Ultimate Ninja Action Unleashed – PlayStation.Blog

Sure thing, here it goes:

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Whoa, okay, so SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is hitting PlayStation 4 and 5 on August 29, 2025. Feeling antsy? I get it. Anyway, this continues the whole Shinobi saga, which apparently has been around since, like, 1987. How wild is that?

And here’s the scoop – Lizardcube, you know, the guys who did Streets of Rage IV back in 2020, are back at it. They’re revamping Joe Musashi’s revenge quest with their usual flair. Honestly, that art style? Killer.

I got my hands on two stages. Unreal! The art, the controls, the combat… each bit’s like a shot of espresso. It’s like if a comic book and a ninja had a baby or something. Strange mental image, but trust me, it works.

ENE Corp, some big bad faction, is rampaging globally. Naturally, Joe’s clan, the Oboro Clan, stands in their way. Ruse, the big brain of ENE Corp, decides to destroy Joe’s home. Not cool, Ruse, not cool. Joe finds his village trashed and his clan turned to stone. Stone! So he’s off on a vengeance spree now.

Ah, Joe Musashi. The silent, relentless head ninja of Oboro. While he doesn’t chat much, he’s the hero everyone’s betting on. Meanwhile, Lord Ruse? He’s cold and cunning, wanting the Oboro folks wiped out. Geez, right?

This game drags you through one bold world after another. Picture neon cities, fortified bases, dodging through vast bottle-necked trains… the works. Gotta stop a minute and soak in those hand-drawn visuals, though. They pop like fireworks. Speaking of, you’ll hone some fantastic ninja skills as you bumble along the way.

First spot: Oboro Village. Picture this—you pop in for training, run into chaos from rival ninjas, then whoosh! Chaos. Get adept at those jumps and dodges without tripping over yourself. Reminds me of this one time… well, never mind. Still, spare a moment to admire the scenery, it’s a stunner. Especially the sun playing hide and seek in treetops.

The plot thickens with stages showcasing burning villages or intricate ninja estates, booby traps everywhere. Sometimes it feels like navigating a minefield. Just keep experimenting with cool ninja tricks, and you’ll find a way. Mostly.

Stage two sets you racing through a festival scene. I mean, doesn’t every festival need a ninja infiltration? You’re darting, leaping flimsy planks on the lake. One misstep and splash—you become fish food. Fancy fireworks, weirdly shaped lanterns – dreamlike… until bad guys crash the party.

Oh, by the way, kit yourself with Ninpo and Ninjutsu. Fast-paced action, heart-pounding yet so intuitive! Besides twirling katanas and flicking shurikens, they’ve got new moves. I mean, why not breathe fire or summon water for defense? Handy when cornered by enemies. Other abilities help you discover hidden paths or obliterate obstacles. Like… leveling up as a ninja!

Stages? Sprinkled with shops, stocked by yokai. Your go-to for upgrades or snagging new gear. But they’ll need gifts, the shopkeepers are weird that way. Seek five Oboro Relics in every stage, trade them in, and unlock goodies. Need gold for purchases too, but don’t fret. Crush opponents, grab gold, rinse, and repeat. If you’re stuck, simply retrace steps. Could mean life or death in harder stages.

Got enough for the Digital Deluxe Edition yet? Base game, in-game items, Sega Villains Stage (coming 2026), plus extra content. If you preorder, you even get early dibs on the game. Nice, huh?

Mark your calendars, connect with your inner ninja, and prepare for a kickass release day. August 29th, people. Don’t say I didn’t remind ya.

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Hope that feels lived-in enough!