If you had told me years ago that the Shinobi series would be receiving a new entry, I would have laughed. Rather than I would think it was a dream. However, Sega and Lizardcube surprised everyone with the announcement and now release of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. I have been a fan of the Shinobi series since I was a kid. I remember playing Revenge of Shinobi on the 6-Pak for Sega Genesis. So seeing that a new game was coming from the developers of Streets of Rage 4, I was ecstatic. Moreover, having not one but two ninja games so close, with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, is surreal. But does Joe Musashi’s appearance in modern gaming hold up well?
Well, I am happy to report that not only does it hold up well, but it slices a clean path. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is given a fresh face, but with a great new story and game mechanics, it’s the perfect combination. While some levels overstay their welcome, the game is a fantastic revival. Further cementing that with SEGA IPs coming back to life, Lizardcube is the perfect one to bring the resurrection.
Shinobi Storytelling With a Vengeance
Firstly, the story of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is great. Players step back into the role of iconic shinobi, Joe Musashi. Having restored the Oboro Clan, things have turned upside down. They are attacked by Lord Ruse and the ENE Corp, with his entire clan being turned to stone. Rather than roll over, Joe decides to enact vengeance by going after those responsible. Along the way, he encounters both new friends and old adversaries from his past adventures. All on the path to ensuring that Lord Ruse’s goals don’t come to fruition.
It’s a classic style of Shinobi storytelling, but with a darker, more fantastical twist. Something that the series has been gradually moving towards. However, it’s a great thing. Shinobi has always been about good versus evil, which turns into a greater evil. While some may consider it safe, it feels like home to me. Joe Musashi has dealt with various evil organizations. Whether it’s Zeed, Neo Zeed, or Union Lizard. ENE Corp being the new big bad is good, especially with it feeling like a 1 versus 1000 story.
Sometimes in classic SEGA titles, it would have seemed like the narrative is taking a backseat to the action. While this is normally true, in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, it feels on par with the fast-paced slicing action. I actually feel for what Musashi experiences and want to go on this vengeful journey with him. The man has gone through so much over the series. Who in their right mind still wants to try and challenge him?
Cool Collectibles and Lengthy Levels
There are a variety of different collectibles to search for in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. From Oboro Relics to ENE Elite Squads, there is plenty to collect and do in the game. Some require backtracking after completing most of the game, while others can be grabbed right away. They can reward you with different bonuses to help Joe, like more coins to purchase new moves. Or permanent buffs like more kunai to use. It gives you a reason to keep playing through the game afterwards. What makes the collectibles even better is that the game isn’t oversaturated with them. Therefore, not to give the feeling of a collect-a-thon platformer.
One of the standouts in this regard, though, is the Ankou Rifts. Unlocked later in the game, you can come across these portals to be teleported to a new area. Upon arriving, you must complete different types of puzzles to earn a reward at the end. These range from simple platforming to fighting tough enemy waves. It’s a unique way to gather a different type of collectible, while also testing the players’ skills they have learned so far.
When it comes to the levels, though, they may vary, but that’s the only positive. Rather, they tend to overstay their welcome with how vast they are. The game itself isn’t too long, taking me around 10 hours to get through the story. With over 14 different stages for you to be able to experience. Lizardcube does a lot right with this and Streets of Rage 4. But one thing both share in common is that stages can be too long sometimes. When instead, they could benefit more from smaller but more levels. Therefore, it gives you a variety and a change of scenery.
Same Old Musashi, New Shinobi Moves
The gameplay is at the forefront of the newest Shinobi title. Ditching the days of one-hitting enemies, players now contend with creating combos while slicing up foes. Honestly, at first, I was worried about the notion. But after playing the demo and making my way through the first level again, I love it. Creating high hit combos and switching between normal and power attacks creates a better feel for the action. Something that I would love to see in future entries as well.
That’s not all, though. The game features the Ninpo system, where you can use different abilities to assist you in a fight. For example, you can shoot fire, throw a big shuriken that deals armor damage, and more. Additionally, you spend Ninpo Cells to use the ability, being able to earn by attacking foes. This only further adds to the impressive action, allowing for varied combos while mixing in the Ninpo for a more devastating effect. Moreover, being able to equip four at a time makes for a great time.
Joe Musashi can also utilize various Ninjutsu and key items to aid as well. The former are magic abilities that charge from various means. Some can do things like fully heal Joe or even damage all enemies on screen with fire. A series staple since the original arcade title. While the latter, key items like claws to climb or a special move to destroy barriers are now present. It gives players a reason to go backtrack through old levels to access and play through more secret areas. Making a shorter-style campaign length turn into a longer adventure.
