Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

If you are willing to instead get under the hood, engage with the rank system, and maybe equip a challenge talisman or two, on the other hand, Ragebound can be a hell of a ride, and on these terms it has been one of my favorite games of the year.

It looks beautiful, it's got the right amount of challenge in it, and it plays smoothly. What more could you ask from Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound? As a standalone title, or to tied over until the next main game comes along, you'll certainly have a flipping good time.

Ryu gives space to the ninja Kenji in this excellent new adventure in the Ninja Gaiden series. The game shows that it understands what the modern era requires from titles of the platform and action genre, while respecting the original work.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is the kind of game that makes you want improve. Chaining death with balletic grace feels so liberating that you don’t want to be interrupted in your flow. The way it implements all of its mechanics, along with increasingly interesting, beautiful, and ever-taut stage design, is a treat, and a truly linear arcade-style DLC would be a blessing should one ever transpire. While some Talismans can be purchased to actually make the game harder, the base challenge will certainly test you. It's a real shame about that frame-rate judder, but in terms of seductive 2D Ninja action, it lands squarely on catlike feet. SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, you have been challenged to a duel.

The franchise is celebrating, and one of the best gifts for fans is this new installment. High difficulty, frustration, achievements, powers, story, friendships, betrayals—it has it all. While the character progression system feels a bit limited and could offer more freedom when customizing our ninjas, you quickly forget about that thanks to its challenging nature and short but intense length.