The Ultimate Ninja Action Experience! – PlayStation.Blog

Oh man, where do I start? So, here’s the deal, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is hitting the shelves — or, well, the digital sort of shelves on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5. Yep, mark the calendar for August 29, 2025. I know, it feels like forever, but hey, it’s coming, and that’s what matters, right?

Now, I got really nostalgic thinking about how the whole Shinobi series kicked off in, like, 1987. That’s wild. From pixelated arcades to these sleek consoles. I guess everything evolves, huh? Speaking of evolution, can we talk about Lizardcube for a second? These dudes are the brains behind Streets of Rage IV, and now they’re breathing life into Joe Musashi’s revenge quest. Their art style? It’s like comic books had a lovechild with a video game. Seriously.

So I sat down, or was it standing up? I don’t remember – anyway, I got to try out a couple of stages. And, dude, I was lost. In a good way, though! This game pulls you in with its art, controls, combat… it’s got that ninja feel. Like, if a person could literally jump out of the TV screen, it would be Joe Musashi himself. Speaking of which…

Imagine a world – dystopian, stylish – where a paramilitary group, ENE Corp, is running rampant. The big baddie, Ruse, attacks Oboro Village, and poor Joe Musashi’s world crumbles. His clan is literally stone cold… or turned into stone. Anyway, he sets off on this vengeance spree. It’s intense.

Like, Joe? The guy leads the Oboro Clan, which sounds like a shadowy protector group that’s been around forever. He’s not a chatty fellow, but boy, do people trust him. And that Ruse guy? What a ruthless character, commanding troops all willy-nilly. Anyway – no wait, sorry, Joe sees his village burnt down. He’s ticked and, y’know, goes all ninja on them!

The stages, oh man, those stages are something else. Like hopping from cityscapes aglow with neon to speeding on a freight train, it’s crazy. It’s like you’re playing inside a piece of art. I felt like every enemy I struck was a brush stroke in this living masterpiece.

I got sidetracked – there are these really cool abilities called Ningi, and there’s like a Cannon Punch that, honestly, if you don’t try when the game hits, you’re missing out. Not kidding, it’s like unlocking another dimension. And then – there’s the shop! You get these relics, right? It’s scattered – or rather, hidden in the stages, and you trade them for gear and stuff. It’s quite the adventure.

I’m not even doing it justice, so just believe me when I say you’ll be hooked. And the Digital Deluxe Edition? Comes with the base game, a starter pack, even the SEGA Stage later on. I mean, they throw in an art book and a soundtrack, plus early access! If that’s not tempting, what is?

Alright, wrapping it up before this gets too wordy. Just remember, SHINOBI hits on August 29, 2025. It’s a solo player game – action platformer style. And while you’re waiting, maybe, I don’t know, dust off that old console for some classic Shinobi vibes? Just an idea.