2D action platforming fans have never eaten better than they have in the past five years. There has been a cascade of excellent 2D action platformers that fans of every genre could appreciate, and for another 2D ninja-based excursion in 2025, SEGA has excavated their stores of dormant IPs to bring the iconic katana-wielding Joe Musashi back into the spotlight in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance brings high-octane encounters, crisp and precise controls, and tight platforming sequences that can test even the most seasoned shinobi.
After over 13 years of hibernation, one thing is made apparent right out of the box: Shinobi: Art of Vengeance looks incredibly different from every other Shinobi title, and it’s for the better. The developers at Lizardcube really struck a chord with fans on Streets of Rage 4, with a strikingly fresh art style and environments flush with colour and vibrancy crafted by art designer Ben Fiquet. It appears the devs have noticed fans’ positive reaction to the revamped visuals, as they’ve deployed the same comic art style in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance.
I thought I would miss the 2.5D aesthetic of the earlier Game Boy Advance Shinobi titles, but after seeing protagonist Musashi leap from a comic panel, I will not look back. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is stunning, and Lizardcube’s gamble on a fresh art style has paid off. Ben Fiquet’s past work as a concept artist with DreamWorks, along with his experience on Streets of Rage 4, has helped Shinobi: Art of Vengeance achieve a visual design that grabs the player’s attention on every screen.
“Shinobi: Art of Vengeance brings high-octane encounters, crisp and precise controls, and tight platforming sequences that can test even the most seasoned shinobi.”
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance tosses players into the roomy jikatabi of Joe Musashi, the leader of the Oboro clan. When the big bad of the title, Ruse (who also doubles as the leader of an evil corporation referred to as ‘ENE Corp’) decides global domination would be a fun pastime and sets his sights on the peaceful village where the Oboro Clan live, it’s made apparent Joe Musashi is the only speed bump on his way to being the ultimate villain.
After steamrolling his village and burning it down, Ruse misses his main target, and the still-alive Joe Musashi is out for vengeance. This starts Masashi’s quest, and Joe will have to cut through each one of Ruse’s Court of Owls to exact revenge. This narrative makes the title go full circle. Shinobi is a true work of art based on vengeance.
Unlike other 2D platforming titles (looking at you, Hollow Knight, or Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown), Shinobi: Art of Vengeance opts for a stage select screen instead of a sprawling open world, and this is a breath of fresh air. Instead of having to crawl out of the Abyss in Hollow Knight after obtaining the shadow dash, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance allows players to exit to the stage select (called the World Map) at any time during gameplay. Maps allow players to fast travel between checkpoints, and although the trademark difficulty in Shinobi remains, SEGA respects the player’s time and gives these quality of life updates in navigation.
As an extra reward, the map screen highlights found treasure and collectibles, and the information remains after leaving a stage. This feature works automatically, without requiring memory. It allows players to uncover every item without turning to Nintendo Power (or, these days, the internet) or relying on other guides. With some careful exploration, even players who dislike collectibles may find this hunt approachable. The bonus items in Shinobi become more appealing when players return to stages, giving them another chance to appreciate the intricate level design. Put simply, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance looks outstanding.
Combat and platforming are where Shinobi: Art of Vengeance shines. Each stage not only looks sharp but plays remarkably well, with the developers at Lizardcube introducing constant surprises. Players will encounter combat trials, hidden treasure and tokens that can unlock new techniques on the shop screen. In each stage, a yokai pig operates a shop selling techniques and ninpo to dispatch enemies. While the pig adds flavour to the presentation, this is also where Musashi’s move set begins to feel legendary.
“After over 13 years of hibernation, one thing is made apparent right out of the box: Shinobi: Art of Vengeance looks incredibly different from every other Shinobi title, and it’s for the better.”
Once you master the basics, advanced techniques open the door to surprising depth. Few would expect 2D combat to feel this layered, yet Lizardcube channels the action of Devil May Cry 4 into a side-scrolling format with impressive results. Many stages pit Musashi against waves of enemies, forcing players to juggle opponents if they want to survive.
Musashi can launch enemies, perform aerial combos and slam them back to the ground, only to bounce them upward again to keep the chain going. The result is a satisfying stun-lock effect. Skilled players can quickly replenish the ultimate technique and ninpo gauges, weaving them seamlessly into extended combos.
Throwing kunai at enemies allows you to get their execute meter up and perform a stylish execution that makes the whole screen go red except for the black silhouettes of Joe and the enemy. Executions grant invincibility frames, and give Joe more kunai to throw and money to spend (sometimes, enemies even drop oodles of health points to extend your life) and ultimately, keep the action going.
The crisp action sequences demand players to tighten their grip on the controller. Every action in combat is designed to fulfill a gauge, or net some kind of reward when delivering punishment to the adversaries of Mushashi, and my god, it looks good doing so. Juggling the ability to hit stylish combos, juggle enemies, use incredible ultimate techniques and deploy magical abilities is what separates Shinobi: Art of Vengeance from the rest of the genre. While strategic building runs each playthrough of The Rogue: Prince of Persia, and cautious souls-like gameplay rules Hollow Knight, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance wants the player to force their enemies into submission with destructive combos, and it looks great in practice.
Stages are impeccably designed, and while enemy placement can sometimes frustrate (a nod to the series’ earlier entries), failure during platforming usually feels like the player’s mistake rather than poor design. Jumping from a zipline to a rope swing is responsive and satisfying, and the emphasis on tense, demanding platforming provides a welcome contrast to the weighty combat and striking visuals—even when the challenge is stressful.
I had some gripes with the shifts in difficulty—some enemies inflict disproportionately high damage without warning—but Lizardcube included difficulty settings to ensure less experienced players can still enjoy Shinobi. While certain encounters may feel unfair (particularly against counterattack samurai), adjusting the difficulty can turn these foes into far less intimidating opponents.
“Shinobi: Art of Vengeance proves SEGA still got it.”
Most stages end with a showdown against one of Ruse’s top henchmen, separated from the standard enemies and given large health bars and unique names. These battles act as skill checks, reinforcing everything learned so far. For example, one boss resembles a winged demon in glasses. He can ascend to the top of the screen and heal himself, but Musashi can counter this by using his rope chain technique to swing upward and deliver a flurry of jump kicks, breaking the heal and continuing the fight. The demon then crashes to the pavement.
At half health, the boss deploys a floating sword to complicate aerial combat, adding another layer of difficulty and tension. Once his health bar is finally depleted, Musashi can finish him with an execution move, just as with other enemies—a payoff that feels especially satisfying after wearing him down three separate times.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance proves SEGA still got it. After nearly 14 years of dormancy, Shibo has come back in full effect with a vibrant new art style, tight platforming and crisp controls that will make any gamer want to be a ninja. Quality of life improvements like fast travel respect the player’s time, while not watering down any of the difficulty (unless you want to by lowering it yourself).
Lizardcube’s insistence on making God of War 3 combat playable on a 2D plane is admirable, and it works wonders in practice, especially when you get into a rhythm and start really becoming a master ninja. Fans can say what they will about the ever-growing dormant IPs in SEGA’s catalogue, but I’m elated Shinobi has made its way to consoles once more after a long hiatus.
