Which Is Better Between Ninja Gaiden 4 & Ninja Gaiden Ragebound

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The Ninja Gaiden series began in arcades in 1988 and quickly moved to the NES. These early games were famously difficult, but players loved the challenge. In 2004, the series was reimagined for the original Xbox, making the jump to full 3D graphics. This reboot established Ninja Gaiden as a series known for its stylish 3D combat and tough boss battles, but the games haven’t been released consistently since.

As a huge Ninja Gaiden fan, 2025 feels like a massive comeback for the series! We’re getting games in both the classic 2D style with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and a continuation of the 3D action that started on the original Xbox with Ninja Gaiden 4. I’m really curious to see which game nails its style of gameplay better. And don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything!

The Main Character(s) – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

Two For The Price Of One

Yakumo is the main character in Ninja Gaiden 4, a quiet ninja belonging to the Raven clan. In Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Kenji is a member of the Hayabusa clan, alongside Ryu, who has a smaller role in this story.

Kumori is a playable character and a member of the Black Spider ninja clan, who are rivals to the main group. While it might seem like a spoiler, the story features Kenji and Kumori combining into a single entity, creating a unique narrative and gameplay experience.

Good For Beginners: Ninja Gaiden 4

Almost A Tie

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound offers assist features to make the game easier to play. Previous 2D Ninja Gaiden games were famous for their extreme difficulty, so this was a welcome addition. While the 3D games were also known for being very challenging, they occasionally included different difficulty settings.

Honestly, the way Ninja Gaiden 4 handles accessibility features blew me away. The auto-dodge, auto-combo, and auto-block stuff isn’t just a gimmick – it actually works really well! I seriously think more action games should take notes and include features like this; it makes the genre way more approachable for everyone, without dumbing it down.

The Music – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

Rock Vs Chiptune

The soundtrack for Ninja Gaiden 4 generally features either atmospheric background music or guitar solos during battles and boss fights. While the music is decent and similar to previous 3D Ninja Gaiden games, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound has a noticeably better score.

The music in this game is fantastic – some of the best chiptune soundtracks in a modern pixel-art game, and it’s comparable to the wonderful music found in games like Shovel Knight. The songs are either brand new or intentionally recreate the classic sounds of the NES, and they really get you excited to play.

The Upgrade System: Ninja Gaiden 4

From New Moves To Accessories

As a Ninja Gaiden fan, I’ve noticed that in Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, you can get these accessories to make Ryu stronger or give him new abilities – they call them Talismans. Ninja Gaiden 4 has accessories too, but they’re not a huge part of how you upgrade Ryu like they are in Ragebound. It’s a much smaller thing overall.

Players earn two types of currency – Karma and NinjaCoins – which they can spend on items, movement skills, and combat abilities. This system encourages players to actively engage in battles and provides them with clear goals, making it one of the strongest progression systems in a 3D game in this series.

The Art Style – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

A 16-Bit Upgrade

Ninja Gaiden 4 looks decent, but its graphics aren’t particularly impressive for a modern game. It’s visually similar to the remastered version of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, and doesn’t quite stand out as a next-generation title.

Compared to the original Ninja Gaiden on NES, or even the SNES remakes, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a significant improvement visually. It uses modern pixel art techniques, resulting in vibrant colors and smooth animations. The game’s cutscene artwork is also high quality enough to be displayed as art prints.

The Combat: Ninja Gaiden 4

Look Cool In Any Style

While Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound has fighting, it’s more about moving around and exploring. Enemies are easily defeated, and the main difficulty comes from boss battles. This makes it feel similar to the classic 2D Ninja Gaiden games.

Ninja Gaiden 4 marked a significant improvement for the series thanks to a collaboration with PlatinumGames, known for their excellent combat design. The game features a wide range of abilities, smooth movement, and weapons that dramatically change how you play. It’s an incredibly fun, action-packed experience, and sometimes delightfully excessive.

The Level Design – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

Short, Concise, Plenty Of Replay Value

The combat in Ninja Gaiden 4 nearly ruins the game, as it can become repetitive. The levels also lack variety, even with the addition of side quests. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a stronger game when it comes to platforming, thanks to its emphasis on movement and exploration.

Switching between the two characters, Kenji and Kumori, during gameplay creates enjoyable puzzle-solving moments. Plus, the game features a user-friendly world map – a welcome addition that would have been great to have in the older, 2D versions of the game.

The Verdict – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

The 2D Era Wins

Both games successfully deliver on their goals and stay true to the spirit of the Ninja Gaiden series. Ninja Gaiden 4 offers a welcome update to the classic gameplay from the original Xbox, with enjoyable difficulty options, combat, and a solid upgrade system. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound benefits from the longer wait for a new 2D Ninja Gaiden title, making its release feel particularly special.

The game had plenty of room for improvement, and it excelled in every area, including level design and offering multiple character viewpoints. Despite being a 2D game, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound felt like a really ambitious move. Regardless, 2025 was the best year for the Ninja Gaiden series in a long time.

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2025-10-23 17:07