Official Site: http://www.sega.com/games/shinobi/
Source: Youtube Channel IGNentertainment
Developer: Griptonite Games
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Genre: Side-Scroll Action Platformer
Pros:
+ Fast-paced Arcade action of the classic 2D Shinobi series
+ Great combat mechanics with very challenging gameplay
+ Even the easiest difficulty level will provide a decent challenge
+ It's possible to record an entire level to show off speed runs
+ Exciting boss battles that reminiscence gameplay from the retro days
Cons:
- A fairly short game of ~5 hours
- You will die a lot
- The game can be unforgiving with all sorts of enemies, traps, and pitfalls
- Some parts require a leap of faith or making mistakes to learn from them
- That last stretch can be quite a chore
Recommended: Yes, if found for less than $15 and is a classic Action game fan
Shinobi for the Nintendo 3DS revisits its classic 2D gameplay of the retro days. As with most Ninja-themed games, the story begins with the village under siege and the main protagonists goes out to fight this mysterious enemy. Much like the classic Shinobi games, the player keeps moving to the right unless stated otherwise to reach the next level. Between the start and end of the level are bottomless pits, hazardous traps, and dangerous enemies. The player, taking the role of Jiro Musashi, will cut, execute, jump, and grapple their way through monsters, ninjas, and formidable bosses. Unlike Shinobi Legions where the player can deflect projectiles with a sword swing, Jiro Musashi is able to parry many different attacks including machine gun fire. The flow of combat by utilizing shurikens, sword slash combos, and parries make for a satisfying adventure throughout the game. The game was extremely difficulty, but the easiest difficulty allowed a infinite number of lives and continues so that the player can get through the game at least once and know all the placements of traps and enemies before attempting a harder difficulty. It doesn't exactly capture the charm and memorable aspects of its predecessors such as The Revenge of Shinobi, but has possibly the slickest and most satisfying combat system out of all the 2D Shinobi series.
Aesthetics
Art Style: 2.5D Cel-Shaded
+ The animations between attacks, special abilities, and movement are really fluid
+ The 3D effects add a nice sense of depth to the environment
+ Cut-scenes are short, but tells the story pretty well without words
+ Sound effects played a big part in making combat satisfying
+ Music was really exciting
+ Level designs and their environment were varied and enjoyable
- Some platforms were hard to spot and hazards were out of screen
- Some effects were to have an oil paint look but turned out flat and unrefined
- Music was great, but not particularly memorable
Aesthetics: 8/10
Buttons
Controller: Mostly all the 3DS keys with the touch screen utilizing the ninjitsu choice and for some mini-games
+ Classic run, jump, attack controls is nostalgic and feels great
+ The sword combo system makes for a really fun and satisfying combat
+ Attacks and actions are very reactive and precise
+ Key layout feels natural but can still be changed for player's preference
+ The new parry system provides a very wide range of approach in combat
- It can be difficult to memorize all the possible combos
Buttons: 9/10
Concept & Content
Core Concept: Side-Scroll Action-Platformer, get to the exit by going right unless stated otherwise while fighting off enemies and dodging hazards along the way
+ Level design rarely keeps the player from going just to the right
+ Enemies and bosses are challenging and a lot of fun to fight
+ Platforming can be difficult, but is rewarding as the player gets better
+ The combo system matched with the parry mechanic creates the best combat system in the 2D Shinobi series thus far
+ Shinobi would be an infuriating game were it not for the easiest difficulty (infinite lives and continues)
+ Players can trade special additional missions through streetpass
+ If the player gets certain achievements, specials are unlocked for freeplay
- Some parts of the game can be ambiguous of where to go and how to reach there
- There are checkpoints that are much too far apart, even for the easiest difficulty
- The difficulty of the game can be a turn off for a lot of players
- Chase scenes (Horse back, on top of trucks, on a jet) are strictly scripted and can be difficult to see in 3D when the camera angle changes around.
-There are certain parts in the game where the player will die a lot the first playthrough as some unexpected events will happen (learning through mistakes)
Concept and Content: 7/10
Duration
Completed Time: ~5 Hours
+ Great flow of action, platforming, and very light puzzles
+ Though not long, the time spent playing the game was enjoyable
+ The additional items and specials (auto parry) make for a fun replay
+ Freeplay is great for speed runners and high-score hunters
+ Higher difficulty levels are available for the most hardcore players which extend the replay value (much like classic retro games)
- 5 hours of gameplay for $20+ will upset some players
- Freeplay with the special abilities is more of a novelty than additional content
- Dying a lot will bring a halt to the pacing of the game if the player can't get past a certain point in a level
Duration: 7/10
Fun
+ First things to capture my attention was the 3D effects, combo system, and parry
+ The combo system and parry mechanic really rewarded the player for being creative with combining attacks and timing everything
+ As annoying as chase scenes were, they were pretty exciting
+ The difficulty did frustrate me at times, but I was generally rewarded with satisfaction at the end of each level
+ Boss fights can be really difficult, but they were really satisfying
+ The ending wasn't incredible, but finishing the game was gratifying
+ I think it'll be worth keeping the game to revisit freeplay mode with cheats or mission mode if not to replay the game over again
- It was annoying when check points brought the player back really far when dying
- All the little surprises of pitfalls, spikes, and enemies at the end of a drop were really frustrating and became more frequent near the end
- Sometimes, there are so many things flying towards the player that it feels impossible to counter, parry or dodge
- I'd probably be willing to play the game again, but I still wouldn't play anything beyond the easiest level just because of the many surprises that insta-kills me
Fun: 8/10
Overall
Shinobi definitely feels like an homage to the classics in the series with a more modern feel with its 3D effects and dynamic combat system. The controls are tight, the gameplay is challenging, but the game is sadly not as enchanting or memorable as the originals. Still, this iteration possesses possibly the best combat system out of all the 2D Shinobi games and is certainly geared towards gamers who want a challenge and to hardcore gamers who can show off their skills by reaching the highest scores with the fastest completion times. I can't say the game is for everyone, but those who know they enjoy a bit of difficulty in their Action-Platformers will be able to enjoy the game. Overall: 7.8/10
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