‘Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound’ lovingly revives classic 2D experience

Ragebound Arts are abilities that can be used once per level and help turn the tide of battle in 'Ninja Gaiden Ragebound'. — Dotemu/TNS

Before developer Tomonobu Itagaki brought the Ninja Gaiden franchise into the polygonal realm, the series had been an arcade mainstay and a classic Nintendo Entertainment System trilogy. The side-scrolling adventure was renowned for its difficulty and visuals that pushed the 8-bit system to its limits.

For its time, Ryu Hayabusa’s exploits were a revelation of storytelling and action, but unfortunately, it never spawned a true sequel on the Super Nintendo, and fans would have to wait longer for Itagaki to take the reins on Xbox 360. Those who have been waiting for a successor with gorgeous sprite-based graphics now have one thanks to The Game Kitchen, the team that developed Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound.