Kinda Funny Gamescast: Shinobi Art of Vengeance Review
Date: August 25, 2025
Hosts: Tim Gettys, Andy Cortez, Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller
Summary by Podcast Summarizer
Main Theme & Purpose
In this episode, the Kinda Funny crew delivers an in-depth review of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, the anticipated reboot of Sega’s iconic action-platformer franchise, developed by Lizardcube. Andy Cortez, who completed the game, leads the review, unpacking gameplay intricacies, aesthetic choices, accessibility, and innovations, while comparing it to contemporaries and the legacy of the Shinobi series. The hosts also touch on trends in modern 2D action games, game pricing, and the wider landscape of action-platformers.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Quick Catch-up and Housekeeping
- Andy recounts a gaming-heavy weekend, finishing both 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (01:21).
- Some technical bugs in older games (e.g., Andy spawning into a dev room in 50 Cent) amuse the cast (03:14).
2. Background: Shinobi Art of Vengeance
- Developed by Lizardcube and published by Sega, this is a modern reboot for the Shinobi series, launching August 29, 2025, on all major platforms (06:40).
- Lizardcube drew inspiration from the original trilogy, modernizing with a combo-driven system and signature hand-drawn art (07:25).
- Sega took a more hands-on production role than with Lizardcube's prior projects.
3. Andy Cortez's Hands-on Review
Completion & Playtime
- Andy finished the game in 16.5 hours, engaging with both main content and tough platform/combat challenges (07:53).
- Estimated 12–13 hours for a mainline run, with more for completionists (07:53).
Combat & Progression
- "Combat is like probably my favorite since Prince of Persia: Lost Crown." — Andy Cortez (08:46)
- Depth comes from unlocking new moves, expanding combos, and player agency (08:47, 29:00).
- "It feels like a fighting game in a way. It feels like a Smash Bros game in a way…" (20:45).
Art & Visuals
- Highly praised hand-animated art style, though 5% of the game feels "kind of cheap" due to scaled props and rushed assets (09:30).
- "The art is phenomenal when it does pop off." — Andy Cortez (09:30)
Repetition & Boss Fights
- Some repetitiveness sets in near the end with repeated enemy types (09:44).
- Boss fights are dynamic and well-designed, though the music for bosses could be more varied (23:52).
Metroidvania Elements & Level Structure
- Not a pure Metroidvania; the game is level-based with some backtracking for secrets and power-ups (13:07).
- Allows freedom to tackle levels non-linearly within hubs, which occasionally led to player confusion (14:01).
- Quality-of-life: frequent fast travel points encourage exploration (15:19).
Accessibility & Challenge
- Significant accessibility options: adjustable enemy damage, health, and environmental hazards (11:14).
- Tough platforming challenges require precise execution, but can be mitigated with settings (11:14).
- "There's a lot of good accessibility as well. If you're having trouble with challenges, you can turn down, you know, enemy damage and enemy health…" — Andy Cortez (11:14)
Value & Content
- Priced at $27–30, praised as generous for its amount and quality of content (11:17).
- Rewards exploration and experimentation with new combos, hidden items, and “costume” palette swaps (25:08).
4. Critiques and Missing the "X-Factor"
- Score: 8/10 on the Kinda Funny scale (10:55).
- Andy wanted higher production values, especially for cutscenes and storytelling:
- Occasional technical annoyances:
5. Comparisons to Other Games and Trends
- Parallels to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (for combat innovation) (08:46) and Ninja Gaiden Ragebound (for production and nostalgia) (16:07, 25:42).
- Commends Sega’s initiative to revisit classic franchises and revive old IPs for modern audiences (27:47).
- The cast welcomes the current “golden era” for 2D action games (22:05, 28:44).
6. Audience Questions & Notable Super Chats
- Listeners share nostalgic connections to original Shinobi, excited for the reboot (27:47).
- Some debate whether Shinobi: Art of Vengeance will end up in Andy’s top 10. He doubts it, given 2025’s packed slate (46:52).
- Reflecting on Hollow Knight: Silksong and expectations as another major indie launch (35:13), as well as broader industry trends (Hades 2, upcoming releases) (49:02).
Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 08:46 | Andy Cortez | “The combat is like probably my favorite since Prince of Persia: Lost Crown.” | | 09:30 | Andy Cortez | “The art is phenomenal when it does pop off. But there are some moments… looks kind of cheap.” | | 13:07 | Tim/Andy | “This is not a Metroidvania. Correct?” – “Correct… it's level based… free flowing…” | | 16:07 | Andy Cortez | “If I could wave the gaming magic wand…I would give this studio an extra year…” | | 18:13 | Andy Cortez | “They really want you to care… but there's just not enough there… to really get me to that level.” | | 20:45 | Andy Cortez | “It feels like a fighting game in a way. It feels like a Smash Bros game in a way…” | | 26:10 | Andy Cortez | “I wish [the tone] was more comedic and self aware… it unfortunately didn't go that extra mile.” | | 29:00 | Andy Cortez | “…you can really start to unlock some cool [combos] in this. And it's not just for visuals… every one of these moves is doing either shield damage or… pure damage…” | | 42:29 | Andy Cortez | “I don't think for the rest of time we will ever have a 2D side scroller game talked about as much as [Silksong].” |
Important Segment Timestamps
- Shinobi Review Begins: [06:40]
- Andy’s Game Completion Time & General Impressions: [07:53]
- Combat, Art, & Gameplay Breakdown: [08:46]–[13:07]
- Level Design, Structure, and Progression: [13:07]–[15:22]
- Scoring & Critiques: [16:07]–[19:39]
- Boss Fights, Combos, and Music: [22:05]–[25:08]
- Story, Tone, and Sega Nostalgia: [25:42]–[27:47]
- Listener Questions & Final Thoughts on Shinobi: [27:47]–[31:19]
Final Thoughts & Recommendations
- Andy Cortez highly recommends Shinobi: Art of Vengeance to fans of 2D platformers, fighting games, and combo-driven action, especially at its approachable $30 price point. The game shines in gameplay depth and satisfying progression, but falls slightly short on narrative and production polish.
- “If you are the type of person who wants to feel awesome while gaming… this reminds me of Avengers… the level of depth you can take with the combat… feels so damn awesome” (20:45).
- While the story and cutscene production could use more flair, and there are minor technical quibbles, the criticism never outweighs the game’s fun factor.
Related Discussions
- Discussion of the state of gamer discourse and online negativity (06:12).
- Anticipation for Hollow Knight: Silksong and comparison to Shovel Knight expansions ([35:13]–[39:38]).
- Chatter about upcoming conventions (PAX West), personal game-of-the-year contenders, and broader trends in indie and AAA releases ([43:23]–[50:48]).
Summary Verdict
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance successfully modernizes a classic franchise, blending nostalgic throwbacks with tight, innovative combat and accessibility for a wide range of players. The Kinda Funny team celebrates its value, rewarding progression, and flourishes in gameplay, even as it falls short of “essential” status due to modest production values and story delivery. It is a strong recommendation for genre fans—and a promising blueprint for future Sega revivals.
(Summary covers all content after intro ads and opening banter, focusing exclusively on game discussion and relevant listener interaction.)