Even with the difficulty spike, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a remarkable 2D action game. For $30, it provides substance and fun, and Lizardcube escalates difficulty just enough to make finishing a level satisfying. If you're rebooting a 2D action franchise to appeal to fans of its older games, Art of Vengeance is a perfect example of how to do it.

Following its already excellent work on Streets of Rage 4, Lizardcube injects another Sega series with new life in the utterly terrific Shinobi: Art of Vengeance.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a solid 2D action platformer with a few shortcomings that keep it from reaching its full potential.