Game review: Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Xbox Series X)

Shinobi is a very old franchise because it even outdates me by two years. The first game in the series came out in the arcades in 1987, with the more famous Sega Master System version releasing a year later in 1988. 

The only Shinobi game I remember was the PS2 version that came out in 2002. After years of no new games, Shinobi is back in 2025 with the release of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. The game is out this August for the PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch platforms. We here at FutureFive NZ reviewed the Xbox Series X version of the game. 

The first thing I want to discuss about Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is that the game is graphically beautiful. Unlike the recently released Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, which has 2D retro graphics, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance looks like a modern anime. This is the best the franchise has looked in decades!

As for the story, you will still assume the role of the mute ninja named Joe Musashi. Musashi is out for revenge because a military organisation called ENE Corporation destroyed his village and killed his people. Musashi now vows to decimate ENE Corporation and kill its leader, who calls himself Lord Ruse. 

Even though the game may have a more modern look, old-school fans of the series will be happy to know the gameplay is still 2D action bliss. If you were unhappy with the 3D PS2 version of the game, you will feel right at home playing Art of Vengeance.

At the start of the game, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is pretty simple because Joe Musashi hasn't unlocked all of his skills yet. The beginning level is quite easy because all Musashi has to do is move to the right of the stage and kill as many enemies as possible. 

The controls are pretty basic at the start, as Musashi can double jump, dash in the air, walk on walls, and attack with his sword. One important thing that is worth mentioning is that Shinobi: Art of Vengeance has NO block button. If you need to avoid enemy attacks, the dash button is your friend in this game. 

In terms of attacks, Musashi has cool combos that he can unlock further into the game. He has both a light attack and a heavy attack, and these can be combined to deal a lot of damage to enemies. He even has an attack that is effective against enemies with strong shields later on in the game. 

His sword isn't the only thing that he has to fight back with. The ninja also has Ninpo (or magic) that he can cast too. Ninpo is earned when you kill enough bad guys, but it can deal a lot of damage when you cast it on enemies. He even has an ultimate special move that can wipe out every enemy on the screen simultaneously!

Another cool move Musashi has is a finishing move called an 'Execution'. When a special icon pops up on top of an enemy's head, you can finish them with the 'Execution'. This move looks awesome, and it's something you can earn in the first level, too. 

The other weapon that Musashi has in his Kunai which is a ninja throwing star. The Kunai is effective at killing enemies from a far distance. To be honest, though, I didn't use the Kunai too much because I ran out of them constantly. 

As you progress further into the game, more moves and abilities get unlocked for Musashi. These moves include a grappling hook, a move that breaks down strong walls, and even a piece of cloth that acts as a parachute/glider. All of these moves are important in getting around the creative levels that are in this game. 

After you kill lots of enemies, most levels end with an epic boss fight. The boss fights are very creative, and you will need to be fast and swift in order to be victorious against them. I remember my brother playing this game, but he struggled against some bosses because he was too defensive. As for me, I fared a little better against the bosses because I was on the offensive most of the time. 

The game has around 14 levels in total, and should take most players around 10 hours to finish on its normal difficulty setting. The gameplay length will vary if you want to seek out all of the collectibles and secrets. 

Not to mention, you will unlock both an Arcade mode and a Boss Rush mode once you finish the game. I have to admit, the Boss Rush mode is really hard, but it's cool to have for any hardcore players good enough to complete it. 

As much fun as I had playing Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, there is one flaw, and that's the platforming segments. I remember having to use the glider to avoid spikes on the wall, and this took me ages to get through! Some jumping segments frustrated me, too, because I kept dying over and over again. 

The only level I hated playing through was the one set in a laboratory. This was annoying to navigate through because I didn't know where to go next, and I kept getting greeted with locked doors. I eventually made it through the level, but it wasn't an enjoyable experience. 

Aside from some small flaws, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is easily one of the best 2D action games I have played in a long time. The gameplay is fast and swift, and the anime-style graphics are amazing. Fans both young and old will love this Sega reboot. 

Verdict: 9.0/10