Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Looks (And Plays) As Sharp As A Ninja Blade

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Without a moment’s notice and all at once, the entire gaming industry seems to have reached a consensus: Ninjas are the epitome of coolness. Recently, we’ve seen a spate of games that incorporate ninja turtles, but this year appears to be the resurgence of classic human ninjas. The Assassin’s Creed Shadows game delivered a shinobi-samurai fantasy, and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was announced alongside an upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4. Additionally, The Game Kitchen is releasing a retro-style game called Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. Lastly, Sega is reviving one of its classic series with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. This year promises a plethora of ninja-themed gaming experiences, but I would advise saving some space for the Shinobi demo.

Art of Vengeance” was developed by Lizardcube, known for creating stunning 2D hand-drawn games such as Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap and Streets of Rage 4. These games stand out from other 3D games or even the pixel art of Ragebound due to their unique visual style reminiscent of comic books. Sharp, inky lines and smooth animation are characteristic of these games, and “Shinobi” follows suit, adding an extra layer of excitement as it showcases these elements with the swift and adaptable abilities of the Shinobi character.

The artwork seamlessly blends with the fast-paced, impromptu gameplay, giving players a sense of control and mastery over their ninja character. The game’s platforming and combat mechanics are finely tuned to ensure you always feel in command, taking on any single opponent effortlessly. However, the real challenge lies in managing the battlefield, as multiple enemy types appear simultaneously, requiring quick decision-making skills. You must first close the distance with ranged archers before engaging melee swordsmen. But just when you’ve got that under control, healers enter the fray, making them a new priority target. All of this unfolds on a 2D plane but maintains the essence of classics like Streets of Rage by offering an array of enemies to strategize against. Defeating a boss is suitably dramatic, with a brief cinematic glimpse of the titular Shinobi from behind, locked in combat with a formidable adversary.

Navigating the game between battles is just as thrilling due to your swift movement and meticulously designed platform levels. As a fan of the original Mega Man X series, I found myself reminiscing while performing wall jumps and dashing leaps over gaps. Initially, it might appear that this game belongs to the Metroidvania genre, with areas that seem inaccessible and unfamiliar stage elements. However, upon completing a stage and reaching the stage-select menu, you’ll understand that it’s actually a unique blend of genres. You progress through stages by completing them fully, but as you acquire more navigation tools, you can revisit previous stages to enhance your completion rate and improve your score.

Beyond just finishing the standard levels, I also engaged in a session of Arcade mode. This mode, adaptable to any typical stage, activates a combo counter similar to that found in fighting games. It encourages you to raise your score by defeating enemies with ninja-like accuracywhile avoiding being hit yourself.

From my personal perspective as an enthusiast, the one area where the game could have shone brighter was its narrative. Don’t get me wrong, the hand-drawn cutscene characters were every bit as stunning as their in-game counterparts, and the voice acting was dramatically fitting. However, the story itself seemed a tad thin. The valiant Shinobi was battling an army of villains who, let’s face it, seemed to revel in wickedness. There could be deeper layers to this tale, but from my limited gameplay experience, it appeared quite straightforward, lacking the unexpected twist or commentary that I usually enjoy in a story of this genre.

Despite any reservations about the plot, I’m perfectly fine with it if the game offers outstanding gameplay and stunning visuals. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance appears to be a fantastic follow-up to the original Sega series, offering a rewarding experience for fans of classic action platforming who appreciate skill and patience.

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2025-06-17 21:39