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Early Reviews Hail Shinobi: Art of Vengeance as a Gorgeous, Hard‑Hitting Revival

The Sega‑published Lizardcube sequel arrives August 29 on all major platforms.

Overview

  • Lush hand‑drawn art and animation earn consistent praise across outlets, with reviewers calling the side‑scroller one of the most striking 2D presentations in years.
  • Combat is highlighted as a standout thanks to fluid, combo‑rich systems with dash cancels, Shinobi Executions, and Ninpo/Ninjutsu abilities that reward creative play.
  • Levels feature a Metroidvania‑lite structure with large maps, optional paths, and traversal upgrades like a grapple and glider that open earlier areas for revisits.
  • Post‑story and replay options include Arcade mode with scoring and grading, a Boss Rush gauntlet, shops, and amulets/talismans that meaningfully tweak builds.
  • Critiques focus on crowded visuals that can obscure the player, occasionally stingy checkpoints, some inconsistent level/enemy design, and platforming collision quirks; typical playtime runs roughly 15–20 hours at a $29.99 price point.