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.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a genuinely engaging 2D action platformer that’s beautiful to behold and even better to play.

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.