Remember when ninjas dominated pop culture? Back then, every kid wanted to be one. They were everywhere—from cartoons and Hollywood movies to toy shelves. A lot has changed since the 80s. Ninjas are still cool, but not quite the phenomenon they once were. The same can be said about SEGA’s former flagship series, Shinobi. I grew up as a Nintendo kid (well, Famiclones, to be precise), but I still have fond memories of playing Revenge of the Shinobi at a friend’s house—the one lucky enough to own a knockoff Mega Drive.
It’s been decades since Shinobi and its hero, Joe Musashi, held cultural relevance. Yet, if the modern gaming industry has shown us anything (beyond its corporate pitfalls), it’s that nothing stays buried forever. Just as SEGA eventually bounced back from its troubles, Joe Musashi is now set to make a comeback in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance.
A Ninja for a New Age
The thing that excited me the most about Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is that it’s helmed by Lizardcube, the co-developers of Streets of Rage 4, a game that has a permanent home in my PC’s storage device. That was reason enough for me to dive into Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, and oh boy, I’m so glad that I did. If you just want the short version, this is the most fun I’ve had with a 2D platformer since Blasphemous. From the moment you boot it up, Art of Vengeance impresses with stunning visuals, silky-smooth controls, and combat that hits the right notes between deep and fun—chef’s kiss all the way.
That said, there’s one caveat. What pops into your head when you think of Shinobi? Because, depending on your memories and expectations, this reimagining might catch you off guard. I’ve seen folks on the Steam forums turning away from Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, disappointed by how different it feels compared to the original trilogy. Those hoping for a classic, by-the-numbers retro action-platformer might find themselves let down, just like with the PS2 entries from the early 2000s, which were departures in their own right.
Art of Vengeance isn’t a by-the-book throwback; it’s a modern 2D action platformer, sprinkled with light Metroidvania elements—much like Ori or Blasphemous. If you go in looking for that fresh mix rather than a strict revival, you’re in for something special. For fans ready to embrace Shinobi’s new direction, the game promises an unforgettable adventure.
Master Ninja
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, even with its myriad of mechanics, is an easy game to pick up and play. You once again play as Joe Musashi (who never utters a single word, despite the game being fully voice-acted), exacting revenge on the ENE corporation after they attack his village and dojo, slaughtering his students. It’s your run-of-the-mill badass savior trope that will never get old, at least for games like this. You don’t play a game like this for the story, but the story it has is presented through gorgeously illustrated scenarios, similar to the PSP Yakuza games. The campaign will take approximately 10-15 hours, depending on your play style. Once you beat the campaign, there is an Arcade and Boss Rush mode to take on, just like Streets of Rage 4.
One of the things that really makes Shinobi: Art of Vengeance shine is the combat. Instead of sticking with the classic 2D fighting style, Lizardcube has peppered in a combo-based system inspired by the brilliance of Streets of Rage 4—so every battle feels fresh and exciting, even as you work your way through the lengthy campaign. Joe Musashi’s trusty katana makes a return as his main weapon, joined by a satisfying kunai throw for extra flair. You’ve also got rechargeable magical Ninjutu and Ninpo powers, bringing in a dash of Ninja Gaiden nostalgia, and Musashi can take out multiple weakened foes at once or unleash a devastating ultimate move for huge damage or defense. The best part? All of these moves flow together effortlessly into a combo system that’s backed by tight, responsive controls—truly some of the best in the genre. The combat is simply a joy to master and will peak at the hands of speedrunners and tricksters.
Filled to the Brim
The levels in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance are huge, often taking upwards of 30+ minutes to finish, and nearly 1 hour for completionists. Most of the levels have you parkouring across a wide variety of locations, ranging from villages, forests, deserts, neon-lit cityscapes, underground bunkers, and forgotten sanctums. The artists at Lizardcube don’t hold back in delivering standout vistas filled to the brim with detail. Heck, it can be a bit too detailed at times, and I found it hard to keep track of Musashi when my Steam Deck’s screen imploded with colors and visual effects. It feels as if each frame of the game is worthy of a screenshot. Truly majestic stuff!
The levels of Art of Vengeance aren’t very linear. There are not a bazillion branching paths as Metroidvanias, nor does the game have beef/ability gate campaign progression. But there are plenty of collectibles/abilities/challenges locked behind campaign progression. Any time during the campaign, players can travel freely between levels (even choose which checkpoint to spawn in) to go back and collect hidden items previously locked behind an ability. Collecting clan seals will open up more moves/upgrades in the shop, and clearing challenge rooms will be rewarded with modifiers to Ninjutsu and new passives.
Beyond combat, players can tackle about ten challenging rifts to forge the Dark Katana. These intense combat and platforming trials feel like they’re designed by a Super Meat Boy enjoyer. Even the main journey is sprinkled with classic arcade-style moments, like racing against natural disasters to stay alive. One cool feature is that you get to choose the order in which to tackle the levels within each chapter, adding a bit of freedom to the progression. The chapters themselves are linked by vehicular or mount-riding sections, reminiscent of the classic TMNT games. Unfortunately, these segments don’t quite live up to their thrilling intent and can feel like a bit of a slog. Luckily, there are only a few of them, so they don’t overstay their welcome. Another point of contention is the pricing. The $30 price tag is a bit too steep for a game of this genre, and SEGA’s aversion to regional pricing is guaranteed to ruffle a few feathers.
Real Talk
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a fully reimagined tribute to a beloved classic. With its stunning visuals, satisfying combat, smooth controls, and thoughtful modern QoL features, it’s the complete package and might end up being one of my favorite games of the year.
FINAL SCORE: 95/100