In Ragebound, players assume the role of Kenji Mozu, a youthful ninja mentored by the usual series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa. Early in the game, Kenji’s body becomes possessed by the spirit of Kumori, a member of the rival Black Spider clan, providing Kenji with a set of throwable kunai weapons. Kumori is also briefly playable in unique segments.

As you navigate and climb through levels, you’ll confront waves of adversaries blocking your passage. Many foes are strategically placed to be just obstructive enough, requiring you to employ clever tactics to either evade them or eliminate them.

Most opponents can be defeated with a single hit, but some larger ones require multiple attacks to overcome and have a more steadfast defense. However, by targeting nearby enemies with glowing auras, you can unleash a superpowered attack that vanquishes these larger foes in a single blow. A turquoise glow indicates the need for a sword kill, while a magenta glow requires a kunai throw. These luminescent enemies are also strategically distributed across levels to set up chain reactions of taking down enemies in the correct sequence, which is immensely rewarding.

Boss fights involve enormous monstrosities that offer exhilarating challenges and can be quite demanding. Thankfully, the game features an Assist Mode that you can enable whenever desired to adjust the challenge level. I frequently utilized it to reduce damage so I could endure longer in battles or to help me become unstuck.

The game’s levels are delightful to explore, embellished with beautiful pixel art and set in imaginative environments like a pirate cave and a construction site. There are also hidden collectibles, including scarabs for unlocking enhancements and scrolls that reveal exceptionally difficult secret stages. The soundtrack, with its heavy guitar, synth, and drum elements, enhances the experience, making you feel like an action hero straight out of the ’90s.

If I had one nitpick, it’s the game’s story and writing, which isn’t as strong as the moment-to-moment action. It’s just weird to see Kumori, a badass ninja lady, say “good grief” to kick off one of the levels. But it’s not that big of a deal; this is a game with a sequence where you ride a jet ski to escape a military boat, after all. In a way, the weak writing adds to the generally campy vibe.

In a moment where there are a lot of great retro action games to play, Ragebound shows what makes the Ninja Gaiden series special. After my nearly six-hour playthrough, I feel like I might like other Ninja Gaiden games — and even if I don’t, Ragebound stands out well on its own.

^{Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.}