Hello everyone! On behalf of Game Kitchen, in collaboration with Dotemu, Koei Tecmo Games and Team Ninja, we are incredibly delighted to reveal a whole new addition to Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound: A second fully original playable character in the Hayabusa clan: the legendary Spider Clan.
In this article, we would like to take you behind the scenes of how this idea has come to life, from what you can expect from this new character and some gameplay details that we are particularly delighted to share.
Kumori is a proud Kunoichi of the Black Spider clan and serves as a convincing counterpart for Kenji, the other protagonist of the game. While Kenji still learns under the direction of his master, Ryu Hayabusa, Kumori has already won his place as a superior fighter of his clan. After a quasi-affective of the Spider Black clan, she carries the burden of the reconstruction and protection of their future. Impitede and pragmatic, Kumori fights without restraint and embraces modern weapons, enemy techniques and even the demonic powers to fulfill his mission. It follows no traditional code, only the path that leads to victory.
Unlike Kenji, who fights with a katana and focuses on the close range combat, Kumori Wields Kunai, granting at its level of range, a quick attack speed and the capacity to hit almost any position or surface. Its agility and adaptability make it an exceptional fighter, in particular during the engagement of enemies in difficult to access areas or chaotic meetings.
Despite their differences, Kenji and Kumori share common values: they are both motivated by loyalty, honor and a fierce sense of duty towards their clans. Although they come from the opposing sides, they represent a new generation of warriors shaped by the inheritance but not linked in the past. Their paths intertwine in a pivotal moment when they are faced with a powerful demonic threat, trapping the two in the world of demons. Faced with annihilation, they make an unthinkable choice: to merge their strength, knowing very well that their clans would never accept such an alliance. This impious alliance is both a blessing and a curse: a necessary link which will forever modify their destiny.
As a merged warriors, players have access to the best of the two characters, combining their weapons, their capacities and a new energy source: Ki. While players harvest ki from enemies, Kumori's spirit can invoke powerful spider weapons, like a kama or a chakram, capable of cutting through walls and enemies, unlocking new ranges and undergoing massive damage.
Their combined rage also feeds devastating attacks. Whenever an enemy is defeated with a hyperchargated attack, his fury grows. Once their rage reaches a peak, players can trigger a screen attack, a spectacular screen of revenge and power. True to the spirit of Ninja Gaiden, the gameplay remains fast, fluid and relentless. All weapons and techniques are integrated transparently and it is not necessary to stop to change character. The fight flows naturally, keeping the adrenaline high and the action constantly.
The equipment of your characters also plays a crucial role. Players can collect golden scarabes to unlock new upgrades, talismans and techniques. Kenji talismans focus on passive improvements, such as the increase in damage caused by scrum, improving defenses or improving hypercharing effects. Kumori, on the other hand, brings a unique turn with his shadow arts, unlocking new spider weapons and powerful raging arts adapted to different styles of play and tactical approaches.
Since the physical body of Kumori remains trapped in the world of demons, only his mind moves with Kenji, but by demonic altars, it can temporarily return to its body form. These moments allow him to interact with an alternative demonic dimension, revealing hidden paths invisible to human eyes. However, his time in this state is limited, forcing players to think quickly, to solve confusing situations and to overcome intense challenges before time is exhausted. These segments offer fascinating platform sequences, strategic combat scenarios and unique exploration opportunities designed to add to the rhythm and depth of the game.
We hope you enjoyed this first look at Kumori. We look forward to discovering both the Ninja Hayabusa path and the Ninja Black Spider path in this exciting new chapter of the Ninja Gaiden inheritance.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound will be available for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 Summer 2025.
