Agile & Ruthless Kumori Joins Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound as Second Playable Character

There’s nothing quite like an action-packed 2D platformer, and having made its debut back at The Game Awards 2024, The Game Kitchen, Dotemu, and Koei Tecmo are back to share more about Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. This time, the new update centres on a second, fully original playable character, Kuromi from the Black Spider Clan.

As a proud kunoichi of the rivals to the Hayabusa Clan, this new character will be an intriguing counterpart to Kenji, the other protagonist. While Kenji is still learning under the guidance of his master, Ryu Hayabusa, Kumori has already earned her place as the top fighter in her clan.

“Following a near-collapse of the Black Spider Clan, she carries the burden of rebuilding and protecting their future. Ruthless and pragmatic, Kumori fights without restraint and embraces modern weaponry, enemy techniques, and even demonic powers to fulfil her mission. She follows no traditional code, only the path that leads to victory,” shared producer and game director David Jaumandreu via the PlayStation Blog.

She uses her kunai for rapid, long-range attacks that can be used from almost every angle and position. Her agility and adaptability will make her a good choice during more chaotic encounters or areas with limited space.

More interesting, in Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, the two warriors can merge their strength in an unholy union to face the evils ahead: “As fused warriors, players gain access to the best of both characters, combining their weapons, abilities, and a new energy source: Ki. As players harvest Ki from enemies, Kumori’s spirit can summon powerful Spider Weapons, such as a Kama or a Chakram, capable of slicing through walls and enemies alike, unlocking new ranges, and delivering massive damage.”

Continuous elimination of enemies by a hypercharged attack will also build the characters’ fury. And at its peak, a spectacular screen-clearing attack will be unleashed. At its best, the game is a fast, fluid and relentless affair, which fans will absolutely love. Progression via upgrades will make both characters more powerful as well. Golden Scarabs can be used to upgrade damage, defense, special effects, weapons, and more, giving players option to use their preferred playstyle.

The team mentioned another way Kumori will bring something different to the table in the game. At certain junctures, she can interact with an alternate demonic dimension to reveal hidden paths. With a time limit to overcome, players must think fast, solve puzzling situations, and overcome intense challenges on these alternate paths. These segments offer thrilling platforming sequences, strategic combat scenarios, and unique exploration opportunities designed to add to the game’s rhythm and depth.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound will be available for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 this Summer 2025.