Review of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance for Xbox – Joe Musashi reaches the top in his return

With no pity for those who want to set the world ablaze, a delivery that takes us back to the best moments of this saga.

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There are sagas that have accompanied several generations of players and have, over time, become genuine benchmarks within the video game industry. Many of them were born in the 80s, an era when companies like Nintendo and SEGA set the course for the sector. In this context, Shinobi emerged, one of SEGA’s most beloved intellectual properties, which debuted in 1987 in arcades, even before Ninja Gaiden burst onto the scene.

From that first title, Shinobi made it clear that side-scrolling action games starring ninjas had enormous potential to captivate the audience. Its proposal combined speed, precision, and special abilities with a challenging level design that was etched in the memory of many players. In fact, along with Ninja Gaiden, it laid the foundations for what would become action and platform games in the years to come.

Now, several decades later and after a long period of silence, the saga returns with force under the title Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. This new chapter not only seeks to revive nostalgia but also demonstrate that the franchise still has a lot to offer today. SEGA, in collaboration with Lizardcube studio, has opted to bring back Joe Musashi and the essence of the series, but adapted to modern times. Today, we tell you everything you need to know about this eagerly awaited return.

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Technical Section

One of the most powerful aspects of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is, without a doubt, its technical section. The game achieves an extraordinary balance between the classic and the contemporary, offering a visual experience that grabs your attention from the first minute, it has something unique that you only realize when you play it.

Graphically, the title bets on a hand-drawn artistic style that feels unique. Unlike pixel art (so present in many current retro productions), here we opt for a detailed stroke and fine animation that remind us more of a Japanese anime work than an 80s game.

Enemies have very well-made animations that don’t give the sensation of being repetitive. From simple thugs to very ugly creatures, each enemy has a behavior and style that add variety to the experience. It’s striking to see how Ninja movements are mimicked on screen: their jumps, attacks, and movements convey the feeling of controlling a master.

• In some levels, we’ll fight on top of a moving train, in others, we’ll surf the waves on a surfboard or venture into futuristic cities filled with lights and references to SEGA’s history. Neon City, for example, is a true audiovisual spectacle.

At first, it may seem like certain moments present performance drops, but in reality, it’s an artistic resource: a kind of slow-motion that adds tension to the combats. It’s a detail that surprises, but ends up working wonderfully once you get used to it.

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Gameplay

Gameplay doesn’t fall behind. In fact, it’s here where the game demonstrates that the essence of Shinobi remains intact:

We once again embody Joe Musashi, leader of the Oboro clan, who must face a new global threat led by the sinister Lord Ruse and his army of demons and mercenaries. The story, although simple, serves as a perfect framework for immersing ourselves in an intense and challenging adventure.

The level design follows a structure divided into phases. Each world has several stages that can be completed in a different order, which adds some freedom without losing the main focus. Although some scenarios contain areas that can only be accessed with specific abilities, the title doesn’t become a full-fledged Metroidvania (it gives the impression of being one). Its focus is more on direct action than exploration, although finding secrets and unlocking additional content adds a touch of replayability that’s very welcome.

• In terms of combat, we have a wide repertoire of movements. We have light attacks, powerful attacks, jumps, dashes, and, of course, the use of the katana as the main weapon. To this, we add special attacks known as Ninjutsu, which include fire abilities, shuriken bursts, or high-speed charges. These movements consume an energy bar that we must manage carefully to use them at the right moment.

There are hordes of enemies in each scenario that we can activate to obtain a reward (they’re optional), although we’ll only get it by completing them all. They’re a good challenge and take us away from the story for a moment, to test our skills and push them to the limit.

The game also incorporates special arts that work as final attacks or enhancers. And speaking of bosses, here we find bittersweet sensations, each confrontation is impressive, with attack patterns that sometimes require patience, reflexes, and a good dose of trial and error. Although, they’re not as demanding as we’d expect.

As we progress, we obtain orbs that can be redeemed in the game’s store to unlock new abilities, both active and passive. We have certain improvements and, so to speak, light touches of an action RPG. This progression system adds variety and depth, as it allows us to adapt our combat style according to our preferences.

Gameplay feels like a constant dance. Each of Joe’s movements is part of a kind of choreography that conveys the Ninja essence. The satisfaction of chaining combos and finishing off a wave of enemies without taking damage is one of those pleasures that only well-designed games can offer, and this one achieves it.

Additionally, we have strategic save points that allow us to rest between phases or return to previous areas to complete secrets. Each level shows a progress percentage, which makes it easy to know how much we have left to explore and complete.

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Duration

The main campaign can be completed in around 10 to 12 hours, depending on the player’s skill. However, reaching 100% of the content will take much longer. The game is full of secrets, hidden keys, alternate costumes, special challenges, and optional areas that invite us to replay each level.

• Some of these challenges involve combat in arenas against increasingly tough enemies, while others consist of overcoming sections with specific restrictions, which adds variety and puts our skills to the test.

Replayability is reinforced by the possibility of unlocking additional movements and customizing our abilities. The best part is that this extra content never feels like unnecessary filler. On the contrary: each discovered secret brings satisfaction and rewards our effort, something that’s appreciated.

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Conclusion

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance marks the triumphant return of a legendary saga that had been silent for too long. SEGA and Lizardcube have achieved what seemed almost impossible: bringing back the essence of Shinobi without falling into mere nostalgia, offering a game that works for both veterans and new generations.

Comparing it to sagas like Ninja Gaiden is inevitable, but also unfair. While Ninja Gaiden always bet on more frantic gameplay and a high level of difficulty, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance offers a more balanced rhythm, with an emphasis on combat and strategy. They’re two distinct proposals that, in reality, complement each other.

Thanks to Cosmocover for providing us with the code to perform this analysis.