A long time has passed since there have been any entries in the Ninja Gaiden series, but that’s about to change. The 2024 edition of The Game Awards showed a trailer for Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and based on what’s shown, the title seems to be going back to the IP’s roots of side-scrolling 2D action. While it looks to be a fun yet challenging experience, much like the early games in the franchise, some things naturally give it a harder road to success.
The reveal trailer for Ninja Gaiden: Ragedound shows that the game is expected to be released in the Summer of 2025. While that’s not too far from now, there are some concerns, especially in regard to how well it perform once it’s available for everyone to get their hands on. The next entry in the series will have its work cut out for it, as its 2D nature will instantly lose the attention of a portion of gamers. However, if The Game Kitchen, the creator of the hit title Blasphemous, can do the game justice, perhaps it could be a great return for the Ninja Gaiden franchise.
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Koei Tecmo is partnering with Dotemu and Blasphemous developer The Game Kitchen for Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, the latest entry in the franchise.
Why Ninja Gaiden Ragebound Could Be a Hard Title to Sell
Even with the accolades attained from the best Ninja Gaiden games to fall back on, it may not be enough to get modern-day gamers to try out Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. The IP owner, Koei Tecmo, will likely have considered this but still chose to try and see if fans are willing to play the next installment. As for why Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound could be a tough sell, there are several factors:
- It has been more than 10 years since the last Ninja Gaiden game, meaning that people might have already forgotten about the IP or no longer have any interest in the franchise.
- With the previous entry, Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, being poorly received, it’s likely that expectations will be set too high for Ninja:Gaiden Ragebound to restore the series’ former glory. Fans may also not be willing to give it a chance since there’s a possibility of it disappointing like its predecessor.
- Not having Ninja Gaiden‘s Ryu Hayabusa as the main protagonist could be bad for the game, as there are fans who would much rather prefer the iconic ninja of the franchise over a new character.
Just because there is a challenging path to success for Ninja:Gaiden: Ragebound, it doesn’t mean there is no chance for it to succeed. If executed well, there’s the possibility that it could help revive the franchise and usher in a new age of fans.
Why It’s Both a Good and Bad Thing That Ninja Gaiden Ragebound Is Returning to Its 2D Roots
As shown from the reveal trailer, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is returning to the franchise’s 2D roots. This can be seen as a positive for fans, as it’s reminiscent of the old games while still having enough new touches like a more dynamic art style. While this can pull people into buying and playing it, there are likely those questioning why it’s not a 3D game. As good as some of the older Ninja Gaiden games were, the ones that allow players to freely move around the environments rather than being stuck on a 2D plane are considered some of the best hack-and-slash games ever made. The decision to go back to something reminiscent of the older 8 and 16-bit titles may make the title less desirable to modern gamers, but it’s still possible that this approach could result in it doing well in terms of sales.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound could end up being one of the hardest games of all time, but that might still not be enough to get people to invest in the franchise again. Hopefully, upon release, it’s able to show that what it has will be enough to compel many into trying it, but the game taking a niche approach after a ten-year wait is certainly a risk.
From the acclaimed team behind Blasphemous, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound successfully unites the classic lore and gameplay of the Tecmo-developed (now KOEI TECMO GAMES) NINJA GAIDEN series from the 8-bit era with the depth and intensity of the modern 3D entries. The best of both eras come together to create an epic and thrilling adventure.
Our story begins when Ryu Hayabusa journeys to America to honor his father’s will. While he is away, the barrier between the human and the demon worlds suddenly shatters, unleashing a terrifying army upon the Hayabusa Village, which now faces an unprecedented threat in Ryu’s absence. To stand against this new threat, Kenji Mozu, a young ninja from the Hayabusa Village, rises to the challenge!
Combining old-school feeling with modern precision, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound retains the pick-up-and-play action of the classic titles, while introducing new layers of depth.