Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Review

In the Year of the Ninja, who knew we’d have a Shinobi in the running? Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is the franchise’s first new title in 14 years, which came after an 11-year wait. The dormant series, shown revived in SEGA’s still-crazy five-game reveal at the 2023 Game Awards, finally gets its chance back in the spotlight. But does it live up to the reputation? After spending hours with Joe Musashi slashing demons, soldiers, and hard-as-nails bosses, it can be said with certainty that Shinobi is back and, with a few tweaks here and there, can regain its former glory once more.

Out From The Shadows

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, the 13th game in the series, is developed by Lizardcube, which did Streets of Rage 4 and Wonder Boy, and is the studio’s third-ever game. Fortunately, its previous titles rubbed off on it, as the gameplay is some of the smoothest action you’ll find in a platformer. I may be getting ahead of myself there, but it’s hard not to talk about the game without it.

The story in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance isn’t too complex: You are a Shinobi (the infamous Joe Musashi) and you have to kill the big bad and his pawns. There are many other factors, but that’s the gist of it. It’s a touch surface-level, despite taking some risks narratively. Similarly, the runtime, which is around 10 to 12 hours, doesn’t give the narrative much room to breathe. Still, story, while it can help, isn’t the main reason many play these types of games.

A Slice of the Action

On that note, Art of Vengeance has some of the best combat in an action platformer in years. Not only is it smooth and responsive, but it’s cool as hell. Using various Ninpo, throwing kunai, and unleashing massive, flashy ultimate moves was thrilling no matter how many times you see them. You can feel the impact of each sword slice as you fight hordes of demons, especially when you unleash a Shinobi Execution, which kills every enemy on the screen with an icon over their head. It’s incredibly satisfying to get through a tough battle, see the signs, and unleash hell upon them in one fell swoop.

Combos play a big role in getting the most out of combat. The more hits you deal without being hit, the stronger you can get. You can equip different gear that, once you hit a certain number, can unlock benefits like higher damage or health boosts. They aren’t too essential in battle, but it does feel good to reach the required number and see whatever effect you have occur, like a second wind.

Boss battles in the game do help you hone your craft with individual enemies. From returning foes to new faces, the devilish roster of baddies is pretty decent. Fighting them can be a lot of fun, albeit challenging. You’ll need quick hand-eye coordination not only to keep track of your enemy but also to make sure you aren’t on the receiving end of an attack. Within it, it’s a nice dance, trading blows until you get the last laugh in style.

Sharpen Your Platforming Skills

Most of what you do in Art of Vengeance is fight, though there is a good mix of platforming. While it works most of the time, there were some instances where it was rather frustrating. Some I chalk up to myself mixing buttons up or bad timing, but others just felt off, especially in later levels that go heavy into platforming. As you can die instantly from just one hit from a spike or flame, it can put you back quite far, even farther if you lose all your health, especially with the checkpoint system. It can be quite annoying when the biggest enemy is the environment, but once it’s out of the way, you get to the good bits.

Levels in Art of Vengeance are more Metroidvania in style, being open and full of various surprises and activities. Exploration isn’t necessary, but it does allow you to enjoy more combat and platforming challenges. For the most part, it does give each level its own style and memorability instead of being a throwaway location serviceable only to the plot.

A Honed Craft

One of the highlights of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is its style. The hand-painted-esque visual aesthetic is simply gorgeous, making every frame look like a work of art. Lizardcube and SEGA did an excellent job reimagining Shinobi in a more modern way that pays homage to the originals yet utilizes newer graphical upgrades. From gorgeous and vibrant cityscapes to rocky, barren caverns, each of them has a life of its own and is rendered nicely. Given that SEGA has claimed Art of Vengeance as a reboot (the second in the series), it certainly does feel like it.

Of course, the world of Shinobi, as bright and desolate as it can be, is nothing without the music. Fortunately, longtime series composer Yuzo Koshiro and Sonic Mania lead composer Tee Lopes have got fans covered with a great backing track. Like much of the game, it’s a mix of nostalgic and new, blaring techno beats mixed with woodwinds. It fits the series quite well, even if it’s split between the two composers.

Straight To The Point

Ultimately, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is unabashedly one of the year’s best platformers. Despite hard competition with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (which I reviewed here), it holds its own with its stellar style and amazing combat. Unfortunately, the safeness of the narrative and sometimes frustrating platforming and checkpoint system do weigh it down a bit. However, should the series go forward and fix the issues, we may see one of SEGA’s classics back in the well-deserved limelight.