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 type.
Lately, we had the possibility to sit down down and play two levels forward of the sport’s launch, and located ourselves instantly captivated by the artwork type, fluid controls, and fast-paced fight system. In our newest weblog, we break down what makes the sport so gratifying and the way it captures the essence of being a ninja.
Journey by way of a stylistic dystopian world
A paramilitary faction referred to as ENE Corp seizes territories internationally, 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 fingers 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 would possibly of the Oboro Clan, he units in movement a plan to eradicate them as soon as and for all.
Your journey will see you traverse by way of quite a lot of levels, from neon-lit cityscapes and navy strongholds to the highest of a rushing freight practice and extra. The sport’s hand-drawn aesthetic pulls you right into a world that feels as if it had been lifted straight from a comic book guide. They’re so beautiful that you simply’ll wish to cease and admire the visuals.
In your quest for vengeance, you’ll must harness new expertise, uncover hidden paths, and use your wit and talent to beat the obstacles in your method.
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 below assault. You’ll must grasp leaping, dodging, Ninpo, and different elementary preventing strikes as you rush in the direction of the purpose.
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 may 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 by way of 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 should you look rigorously and get inventive together 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 competition, Joe Musashi wastes no time in giving chase.
To kick this stage off, you’ll must traverse a path of picket planks and wrecked ships to get throughout the lake. Linger too lengthy and so they’ll sink, sending you to a watery grave. It is a difficult stage that requires you to remain on the transfer, leaping from platform to platform as you vanquish foes alongside the best way.
When you arrive on the village, you’ll be greeted by the sight of fireworks and lanterns formed like dragons, tigers, and different creatures. Nevertheless, there’s no time to admire the view. The stage will carry on scrolling alongside, so that you’ll must take to the skies and keep one step forward. Reap the benefits of your environment and use double leap and aerial sprint that will help you maneuver throughout the realm.
Grasp the best way of the shinobi with Ninpo and highly effective Ninjutsu
It’s inconceivable to speak about SHINOBI: Artwork of Vengeance with out mentioning its fast-paced, hard-hitting fight system. Along with katana- and shuriken-based strategies, you even have an array of Ninjutsu and Ninpo at your disposal. Fantastically rendered in clean, fluid animation, each assault is intuitive and straightforward to execute.
After all, there’s extra to the sport than merely mashing buttons. You’ll must adapt to numerous conditions utilizing the abilities in your toolkit. Getting accustomed to combos will make it easier to clear levels faster, so when you get the grasp of it, strive 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 getting into particular instructions and haven’t any limitations. You may receive new Ningi by progressing by way of the story or visiting the store.
The Cannon Punch, which will 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 may comply with up with a combo to deal much more injury. If you get your fingers on the total model of the sport, strive it out in battle! The Cannon Punch may destroy Yokai Boundaries, 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 further loot, and in case your assault kills a number of enemies, you’ll earn much more bonus rewards. Mastering Shinobi Executions takes follow, however when you perceive their injury output and methods to pull them off successfully, there’s actually 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 may replenish the gauge by attacking enemies. Within the demo, Fireplace Ninpo helps 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 robust counter on any enemy attacking you.
Water Ninpo is simply usable below particular situations, but when carried out efficiently, it’ll increase your Execution Gauge and deal heavy injury to armored foes. Mastering it should flip it into a robust instrument in your arsenal!
Ninjutsu
Defeating enemies and amassing the purple 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 solid Ninjutsu, highly effective full-screen assaults.
Karyu, for instance, engulfs your entire display in flames, dealing large injury to all enemies. When used towards giant swarms of enemies, you’ll obtain an astonishingly excessive hit depend. Nevertheless, 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 achieve upgrades and new gear
Every stage encompasses a store run by a yokai the place you may improve your well being and stats or buy new Ningi and Ninpo. To assist the shop thrive, nevertheless, you’ll want to seek out Oboro Relics—5 of that are hidden in every stage. By giving these things to the shopkeeper, they’ll have the ability to develop their wares, permitting you to buy new Ningi, Ninpo, and different objects.
Gadgets within the retailer will be bought with the gold you receive from defeating enemies. Highly effective Ningi and Ninpo will be costly, so to construct up your funds extra effectively, strive utilizing Shinobi Executions to shortly decimate your foes. Should you’re caught on a stage or a boss is supplying you with bother, you may all the time backtrack and defeat extra enemies for gold. That can let you be taught new Ningi and increase your stats, higher getting ready you for the trials forward.
Pre-orders for the Digital Deluxe Version out there now
Decide up the Digital Deluxe Version to get the bottom recreation, a Starter Pack stuffed with in-game objects, the SEGA Villains Stage (releasing early 2026) which options bosses primarily based on iconic SEGA villains, the Digital Artbook, and a soundtrack! Plus, should 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 Forex)
■SEGA Villains Stage (Coming Early 2026)
■Digital Artbook and Soundtrack
■Product Info
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 simply out there digitally.
(C)SEGA
