Ninja Gaidenis a series that began in arcades in 1988, with an NES game released soon after. The 2D game was difficult, but fans loved it. that Ninja Gaiden The series was rebooted on the original Xbox in 2004, bringing the series to full 3D for the first time. The series became famous over the years for its slick 3D combat and challenging bosses, and then faded away.
2025 was an important year for the franchise as it brought back both 2D and 3D worlds. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound While it is a 2D action game, Ninja Gaiden 4 It continues what the original Xbox started. So which game has better dimensions? Also, no spoilers.
Main Characters – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Two for the price of one
Yakumo is the main character. Ninja Gaiden 4A member of the Raven ninja clan and a man of few words. Kenzie, in Ninja Gaiden: RageboundHe is a member of the Hayabusa ninja clan along with Ryu, who takes a backseat in this work.
Additionally, Kumori is a playable character as a member of the rival Black Spider ninja clan. It may sound like a spoiler, but Kenji and Kumori actually merge and become one. This is a more interesting story setting and gameplay gimmick for the new game.
Good for Beginners: Ninja Gaiden 4
Almost tied
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound There are support options available to make the game less difficult. 2D games have a reputation for being brutal, so this was a nice change. The 3D game also qualified as a difficult game, but it did have a few difficulty modes here and there.
But to that extent Ninja Gaiden 4 Implementing this is amazing in a good way. More games with auto-dodge, auto-combo, and auto-block features should follow to allow more players to engage in intense action games.
Music – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Rock vs Chiptune
Ninja Gaiden 4 Most have ambient music or rock solos during battles or boss fights. The music sounds okay and is pretty much the same style as other 3D games, though. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound It's one step up.
The chiptunes in this game are some of the best music to grace a modern pixel game, similar to an indie homage. shovel knight. Some configurations are original, while others harken back to the NES days and overall put players in a good mood.
Upgrade System: Ninja Gaiden 4
From new movements to accessories
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound There is a small upgrade system through purchasable accessories that increase stats or grant skills called talismans. Ninja Gaiden 4 There are accessories, but they are only a small part of the upgrade system.
Players can earn two currencies, Karma and NinjaCoins, which can be used to purchase items, traversal abilities, and combat skills. Engaging players in combat and giving them something to strive for is a more rewarding system, and it's one of the better systems in the 3D entries in the series.
Art Style – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
16-bit upgrade
Ninja Gaiden 4 I think it would be a really cool game if it were released on PS4. It doesn't look bad, but it doesn't have any graphics that scream it's a modern game. It's not that good compared to the remaster. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black.
Ninja Gaiden: RageboundAs for the 2D scenes, it's a huge leap forward from the NES days or even when the game was remade for the SNES. It's a modern pixel game, so the colors are bright and the animations are fluid. Plus, the cutscene art is good enough to fit into a frame.
Battle: Ninja Gaiden 4
Look great in any style
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Combat is secondary to the gameplay, as traversal is more focused. Enemies basically die in one or two hits, and the only real challenges involve bosses, so in this way you're not much better than a traditional 2D game.
Ninja Gaiden 4 When Koei Tecmo hired PlatinumGames for co-development, the series received a major upgrade and its combat prowess was at its peak. There are far more abilities, the movement is tighter, the weapon designs are literally transformative, and overall it's a truly enjoyable time that's borderline on the best action of all time.
Level Design – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Short, concise, and rich in replay value.
Ninja Gaiden 4 The combat is almost its downfall as the pacing can feel monotonous at times. Even with the side missions included, there isn't much variety in the levels. thanks Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound It's a more solid platformer with an emphasis on traversal.
Additionally, the gameplay gimmick of switching between Kenji and Kumori in various situations adds a fun puzzle challenge to the mix. Additionally, the world map is a nice, easy-to-navigate feature that would have been nice to see in a traditional 2D game.
Verdict – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Victory in the 2D era
Both of these games do a great job of what they are trying to achieve in their own dimension and do the series justice. Ninja Gaiden 4 The difficulty modes, combat, and upgrade system felt like a fresh take on what worked on Xbox One a long time ago. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Proper 2D games have been around for a lot longer than their 3D counterparts, so they have an almost unfair advantage.
This meant there were more areas for improvement in the game, and it was great in everything from the level design to the different character perspectives. Even though it's 2D, it's easy to explain. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound An even bolder step was taken. Either way, 2025 was truly the best year. Ninja Gaiden Within a few decades.
- released
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October 21, 2025
- ESRB
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Ages 17+ / Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, suggestive themes
- publisher
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Xbox Game Studios
