Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
In late 1988, Ninja Gaiden arrived on the NES, blowing millions of players away—myself included—with its fluid movement, scorching soundtrack, and—most notable for the era—its thrilling cutscenes. Though we think of cutscenes as standard fare nowadays, cutscenes like the ones in this game, bursting with cinematic flair, were a novelty, and the back of the box even made reference to the game’s “unique cinema display system.”
Now, we’re getting anew 2D Ninja Gaiden, helmed by the folks behind Blasphemous. Making a 2D ninja action game in 2025 that stands out from the crowd will be no easy task, but I’m crossing my fingers that The Game Kitchen can recapture some of the sizzling energy that made the NES original and its first sequel so unforgettable. – Carolyn Petit
