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Shinobi, The Classic Super Ninja is Back!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 21
Date: October 02, 2002
Author: Amazon User

If your a hard core gamer, you have probably played the Sega game Shinobi. Now 8 years later, Sega is putting out that game for PS2 that couldn't be cooler. In this game, you will play as Hotsuma, a lightning fast ninja swords man, who must protect modern day Japan from evil Demon ninjas . This kick ... ninja can slice through enermys with his katana (sword), run up and across walls like the Matrics, and use ninjyutsu (ninja magic) to obliterate any enemy in his path. This will be an extremely high-speed combat game with very challanging enemys, such as thirty foot tall demons, demons that can turn invisible and even military tanks. This game is going to be a very hard, very bloody, and very intence. If you don't like those kinds of games, don't get it. If you do, this will be one of your favorite games!

Hack and slash done right

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: November 28, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game, Shinobi is one of this year's best. If you're tired of pre-rendered backgrounds, or useless item fetching, or protect the base missions, then Shinobi is right for you. Forget all the other stuff that makes other games boring. Shinobi concentrates on fast, furious Ninja slice-em-up action.

The origins of this game is old, with roots to the late 80's. I was introduced to the Shinobi line when Revenge of Shinobi for the GBC came out. I've always loved old jump around and slash stuff games. Ninja Gaiden, and old Shinobi, those were great. Now, this game combines the great old type of action, with much improvements.

First of all, the graphics are really something to look at. Whether it's the way Hatsuma stands, or the red scarf flying back as you rush ninjas, the game looks cool no matter what. Eye candy galore! Fast paced action with little to no rest. It's not something newbies will appreciate, as this game is tough. Very tough. In fact, the fast paced action also requires you to plan out and time your moves. It's challenging when you have to keep up with the fast pace, and decide how, who and when to attack. I love it! Enemies can block, and even stun you. Often, levels will take more then a few attempts to complete. Vet gamers will be used to this, however others will be frustrated. If you give up easily, or if you are used to easy games, stay away from Shinobi.

Controls are solid, smooth and fast. While watching someone play Shinobi, you might scratch your head and ask "how the heck do you keep up with that?" With an effective lock on and a managable camera, the action flows smoothly. Think of a more mature, faster, cooler, Kingdom Hearts type of battle. The wild camera adds to the game's style.

Speaking of style, there is a lot of it. Usually in most games "cool moments" are scripted and happen when they are supposed to happen. In Shinobi, "cool moments" happen all the time. Slash four or more enemies with your sword, and they death freeze. Then they all die at the same time, while Hatsuma does a cool ninja pose. No scripts, no planned out events, Shinobi is spontanious action where anything can happen.

Sound is good, while not the best I have heard. The voice acting is nice, and the sounds in the game are well done. Music is good, but not great. The japanese techno semi rock adds to the theme of this game, however it could be better. But sometimes the music can't help but get stuck in your head.

There is replay value to this game, which is the icing on the cake. This isn't like the usual Arcade to console ports. This game has unlockable stuff that is actually worth getting. Estimate 40 hours to unlock, which gives it a good amount of time. Even when you do unlock everything, Shinobi is still a blast to play! It's a game you will want to re visit, even when late 2003 rolls around.

With fast paced action, good graphics, average sound, and replay value, Shinobi seems to be one of the best games of the year. Something that gets to the roots of ninja games, pure raw uncut fast action. Fun to play, and a break from pre-rendered backgrounds and item fetching. While not for everyone, with its above average challenge level. Old vets that seem to be bored to death with the dullness of ordinary games should pick this one up. Even newcomers should check this one out. Once you get the hang of it, Shinobi is one of the best gaming experiences. In short, it's Hack and Slash done right.

The game Shinobi fans have waited years for

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: February 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Anyone old enough to have owned a Genesis will remember the all time classic 2-D side scroller Revenge of Shinobi (no, I don't mean the one on the Game Boy Advance either), a game that offered loads of fun with it's simple gameplay mechanics and ultra hard difficulty. Sega and developer Overworks have finally brought us the first true 3-D game to feature Shinobi, and man is it great. You get to go through a great looking post-apocalyptic Tokyo taking on enemy ninjas, dogs, and supernatural foes. At your disposal are the good 'ol shurikens and your sword, while you also have new abilities like scaling walls and casting a ghostly image behind you that confuses enemies and takes you in long distances in a short amount of time. The graphics are jaw dropping and the voice acting is some of the best I've ever heard in a game, while the controls are dead on although they will take some getting used to. However, Shinobi is not without it's flaws; the game is super difficult and gamers looking for an easy walkthrough will not get it here. Not to mention that no matter when you die, you'll re-spawn back in the beginning of the level, which can get very frustrating. The camera angle can be grating as well when there is a lot of on screen action, but besides all that, Shinobi is a real winner. All in all, fans of the old Shinobi games of years ago or those looking for some very challenging gameplay should definitely pick this up.

WHY SEGA WILL REIGN AGAIN

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: November 15, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Wow. That's my first impression of this game. I've only had it for a few hours, but wow. This game is everything I thought it would be and more. It's not complicated, it's not confusing; it's direct, poignant, and very nicely done.

