SHINOBI: Artwork of Vengeance arrives on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 on August 29, 2025. This brand-new title continues the legacy of the Shinobi sequence, which first got here to arcades in 1987.
Lizardcube, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Streets of Rage IV (2020), return to breathe life into Joe Musashi’s newest quest for vengeance with their iconic artwork model.
Not too long ago, we had the prospect to take a seat down and play two levels forward of the sport’s launch, and located ourselves instantly captivated by the artwork model, fluid controls, and fast-paced fight system. In our newest weblog, we break down what makes the sport so pleasing and the way it captures the essence of being a ninja.
Journey via a stylistic dystopian world
A paramilitary faction referred to as ENE Corp seizes territories the world over, decimating their defenses in little time. Just one risk to their dominion stays: the Oboro Clan, led by the legendary Joe Musashi.
Ruse, the mastermind behind ENE Corp, takes issues into his personal arms and launches a devastating assault on Oboro Village. Joe Musashi, upon discovering his village burned to the bottom and his clan turned to stone, units off on a quest for vengeance, able to face an unparalleled evil.
Joe Musashi
The protagonist. Head of the Oboro Clan, a tribe of ninjas that has protected peace from inside the shadows for generations. Although he’s a person of few phrases, his clan places their utmost belief in him.
Lord Ruse
The mastermind behind paramilitary group ENE Corp. He instructions his troops with callous tact and an iron fist. Fearing the may of the Oboro Clan, he units in movement a plan to get rid of them as soon as and for all.
Your journey will see you traverse via quite a lot of levels, from neon-lit cityscapes and navy strongholds to the highest of a dashing freight prepare and extra. The sport’s hand-drawn aesthetic pulls you right into a world that feels as if it have been lifted straight from a comic book e book. They’re so beautiful that you simply’ll need to cease and admire the visuals.
In your quest for vengeance, you’ll have to harness new expertise, uncover hidden paths, and use your wit and ability to beat the obstacles in your means.
Stage Overview 1: Oboro Village
On a coaching tour to Oboro Village, Musashi and his college students encounter rival ninjas and uncover that the village is beneath assault. You’ll have to grasp leaping, dodging, Ninpo, and different basic preventing strikes as you rush in direction of the objective.
It’s very easy to get misplaced in studying the fundamentals, however be sure to step again and soak in the fantastic thing about the world. You’ll be able to see how a lot consideration and care went into each little element, just like the mist surrounding the plains and bamboo timber or the daylight streaming via the treetops.
When you cross the midway level, you’ll come throughout the smoldering ashes of the village and a ninja property rigged with traps. Some sections could appear unpassable at first look, however in the event you look fastidiously and get artistic along with your ninja expertise, you’ll discover methods to get round!
Stage Overview 2: Lantern Pageant
Upon studying that ENE Corp could also be working within the shadows of a lakeside pageant, Joe Musashi wastes no time in giving chase.
To kick this stage off, you’ll should traverse a path of picket planks and wrecked ships to get throughout the lake. Linger too lengthy they usually’ll sink, sending you to a watery grave. This can be a difficult stage that requires you to remain on the transfer, leaping from platform to platform as you vanquish foes alongside the way in which.
When you arrive on the village, you’ll be greeted by the sight of fireworks and lanterns formed like dragons, tigers, and different creatures. Nonetheless, there’s no time to admire the view. The stage will carry on scrolling alongside, so that you’ll have to take to the skies and keep one step forward. Benefit from your environment and use double soar and aerial sprint that will help you maneuver throughout the realm.
Grasp the way in which of the shinobi with Ninpo and highly effective Ninjutsu
It’s not possible to speak about SHINOBI: Artwork of Vengeance with out mentioning its fast-paced, hard-hitting fight system. Along with katana- and shuriken-based methods, you even have an array of Ninjutsu and Ninpo at your disposal. Superbly rendered in easy, fluid animation, each assault is intuitive and straightforward to execute.
In fact, there’s extra to the sport than merely mashing buttons. You’ll have to adapt to numerous conditions utilizing the abilities in your toolkit. Getting accustomed to combos will aid you clear levels faster, so when you get the hold of it, attempt growing your individual combos and sharpening up your playstyle. Other than fundamental instructions, you may also carry out the next maneuvers:
Ningi
Ningi are useful skills that may be carried out by coming into particular instructions and haven’t any limitations. You’ll be able to get hold of new Ningi by progressing via the story or visiting the store.
