct of Ninja Gaiden Ragebound materialized in my inbox, I’m fairly certain I began drooling. It’s a Pavlovian response, actually; see, us Ninja Gaiden sickos have been pining for the great outdated days for some time now, however this yr has been like stumbling into an oasis within the desert, solely the oasis has air con, a made-to-order menu out of your favourite native joint, and an open bar. Ninja Gaiden followers have been wandering these sands for a very long time. However this yr, it seems like we’re coming house.
I hadn’t performed the demo we previewed final time, so Ragebound was a brand new expertise for me. Nevertheless it felt like slipping right into a pair of outdated footwear. It took a second to get again into the swing of issues — I haven’t performed a 2D Ninja Gaiden in a sizzling second — however as soon as I did, it felt like I’d by no means left. There’s a lot to speak about right here, however we’ve already executed a extra conventional preview that appears on the meat and potatoes expertise of taking part in Ragebound, so this time, let’s dig into the nitty gritty. These are the 7 coolest issues about Ninja Gaiden Ragebound.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Sport Awards Screenshots
#1: The Guillotine Increase Lets You Bounce on It (and “It” is Every little thing)
There are a ton of cool mechanics in Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, however I’m beginning with the guillotine enhance as a result of all the pieces else flows from it. When you’re within the air, you’ll be able to leap once more if you’re about to make contact with an enemy to each assault them and bounce off of them for an additional leap. Cool, proper?
Nevertheless it’s not simply enemies. You are able to do this to projectiles, too, and even some enemy assaults. Clearly, you need to use the guillotine enhance to get to locations you wouldn’t in any other case be capable to, however it’s also possible to use it to bounce between enemies and keep on the assault. I managed to bounce on Gurthka, the boss of the demo’s second stage, for a stable few seconds whereas he was attempting to assault me. And people bizarre samurai spirits with the spears? Simply bounce off their assaults and preserve going. Is the guillotine enhance as cool because the Izuna Drop? No. Nothing is. Nevertheless it’s fairly shut.
#2: Hypercharges Are One-Hit Kills with Fashion
Okay, so the guillotine enhance permits you to get to hard-to-reach locations, keep on the assault, and elegance on bosses. However what occurs when that you must kill one thing in a single stroke? Properly, that’s the place the Hypercharge is available in. You may get Hypercharge by killing enemies with auras. Achieve this, and also you’ll acquire a Hypercharge for just a few seconds. When you’ve it , your subsequent assault will kill enemies immediately. To be truthful, most enemies in Ragebound die in a single hit. However the ones that don’t? You don’t wanna go toe-to-toe with these cats. In a pinch, you’ll be able to sacrifice some well being to manually Hypercharge, however you’ll wish to keep away from that should you can. If you’re actually cooking, you’ll be able to chain these collectively to chop down enemies in speedy succession, or unleash them on a boss to stun them and lay on the damage, and it feels nice. Talking of which, that brings me to my subsequent level.
#3: Simon Says Is Cool Now
Lots of video video games actually like Simon Says fight design. what I imply; the enemy is a sure shade, so you employ a particular form of assault (I’m taking a look at you, DmC: Satan Might Cry), or they’re wielding a particular weapon, so that you drop in a stance constructed to counter that (don’t assume I didn’t discover, Ghost of Tsushima). Kinda boring, proper?
Ninja Gaiden Ragebound flirts with Simon Says fight design, but it surely will get away with it as a result of it does it in a cool approach. You possibly can nonetheless kill something within the Ragebound demo I performed any approach you need. However a few of these auras that provide you with Hypercharges? You gotta kill these enemies a sure approach if you need that Hypercharge. A blue aura means you gotta slice ‘em up with Kenji’s katana, whereas a purple aura means that you must use a kunai. When you get that Hypercharge, you’ll be able to spend it nonetheless you need; however forcing you to match the aura to the correct weapon on the fly provides a welcome ingredient of problem, particularly when enemies are solely on-screen for just a few seconds and it’s important to react shortly.
