Before its official release, I was able to get a chance to try out SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, the upcoming game from SEGA and the developer Lizardcube, who also developed Streets of Rage 4. During my time with SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, I was able to explore the entire game and see how this title revives the Shinobi franchise while adding plenty of new mechanics and a whole new story.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance Makes the Combat Feel Clean and Fast, While Punishing Those Who Make Mistakes
A big part of SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is the combat that players will be using throughout their journey as Joe Musashi as they attempt to take down the dastardly villain at the end of this story, and it is safe to say that I was thoroughly impressed by the combat that was present within SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance. To keep this review spoiler-free, I will avoid talking too much about the combat mechanics from the later sections of the game and will mainly talk about the combat in general.
Due to SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance being a 2-D title, there are a few restrictions that developers have to figure out when it comes to combat, but luckily, Lizardcube is well-versed in dealing with these restrictions, and this understanding is evident within the game.
For me the best part of the combat within SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is that it isn’t a simple button-mashing game that allows the player to spam the same moves over and over to kill their enemies, but it requires the player to mix all kinds of combos, skills, and more so that they can defeat their enemies quickly and efficiently. Due to this, I found myself attempting all kinds of combat styles to defeat my enemies, which for me was a lot of fun.
To add to this, the game boasts all kinds of enemies that I had to take on that put my skills to the test while encouraging me to use all kinds of movesets to defeat them. Whether they be enemies who charge at you, enemies that fly, enemies that shoot, or so many more, I constantly found myself discovering new ways to take them out that didn’t bore me or make me feel infuriated.
Although as much as this combat experience was fun, I did find that there were a lot of occasions on which I found myself struggling against certain enemies or bosses. This mainly came down to the fact that the game only provides the player with a dash mechanic to avoid enemy attacks, which can prove to be quite tricky to get to grips with, especially when numerous dangerous objects are flying across the screen.
That being said, there were still plenty of features within the combat that I thoroughly enjoyed, as the entire playthrough felt fresh and fun, and taking on the numerous bosses, even though they were difficult, felt rewarding when I defeated them.
The World of SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is Full of Color and Style as Each Location is as Unique as the Last
Throughout SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, the player will venture through all kinds of different locations on their journey, with no location ever looking like another. During my time with SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, I was constantly in awe at the different locations I was venturing through, both in terms of the levels I was exploring and the detailed backdrop, providing a more scenic experience.
When creating a 2-D world, it is a challenge to make that world feel alive and detailed, as there is only a flat space to work with, putting a challenge on the developers to bring the player in and make them feel as though they are adventuring through a living, breathing world, and I feel as though Lizardcube has done this incredibly well.
While exploring each location, I constantly found myself not just looking around the general map I was in but also attempting to discover different secrets, chests, and enemies lurking around. I was also looking at the backdrops and detail put into each location, as they all had stories to tell, and I couldn’t wait to hear them.
A majority of my time within SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance was spent exploring each of these areas to their fullest so that I could see the world that Lizardcube had brought to life, and I was not disappointed, as exploring these levels was also fun in itself, as the parkour abilities on display by Joe Musashi helped me feel as though I could explore anywhere and everywhere.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance’s Story Lives up to the Original Games
In the past, the Shinobi games have always been known to have a rather unorthodox story behind them, but they most commonly follow Joe Musashi as he attempts to take down some evil-doer that is threatening either the world or Joe Musashi himself, and this game is no different.
Although I won’t talk directly about the story or anything that happens within it, I will say that it was an interesting story that kept me on my toes, as there was no telling what would happen. Throughout my playthrough, I was constantly intrigued by the story of SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance.
Due to SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance being a reboot of the Shinobi series, Lizardcube was able to create a whole new story that players were able to experience, which is good for new players who are looking to enter the franchise. However, there were also a few nods to the older games that new players may not understand, which could draw them away or confuse them.
For those who are familiar with the franchise’s history, this is a positive addition for them, as there are some familiar faces that players can expect to meet during their time within SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, while also providing them with a new story experience that introduces them to new characters and enemies they have never met before.
While playing, I found myself enjoying a breath of fresh air within the Shinobi franchise as well as seeing classic enemies make their return to the franchise, as it means that there is hope for other enemies to make their return in any future games that could take place, or a new path could be forged with entirely new characters to meet and discover; the possibilities are endless.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is a new installment in the Shinobi franchise from SEGA, acting as a reboot of the franchise, and has been developed by Lizardcube. Putting the players in the shoes of Joe Musashi once more, the player must take on Lord Ruse as they attempt to avenge their village and save the world.
Summary
During my time with SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, I found myself enjoying every aspect, from the fast-paced combat to the gripping story and the beautiful locations that I explored.
Although the combat was challenging to get to grips with, it felt very rewarding once perfected and even led to many satisfying victories against annoying enemies and challenging bosses.
HOURS PLAYED: 10
PLAYED ON: PS5
- Fun combat that felt fresh throughout the entire game as new abilities were unlocked.
- Each location was like a breath of fresh air, as they were all designed beautifully.
- Story is incredibly gripping with plenty of twists and turns to keep the player guessing.
- Even with the combat being fun, it can be very punishing if the player doesn't pay attention to the numerous enemies around them.
- Exploration can be very challenging due to odd hit boxes on threats.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is set to release on August 29th on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
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I am a long-time writer who enjoys talking about numerous different game genres as well as playing them. My main focuses are games like Helldivers 2, Warframe, and so much more.