The Cannon Punch, which could be unlocked within the demo, offers heavy injury to armor, making it potential to harm enemies who’re impervious to common assaults. When you’ve damaged their guard, you possibly can comply with up with a combo to deal much more injury. Whenever you get your arms on the total model of the sport, attempt it out in battle! The Cannon Punch can even destroy Yokai Obstacles, opening up new paths so that you can discover!
Shinobi Execution
Enemies have an Execution Gauge which is the white bar beneath their well being bar. Inflicting injury on them will fill it up. As soon as it’s maxed out, you’ll see an icon seem above them, marking them for Execution. Carry out a Shinobi Execution to complete them off immediately.
Defeating an enemy with this transfer nets you extra loot, and in case your assault kills a number of enemies, you’ll earn much more bonus rewards. Mastering Shinobi Executions takes apply, however when you perceive their injury output and the right way to pull them off successfully, there’s truthfully no higher feeling than attending to wipe out all of your enemies on-screen with it.
Ninpo
Ninpo are particular assaults that may be executed as soon as your inexperienced gauge is maxed out. You’ll be able to refill the gauge by attacking enemies. Within the demo, Fireplace Ninpo allows you to breathe hearth, dealing injury to enemies in entrance of you, whereas Water Ninpo places you in a defensive stance the place you’ll carry out a strong counter on any enemy attacking you.
Water Ninpo is barely usable beneath particular situations, but when carried out efficiently, it’ll increase your Execution Gauge and deal heavy injury to armored foes. Mastering it’ll flip it into a strong software in your arsenal!
Ninjutsu
Defeating enemies and gathering the crimson Rage Orbs that they drop will cost up your Rage Gauge (the bar surrounding Joe’s portrait). As soon as it’s absolutely charged, you’ll have the ability to forged Ninjutsu, highly effective full-screen assaults.
Karyu, for instance, engulfs the complete display screen in flames, dealing large injury to all enemies. When used towards massive swarms of enemies, you’ll obtain an astonishingly excessive hit rely. Nonetheless, not like different strikes, Ninjutsu have a downside in that they want time to cost up, so play conservatively and unleash them when the time is correct.
Accumulate Oboro Relics to realize upgrades and new gear
Every stage encompasses a store run by a yokai the place you possibly can improve your well being and stats or buy new Ningi and Ninpo. To assist the shop thrive, nevertheless, you’ll want to search out Oboro Relics—5 of that are hidden in every stage. By giving this stuff to the shopkeeper, they’ll have the ability to broaden their wares, permitting you to buy new Ningi, Ninpo, and different gadgets.
Gadgets within the retailer could be bought with the gold you get hold of from defeating enemies. Highly effective Ningi and Ninpo could be costly, so to construct up your funds extra effectively, attempt utilizing Shinobi Executions to shortly decimate your foes. In the event you’re caught on a stage or a boss is supplying you with bother, you possibly can all the time backtrack and defeat extra enemies for gold. That can can help you study new Ningi and increase your stats, higher getting ready you for the trials forward.
Pre-orders for the Digital Deluxe Version out there now
Choose up the Digital Deluxe Version to get the bottom recreation, a Starter Pack full of in-game gadgets, the SEGA Villains Stage (releasing early 2026) which options bosses based mostly on iconic SEGA villains, the Digital Artbook, and a soundtrack! Plus, in the event you pre-order the sport, you’ll be allowed to play the sport 3 days early!
Digital Deluxe Version
＜Contents＞
■Base Recreation
■Starter Pack (Ghost Outfit, Medic Lite Amulet, and In-Recreation Foreign money)
■SEGA Villains Stage (Coming Early 2026)
■Digital Artbook and Soundtrack
■Product Data
SHINOBI: Artwork of Vengeance
Writer：SEGA
Platform：PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 4
Style：Motion Platformer
Launch Date：August 29, 2025 (Fri)
Gamers：1
*The PlayStation 4 model is barely out there digitally.
(C)SEGA
