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Recently, SEGA has been on a roll. They have been releasing fantastic games one after another and making some amazing decisions on their lineup. Their upcoming games have been so exciting, like Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, but some of the games I am most excited for are the classic games they are revamping, like Jet Set Radio. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is one of those games, and admittedly, I wasn't initially interested in it. Still, I love what SEGA is doing, and I wanted to give it a chance, and I am so glad I did, because I ended up loving it.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

The last entry in the Shinobi series was in 2011, with Shinobi 3D on the 3DS, and it's coming back with a bang. It's a side-scrolling action platformer where you play as Ninja Joe Musashi fighting against an evil group that is turning his clan into stone. In my demo at Summer Game Fest, I played through the beginning of the game, giving me a taste of the platforming and fighting, while showing me the opening of the story.

As soon as I got into the game, I was blown away by the aesthetic. The vibrant colors and comic-book world mix well with the hand-drawn art and blew me away. I was loving how beautiful the world looks and the visual effects from the multiple different attacks. It felt like eye candy sometimes when playing, and it was hard to look away.

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However, while I loved the visuals, I was all in on the combat. It felt so fluid and enjoyable to utilize, while also being quite easy and accessible. There are light and heavy attacks, ninjutsu, ranged kunai, stylized finishers, and the usual dodging and jumping to get you through encounters. While it does feel like button-mashing in the beginning, it very quickly showcases how strategic you will have to be, combining attacks with your elemental ninjutsu and dodging at the right time. Once I got into the swing of things, I truly felt like a ninja as I was jumping around and attacking.

Chaining together different attacks to juggle enemies and then slicing them with the stylish finisher move was addicting, and I love how the game encourages taking on multiple enemies. If you can line it up, the finisher can be used to take down multiple people at a time, and it felt so satisfying to watch as I slashed through 3-4 enemies at a time to take them all down in one gratifying swoop.

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At times, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance also utilizes some Metroidvania-like elements in its world. There are going to be spots where you are blocked until you have the right tool, encouraging replaying through levels and exploring. You will find currency as you play, which is used to unlock new moves and upgrade your kunai and health. It's a simple yet effective system that helps make the experience more engaging overall. I am usually not a fan of overly complicated progression, and this felt just right for the type of game.

Based on how it plays and its system requirements from its Steam store page, there should be no issue with it running on the Steam Deck. It feels perfect with a controller, and I would consider it the perfect type of game to be playing on the go.

With how stylish and strategic it can be, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance feels like it's going to be another great game coming from SEGA. I didn't expect this title to live up to my expectations from the rest of the lineup of games releasing, but I was impressed, and I couldn't be happier. If the full release is anything like this preview, I can say with confidence that this is going to be an essential for our libraries, if you're a fan of 2D action platformers.

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Shinobi: Art of Vengeance can be pre-purchased for $26.99 ahead of its August 28th release.

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Noah Kupetsky
A lover of gaming since 4, Noah has grown up with a love and passion for the industry. From there, he started to travel a lot and develop a joy for handheld and PC gaming. When the Steam Deck released, it just all clicked.
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