Hi there everybody! On behalf of The Recreation Kitchen, in collaboration with Dotemu, Koei Tecmo Video games, and Staff Ninja, we’re extremely excited to disclose a brand-new addition to Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound: a second, absolutely authentic playable character from the Hayabusa Clan’s long-standing rivals: the legendary Black Spider Clan.
On this publish, we’d wish to take you behind the scenes of how this concept got here to life, what you possibly can count on from this new character, and a few gameplay particulars we’re particularly thrilled to share.
Kumori is a proud kunoichi of the Black Spider Clan and serves as a compelling counterpart to Kenji, the sport’s different protagonist. Whereas Kenji continues to be studying underneath the steerage of his grasp, Ryu Hayabusa, Kumori has already earned her place as the highest fighter in her clan. Following a near-collapse of the Black Spider Clan, she carries the burden of rebuilding and defending their future. Ruthless and pragmatic, Kumori fights with out restraint and embraces fashionable weaponry, enemy strategies, and even demonic powers to satisfy her mission. She follows no conventional code, solely the trail that results in victory.
In contrast to Kenji, who fights with a katana and focuses on close-range fight, Kumori wields kunai, granting her excessive vary, speedy assault velocity, and the flexibility to strike from almost any place or floor. Her agility and adaptableness make her an distinctive fighter, particularly when participating enemies in hard-to-reach areas or chaotic encounters.
Regardless of their variations, Kenji and Kumori share widespread values: they’re each pushed by loyalty, honor, and a fierce sense of obligation to their clans. Although they arrive from opposing sides, they characterize a brand new technology of warriors formed by legacy however not sure by the previous. Their paths intertwine in a pivotal second once they face a robust demonic menace, trapping each within the demon world. Confronted with annihilation, they make an unthinkable selection: to merge their power, understanding full nicely their clans would by no means settle for such an alliance. This unholy alliance is each a blessing and a curse: a mandatory bond that can perpetually alter their destinies.
As fused warriors, gamers acquire entry to the perfect of each characters, combining their weapons, skills, and a brand new vitality supply: Ki. As gamers harvest Ki from enemies, Kumori’s spirit can summon highly effective Spider Weapons, similar to a Kama or a Chakram, able to slicing by means of partitions and enemies alike, unlocking new ranges, and delivering large injury.
Their mixed rage additionally fuels devastating assaults. Each time an enemy is defeated with a Hypercharged assault, their fury grows. As soon as their rage reaches a peak, gamers can unleash a screen-clearing assault, a spectacular show of vengeance and energy. True to the spirit of Ninja Gaiden, the gameplay stays quick, fluid, and relentless. All weapons and strategies are seamlessly built-in and there’s no must cease to modify characters. Fight flows naturally, conserving the adrenaline excessive and the motion nonstop.
Equipping your characters additionally performs an important position. Gamers can acquire Golden Scarabs to unlock new upgrades, talismans, and strategies. Kenji’s talismans deal with passive enhancements, similar to boosting melee injury, enhancing defenses, or enhancing Hypercharge results. Kumori, alternatively, brings a novel twist along with her Shadow Arts, unlocking new Spider Weapons and highly effective Ragebound Arts tailor-made to totally different playstyles and tactical approaches.
Since Kumori’s bodily physique stays trapped within the demon world, solely her spirit travels with Kenji, however by means of Demonic Altars, she will quickly return to her corporeal type. These moments permit her to work together with an alternate demonic dimension, revealing hidden paths invisible to human eyes. Nonetheless, her time on this state is proscribed, forcing gamers to assume quick, remedy puzzling conditions, and overcome intense challenges earlier than time runs out. These segments provide thrilling platforming sequences, strategic fight situations, and distinctive exploration alternatives which are designed so as to add to the sport’s rhythm and depth.
We hope you’ve loved this primary take a look at Kumori. We will’t wait so that you can expertise each the trail of the Hayabusa Ninja and the trail of the Black Spider Ninja on this thrilling new chapter of the Ninja Gaiden legacy.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound might be accessible for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 Summer season 2025.
