Ninjas have enjoyed a storied legacy in popular culture, with their mastery over martial arts (specifically ninjutsu), unconventional weapons (like throwing stars and smoke bombs), and swift-as-wind espionage and assassination skills serving as prime material for the action genre. Then, there’s the matter of legendary, magical abilities that allow them to control elements, adding another layer of mystique to the original myth.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is certainly no stranger to adapting the craft for the video game medium, taking after its roots that date back to 1987. Marking the introduction of protagonist Joe Musashi, the arcade title found a strong foothold in the hack-and-slash space and went on to spawn an entire series of games, including the latest reboot. For returning fans, this marks a long-awaited revival after 14 years, packed with everything that makes SHINOBI special, from exhilarating high-speed combat to a wide variety of platforming action.
The game follows Joe Musashi on his journey to exact revenge on Lord Ruse, the mysterious leader of the military organisation ENE Corporation, which decimated his village, and thwarts the villain’s plan for world domination. But the real excitement lies in navigating obstacles and cutting down anyone who stands in the way, as it turns killing into a beautiful, enthralling art form that franchise newcomers, and especially genre enthusiasts, can easily enjoy.
For starters, there’s no fixed way to take down an enemy. Similar to fighting games, combat in SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance involves chaining combos, and it doesn’t take long for starting techniques to become available – besides stringing together light and heavy attacks or a mix of both, unleashing kunai attacks, Ninpo abilities, Shinobi Execution, and Ninjutsu are all possible attacking combinations. Each move plays out velvety smooth and has a notable weight to it, whether it’s a crisp sword slash or the satisfying crunch of a shield-breaking blow and aerial kicks, serving Joe well in their own way.
Where the kunai proves useful for striking foes from a distance, Ninpo offers access to elemental-infused magic that includes a short-ranged fireball attack, a defensive water stance for parrying an incoming attack, a giant kunai to wear down armoured opponents, a lightning dash that deals continuous damage in a spot for a brief period, and more.
Shinobi Execution and Ninjutsu further ramp up the adrenaline, with the former allowing Joe to chain-assassinate staggered enemies when a symbol appears above their heads, granting additional rewards after defeat, such as gold, health orbs, and kunai ammo. Meanwhile, Ninjutsu is akin to an Ultimate ability, and depending on the activated ability, it will turn the tides of battles significantly – Karyu, for example, sets all adversaries on fire to inflict devastating damage, but its water-infused counterpart, Shisui, does the opposite and replenishes a massive amount of health.
These techniques can be mastered as players progress through the story, and combined with basic movements for even more variation. Pairing a ninja roll with a light attack lands a knee attack once unlocked, and transitioning from a mid-air jump into a heavy overhead slam makes for an effective takedown. The addition of Ningi, mobility and traversal capabilities such as Ninja Claws, used to climb special walls, and Ninja Hook, essentially a directional grapple hook, with others like Cannon Punch, built for punching through certain walls, also doubling as a combat mechanic that breaks enemy armour. Some of the Ningi feature prominently in boss encounters as well, spicing up the typical battling experience through more dynamic, fast-paced manoeuvring.
With 17 combat moves, eight Ninpo, seven Ningi, and four Ninjutsu slots available, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is an open invitation to explore different combo loadouts and develop one that fits your play style. The possibilities are vast, be it close-range fighters, who can choose to combine Cannon Punch with a heavy swing or a spin slash before transitioning into a defensive Water Ninpo stance, or the aerial jugglers who take joy in chaining an aerial strike, rising strike, and a dive kick follow-up.
It’s not as easy as moving forward and mashing buttons, either – empowered and elite enemies often present additional challenges, such as having to dodge past shielded assailants and dealing damage by striking from behind. Similarly, there are caveats to unleashing any of the abilities, as the Ninpo gauge only fills up upon attacking foes, and the Ninjutsu metre charges when damage is taken or Rage Orbs are collected from felled enemies. It’s this build-up that makes the execution all the more satisfying, however, culminating in a rewarding, addictive payoff.
The final gear in the machine is the Amulet system. Alongside the other combat elements, it seeks to elevate gameplay flexibility by granting perks based on their type: Passive, which are active throughout, and Combo, which activate once the specified combo level is met. In the broader context, Amulets can prove handy in supporting attacking styles – players who like to keep their distance may equip Aquatic Warrior, an enhanced version of the Water Ninpo that adds kunai attacks, and the Piercing Kunai, allowing kunai to cut through enemies at twice the ammo cost.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance doesn’t just offer exhilarating, high-octane action, but turns it into a beautiful spectacle as well. The brainchild of French developer Lizardcube, known for their hand-drawn visuals in fellow SEGA-published title Streets of Rage 4, it showcases a world of gorgeous artwork and animation, comprising distinct stages ranging from military bases and a retro-futuristic setting to a scorching desert.
During battle, the facelift takes the form of vibrant, lively hues that colour each sword slash and ninpo, leading up to the breathtaking sight of a roaring fire dragon (which is where Karyu takes its name from). Players can also expect a neat comic panel-style presentation before the start of every boss encounter and an intricately detailed environmental design, topped off with an exceptional soundtrack that never fails to get the blood pumping. Pay close attention to Joe’s outfit, and you can even spot the flapping of his clothing as he runs!
Between versatile, rip-roaring combat and a visually arresting art style, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance has all the sharpened edges needed to usher in a new age of the classic 2D platformer action. The game releases on 29 August, but a free demo is currently available on all platforms (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC).
For those looking to get started on the journey, here’s some good news – courtesy of SEGA, Geek Culture is giving away three digital copies of the SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance for Steam, which includes the following:
- Base Game
- Digital Deluxe Season Pass (Starter Pack: Ghost Outfit, Medic Lite Amulet, In-Game Currency
- SEGA Villains Stage (coming early 2026)
- Digital Art Book + Soundtrack
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Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
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