Ninja Gaiden Ragebound is a 2D side-scrolling action game that pays tribute to the original NES Ninja Gaiden trilogy. While the retro graphics are appealing, the gameplay lacks meaningful depth. It feels like a concept-first project where ninjas were added after the fact, with the Ninja Gaiden name slapped on to sell it.

It’s been a hot second since we got a proper Ninja Gaiden game. Sure, there have been other spin-offs and ports and remakes (this year’s excellent Ninja Gaiden II Black comes to mind), but Ninja Gaiden is kinda having a moment again with both Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4.

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.