From Lizardcube, of Streets of Rage 4 and the excellent Wonder Boy: The Dragonâs Trap remaster.
1. What are your thoughts on reviving the Shinobi franchise?
Toru Ohara â Chief Producer, Sega of Japan: Shinobi was first released more than 30 years ago. To many players, the title Shinobi may feel nostalgic, but we believe there are also many players who have never heard of it before. We really hope that fans of both the original series as well as newer players will give the new Shinobi a try and become fans of our modern approach to the series.
2. What inspired the teamâs artistic approach to Shinobi: Art of Vengeance? How did Lizardcube develop their unique art style?
Ben Fiquet â Creative Director, Lizardcube : Artistically, Shinobi is a continuation of our creative work on Wonder Boy: The Dragonâs Trap and Streets of Rage 4. We have always been deeply attached to traditional art and animation, which we believe reflects perfectly in 2D gameplay. Our influences range from French comics to Japanese anime while trying to keep that Mega Drive / Genesis visual aesthetic, which we feel players may remember fondly, too.
3. How does Shinobi: Art of Vengeance pay homage to previous games in the series?
Fiquet : This title is definitely inspired by The Revenge of Shinobi and Shinobi III, which originally released on the Sega Genesis, and pays homage to the franchise in all sorts of ways. You have the special powers, moves â even some of the enemies, stages and bosses capture the essence of past Shinobi games. The Bamboo Forest stage, for example, returns in this title, so players familiar with Shinobiwill surely feel the nostalgia.
As this is a revival of one of the most iconic franchises from the â90s, we worked closely with SEGA of Japan to ensure that this game is both respectful to the past as well as up to modern standards.
Ohara : Also, our protagonist is âJoe Musashiâ â that name alone has a deep meaning for anyone who knows this series. That being said, this title is not a sequel or a side story, but a brand-new title with a new story and gameplay elements that are new to the series. We made sure that any player can enjoy this game, whether they know past installments or not.
4. The game is subtitled âArt of Vengeance.â Can you offer a clue as to what meaning that has for the game?
Ohara: In the beginning of the game, Joe Musashi is struck by tragedy and embarks on a quest for vengeance. His opponent is a mighty organization, and each stage is very difficult, so the way to fulfill his need for vengeance isnât an easy one. Joeâs quest will lead players to cross paths with allies, experience further tragedy, and combat increasingly powerful enemies.
Besides the main story, we also prepared game mechanics like certain Ninja skills that will allow players to execute Joeâs enemies with a special âShinobi Executionâ attack, fulfilling his heartâs urge for revenge. Thus, the theme of âvengeanceâ is something players feel in all parts of this title. Visually, Lizardcubeâs distinct art style illustrates Joeâs quest for vengeance in such a beautifully unique wayâtruly, the âartâ of vengeance.
5. The trailer provides a look at weapons and tools in the game. Can you speak broadly to the equipment players will have and what kind of gameplay they can expect?
Ohara : In true Shinobi fashion, this is a level-based game, so the game system differs from Metroidvania titles for example, where you usually explore one huge map.
That being said, players will obtain certain abilities in later stages that will allow them to explore hidden routes â and discover secrets â they couldnât access in prior stages. We feel this offers a lot more depth than just clearing each stage once.
One element that stands out to us is the high-paced action that this Shinobi entry offers. Combat action and platforming action alike feel extremely smooth and satisfying. Players may have noticed this in our trailer, but the Katana and the Kunai in particular can provide several attack methods based on the playerâs button input beyond âjust slashing an enemy with the Katanaâ or âjust throwing a Kunai.â As Joe, you are always moving, continuously attacking, and reacting to the different types of enemies you encounter.
We canât wait to tell players more about the in-depth combat system. There is so much variation, and it all looks so cool, that itâs surprising even to us to realize that you as the player made Joe pull off those moves. Itâs also just as astonishing to think that all of these animations are hand-drawn!
6. What elements of this game is the development team most excited for?
Ohara : There are so many things to be excited for: the comeback of the Shinobi franchise, Lizardcubeâs beautiful art style, and of course knowing that players will finally experience the great, smooth action of this title.
Fiquet : The combat system, the moves, and the overall sensation of acting as a ninja is definitely very cool. Players will have many fun elements and hours of fun ahead of them. We canât wait to see the reactions of players both familiar and new to the Shinobi series.