I never played the other shinobi installments, but this one is absolutely bewildering. Imagine taking the sword slashing from Strider, adding shuriken from the classic shinobi installments, creating a 3d gaming experience, and turning the speed of gameplay up about 10x or so. Those, in essence, are the ingredients to this wonderful game. The game is deeper than this, but it is nothing if not straightforward. The controls are a breeze (as with most Sega games) and pace of the game is fast and furious. This game, save it's great graphics and 3d third person layout, revives the gameplay that any oldschool genesis or nintendo gamer has been deprived of for so long.

The greatest flaw to this game is the music; it's really not very good at all. But you can always turn it off and play something else on the stereo in the background (Just like you may have done with all those old Nintendo and Genesis games). The voice acting is pretty good and the cinematics, though unbelievable, are awesome. That aside, being able to dash around and slice 5 enemies who fall apart after the fight in a gory, bloody mess is absolute fun, especially after a long day at work. If you're a fan of oldschool gameplay, give this game a try, you'll love it til it hurts.

Wicked

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: December 01, 2002
Author: Amazon User

The satisfaction of slashing through demons, etc...
is just so WICKED

shinobi

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 10, 2008
Author: Amazon User

this is fun game for people who like ninja's its fast paced fun uses ninjitsu (ninja magic) probably one of the better ninja games to be created for the ps2. warning shinobi not an easy game. you wil have to try it a few time's but its still fun and not as hard as ninja gaiden.

In short...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 02, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I think all the features of this game have been covered so....

If you're an older gamer (20+) who enjoyed the Genesis Shinobi titles and didn't mind the difficulty - this game IS FOR YOU.

I've updated this review to clarify a couple of things:

1.) Yes, the game is very difficult. But those reviews that say that it's difficult and the fighting system is bad are innacurate. There absolutely IS a strategy to fighting groups of enemies. You charge your sword on the smaller ones, then kill the large one in one slash! If you understand and use this system the way it was intended, you can even kill some stage bosses with as little as 2 hits!

2.) Platforming - to me it was the most difficult part of the game, but it's not impossible. All Shinobi games I can remember had verydifficult jumps. The only really bad part - is no checkpoints. You restart the whole level. However if you die during a boss fight, you won't have to repeat it.

The point is, it seems everyone either loves it or hates it, there's no middle. I can see how it may be frustrating, but I don't think why people would think it's boring. But I think everyone should give it a chance. It's cheap now, and it just may become your favorite game... it did for me.


This game is worth way more then it's current price (08/02/04)

Hardcore gamers, enjoy! Casual gamers, beware!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: August 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

With its neon-lit visuals that are spare yet beautiful, its atmospheric sound and music, and above all, its innovative and well-implemented game play mechanics, Shinobi is sure to be a winner with any true connoisseur of Action/Adventure games. A word of warning, however: Shinobi is not in the least for casual gamers, i.e., those who are unwilling to be trounced time and time again before being able to successfully complete a level or defeat a boss, and/or those disdainful of gameplay mechanics or control schemes that are in any way a departure from the norm.

The player-character, Hostuma, controls very responsively and has a host of groovy ninja moves at his disposal, including wall running, double jumping and a very neat dashing ability which can be executed consecutively on the ground, once in the air under normal circumstances, and an additional time immediately after striking an opponent while airborne. This means that if you have a swarm of aerial opponents about you, you can leap to one, strike him down, dash to the next, and repeat until the entire group is decimated, all without touching the ground. Hostuma's dash also has another, special application, aside from the fairly standard uses of evading attacks, reaching and attacking enemies quickly, and traveling longer distances in the air by combining it with double jumping every time Hotsuma dashes, he leaves behind an after-image. If you dash away from an enemy and leave them standing before an after-image, most of the time the foe will attack it instead of pursuing you, giving you a window of opportunity to strike. This can be a life-saver at times (particularly on Level 3-A, in which you are set upon by hordes of highly aggressive, sword-wielding zombie dogs).

Even with just the mechanics described above, Shinobi would have had very good gameplay. What really makes the gameplay great, however, is the Tate (pronounced tah-tay) system, the proper employment of which allows you to cut down a large group of opponents quickly with a minimum of hassle. Every time you defeat a foe who is by his lonesome, he falls immediately. However, if you are fighting two or more foes, each foe leading up until the last will be frozen in place a short time after defeat and your sword will become just a little stronger, making it much easier to "freeze" successive foes. After the last opponent falls, or when you wait too long before defeating the next -- at which time the frozen enemies fall regardless of those remaining -- your sword returns to its original power, so it is in your best interest to hit your enemies as quickly as possible. Killing three or fewer enemies in rapid succession, however, while advantageous because of your sword's power accretion, is not a true Tate; that comes into play when you quickly defeat four or more opponents, whereupon you are rewarded with a stylish cutscene in which Hostuma performs a sword flourish and all enemies fall together. It is especially advantageous to attack all the weakest enemies of a group first, since that makes it easier to down the real toughies, direct, drawn-out confrontations with whom might result in significant damage to yourself. In fact, some tougher foes take much more trouble and time to defeat if you don't Tate them. This goes doubly true for the bosses; it is far more satisfying, but far quicker to defeat a boss by quickly freezing the various demons he/she has conjured until you have amassed enough power to Tate the big baddy along with them. Nothing feels more awesome than vanquishing a big, bad boss beast with one sword stroke! A final word about Tate: Hotsuma's demon sword, Akujiki, requires constant nourishment in the form of dark energy, which you gain automatically upon defeating a foe. Wait too long between feedings, and the sword will begin to drain your life. A Tate however, will usually fill up your sword's hunger gauge, and if you make it a habit to Tate whenever possible, Akujiki will almost never go vampiric on you.

