Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Many of us older gamers remember Shinobi, the arcade classic that really helped to make ninjas a "thing" back in the 80's. In fact it was 1987 when Shinobi first hit arcades, a multi-level scrolling beat-em-up in the vein of Namco's Rolling Thunder, but with more ninjas. Since then, the game has meandered between updates, 3D free-roaming games and now, nearly 40 years later, back to side-scrolling action, while embracing the popular Metroidvania format that allows for exploration alongside the combat.

It's actually a perfect update to the original game, featuring the same gun-toting thugs and mystical ninja types that allow the game to feel both grounded and fantastical at the same time. It also gives the game license to use some absolutely stunning digital art and effects, with Joe himself never looking better as he uses his many talents against a diverse and aggressive enemy.

The enemies are a great mix of demons, ninjas and military muscle. I particularly love the red-skinned female archer, even if she doesn't care for me that much...

The visual quality is of no real surprise when you understand that this is the latest SEGA update from Parisian studio Lizardcube, the team behind the updates of both Wonder Boy and the rather superb Streets of Rage. The same confidence is just as visible on-screen here, with both a suitable hand-drawn art-style and a fundamental understanding of Metroidvania level design that makes the game a lot of fun, if not all that original for the busy genre.

The story is a light touch in the game, but it does come with some lovely artwork

The game's story is pretty simple - Joe's village is under attack, his only surviving allies being the effusive young female ninja Tomoe, and Joe's pregnant wife. With his clan turned to stone, it's up to Joe to take down the villains under the command of Lor Ruse and restore honour and pride to his people. There isn't a lot of depth here, just enough narrative to nudge the game forward, but there are some lovely character designs and the artbook included in the digital special edition is a real treat.

Let's look at the mechanics; firstly Joe himself is as versatile as you would want, with upgrades available to both his standard moves in the form of combos, through to new spiritual abilities and ninja attacks. These are purchased with gold you earn throughout the game from shops, whose inventory can be expanded by finding hidden orbs around each level. The levels can be returned to, which is handy because on your initial run there are areas you can't traverse either due to locks or lack of a needed ability earned later in the game. 

Joe can attack with katana or at a distance with his kunai knives. Once you start to upgrade and equip Joe's Ninpo and Ninjutsu techniques, each running from a metre, you'll be able to deploy powerful attacks strategically. It takes time to reach a state where these are accessible, so they never allow you to just walk through a level and add a layer of strategy to the game. This is important, as you'll want to conserve your big guns for the giant on-screen bosses that relentlessly attack, though if we're being honest it's an exercise in learning attack patterns and planning counters. 

The neon-lit cityscape is a joy to play, with some nice easter eggs hidden in the backgrounds

Further upgrades are found with amulets that provide buffs - some are activated, others are permanent upgrades to attack and defense. All will be needed as the difficulty increases, so earning harder attacks after a 30-hit combo or gaining extra gold for upgrades are very welcome indeed.

He's a responsive fella too - part of the joy the game brings is just how flexible and powerful your avatar is. Joe's movement is fluid, assured and easy to master thanks to excellent controls and simple inputs, ensuring that failure is fair and usually down to the player. This is very important in any game that requires exploration, I've lost track of how many games aren't clear on how far you can fall before dying, but there's no uncertainty here, allowing you to be bold with your choices in-game. Attacks flow seamlessly, always beautifully animated and just another draw into the game's world. 

Speaking of, each level is a gloriously varied affair, from caves to neon cityscapes, it's a visual feast from start to finish. With all the fighting effects on screen dazzling your orbs as you explore the surroundings, every encounter is a stunning dance of death that lights up the screen and resonates power and control. Rarely does a Metroidvania make combat quite so exciting as Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, and it's a real-show-stopper in the genre. 

If all this gorgeous art and combat weren't enough, there are extra outfits in-game and more content planned via DLC, including 2 guest villains due to turn up alongside Dr Eggman! Clearly SEGA has confidence in the longevity of the title, and more power to them.

If there's one genre I've come to appreciate in the last few years, it's Metroidvania. I've certainly reviewed enough of them, and many have distinct charms (Deedlit's Labyrinth) or engaging stories (Sword of the Stranger) but I'm hard pressed to think of a title that takes such fluid and effective combat into the space, while mixing in such gorgeous graphics. It may not be the freshest genre, but in a crowded market Shinobi: Act of Vengeance might just be the greatest of them all.