Sega’s long-dormant Shinobi franchise is drawing strong critical acclaim ahead of its return later this week with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, a side-scrolling action game developed by French studio Lizardcube. Reviews published Monday from outlets including Push Square, VGC, Game Informer, TechRadar and Kotaku awarded the title top-tier scores—several at five stars—citing its hand-drawn visuals, fluid combo-heavy combat and robust replay value. Critics highlighted the game’s modernised mechanics, which let players chain light and heavy attacks, kunai throws and screen-clearing Ninpo spells while dashing between enemies as series protagonist Joe Musashi. They also praised Lizardcube’s detailed backgrounds, a Yuzo Koshiro and Tee Lopes soundtrack and optional challenge modes that extend play time beyond the roughly 15-hour campaign. Minor drawbacks noted include occasional platforming hiccups and stage lengths that can feel protracted, but reviewers agreed the release sets a high bar for Sega’s broader portfolio of planned franchise revivals. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance enters early access on 26 August and launches widely on 29 August for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. The reception positions the reboot as an early Game-of-the-Year candidate and marks what reviewers describe as the strongest outing in the ninja series’ nearly four-decade history.