Shinobi's graphics are quite simple when compared to most games of its generation, but they are beautiful in that simplicity. There is no gross over-texturing, as evident in disappointments like Halo 2 and The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, as each object is textured just enough to give it personality. Also, neither the character models nor environments are polygon-rich, but the hard angles resulting from the relatively low-poly count never look ugly, having been placed so that they fall into line with the game's art design. Due to this graphical economy, slow-down is almost completely absent. The dark, brooding colors highlighted by bright neons, along with the game's unusual character and enemy designs, lend the game an 80's anime aesthetic. Since all of the game's character models have so much personality in-game, it is easy to imagine that they lost little in the translation from design to implementation; the enemies, and most especially the boss characters, are all very interesting to look at and well-animated, and Hotsuma himself, with his flowing red scarf, four-eyed helmet and confident demeanor, will surely go down in video game history as one of the most stylish player-characters ever.

Overall, Shinobi's sound is exceptional. The grunts, slashes, clashes, explosions and the like are all pretty standard, though never inadequate. The chorus of death cries let out by a flock of enemies during Tate, however, is really titilating! The Japanese voice acting, though there is little of it, is excellent, and really lends itself to atmosphere-building. Kudos to Sega's U.S. branch for not excluding the Japanese track and forcing us to listen to the kind of lack-luster English dub-drivel that has marred many a game imported from Japan! By far the best part of Shinobi's sound is its wonderful techno music. It has a fast enough pace to perfectly compliment the quickly-moving gameplay, yet is so thoughtfully composed that at the same time it projects an atmosphere of complex mysticism.

If you are up to the challenge, I cannot recommend this game enough. I am at a loss to understand why so many supposedly hardcore gamers, even editors at some major video game review mags, regard it shabbily. I can only surmise that they are indeed not hardcore gamers, that they are only willing to scarf down one deriviative FPS or cookie-cutter sports title after another, completely unknowing of what a great Action/Adventure truly is. What happened to you, Sega? Put Sonic on ice for a while and get back to making games like this!

Fast & Furious

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: December 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I've never played any of the Shinobi games except for this one so I consider myself a non fan. But I am a fan of Samurai/Ninja games (Tenchu, Way of the Samurai, Kengo, Bushido Blade). The only thing Shinobi has in common with prior games of the genre is that you fight with a sword. That's it. Shinobi is the fastest Samurai/Ninja game I've ever seen. This game is not about deep thinking or stealth. It is about speed and finesse.

What I liked about the game:

- Good graphics, high frame rates, and beautify cutscenes- though the cutscenes don't really move the plot along in any interesting way.
- The hero is very cool.
- Hero can pull off a wide variety of moves using very simple controls. To a spectator it all looks very cool.
- It's really your skill in finessing these moves that determines if you survive in this game. You have to master the rapid sequential kills (called TATE) in order to defeat the later bosses. This is not a Quake game, hacking at a boss repeatedly won't kill it. The controls are designed to assist you in reaching this state of "TATE-ness" but you have to allow it to happen- ie use the R1 button frequently.
- Also watch the demo screens when the game boots up, they are useful in figuring out what kinds of moves your character is capable of.

What frustrated me about the game:

- I was warned by prior reviews that this was a difficult game- it really is very difficult. It took me about a dozen tries to get through level 3. That's before I found out that I can cut through some of the walls in the Mall to reveal health bonuses. Fortunately if you get killed at a boss level you resume in the boss fight level, not at the beginning of the level.
- Camera has a mind of its own sometimes- especially in the most awkward times- like when you are trying to deal your death blow to a boss.
- Graphics is repetitive. For each level you enter, the textures are reused an aweful lot.
- There are no save points until an entire level (including boss) has been killed! This is the most frustrating thing about the game, but if you think about it for a moment, you'll quickly realize that being able to save the game at an arbitraty point would in fact kill the pace of the game.

It is not that hard

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: March 19, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Why do you all think it is impossibly difficult it is not it took me 2 days to beat and a week to earn the secret characters. But it is a good game and fun, The graphics are ungodly awesome and it is a great battle system I greatly enjoyed it and I have been playing for 13 years I can't be completely wrong. Warning Not for the Noob. gamer but for vets. a great game!

-- DuoXP5, ...

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