In the ongoing “Year of the Ninja,” Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Ragebound are followed closely by the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4. Meanwhile, Shinobi’s Art of Vengeance is set to offer its own ninja adventure later this month, where Joe Musashi reappears as the hero, battling ENE Corp, led by Ruse, to save the world.
In the lineup of reborn intellectual properties, “Shinobi: Art of Vengeance” is set to debut on August 29th across various platforms including Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Previews of the game are accessible for free on all platforms, though your progress won’t carry over to the complete version. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about Joe Musashi’s fresh journey.
First New Title in the Franchise Since 2011
Expressing it in a more natural and easy-to-understand way: It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen a new Shinobi title, and “a long time coming” doesn’t quite capture it. In fact, the last significant release from the franchise was Shinobi 3D on Nintendo 3DS in 2011, with the last console game being released all the way back in 2002. However, Art of Vengeance stands out as a true homage to the classics, largely due to its art style.
New Hand-Drawn Art Style
A stylish, hand-drawn aesthetic greets you, yet this phrase doesn’t fully capture its charm. The backdrops teem with detail and vibrancy; the character movements are smooth and lifelike; and the color scheme is nothing short of breathtaking, particularly during Shinobi Executions and Ninjutsu, where it truly shines in intricately animated cutscenes. It’s a visual treat that doesn’t compromise clarity, ensuring every detail stands out vividly.
Developed With LizardCube
Indeed, there’s a clear reason behind the unique art style and ambiance of Art of Vengeance. In collaboration with Sega, LizardCube is leading the development. They are best known for their outstanding work on Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, but they have particularly shone with Streets of Rage 4 which revitalized the franchise. It’s safe to say that they are an excellent choice for modernizing Shinobi while preserving its classic appeal.
Side-Scrolling Action Platformer
In essence, Art of Vengeance offers an old-school charm with a fresh makeover, similar to Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. It continues the classic side-scrolling action platformer gameplay, whether you’re fighting foes or maneuvering through hazardous terrains. Similar to Shinobi’s return, there are innovative twists and new features to learn, which we’ll delve into later.
Over a Dozen Stages
The story begins in Oboro Village, which unexpectedly comes under attack by Ruse and ENE Corp. So far, over a dozen stages have been unveiled, featuring modern cityscapes, moving trains, industrial complexes, and more. Each stage offers hidden secrets, additional content, and bonus levels for those who wish to explore thoroughly. However, there’s also ample opportunity for speed-running.
Combat and Combos
In the game “Art of Vengeance“, the battles are remarkably intense. Joe has the ability to execute both swift and heavy attacks that can be combined into sequences, or combos. Swift attacks are ideal for defeating minor opponents, while heavy attacks inflict greater damage and can propel enemies into the air, allowing for additional strikes. Moreover, he can attack in mid-air, either with a basic slash or a powerful kick while diving onto enemies, and launch kunai from afar. The number of combos increases progressively, which may offer beneficial enhancements based on your chosen equipment.
Unlocking New Moves and Combos
In the game, Musashi will join forces with a few unexpected partners to confront ENE Corp. Along the way, these alliances grant Musashi entry into shops where he can acquire new techniques using gold accrued during each stage. These techniques uniquely integrate with his combos in various ways – such as delivering a devastating final blow or executing a running knee strike out of a dash that inflicts extra damage on armor. As you progress, you’ll uncover some nifty abilities, like a powerful mid-air heavy attack that releases an energy wave.
Shinobi Execution
It’s advisable to frequently employ kunai and powerful attacks against foes as they make your character vulnerable to Shinobi Executions. During these executions, Musashi dashes forward to eliminate the enemy, rewarding you with a burst of gold, health, and an immediate teleportation to the target. The more executions you perform, the higher your rank will be, so it’s always beneficial to position enemies for this technique.
Ninpo and Ninjutsu
As a devotee, I can tell you that Ninpo techniques in this game offer an array of spectacular assaults, from blasting flames directly into an adversary’s visage to flinging colossal shurikens. At one time, you can arm yourself with four of these abilities, and the selection is quite formidable – take for instance the Water Slash, which serves as a defensive counter, or the massive serpentine strike for a two-hit combo. Additionally, there are the Ninjutsu moves that emerge after gathering Rage orbs or receiving enough damage; these screen-spanning attacks unleash an overwhelming amount of elemental destruction.
Ningi Tools
Musashi boasts a wide range of movement capabilities. He can dash across the ground and in mid-air, flip over boxes (and after attacks to extend combos), and scale yellow walls and ceilings using his ninja claws. Over time, additional tools are made available, such as the grappling Ninja Hook and the Ninja Glider, offering more opportunities for exploration and uncovering hidden secrets.
Secrets, Elite Squads, and Rifts
In every level, there’s an abundance of extra content such as Elite Teams and Rifts. To access these areas, you may need to do some additional jumping or platforming. The Elite Teams will unleash waves of tough opponents, but since clearing them grants valuable rewards, it’s worth taking a short detour in each level when you can.
Amulets
As an enthusiast, I’d like to share a fascinating aspect about the game: amulets are interchangeable items that offer a variety of perks. You can carry two at once – one passive and the other active. The passive amulet grants advantages such as enhanced healing capabilities, while the active one amplifies your damage output under certain combo conditions. However, it’s important to note that receiving any damage will reset the combo counter, thus disabling those beneficial effects temporarily.
Difficulty Options
Upon beginning the game, you have three pre-set challenge levels to pick from: Shinobi, serving as the standard level; Apprentice, offering reduced enemy health and significantly diminished damage from environmental elements; and Novice, where both enemy health and the number of hits required to activate an Amulet’s effects are decreased. Custom difficulty is also available, allowing you to individually adjust parameters like enemy health or respawn location upon game over (except for bonus stages). Regrettably, there’s no option to amplify any of these difficulties beyond their initial settings.
Arcade Mode
After finishing a level in Arcade Mode, you have the option to replay it. This mode pushes you to complete the level as fast as you can. By accomplishing various objectives within the level, such as avoiding taking any damage, you can boost your final score. This feature is ideal for speed-runners and those looking to showcase their proficiency in a particular stage.
PC Requirements
Art of Vengeance aren’t too demanding. For a smooth gameplay at 1080p/30 FPS with minimal specifications, you’ll need a computer equipped with either an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 or AMD Phenom 2 X3 720 processor, 6 GB of RAM, and a graphics card like the Nvidia GeForce GT 730, AMD Radeon R7 240, or Intel Arc A310 LP.
If you’d like to play at 1080p/60 FPS, you’ll need a more powerful setup such as an i5-2300 or AMD FX-4350 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a graphics card like the GeForce GTX 650 Ti, Radeon HD 7770, or Intel Arc A310 LP. Regardless of your chosen setup, you’ll require at least 20 GB of storage space for installation.
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2025-08-07 17:53