The classic Shinobi series, cherished by SEGA fans, has a deep history reaching back to the late 80s. Although numerous popular installments were released, the franchise has been inactive since 2011. However, that has now transformed with the introduction of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, marking its revival.
This innovative new game, produced by the same studio as Streets of Rage 4 and Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, represents a daring reimagining that respectfully pays homage to its past iterations while assertively establishing its unique identity. Consequently, it offers a refreshing action platformer experience that is likely the best the series has ever produced.
In a tranquil setting, the esteemed head of the Oboro clan, Joe Musashi, resides peacefully. However, serenity is disrupted as Lord Ruse, accompanied by his E.N.E. Corporation troops, invades the village with an intention to eliminate the last obstacle standing against their ambitious global conquest.
In the aftermath where most of his tribe was petrified, Joe is driven to seek retribution against E.N.E. Corp. His journey involves a series of strategic attacks, and he encounters unlikely companions who join him in this mission.
This isn’t the most intricate storyline out there, yet it serves as an excellent blueprint for a side-scrolling action game. It transports you through numerous locations spanning over a dozen stages.
The levels are expansive, sometimes seeming slightly excessive, offering numerous paths to traverse. Although it doesn’t strictly fall under the category of a Metroidvania, its stage designs share many similarities, featuring distinct colored zones that hint at optional sections and boss battle arenas.
The stages aren’t just large, they’re diverse; starting with the picturesque Oboro village, you’ll delve into a lively lantern festival, a dazzling urban landscape illuminated by neon lights, a enigmatic underwater research facility, and many other unique experiences.
Every section showcases an appealing level of detail due to its captivating illustrated artwork. Occasionally, the sharpness might seem slightly blurred during close-up cutscenes, yet overall, this game exudes charm, with graceful animations for both Joe and adversary characters.
Indeed, what stands out most perhaps, is the delightful playability of Art of Vengeance. The fighting sequences, in particular, are a treat, due to moves that seamlessly blend together, making it a sheer pleasure to perform combos.
As a skilled gamer, I’ve got a mix of light and heavy attacks at my disposal, and as I progress through the game, I’m unlocking even more moves to add to my arsenal. By the end of this epic journey, I’ll be dancing enemies around like puppets, unleashing a flurry of ground assaults and mid-air combos that drain their life bars completely!
Maybe what really contributes to the smooth and fulfilling feeling of the combat is the option to interrupt an attack with a dash, enabling you to initiate a fresh combo and maintain your offensive flow. It’s incredibly enjoyable.
As a dedicated fan, I can tell you that unleashing heavy assaults and tossing throwable kunais are your top strategies to escalate an opponent’s Execution Gauge. When it’s fully charged, a symbol above their head signals they’re ready for an instant-kill Shinobi Execution.
The mechanic is incredibly appealing because not only does it offer an exhilarating experience when executed correctly, but it also gives you the opportunity to decide. You can either dispatch foes quickly, dealing with certain adversaries in the process, or concentrate on executing them, maintaining more enemies on the screen while simultaneously filling their progress bars.
Introducing strategic depth to an otherwise action-packed battle system, this game offers a wide array of moves that become available as you progress, ensuring ongoing excitement and engagement.
We only want to mention that enemies about to be executed, who might not be currently visible on screen, may occasionally be excluded from the gameplay. In our opinion, this rule can sometimes seem inconsistent.
Besides these, the character also possesses Ninpo and Ninjutsu skills. Ninpo refers to a collection of mystical techniques such as creating a fire blast or a protective water shield to deflect incoming attacks. On the other hand, Ninjutsu is a set of potent abilities that can be activated when the character’s fury gauge is fully charged. These include an attack that engulfs all enemies in flames and a powerful heal that quickly restores a significant amount of health.
You could also adorn two types of amulets – one functions passively, meaning its effects are constant, and the other becomes active when you successfully land a specific sequence of hits without taking any damage yourself.
You’ll gain access to a variety of amulets, each offering notable impacts that alter gameplay dynamics. They might favor specific Ninpo techniques, boost your rage meter fill rate, or even influence other tactical aspects.
Engaging all components creates a battle system that kept us captivated throughout, with the excitement lasting for approximately 15 hours without ever losing our interest.
The platforming aspect of this game is somewhat lacking, largely because of inconsistent collisions with specific walls and obstacles. However, overall, it’s quite responsive. As you progress through the game, you’ll acquire additional abilities like a grappling hook and a glider.
As you progress through the game, these elements increase the complexity of the platforming challenges, while simultaneously granting access to regions that were off-limits during earlier levels.
Discovering every corner thoroughly proves beneficial, as you’ll uncover numerous valuable artifacts such as Oboro Relics – essential for acquiring additional goods from the store – and Rifts, which transport you directly into challenging encounters. Successfully completing these levels also rewards you generously.
After completing the story, the game provides incentives for continued engagement. The arcade mode tracks your score and playtime per level, and awards a graded evaluation at the end based on your performance.
In this game, the levels seem longer; they aren’t built for quick playthroughs. However, the inclusion of Arcade mode is appealing as it caters to those who love competing on high scores.
As a gaming enthusiast, diving into the Boss Rush mode feels like facing off against every formidable foe in the game sequentially, testing your mettle with a single life. It might not revolutionize the universe, but it certainly serves as an enticing final test for those eager to put their skills to the ultimate test!
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2025-08-25 15:07