Shinobi Is A Nija On A Quset For Ninja Stuff Followed By Some Ninja Killing With Ninja Pumpkins. Nuff Sai
Shinobi's back and back with very stylish ninja action. At first I didn't know how the game would turn out but after playing for it for myself, I found out that Shinobi for the PS2 is definately worth owning and playing over again. Let me give you some information.
Like most action games the story is not something that stands out and nothing really surprising. Shinobi's about Hotsuma, leader and last of the Oboro Clan making his way in a futuristic Tokyo after an earthquake incident which apparently cause alot of chaos.. and a strange temple/palace has appear in tokyo.
Graphics : The graphics in Shinobi may look simple and repetitive but the game is locked at 60fps and Hotsuma looks very good, they definately focused on Hotsuma alot more than anything else (and it's a good reason since you'll be seeing him the most). The game runs real smooth and the enemies look pretty good. Boss especially look good. Only thing to complain about is the stage designs which is nothing major. The graphics look good. it looks realistic as you slice some foes up. When you use the scrolls, such as the fire one, it looks amazing. Hotsuma's scarf trails behind him, which looks really cool. The character designs are so - so. I found that each stage had a different variation of the enemy from the previous one. Also, the backgrounds look pretty bad. They can get really repititive. It's like you're doing the same thing over and over and over and .. over... Plus.. the CG scenes really look good.
Very responsive controls and it's very simple to get used to. One of the game's strong points.
Sound : The music is awesome, especially the theme song you hear on the title screen. Each song matches each stage really well, I'm really impressed with it. The sounds of swords and dash is really good too. My only complaint is the bad english dubbing but thankfully the Japanese voice-acting is top-notch although lipsyncing could use some work, otherwise it's really good.
Gameplay : The gameplay is very fast paced. The stages are not that long and not that short either. If you die you will start at the beginning but thankfully if you die from boss, you'll start right there. Fustrating? Yes, but once you beat that stage, you would feel ''very'' satisfied. Plenty of enemies to kill and the boss battles are always fun to challenge. Camera angle is a problem at times tho and can get you annoyed at times. Other than that, the gameplay is really good. Combat in this game, while indeed repetitive, is magnificent. You have a ''light dash'' maneuver, and can use it to circle around enemies, ambushing them. Manage to kill four or more of them in a certain period of time, and you are treated to an in-game cutscene of Hotsuma doing something with his sword and the enemies dying all at once, Iai style. In case you were wondering, yes, you can throw ninja items. These are kunai, and you get a limited number of them with Hotsuma, but his stun enemies, leaving them vulnerable. And finally, you do have ninja magic. Art of the Fire, Art of Lightning, and a third act that throws energy swathes when you swing. These aren't the real names, but I don't know them.
Lots and lots of replayability. The game offers alot of tasty rewards for your time put into the game, one of the most rewarding game a gamer can ever ask for. Definately you'll come back for more.
This game is a Must-buy for people who like fast paced action, even tho it's repetitive after awhile... When you stop playing it for awhile, you'll have the urge to play it again because it's such a cool, challenging and fun game. Look pass the minor flaws and you'll enjoy it alot.