Shinobi: Art of Vengeance review: The strong, silent type

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By the close of 2023, Sega revealed plans to resurrect several dormant franchises from their peak period. Some of these originated during the Sega Genesis era, such as the action-oriented ninja series Shinobi. As a child, I was more acquainted with Nintendo’s Super NES, thus I didn’t have a personal connection to Shinobi or Joe Musashi. Consequently, I approached Shinobi: Art of Vengeance with little prior knowledge. However, it wasn’t necessary to be well-versed in the Shinobi universe to appreciate what an outstanding work of art Art of Vengeance turned out to be.

For honor

The game, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, developed by Lizardcube (known for Sega and Streets of Rage 4), follows the narrative of master ninja Joe Musashi. After spending years honing his swordsmanship, Musashi finds tranquility as a sensei to the Oboro Clan’s future generation and prepares for fatherhood. However, his peaceful life is disrupted by the arrival of an enigmatic antagonist named Lord Ruse and the military firm ENE Corp. They systematically destroy everyone and everything linked to the Oboro Clan, leaving only Musashi alive. This unfortunate event compels him to resume his duty as a ninja.

In the year 2025, I found myself immersed in the captivating world of Shinobi, a game that harks back to simpler times yet still feels fresh and modern. The narrative unfolds straightforwardly, serving as a backdrop for exhilarating ninja-style action. The lore is intriguing, but it’s not the main focus – instead, it’s Musashi, our silent protagonist, who steals the show.

Musashi communicates primarily through menacing grunts, a choice that could have easily been used for humor, but instead, it adds to his mystique. Remarkably, the game never comments on or explains this lack of dialogue, choosing instead to let Musashi’s actions speak for themselves. This decision lends an authenticity to the character, as we accept him not just as a warrior, but as a man of action who doesn’t need words to make his presence felt.

Indeed, Musashi can be aptly defined as a “man of action.” The Art of Vengeance may initially take some time to get used to and establish its rhythm, allowing players to acclimate to the sensation of being a highly skilled ninja with agility akin to a cat. Once players have grasped the basics, the narrative becomes thrilling with scenes that solidify Musashi’s reputation as an formidable warrior. Although those who have played the classic Shinobi games might find nothing surprising, for younger gamers or newcomers to the series like me, there is something undeniably awesome about concluding a pursuit sequence by having the main character ride a missile. This merely scratches the surface of Musashi’s heroic exploits as the story reaches its climax, and I won’t reveal his incredible feats that are yet to come.

You fight well in the old style

After gaining experience from Streets of Rage 4, developer Lizardcube seemed to have a clear vision for how they wanted their Shinobi reboot to feel. This 2D action platformer is easy to start playing, but it offers a rich mechanic depth. While you can usually defeat most minor enemies with a combination of light and heavy attacks, Art of Vengeance encourages players to master Musashi’s additional abilities.

The game’s visual appeal is partly responsible for its charm, as the art style perfectly complements the title “Art of Vengeance”. To delve into the gameplay, let me emphasize that the artistic aspects are not overlooked; this game boasts a hand-drawn Japanese ink aesthetic that stands out throughout. Although it’s a 2D game, the environments are meticulously detailed, extending from the far-off background to the foreground, where objects appear to create an optical illusion of depth. However, there is a drawback: certain foreground objects can sometimes obstruct enemies or paths, which may seem deceptive as hidden paths could be concealed behind seemingly insignificant objects like large boulders. Nevertheless, the game’s art style also enriches Musashi’s special Ninpo and Ninjutsu moves, making them visually captivating whenever they appear on screen.

Regarding the moves in Ninpo and Ninjutsu, as you advance in the game, Musashi acquires these abilities. These moves have diverse applications – Ninpo moves can either shatter an enemy’s armor or inflict massive damage, often fitting nicely into a regular combo sequence. The combat becomes more intricate when you blend light and heavy attacks with a Ninpo finisher, often leading to an Execution finish. On the other hand, Ninjutsu moves are related to Musashi’s rage meter, which fills up as he takes hits. These moves should be considered as last resorts but offer some of the most dramatic elements in his arsenal, making them a thrilling part of the gameplay.

Absolutely, a ninja’s combat skills are merely one aspect of their overall prowess. The level design in Art of Vengeance stands out due to its self-contained stages, many of which have complex layouts reminiscent of labyrinths, leading Musashi to retrace his steps and search for hidden treasures or secrets. When Musashi isn’t engaged in combat, he smoothly navigates each stage using double jumps, air dashes, grappling hooks, and gliders. It might seem like a lot, but the control scheme is so intuitive that it’s easy to perform these actions fluidly. The parts of the stages where players must utilize their platforming abilities are where Art of Vengeance truly shines, although the punishment for missing any jumps can feel quite harsh, as Musashi respawns at the start of the sequence if he encounters an obstacle, which can be particularly challenging during longer sequences. In essence, if Musashi hits any obstacle, he resets back to the beginning of that particular section, which can be particularly tough in extended sections.

Forever training to be the strongest

After wrapping up Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, I found myself craving more from Sega and Lizardcube, and they didn’t disappoint! Besides hunting for all the goodies in Story Mode – those Ankou Rifts that offer exhilarating platforming and combat sequences – they’ve also introduced new gameplay modes to keep us engaged. The Arcade Mode, in particular, caters to the classic Shinobi fans like me, providing pure ninja action with no dialogue to distract. Honestly, Musashi can get a bit chatty, so this is a welcome change! (And yes, I’ve got my fair share of cheesy jokes ready, but luckily, the game manages to keep things serious.)

In the game of Vengeance Art, it might seem tough at first, but Lizardcube offers a solution for beginners by allowing them to tailor the game’s difficulty level according to their preference, ranging from a small percentage all the way down. Unlike traditional broad difficulty settings, this feature lets players customize specific aspects such as reducing enemy health, impact, and environmental damage proportionally. It also includes options that soften the effects of combos and amulets for added ease, although most players may not find it necessary. However, it’s comforting to know these adjustments are available if needed.

Art of Vengeance offers a unique and exciting experience that doesn’t need to be compared to its 16-bit past. This game showcases impressive combat complexity, level design, and story elements that allow room for imagination without disrupting the action flow. It’s so good that some might question why this series took so long to return. Additionally, it makes one ponder if there are other classic franchises that could benefit from the Lizardcube treatment, as they seem to excel in their craft.

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2025-08-25 14:58