Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Makes the Flow State Its Default

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The launch of “Shinobi: Art of Vengeance” signifies a comeback, ending a 14-year gap in the series. LizardCube’s involvement gives the impression that the franchise has been continuously active. Newcomers to the story of the Oboro Clan might find it easier to jump in thanks to the visually appealing style of “Shinobi: Art of Vengeance”. As for gameplay, “Shinobi: Art of Vengeance” caters to platforming enthusiasts of all levels, achieving this by designing each moment to keep players in a ‘flow state’.

The idea of being in a ‘flow state’ is frequently linked to gaming experiences, where players get so deeply engrossed in the gameplay that they forget about their real-world surroundings. When this state occurs, gamers find themselves so immersed in the game that operating their character feels natural and intuitive. The gameplay mechanics of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, with its captivating visuals and responsive controls, make slipping into a flow state remarkably swift, as players can easily get drawn into the game’s allure.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance’s Smooth Combat Makes it Easy to Find a Rhythm from Frame One

Joe Musashi Feels like an Extension of the Player

In the action-packed world of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, it might seem challenging for gamers to identify with Joe Musashi due to his stern demeanor and martial abilities. However, amazingly, immersing oneself in the character feels quite organic instead. The controls for Shinobi: Art of Vengeance aren’t revolutionary, but they are finely-tuned to make movement and combat feel intuitive, even for those who are new to platformer games. Furthermore, the game’s method of introducing mechanics by directly plunging players into gameplay helps greatly in making players feel like they are living as Musashi.

In the spirit of many thrilling action games I’ve grown fond of, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance grants me the skill to seamlessly string together basic and heavy attacks in a combo system. It’s a joy to execute these combos as it empowers Musashi to bypass enemy assaults and effectively lock them in a dance of strikes that lasts as long as the chain continues. Plus, with the added flair of double-jumping and mid-combo air dashing, the gameplay speed and my immersion into Musashi’s world reach dizzying heights.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance’s Movement and Combat Only Improve With Time

As the initial stage of “Shinobi: Art of Vengeance” immerses players in a rhythmic flow, this sensation deepens as the game unfolds. Along their journey, players uncover four distinct categories of abilities which are further divided into:

  • Ninjitsu
  • Ninpo
  • Ningi
  • Combat Moves

In the game, Ninjitsu and Ninpo provide strategic pauses for decisive strikes, whereas Ningi and Battle Techniques augment Musashi’s agility and combo potential in fights. Acquiring Ningi occurs organically as players advance through the story, expanding Musashi’s arsenal of mobility skills such as the Ninja Flip, Ninja Hook, and Sword Dive. Combat Skills are typically bought from the game store but are a valuable purchase since moves like Dive Kick and Aerial Slash, combined with a finisher like Aerial Kunai Burst, can make battles feel more like a fighting game rather than a platformer.

In “Shinobi: Art of Vengeance,” players are equipped with tools for achieving a focused state, as mandatory Ningi unlocks ensure this. Additionally, the game offers flexibility in gameplay style customization, enabling players to tailor their experience by fine-tuning Ninpo setups and exploring various optional Combat Moves. Consequently, “Shinobi” successfully blends platforming and combat elements, appealing to fans who appreciate both intricate platformers and action games in the 2D genre.

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2025-08-29 14:06