Developer: Lizardcube Publisher: Sega Release: 08/29/25 Genre: Action Also on: Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series
It has been a long road back to relevancy for Shinobi. While his PS2 outing was solid his further adventures received a mixed reception at best. After the forgotten 3DS game I relegated Joe Musashi to the big box in the sky where all IP will end up eventually. But Sega had other plans and decided to give Shinobi another chance. I admit to some trepidation; the game certainly had the look of a winner. But looks can be deceiving. But I should have had more faith. I am happy to say Sega and Lizardcube knock it out of the fucking park. Shinobi is not only one of the best action games in years it is a modern classic.
The ENE Corporation, a paramilitary organization, begins a sudden aggressive campaign for world domination under its leader Lord Ruse. With his army of ninjas, demons, mercenaries, and technological superiority no one can stand against him. The lone point of resistance left is the Oboro Clan, led by Joe Musashi. Recognizing the threat they pose Ruse launches a preemptive strike and nearly wipes out the Oboro Clan. But Ruse’ mistake was leaving Musashi alive. Now he vows to avenge his clan and to wipe out the ENE Corporation.
Surprisingly Art of Vengeance is a little story heavy. You learn pieces of the plot between levels and it goes in some very interesting places. There are cutscenes during the levels as well. Tonally it can be a bit all over the place; the running gag is that Joe Musashi only communicates in grunts. It is funny the first few times but during the heavier moments it comes across a bit silly. In the end however it accomplishes its goal: providing an impetus for your journey and keeping you entertained along the way.
Nearly two years ago at the Game Awards Sega announced their retro revival project to bring back many of their beloved intellectual properties. We were offered a glimpse at five of them: Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, and this masterpiece. While it has been a long wait to see the fruits of their labor if Shinobi is any indication we are in for a treat. Lizardcube are now 3 for 3 when handling Sega projects and Shinobi is an absolute masterpiece. They knock it out of the park in almost every category and I cannot possibly imagine how they will top this one.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is more or less a direct sequel to Shinobi III, both story and gameplay wise. It builds on the foundation of that seminal game but takes it to the next level. Mechanically the game is dense yet very accessible. Combat, while familiar has more in common with third person action games than straightforward 2d action titles. The best way to describe combat is fluid. Musashi retains his move set from Shinobi III but gains a defensive dodge roll to start. With coins you can purchase a massive array of new moves, from flaming sword attacks, knee bashes, and even launchers that can be chained together to juggle enemies for massive damage. There is a lot, so much so that it can almost seem overwhelming. Yet the controls are intuitive and become second nature quickly.
Combat is incredibly free form and allows you to form your own combos with the large move set. The variety in skills and amulets you equip essentially let you create “builds” that focus on different aspects of your toolkit such as ninpo or armor breaking. Kunai for example are limited at first. You can purchase more but with the right build you can play the game like the original titles in the series. Attacking enemies builds up their execution gauge. Once full you can perform a Shinobi execution, instantly killing them which is insanely cool. Despite the depth of the game’s various systems you do not need to engage with all of it. Outside of one or two mechanics it is largely up to you. Granted you are making the game more difficult if you do not. But the game has suitable rewards and challenges if you do.
Each of Shinobi’s’ 14 levels is massive, so much so that each has a map. While the game is stage based each level has the structure of a Metroidvania, for better and worse. You will recognize many familiar callbacks to prior titles such as the chase on horseback and Neo City. But they are on a whole other level now. As you progress you earn ninja tools that help traverse the environment such as ninja hook, claws, and glider. The level design is generally strong as each stage wildly differs from the next. Some focus on specific tools. Some feature a gimmick you must work around. While they are long there are multiple checkpoints to warp around. The variety holds up until the game’s conclusion and is appreciated. As incredible as the boss battles in the previous games are these are near legendary and up there with the series best.
I will say even though I like the levels they do drag on a bit too long. If you do not care about side content you can spend upwards of thirty minutes or more in each which is excessive. The Mad Train is one of the few that is of reasonable length as it is straightforward. I wish there were a few more like this. That being said Shinobi: Art of Vengeance gives plenty of incentive to revisit prior levels. On your first run through each stage it is impossible to clear them 100%. There are many alternate paths and hidden rooms that contain collectibles and stat boosts. There is an army of amulets with varying effects, optional costumes, and even hidden boss battles. The checkpoint system makes it easy to warp directly to your destination and further encourages replaying the levels. As if you needed a reason.
Overall I found Art of Vengeance a bit easier than its predecessors. Despite the more involved combat you have more tools to survive. Ninja executions frequently heal you and are simple to perform. You can extend your life bar considerably as well as your stock of ninja arts. The generous checkpoints cut down on retracing your steps after death too. Boss battles seem impossible at first but they have easily identifiable patterns and with the right setup can go down quickly. For those that want a challenge it is there. The optional Elite Squad battles test your mastery of the game’s combat mechanics. And the Anko Rifts feature some of the hardest platforming challenges I have faced in years. The Arcade and Boss Rush modes strip your bonuses for a classic experience. Few will be up to the challenge.
In Closing
I am speechless. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a fantastic return for the franchise and one of the best 2d action games I have played in years. This is how you revive an intellectual property. It respects what came before while showing newer games why these games are so beloved. It hits a lot of what longtime fans want; stylish ninja combat, breathtaking visuals, tight controls, and a modern take on the classic formula. I cannot recommend this game enough; they rarely get better than this.
