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.

New games in the Jet Set Radio, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Crazy Taxi and Shinobi series were in development, promising to breathe new life into all five dormant franchises. Now, though French studio Lizardcube – which has already masterfully resurrected two other Sega series with Streets of Rage 4 (which it co-developed) and Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap – has been given the task of introducing the heroic ninja Joe Musashi to a new generation of players,