Game Modes All Around
There are a variety of game modes to enjoy in the game. The story mode of the game is only the beginning. Upon beating it, you unlock the Arcade and Boss Rush modes. Starting with the former, Arcade Mode challenges players to be timed as they work to complete the different levels. Furthermore, by completing specific rules and performing better, you are graded at the end of the stage. It’s an addictive choice of a mode to play. Even more so with all of the replayability that it can provide in trying to get that beloved “S” rank.
In terms of Boss Rush, if you’re unfamiliar, it involves running a gauntlet of the game’s bosses. There are no continues, and you must be able to get through them all in a single life. This is something rather fresh for the series, along with the Arcade Mode, and they are implemented well. Furthermore, it gives you even more playtime in the game, which is always a win.
Difficulty is Subjective for a Master Ninja
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance runs in a similar vein to Ninja Gaiden by having the gameplay feel faster-paced in a 2D environment. The difficulty gradually climbs as you proceed through the campaign. However, what separates them is that in this ninja entry, there is no sudden, massive uptick in difficulty scaling. Rather, it continues to slowly get tougher. I was playing on the standard Shinobi difficulty and only had a few times where I was stuck on a boss or combat encounter, namely the Elite Squads. But, other than the game feels fluid with its difficulty, providing a challenging but not unfair experience.
Although don’t let this discourage you if you want to play on the more casual side. The game offers custom difficulty settings. You can customize the damage you take, the enemy attack rate, environmental damage, and more. Therefore, it offers you to tailor the game to an experience more suited to your playstyle. Plus, on the flip side, if you want to make things even more challenging, you can do that, too. Being able to customize the difficulty is something more games are starting to put in, and it’s beneficial for everyone.
Players being able to enjoy at their own leisure and playstyle is always a win to me. Games such as those in the soulslike genre are all about one difficulty. But with titles like this that offer variety, being able to encompass all types of players is great. And also something we need to see more of in games. Overall, though, Lizardcube really nails it on how the game should be. Games like Revenge of Shinobi and Return of the Ninja Master are tough to conquer without some practice with them. So having Shinobi: Art of Vengeance follow suit is a welcome addition to the series, difficulty-wise.
The Series Has Never Looked and Sounded Better
The newest Shinobi entry looks absolutely stunning. As I previously said, the game was created by the team that did Streets of Rage 4. With that, they brought along the hand-drawn 2-D art style, and it suits it perfectly. Additionally, the game runs at 1080p/60fps, and I never experienced a single hiccup with its performance. The boss designs are great, ranging from oni to rival ninjas and much more. Even the attention to detail is impeccable. For example, I was playing on a level with various puddles of water on the ground. When I ran by them, I noticed you can see Joe in the reflections. It’s such a small detail, but amazing to see nonetheless, showing Lizardcube is really paying attention when it comes to visuals.
The game doesn’t stop at the visuals, though; the audio is incredible. The game’s soundtrack is superb. Produced by Tee Lopes and Yuzo Koshiro, you can absolutely have their touch on it. Lopes, having previously worked on Sonic Mania and Koshiro. the Streets of Rage series and Revenge of Shinobi. The music is just one part of the goodness, with the sound effects of slashing your way through enemies being another. Both the light and heavy attacks give the impression that they hit hard just from the noise.
There are times when audio and graphics are overlooked in games. However, for a title like this, both are great achievements that shouldn’t be passed by.
A Fantastic Shinobi Endeavour
Overall, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is another amazing addition from Lizardcube. It’s a fun story mixed with the hectic action platforming, making for a blast to play. While the levels can overstay their welcome, it’s really the only knock the game has against it. Bringing Tee Lopes and Yuzo Koshiro makes for another great SEGA soundtrack. Plus, the variety of game modes and collectibles offers the players a great choice of replayability for Joe Musashi’s latest outing. With callbacks to other titles in the series, veterans of the series are sure to appreciate what they find. However, the title serves as the perfect starting point for any new players wanting to experience a new ninja journey.
My time with the game is great. Going through and exploring the secret places I missed makes me realize something again. That Lizardcube makes their games with love and for players to enjoy. When it comes to future SEGA titles, I am more than happy with these developers getting their hands on them first. We are more than halfway through 2025. However, I have a feeling that Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a true game of the year contender.
