Introduction
Time has graced us with many things, one of which is the evolution of video game technology. It has become so grand that in the near future it will be able to stand up to the main stream media titans. One can not move on without addressing the past and that is why companies over the past couple of years have been developing remakes of great classics from the early days of game entertainment. Unfortunately many of these remakes have been games that fail to dig up any decent memories of the original games. It seems there is still a high demand for the return of classics to the mainstream game market and Sega has decided to bring one of its most popular series back to life. Shinobi is one of the most renowned ninja action games out there even standing up against Ninja Gaiden. This new entry into the series makes an attempt at keeping the game feel like a classic while evolving the formula at the same time. Some people will find the extreme difficulty of the game frustrating but those who wish to play a game that will make them feel fulfilled, Shinobi is the right game for them. The difficulty adds to the games atmosphere and a gamer can expect to perish quite a few times before they learn to master the best way of completing a level. Shinobi is a game that needs to be examined very closely before it can be judged on a fair level. This review is the result of careful examination and deep play time.

Gameplay
The visuals in this game will appeal to some and mildly twitch others. The game has a unique style that makes the game quite different than anything ever seen on the Playstation 2, but it does have some small problems. The texture work is quite good and it expresses the culture of the games setting and it is never overworked. The main problem with the visuals, are the lack of enemy models. You will find yourself fighting the same enemy over and over again and it is as if they had no purpose but to be your punch bag. It isn’t that noticeable and it does not hurt the game but some may find it a bit odd. The variety in level settings also seem to be limited. You will see too many of the formulated level settings throughout the game and feel as if there is just too much of the same. Shinobi’s main character however is one of the best character models ever placed on the Playstation 2. He has a flowing scarf that seems to have a near endless amount of eye popping animations and the way the character zips past him enemies is amazing. The graphics do have some problems but there is nothing that will detract from the overall gaming experience.

Story
Shinobi is a game built on the principles of a classic action game. Just like the recent remake of Contra and Rygar, Shinobi is an attempt to expand upon the original concept of the series. One of the biggest changes to the formula is the inclusion of an involving storyline that is not as bare bones as the plots of previous installments. The story isn’t as deep as some of the newer games seen lately but it is definitely a step up from where the series stood in that area before. One thing that has to be mentioned above all other aspects of the game is the controls. This game is one of the best controlling games out there. The controls are fluid and the action is fast. The way a persons hand will flows across the controller shows just how much attention to tactics is needed. The game is separated in stages, similar to the ways the originals were. The game is filled with action from beginning to end. There is almost no area safe from an ambush of enemies. The game feels very much like the original installments and it has a familiar arcade feel to it that adds to the atmosphere of the game. Shinobi has a wide assortment of attacks and spells that help him soar through the many stages of the game. Some of the spells seem quite pointless mainly due to the pace of the game. The levels are very long and due to the difficulty of the game, some stages feels as if they are too long. This may be caused by a lack of checkpoints mid-level. Not to mention that if you happen to die, you are thrown back to the start of the stage. Once again this all comes down to personal preference. Some people may like the challenge, but this may turn some causal gamers away from the game. The boss battles are quite challenging and they require the gamer to use their brain to figure out the weakness. This will sometimes turn into a trial and error situation but in some cases the bosses are actually easier to beat than the stages themselves. Shinobi is a long and difficult game that will provide a challenge to anyone who dares to brave the games grand scale. If there was one problem to make an issue, it would be the sometime erratic camera system that will often times lead you to your early death because of one wrong step. The final problem is that the level design is somewhat uninspired; it simply feels like too much of the same. It does not hurt the game too much though as it is simply trying to keep a classic feel.

Graphics
The audio presentation is somewhat bland. It is in no way a bad audio track, it is just that it is not highly innovative. To tell you all the truth, innovation does not matter with this game. The music for Shinobi was never meant to be ground breaking and that is not what it is scored on. It is scored on how it fits with the game and if it is pleasing to the ears. The music is upbeat and reflects the fast pace present in the game. The sound effects are done quite nicely and that is expected especially if you are to hear them all throughout the game. The explosions and sword slashing really helps the game, but as stated before, it is nothing groundbreaking, because that’s not what it was meant to be.

Sound
To conclude this analysis, Shinobi is a game that needs to be respected before it can be enjoyed to its full extent. It is a difficult experience that will challenge even the most sharp of gamers. The plus side to this is that a sense of accomplishment is formed when the game is completed. A sense of happiness that will stay with you for quite a long time. A sense that only Sega, one of the greatest game companies of all time can provide, if you purchase this game, make sure you know why you did. Your experience with it will depend on that and that alone.