Playstation2=Shinobi XBox=Ninja Gaiden..............if you have an xbox.....get Ninja Gaiden
Gameplay: A regular hack n' slash.....only more annoying. It would so much more enjoyable if the goddamn sword wasn't sucking your cok, I mean lifeforce away. Shinobi puts the way of the ninja to good use, but it's system is really funky. The controls are avergage, and make Hotsuma feel really stiff. Yes Hotsuma can run on walls......but only "special" walls.....why.....WHY?? WHY MAKE HOTSUMA RUN ON DESIGNATED WALLS.....WHY DOES THE SWORD STEAL YOUR LIFE??? Oh yeah.....wtf is up with the restart of the level when you die.....WHERE ARE THE CHECKPOINTS.....how do you make a game.....make it hard as all hell....and then when you die you restart the ENTIRE LEVEL. (sigh) Ok to fufill the swords hunger you have to kill the marked enemies in succession. This would be easy and entertaining if you didn't need the patience of a saint to do it. First you slice one guy....then you zip on by to the next one praying you can slice him and zip to the next. It can really get frustrating since Hotsuma always feels like he's got a large cumbersome object up his ass.
Graphics: So 2001. It's the graphics that save the game. For a 2001 title they actually look pretty good. Well designed characters and nice effects fill the game. However.....the drab mess after mess that is supposed to look like enviroment needs to be taken back to the studio. For some reason every damn stage looks like a blue city. Oh yeah and the lip synching needs work...lots of it.
Sound: the sound.....is sh*t plain honest SH*T. The music sounds like it came from an electric synthesizer that they recorded on a 1990's sony tape recorder and looped level after level. The voice actors sound like they have just been diagnosed with lung cancer. It's like someone at Sega whipped out a 357. magnum threw them the script, and stood behind them with the magnum pressed to their heads and their pants unzipped.
Overall: It's not a bad game....it just needs an assload of rehab. Still if you only have a PS2 your sh*t outta luck, 'cause thats the only ninja game thats available.....if you can find it. However those blessed with an X....go and get yourself Ninja Gaiden or Ninja Gaiden Black. It's just a better game....true and simple.