SEGA and Lizardcube bring the legendary Shinobi back to life 38 years after the first title was released. A demo that exalts and looks promising.
It was way back in 1987 when the first Shinobi saw the light in arcades. Joe Musashi undertakes a solitary fight to save the children of the Oboro clan. The perpetrators of the kidnapping are the Zeed clan: a clan that wants to restore the institutions of Japan to feudal ones.
Due to his success, porting began for the home systems of the time: Sega Master System and NES. SEGA subsequently produced over 10 titles in the series over more than twenty years. The latest version dates back to the Nintendo DS in 2011.
After 14 years of silence Shinobi returned on August 29, 2025 bringing with it a free demo.Let’s see what it looks like.
Respect to the legacy
The demo is presented in a stylistically modern, captivating and really well-curated graphic format. Well done animations and care for both the characters and the environments.
While playing, the first impression is that Lizardcube has been decidedly respectful towards the game’s concept.
Shinobi blends elements of feudal Japan with modern ones. We move from rural and evocative settings to technologically advanced cities and areas. Enemies include ninjas, demonic creatures and military tactical teams. The fusion between tradition and modernity is what makes the series so fascinating. This doesn’t seem to be missing from the new title which merges the various elements in the demo, starting with the story.
The paramilitary organization ENE, led by Lord Ruse, uses both military technology and demonic arts to control the world. Lord Ruse, aware that the Oboro clan is the only real threat to his plans, decides to set their village on fire.
Furthermore, the aesthetics of the protagonist recalls that of his sequel Shadow dancer. The colors and hand-drawn style are original and are extremely refined. They might remind you of something: in fact Lizardcube is the development house that brought Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap (2017) and Street of Rage 4 (2020) to life.
A good combat system
Let’s start by saying that Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a 2D action game with strong platforming elements. As far as combat goes, the speed and satisfaction in executing combos seems to work very well, at least from the demo.
The attacks are divided into light, heavy and Kunai to throw (there are a finite number). The right combos can launch enemies into the air and you can initiate an attack even after a jump. There are many moves to perform and we can purchase them from a vendor.
The evasive maneuver at our disposal is the Dash: depending on the situation it will be used to avoid shots, get around an enemy from behind or overcome running obstacles.
Enemies have a posture bar that can be “broken” and allows us to attack further. Additionally, the use of Kunai and heavy attacks can cause a Kanji to appear above the opponent. This signal allows us to carry out an execution: it kills the enemy and allows us to recover resources and health.
Talking about execution brings us to the topic of Ninja Stance. Holding LB brings the character into this stance. Depending on which buttons we combine with the stance we will obtain an execution, Ninpo or Ninjutsu. Both need to have their bar charged, which once depleted requires certain conditions to recharge. To this we add the choice of medals (one active and one passive for the moment) which provide bonuses to the protagonist.
Strong vocation for platforming
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance features a map with classic Metroidvania references. This involves checkpoints and sections before that can only be accessed via certain abilities. This is where the Ningi come into play: this category includes double jumps, the Dash after the jump to increase the distance, falls from above, the grappling hook and other abilities that we are not yet aware of (but which we glimpse in the trailers).
The secret areas are present as per the manual. It must be said, however, that above all these sections are devoted to complex platforming right from the first areas. Plus the optional challenges where you have to defeat the ENE Elite Squad quickly become complex.
Obviously we will get appropriate rewards.
Will Shinobi: Art of Vengeance be a new beginning?
It’s too early to say, but the care and quality of style and gameplay that emerges from the demo makes me think well. The truly inspiring areas ranging from rural Japan to industrial complexes are eye-catching and beautiful to look at.
The combat is really satisfying, fluid and the sensation of the blows given and suffered seems really well done. The knockback after being hit could not be missing, a classic of the time. The platforming requires good skill and the few optional missions require a fair amount of trial and error.
The multiple selection of difficulty levels is also interesting. The choice ranges from the opponents’ HP, their damage, their attack rate and even the environmental damage. Maybe a little exaggerated, but it will have to be judged on the finished product.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is already out but if you’re not convinced, try the free demo on STEAM.
