This isn't the first time Lizardcube has revived a classic Sega title. It started with the remaster of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, continued with its participation in Street of Rage 4, and now we have the 2025 version of a beloved franchise, Shinobi. Personally, I was a fan of the original version (countless 20-cent coins were lost), but from then on, its course on Sega consoles was different from the more direct and in-your-face approach of the arcade cabinet. It is also different from the consoles in Art of Vengeance, as Lizardcube chose to follow the well-trodden path of metroidvania, a subgenre that has been thriving for many years, both in the preferences of players and "independent" developers. If this approach works, you'll find out right away.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance tells yet another story of the iconic protagonist Joe Musashi, who this time faces a huge threat in the form of the paramilitary organization ENE Corporation and its demonic leader Lord Ruse. The organization is so powerful and numerous that the only resistance on the planet comes from the Oboro Clan, a shinobi sect led by Musashi. Realizing the danger, Lord Ruse launches an attack on the village where Oboro is based, petrifying most of the clan, with his pregnant wife surviving at the last moment. Of course, Musashi could not let this go, and so he sets out on his own on the very difficult mission to destroy Lord Ruse and the ENE Corporation. It's pretty standard stuff, with a plot reminiscent of an episode of a Saturday morning "kids' show," but it works well in the context of the game.
A game that retains the classic style of separate levels, but is infused with many Metroidvania elements. Therefore, especially in the early stages of the game, we will witness many areas that we will not have access to, with the prospect of returning later, when Musashi has acquired the appropriate ability. Of course, most of the hero's abilities are unlocked automatically as we progress through the game, but the game doesn't stop there, as we can customize him to our liking by equipping him with skills (passive and active) of our choice. However, although the number of available skills is not negligible, there is no XP or skill tree mechanism, but rather certain abilities that we either find while wandering around (usually in hidden places) or purchase from the store, which is usually located near a checkpoint.
Consequently, the logic remains more "arcade" compared to other metroidvania games (money remains an important factor, however), but at the same time it significantly rewards players who decide to explore the maps more thoroughly and don't just go from point A to point B. This reward includes, for example, unlocking more "goodies" in the store, increasing our health, and even forging a better sword (Dark Katana) for the more obsessive players who will bother to find all the pieces. In general, the more often we return to previous levels and collect material, the easier our task will be later on, with Musashi enriching his repertoire with offensive moves and resilience.
In terms of gameplay, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is divided between combat and platforming. The combat element is excellent, with a fast-paced, robust battle system featuring numerous combos, dodges, ninpos (the so-called "wishes"), kunais, special moves, and combinations of moves that have impressive results. It is one of those games where you "feel" every hit, and victory after a series of battles creates a very satisfying feeling of accomplishment.
However, it is worth mentioning that, compared to Shinobi's "legacy," Art of Vengeance's difficulty level is quite low. On the one hand, because it allows, to a certain extent, button-mashing to be effective (for some, this may be a red flag), and on the other hand, because it is relatively easy to recognize enemy patterns and approach tactics accordingly. The same applies to the bosses, who always lurk at the end of each level, where, except for the final boss and perhaps one or two others, it is possible to defeat them on the first try. This has been criticized by several fans of the series, but overall the game is not that easy, as there are quite a few challenging scenes, both in terms of combat and platforming, where we will lose again and again.
The platform part is interesting and, for the most part, well designed so as not to cause serious irritation (with a few exceptions...), while it doesn't miss the opportunity to put us in so-called "chases." Fortunately, the controls work extremely well, with features such as double jump and dash available from the start (later we acquire wall-climb, glide, etc.), and we almost never lose because Musashi didn't obey our commands. And I say "almost" because I did notice some issues, such as when we try to climb platforms, with the hero's automatic climbing causing problems, such as falling straight into a stray enemy shuriken. Also, the fact that if the hero touches a trap, he doesn't just lose a little energy, but returns to the nearest safe point, can create a tedious trial-and-error process, especially if we end up failing completely and are forced to return to a checkpoint that is quite far away.
Even with the minor issues mentioned, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance proves to be a very enjoyable and exciting experience. It offers a welcome variety of situations, with each level having its own personality and challenges (some are full of secrets, others are more linear), while the visuals steal the show, with graphics that are a feast for the eyes. The artists at Lizardcube have already proven themselves, and here they present perhaps their best work yet. In terms of sound, the game is above average, although the English voice-over sounds a little funny to me—perhaps intentionally so.
In summary, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a very good choice for anyone who wants a fast-paced action game with plenty of exploration and platforming elements. It's not perfect, as there was room for improvement, but it's fun and perfectly capable of keeping you interested for the 9-10 hours or so that it lasts (double that if you want to unlock 100%). Whether it is a worthy successor to its legendary name or just a good game that bears the same name is something that is up to your own judgment.
Many thanks to Zegetron for providing the review code.
RATING - 86%
86%
Screaming for vengeance
A very good action/platformer that, despite its shortcomings, is really entertaining.
