0
0
Growing up, I played a ton of the original Shinobi games (and Shadow Dancer) on the SEGA Mega Drive. I didn’t have the cartridges, but I had friends who did. The Shinobi games were incredible! They blended high speed action, precision platforming and some really cool stages. They even had Batman and Spider-man as bosses! SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance unfortunately doesn’t.
It is a downgrade I admit but one that might be as bad as you’d expect.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance has some really cool visuals, great platforming stages (even stages that callback to the ones from the past games) and some really Metroidvania thrown into the mix too!
Doesn’t that sound like a killer recipe?
What is SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance?
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is a 2D side-scrolling action adventure with Metroidvania elements. It’s jointly developed by SEGA and Lizardcube, with SEGA handling the publishing duties. It is available right now on every modern platform under the sun – PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
Our review copy was provided by the super folks over at SEGA! Thanks so much!
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance attempts to bring the long dormant series kicking and screaming back to the modern zeitgeist. It goes straight to the series’ roots, going for a 2D gameplay style (eschewing the 3D Shinobi and Kunoichi) games.
In that, Lizardcube has succeeded spectacularly.
Joe Musashi returns yet again, as his clan is imperiled by the latest threat to the world.
With the other ninjas of the Oboro Clan turned to stone (alongside his doggie from Shadow Dancer, Yamato), Musashi sets out on a quest of vengeance against the entities that’s wronged him, ENE Corp and its seemingly unstoppable leader, Lord Ruse.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is an unholy amalgamation of 2D Shinobi, alongside gameplay elements from the 3D games. Namely the ‘Tate’ finishers, though in a modified state. The game encourages you to hit hard and fast, breaking enemies’ guards and then trigger the special finishes.
It’s like a macabre dance, where Joe Musashi slices and dices, dive kicks and shuriken barrages and then finishes his foes off with a bloody final hit. It looks cool, but more importantly, makes the enemy spurt out resources (such as health and coins) for Musashi’s continued existence.
The combat in SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is simply cathartic.
With each hit, there’s a slight pause to emphasize the blow.
It brings a crunchy sort of feel to the combat, which makes SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance feel like a brawler at times. It’s a welcome change from the older 2D games, where fights can be fast and brutal. In fact, the game’s much similar in style in that aspect to the 3D Shinobi games on the PlayStation 2, where stylish combat is the de rigueur.
Mushashi now has quick and strong attacks, alongside a plethora of moves (some to be discovered as you play) that adds strategic depth to his repertoire. Of course, the series’ ninpo special attacks return too! Though looking a bit different, they’re still evocative of the ones from the older games.
In a neat twist, Joe now can equip multiple different ninpo and skills at once. You can find or buy these from shops, and there are a ton of them!
You’ll assign them to button shortcuts, which lets you whip them out at a moment’s notice. It does get complicated (because LB is the crux of many of Joe’s moves) and having to remember what to press to do what in the heat of battle can be rather confusing initially.
Thankfully, time spent playing the game will slowly make that a thing of the past as your muscle memory improves. By the fifth or so stage, I had no issues pulling of ninpo or any moves whatsoever.
Speaking of stages, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance takes a more open approach to them. Not only do you get to pick where to go, the stages also offer multiple paths and a multitude of secrets that range from hidden collectibles to optional fights that unlock even more goodies!
You can even revisit past stages, and reexplore them.
Taking elements from the Metroidvania genre, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance has sections of stages where you’ll need specific moves to access. That usually means coming back to them after getting those required moves. I actually like this new change. It gives replay value to the stages and gives and element of exploration to the game.
It drives you to find all the hidden stuff in stages, to see what else you might unlock in a stage.
Stages also pay homage to the older games in the series!
There are parts that seem like they’re ripped right from the SEGA Mega Drive games.
Riding Yamato on a plain while a monster rampages in the background brings back a ton of memories of ninjas flying on giant kites, while Joe rides on his horse.. Veterans of the series will instantly get what I’m talking about there.
Musashi runs in forests, infiltrates military bases, fights in temples…I could be describing SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance or any of the other Shinobi games. It’s not a slight against the game, it’s a plus! SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance feels like a true sequel because it’s so familiar to old school fans.
Like any sequel worth its salt, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance also improves on aspects of the series.
For one, Musashi has never looked better.
Lizardcube’s 2D hand drawn art style may invoke memories of Streets of Rage 4 (they also did that game’s art) but there’s a distinct style that unique to SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance. Unlike Streets of Rage 4, which had a gritty feel to it, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance goes the other way. There’s a sleekness, a sort of cleanliness to it that’s unique.
It’s hard to describe it without seeing it in action for yourself.
Smooth, silky, super fluid action.
The game plays at an incredible 60FPS, with zero hitches, or stuttering or slowdown. Musashi runs, jumps, mantles, slashes, dive kicks, climbs and more like a ninja should. Every movement he does looks effortless and cool at the same time. Hotsuma thinks he’s so cool with that dangly red scarf (which I do admit is cool), but Musashi is in an entirely different league of awesome.
There’s a lot of fanservice here too.
Bosses are reminiscent of those from past Shinobi games (no Spider-Man or Batman though!), Mushashi is hilariously stoic and silent (even when people are talking to him) and the plot refers to the OG trilogy in some ways.
In fact, though it’s not implicitly stated, I suspect that SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance takes place canonically after Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master.
That’s because Joe’s now head of the Oboro Clan (which he wasn’t in games prior to Shinobi III) and he’s already married to Naoto and expecting their first child in SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance.
I also think the game’s set before Shadow Dancer, because Yamato (the dog) looks to be much younger in SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance. So yeah, convoluted timeline aside, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance might canonically be the latest.
The Bottom Line.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance takes SEGA’s premiere ninja warrior to a whole new level.
It elevates the gameplay from the old games and reinjects modern conventions to create something that feels familiar, yet fresh. The game’s combat is breathlessly frenetic, yet elegant. Its visuals stellar, and its gameplay mechanics deep without being convoluted.
There are some minor stumbles (stages share the same objectives, enemy types are lacking and there’s a ton of button shortcuts to memorize) but nothing that can’t be overlooked.
SEGA’s successfully revitalized two (Streets of Rage and now Shinobi) of their own school lineup now. At this rate, I’m really hoping somebody over there decides that it’s finally time to bring back Shining Force to its glorious SRPG roots!
Come on SEGA! I’m waiting!
TLDR:
Great action game that’s definitely a game of the year contender.
The Good:
- Art design is great.
- Fights are awesome.
- Metrovania-esque stages.
- Callbacks to earlier games are a great touch.
- Lots of optional objectives.
The Bad:
- Could use more enemy variety.
- Stages share the same objectives.
- Button shortcuts can get confusing.
Salehuddin Husin, EIC
Sal's been in the industry since the early 2000s. He's written for a ton of gaming and tech publications including Playworks, Hardwarezone, HWM and GameAxis. Recently, Sal served as a juror for the Indie Game Awards at Taipei Game Show 2020. A geek and hardcore gamer, Sal will play everything, on any platform.
You must be logged in to post a comment.