Shinobi (2002) (Sony PlayStation 2, 2002)

The game itself is very well made. It gives you a great 3D playing atmosphere but also incorporates many "oldschool" aspects (some areas have no enemies but require you to navigate the level with proper jumping and environment manipulation to get through. Also, falling to your death can happen more often than being killed by an enemy)

The game has very decent graphics for its release time (Nov. 2002). The games difficulty continuously elevates which is fun as it gives you a chance to master things but not make it too boring.

The major drawbacks to the game are the linear levels and huge frustration you will get from dying 90% the way through a level and starting back at square one. Checkpoints would have been better, at least one halfway.

The game the first time around isn't too challenging to a seasoned gamer, but like I said above, the starting from scratch can become annoying. The game also incorporates an interesting feature that forces you to keep moving and not doddle around, without putting in a game timer. This happens around level 4 (if I remember correctly) where the sword you weild, Akujiki, awakens and requires the souls of your slain enemies. If you fail to keep killing your enemies quick enough, the sword begins to eat your soul!

The game also has a feature called "tate" where if you slain 4 or more enemies in a certain amount of time, a cut scene animation plays and all your slain enemies fall at once, resulting in a huge amount of soul replenishment(a great way to get back on track if Akujiki is close to eating your soul). The only problem with this system is that, if there are 5 enemies within view, and you only manage to kill 4, you do not get this "tate". Which to me, seems to be something that the designers probably wanted, but doesn't make sense to me. You kill 4 if only 4 there, and you get tate, you kill 8 when there are 9, and you do not. This annoyed me a little.

The game doesn't offer a lot of replay value for anyone wanting to have a "fresh" playing experience the second time around. But for anyone who enjoyed it and wants to play the exact same thing, but harder, it offers a great deal!
After you beat the game on normal, you unlock hard, and after you beat hard, you unlock super difficaulties. The fun part about this is the other unlockables. Throughout each level(and difficulty) there are Oboro Coins. Collecting a great deal of these can unlock movies and art, but the fun thing is that it unlocks 2 characters!

Collect 30 Oboro Coins and you unlock the ability to play as Moritsune, Hotsuma's brother. Moritsune is a bit faster and his attacks are noticeably stronger, but he requires you to kill faster as Akujiki absorbs souls faster with him (At least it felt like it to me). His stealth dash also seemed slower to me.

Collect 40 Oboro Coins to unlock the original Shinobi! That's right everyone, Joe Musashi is back! I have yet to unlock him. From my findings, he does not suffer from the soul eating Akujiki, nor does he have a limit in his shuriken/kunai. I've also read that his shuriken attacks damage the enemies more than Hotsuma's or Moritsune's but does not have the same freezing ability.

After beating the game on hard, you get a VR level, it is in the level select after the final level and called Stage EX.

The game is great. Giving you an older feeling, with 3D gameplay.
But the linear levels drag it down, keeping it from being the great game it could have, and should have been. Still 1 of my favs!

Disliked and NOT PROPERLY reviewed back years ago when it came out, due to its difficulty, players where still curious and pushed to understand this big boy platformer. As many have found it, Shinobi may possibly be the best 3D platformer hands down.
Many people didn't know how to play this game in the western world, where as in Japan players are used to mechanics heavy games. The mechanics in Shinobi are by far some of the best I have ever dealt with in a 3D game. He moves and controls like any Ideal character of his type should. The "Tate" system is by far one of the most innovative game-play rules i have ever seen implemented in a 3D platfaormer such as this. once You can master Shinobi's moves and "TATE" the game begins to shine and surpass many of the current day platformers when it comes to nice tight control and benchmarking hardcore 3d platforming game-play.

This game is unlike any game I have ever played and the game play holds up to today's standards and anyone who knows this game well will tell you its one of the most underrated games of all time. So for what it goes for now, you definitely get your bucks worth. The killer soundtrack is a bonus.

Fun Factor-10/10(for the hardcore)
Graphics-8/10(PS2 era, great character and overall design)
Sound-10/10(awesome sound track worth listening on its own)

I purchased this on June 5th.

Since my company ships directly from USA in to my homeland (Costa Rica) it takes a couple of days to arrive!!. The selleer was great!! He provided me with a tracking the article was perfectly described!.

What can I say, back in 2002... I had like 20 years, no job... I only had some freelance jobs fixing computers and I didn´t have a PS2... I always loved this game... By working hard and getting my first job I was able to have this game 2 years later... at the end of 2003...

Obviously my console was modified, but man, I practically played this game all day long after work!..

Over time, the quality of the copy (a game ripped and burned in to a DVD it cost me like 20 bucks or something back in the day) went damaged and I needed the replacement of this jewel!.

Now that I have a little bit more of purchase ability it was necessary!!!

About the game, this is magnificent!!! Perfect game, try to configure the control scheme as in MegaMan X...

[] for attacks.
X for jumps and O for stealth dash!!.

And in this way you´ll become a champ!!, now I need to took all the shinobi coins and take control over hotsuma again!!!.

What can I say!! The 7th generation of consoles needs a new Shinobi!!! One like this, like in the 2003..

Regards,

DarkSlayer2040

Every now and then I get the urge to play a game that involves lots of action but doesn't have to make much physical sense. If you like these kind of games then Shinobi for the PS2 is for you.
Released in 2002 the game has graphics that were well beyond most games of it time. While it won't compare to the modern games of PS3 and XBox 360, it will still dazzle the player with high speed action and electro-Japanese sound effects and music.
As far as game play goes, Shinobi is for the quick-witted player. The crazy physics of dashing, double-jumping, and cutting through almost anything with your sword are amazing. Good reflexes and timing are a major key to winning the game, and an underestimation of distance or space can prove fatal to your character. There are no in-level checkpoints, so every time you die you have to start at the beginning of the level again. In fact, Shinobi has been voted one of the hardest games to beat (along with Devil May Cry 3 and Ninja Gaiden) by several gaming organizations. Nevertheless, the in-game story and combat gameplay make this game highly addictive.
Get Shinobi if you're looking for a game that provides a good story, great gameplay and a refreshing challenge that is not seen in most games nowadays.

This one of the hardest games ever made. This will really test your skills and patience as a gamer. Shinobi is not like your typical action game. In this game you can not win by hack and slash. Shinobi you have to think, conserve weapons and magic also search around. The boss fights are not easy but you will feel a sense of satisfaction when you do accomplish your game. There are unlock able features plus a good story. In an age where many gamers feel they're are not many challenges Shinobi proves other wise.