Publisher Dotemu and developer The Game Kitchen have announced their 2D action side scrolling title NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound at The Game Awards 2024. The game draws inspiration from the original NINJA GAIDEN trilogy created by Koei Tecmo. The game will release on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
The setting of NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is Hayabusa Village. Players assume the role of Kenji Mozu following Ryu Hayabusa’s leave for America; Kenji Mozu is a young ninja and member of the Hayabusa clan set on protecting his village from the looming demonic threat.
In NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound you’ll slash through enemies, avoid traps, spike pits, chasms, and fight ‘boss-caliber’ behemoths. The game aims to blend 2D play with precise movement; publisher Dotemu has shared that the game features fast paced play that is accessible and adds a layer of difficulty and depth. Additionally, the classic formula is being modernized with the introduction of upgradable skills, hidden collectibles, and side-quests.
Ragebound features a unique 2D aesthetic, the development team has aimed to call back to the original titles. Raul Vivar, Lead Animator at The Game Kitchen had this to say on PlayStationBlog “When it came to defining the art style, Raúl explains that high-quality pixel art was the obvious choice, given the series’ roots and The Game Kitchen’s prior experience. However, capturing the perfect mood required thoughtful effort. Transitioning from the somber, baroque dark fantasy of Blasphemous to the vibrant, action-packed world of Ninja Gaiden called for a brighter aesthetic. This meant incorporating flashier colors and cleaner shapes inspired by the dynamic feel of ’90s anime. A key step in the process was studying the original game sprites and reimagining them in higher resolution, unrestricted by palette limitations, to achieve the ideal look.”
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound aims to pay homage to the classic NINJA GAIDEN series while modernizing its various elements. Fans of the series and 2D action games can expect to see this title release in the summer of 2025.