DaRmaZat The legendary Joe Musashi returns in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, a side-scrolling revival built by Lizardcube — the team behind Streets of Rage 4. After years in the shadows, Sega’s iconic ninja resurfaces in a hand-drawn 2D platformer that aims to blend modern flair with the DNA of arcade classics.
A Blade Drawn from the Past with Modern Edges
Set in the aftermath of the Oboro clan’s destruction at the hands of ENE Corp, Joe’s journey is one of vengeance, duty, and survival. Alongside his pregnant wife Naoko and apprentice Tomoe, our favorite shinobi carves a bloody path to Lord Ruse, the corporate warlord pulling the strings behind his clan’s demise.
Combat is the beating heart of Art of Vengeance. Joe’s arsenal stretches from swift katana strikes and kunai throws to elaborate ninjutsu techniques like the fiery Karyu Blast. High-precision inputs matter: two quick light attacks chained into heavy slashes can devastate, while a timely roll or mid-air dash is often the only escape from volleys of shuriken and bullets. A rage gauge builds as you attack and dodge, letting Joe unleash devastating Shinobi Executions once filled. These powerful moves act as a modern interpretation of the earth-shaking ninjutsu from the original Shinobi games, translating classic techniques into fast, screen-clearing attacks that feel both satisfying and strategic.
Joe’s weapons can be enhanced with passive amulets that grant additional damage, while his abilities add flashy, situational effects that reward careful timing, provided you have collected the required Ninpo cells. Projectiles and enemy attacks can also be strategically manipulated mid-combo, giving the combat a dynamic rhythm that flows fast and satisfyingly — though it can feel chaotic with attacks flying from all angles.
What’s notably absent, however, are the traversal tricks that freshly minted fans of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound may expect — there’s no shuriken deflection mid-combo, nor bouncing off enemies or objects to extend airtime or the invincibility window. Instead, evasive rolls and dashes are your primary lifeline, giving combat a more rigid, grounded feel.
The Weight of Progression
Beyond swinging swords and casting ninjutsu, progression rewards exploration and careful play: defeated enemies drop gold and Ninpo cells, while five Oboro relics are hidden in every stage. These can be traded at the Yokai Shop, run by a green pig who attempts streetwise banter (a jarring tonal choice), allowing you to purchase new stats, abilities, and combos.
In some stages, exploration matters a lot when areas are set up as mini-labyrinths, which makes the local map useful for backtracking. But there’s also a world map, letting you revisit stages to tackle optional Elite Squad encounters, for instance, to receive rare rewards or simply in search of secrets. However, many encounters boil down to repetition, with limited puzzle elements or traversal challenges to break up the fighting.
Joe’s later ability upgrades subtly expand his traversal options. Cannon Punch can break enemy shields and Yokai barriers that once blocked certain paths, while Ninja Claws let him climb designated walls or hang from marked ceilings. Naturally, there’s also a grappling hook. Together, these tools encourage you to revisit earlier stages in search of hidden relics or shortcut routes. It’s a clear nod to Metroidvania design—though here it’s less about core progression and more about rewarding dedicated players with extra upgrades and resources.
Not The Old Shinobi
Visually, Art of Vengeance embraces a bold, cartoon-styled aesthetic, a striking departure from the somber style of the original games. The animation work shines when enemies explode into comic bursts upon defeat, though it occasionally undermines the darker tone of Musashi’s quest. Joe himself is presented as a deliberate blank slate — a dry stick of a protagonist who rarely does more than grunt. This stands in sharp contrast to the colorful supporting cast, most notably the talking green pig who runs the Yokai Shop and Yamato, the loyal dog whom Joe can ride in his own bonus stage. Their cartoonish presence leans into tonal discomfort, clashing with the otherwise vengeful, brooding tale and its grim origins.
Art of Vengeance’s level variety helps balance things out, though. The journey spans misty swamps, a fresh interpretation of Neo City, the harbor from Shinobi I reimagined as a bustling fish market, a festival under threat of terrorism, a vertigo-inducing mountain climb immediately followed by a deep cave descent, a labyrinthine secret factory that recalls “Green’s Factory” from Shinobi II: Silent Fury, and so on. Still, the design feels somewhat bare, missing the intricate environmental hazards of the originals. On the audio front too, the game lands somewhere in the middle. Voices that complement cutscenes are rarely memorable, at times simplistic or even cheap — not helped by Joe’s own near-mute delivery. Luckily, the soundtrack, roars with energy, its modern beats lending combat a visceral punch even in repetitive stretches.
On PC, performance is thankfully rock-solid. Load times are non-existent, frame pacing is smooth, and customizable accessibility options allow you to tailor the challenge to your preferences. From granular difficulty sliders to assist mechanics, Art of Vengeance feels modern in how it welcomes both newcomers and veterans — a rare balance in a series once infamous for its punishing difficulty.
Final Thoughts
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a revival caught between two blades. Its combat flows fast and satisfyingly, with chaining strikes and flashy ninjutsu capturing the thrill of Musashi’s legacy. At the same time, a cartoon-styled presentation and repetitive stage design keep it from reaching the intensity of the best in the genre. For longtime fans, it’s a return to a familiar world, though simpler, more predictable, and somewhat less fierce than the originals. For newcomers, it’s a competent, energetic action platformer — approachable, stylish, and enjoyable, though it never quite captures the essence of what Shinobi stood for.
Additional Information
Release Date: August 29, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: SEGA, Lizardcube
Publisher: SEGA
Website: Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Relevant links: Shinobi: Art of Vengeance on STEAM
