Shinobi's Back! And This Time, He Brought a Serious Blade (and Maybe Some Neon)
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
IGN South Africa got their hands on *Shinobi: Art of Vengeance*, and it sounds like a cracking return to form for the ninja action series, blending classic gameplay with a fresh coat of paint. Think *Streets of Rage 4* meets *Shinobi*, with a dash of neon and a whole lot of stabbing.
Right, so IGN South Africa's been playing around with *Shinobi: Art of Vengeance*, and fair dinkum, it sounds like LizardCube's cooked up something special. Remember the old *Shinobi* games? Well, imagine those getting the *Streets of Rage 4* treatment – vibrant hand-drawn art, a killer soundtrack, and gameplay that's tighter than a ninja's knot. Yeah, that's the vibe.
They're not reinventing the shuriken wheel here, mind you. But they're damn good at the basics. Speed, control, challenge – all the good stuff. But it's more than just a reskin. The backgrounds are alive, the music's got this cool blend of electronica and traditional Japanese instruments (think *Samurai Champloo* but with more stabbing), and the art style just pops. It's like they took a classic and gave it a shot of pure adrenaline.
Now, you're Joe Musashi (surprise!), and your village is, predictably, under attack. Bad guys are led by some bloke called Lord Ruse and his demonic mates. So, you're off to rescue your wife and apprentice (talk about a stressful day at work!). The preview IGN South Africa played chucked them into some later levels in Arcade Mode – tough as nails, apparently, with drones, riot guards, and ninja casting unblockable spells. Sounds like a right laugh, doesn't it?
But here's the thing: it's the *flow* that matters. When you can slice through a bunch of enemies and then trigger some fancy execution move that feels like a *Doom* glory kill, you know you're onto something. And when you counterattack a big baddie with pinpoint timing, well, that's just satisfying. The ultimate ability? Let's just say it clears the screen, which, in a game like this, is worth its weight in gold. Even simple things, like dive-kicking an enemy to start a combo, show they've put some real thought into how 2D action *should* feel.
The levels aren't just left-to-right slogs either. One level involved saving kids from neon-soaked slums, which meant exploration, ziplines, and dodging snipers. The boss fight? Aerial combos were your friend, apparently. Balance is key, and according to IGN South Africa, *Shinobi* seems to have nailed it. You've got enough tools to feel prepared, but it's all about mastering them and reacting to the enemy's attacks. Sounds fair enough, right?
So, *Shinobi: Art of Vengeance* is coming out on August 28th for pretty much everything. It's up to this game, and that upcoming Ninja Gaiden game, to prove that the old-school ninja action genre still has some fight left in it. Looks like *Shinobi* is coming back to show these young whipper snappers how it's done. Time will tell if it can stand tall against the likes of *Dead Cells* and *Katana Zero*, but based on this preview, it's got a damn good chance.
Tags: Shinobi, Action Platformer, LizardCube, Streets of Rage 4, Indie Games
Original article: IGN South Africa