#4: Rollin’ with Kumori Rocks
At some unspecified level in Ragebound’s story, our boy Kenji fuses with Kumori. Like several good member of the Hayabusa Clan, he’s fairly upset about cavorting round with a ninja of the Spider Clan, however he shouldn’t be. Palling round with Kumori has numerous advantages. First, she provides Kenji entry to a kunai to cope with enemies at vary (and teleport to sure objects within the atmosphere), but in addition a Spider Weapon. In my demo, that took the form of a throwable sickle with an arc that jogs my memory an terrible lot of the throwing axes from Castlevania. And she or he provides you entry to the screen-clearing Ragebound Arts. When all the pieces round you completely, positively has to die, settle for no substitutes. So hey, extra toys, proper? However that’s not all Kumori brings to the desk.
She will be able to additionally commune with Demon Altars to navigate the otherworld. Along with her spirit separate from Kenji’s physique and traipsing across the otherworld, she will go locations he can’t, opening new paths. She additionally has entry to her kunai, even with out ki, one thing Kenji doesn’t have. The draw back? She must continually replenish a meter to remain within the otherworld. In any other case, it’s again to Kenji, and it’s important to do it once more. Generally, meaning you’ll repeat a piece just a few occasions. It additionally breaks up the motion and offers you a brand new technique to play. Fairly cool. Additionally, Kumori says “Good grief” lots. I really like her.
#5: Exploring is Value Your Time
One of many issues I actually admire about Ragebound is its purity. It’s not one other roguelite within the limitless sea of roguelites (thank God); it’s a side-scrolling motion sport, within the vein of the collection’ authentic trilogy. However that doesn’t imply there’s not stuff value going off the crushed path for. There are scarabs and crystal skulls to search out, and whereas it was unclear what both of those do (the scarabs function forex for Muramasa’s store, which was not obtainable in my demo, so I can solely guess on the goodies he’ll have on supply), it positively provides you an excuse to discover. My favourite one among these “do an non-compulsory bit, get a cool factor” sections was one the place I needed to navigate a tough, teleport-y platforming part as Kumori. It took me a number of tries to get it proper (I stored messing up proper on the finish), however by the point I nailed it, I knew that factor just like the again of my hand. And that feels good.
#6: It Rewards Mastery
Oh, and talking of mastering one thing, Ninja Gaiden Ragebound needs you to play these ranges time and again as a lot as you need. When you’ve crushed one, you’ll be able to instantly entry it once more from the map. And every time you play, you’re scored on time, collectibles, variety of enemies killed, and your greatest combo. And if that’s not sufficient, there are additionally non-compulsory challenges that vary from finishing ranges with out being hit to level-specific duties like killing so many enemies with a lunge assault or beating Ryu Hayabusa himself within the tutorial. I… didn’t do this one. He Izuna Dropped my ass. It was rad as hell. I’ll get you in the future, Ryu.
#7: It Hurts So Good
I wouldn’t name Ninja Gaiden Ragebound simple, per se, but it surely’s additionally not not possible on the common problem, both. This collection has one thing of a legacy to keep up in relation to being exhausting, and also you’ve gotta be form of a masochist to see the deepest ranges of depravity it has to point out you. What can I say? I like ache.
Excellent news for me, then, as a result of beating the demo unlocked a tough model of one of many ranges I’d simply performed. And, uh… it’s lots more durable. There are new enemies! Every little thing’s on fireplace! Developer The Sport Kitchen has put in one thing for the sickos, and I admire it.
I got here out of my time with Ninja Gaiden Ragebound like a person who has simply had a positive meal with parts that have been far too small. Appreciative, however wanting extra. What can I say? I really like motion video games, and this collection specifically holds a particular place in my coronary heart. I get the shakes if you’re not round, Ninja Gaiden. Nevertheless it’s so rattling good to have you ever again.