Hi folks! We at The Game Kitchen, in partnership with Dotemu, Koei Tecmo Games, and Team Ninja, are buzzing with excitement as we unveil an exciting new feature in Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. We’re introducing a brand-new, original playable character from the historic rivals of the Hayabusa Clan—the infamous Black Spider Clan.
In today’s blog, we’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look at how this idea came to life, what you can expect from this intriguing addition, and a few gameplay features that we are especially eager to share.
It all started with an intriguing concept during our character design process for Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. We asked ourselves: wouldn’t it be thrilling to step into the shoes of an enemy faction character? There’s something truly captivating about seeing things from the other side in our favorite games. The Black Spider Clan, known for its fierce style in the 3D Ninja Gaiden games, always fascinated us. We wondered, why not bring them to life in a fresh way? Thus, Kumori was born.
Kumori emerges as a formidable kunoichi from the Black Spider Clan, setting the stage as a compelling counterpart to Kenji, our other protagonist. While Kenji is still an apprentice under the legendary Ryu Hayabusa, Kumori stands as the premier fighter of her clan. After a crisis that nearly decimated the Black Spider Clan, she shoulders the responsibility of revitalizing and safeguarding their future. Kumori combines ruthlessness with pragmatism, wielding modern weapons, enemy techniques, and even dark powers to accomplish her objectives. She’s not held back by tradition, guided solely by the pursuit of victory.
In contrast to Kenji’s close-quarter katana combat, Kumori fights with kunai, offering her a wide range and speedy attacks, with the mobility to strike from almost any surface. Her agility makes her a formidable opponent, especially in those hard-to-reach places or chaotic engagements.
Though different, Kenji and Kumori share values rooted in loyalty, honor, and unwavering dedication to their clans. They embody a generation of warriors who respect their legacies but are not tethered to the past. Their fates intertwine when confronted by a demonic menace, trapping both in the demon realm. Facing annihilation, they choose to join forces, creating an unexpected alliance that defies their clans’ history. It’s an alliance that will forever alter their destinies—a blessing and a curse rolled into one.
As these fused warriors, players enjoy the combined strengths of both characters, blending their weapons, abilities, and a novel energy source called Ki. Collecting Ki from foes allows Kumori’s spirit to summon mighty Spider Weapons like the Kama or the Chakram, which can slice through everything in their path, widen attack ranges, and deliver immense damage.
Their combined fury powers devastating attacks. Defeating enemies with Hypercharged attacks feeds their rage, reaching a crescendo that unleashes screen-clearing devastation. Staying true to Ninja Gaiden’s legacy, the gameplay is fast, fluid, and unrelenting. All weapons and techniques merge seamlessly, meaning no pausing to switch characters—just uninterrupted, heart-pounding action.
Equipping your characters wisely is crucial. Collecting Golden Scarabs will let you unlock new upgrades, talismans, and techniques. Kenji’s talismans focus on enhancing melee damage, defenses, and Hypercharge effects. In a twist, Kumori’s Shadow Arts unveil new Spider Weapons and powerful Ragebound Arts tailored to diverse playstyles and tactics.
While Kumori’s physical form is trapped in the demon world, her spirit accompanies Kenji, and she can temporarily return to her original state via Demonic Altars. In these moments, she interacts with a demon dimension, unveiling paths invisible to the human eye. These segments push players to think quickly, solve puzzles, and tackle tough challenges before the timer runs out, enriching the game with thrilling platforming, strategic combat, and unique exploration sequences that enhance its depth and rhythm.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this sneak peek at Kumori. We’re excited for you to experience the journey of both the Hayabusa and Black Spider Ninjas in this thrilling new chapter of the Ninja Gaiden saga.
Look out for Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, coming to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 in the summer of 2025!
