Compare The First Berserker: Khazan vs Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Accessibility is supported by easy mode, summons, and other options, though not every reviewer personally tested them.

Accessibility options are praised for adjustable difficulty, assist settings, and sliders that make the challenge more approachable without fully flattening it.

AI behavior is criticized where it appears, with one review calling it braindead.

Animation quality is praised for enemy animation and combat motion.

Animation quality is a standout, especially Joe’s motion, hand-drawn character work, and the way combat and traversal read in motion.

Art direction is broadly praised for its cel-shaded, anime-inflected, gothic style, though originality concerns remain elsewhere.

The hand-drawn art direction receives near-universal praise for its style, cohesion, painterly look, and strong franchise fit.

Atmosphere is mixed: one review praises dense historical mood, while another finds the atmosphere less inspired.

Atmosphere is supported by presentation touches such as camera framing and mood-setting scenes that help the 2D spaces feel more dramatic.

Boss design is the strongest point of consensus, with many reviewers calling bosses excellent, memorable, fair, intuitive, and satisfying despite some reuse or harshness.

Boss design earns many positive notes for memorable, exciting encounters, though a few reviewers find some bosses too easy, clunky, or mechanically weaker than regular fights.

Bug frequency is mostly low, though some reviewers mention minor bugs or a specific visual attack issue.

Bug frequency is a concern in one review that reports a severe save-wipe issue, even though other technical impressions were cleaner.

Camera behavior is split between one review calling it solid and another saying it leaves a lot to be desired.

Camera behavior is praised in one review for intelligently changing framing to support mood, traversal, and visual depth.

Character development is criticized as lacking.

Character development is limited overall, with one reviewer liking a supporting character but another calling broader character depth minimal.

Checkpoint placement is praised, especially checkpoints before bosses that reduce runback frustration.

The checkpoint system is praised as a quality-of-life improvement because it reduces frustration around difficult optional challenges.

Combat is the product’s clearest strength: reviewers repeatedly call it fast, satisfying, deep, and among the genre’s best, with only a few reservations about stamina or consistency.

Combat is the most consistently praised attribute, with reviewers calling it fluid, deep, expressive, satisfying, and central to the game’s appeal.

Summon and companion systems are split: one review loves the system, while others criticize unreliable ally AI.

Content variety is mixed, with praise for mission objectives and factions but complaints about limited weapon variety.

Content variety is strong across stage themes, optional challenges, enemy encounters, bonus levels, and replay modes, though some side segments are less loved.

Controls are described as smooth, tight, responsive, and precise, helping the demanding fights feel skill-based.

Controls are usually described as smooth, tight, intuitive, and responsive, with a few caveats around moments where scripted control loss or platforming inputs feel awkward.

The core loop earns praise for making hard-earned combat wins feel cathartic and motivating.

The core loop is widely liked as fast, stylish 2D action with strong combat and traversal, with a few reviewers calling it great despite structural complaints.

Crafting is positively described as easy to understand and relatively self-explanatory.

Crash stability is mostly acceptable but not perfect, with one reviewer reporting a couple of crashes.

Crash stability is strong in the PS5 review that reports no crashes, soft-locks, or freezes over a long playthrough.

Dialogue quality is uneven: one review criticizes a dull character, and another finds paused dialogue barks jarring despite fun narrative moments.

Difficulty is the most contentious attribute: many reviewers find the challenge fair and rewarding, while others report brutal spikes, stamina strain, or unbalanced bosses.

Difficulty is generally viewed as fair and satisfying, but opinions split on spikes, projectile-heavy sections, undertuned enemies, and some hard optional challenges.

One review highlights a touching optional quest with emotional weight.

Emotional impact is limited in the review evidence, with one reviewer wishing for a stronger moment of emotional weight.

Endgame content gets mild praise for adding New Game+ weapon options, though one reviewer wished those ideas appeared earlier.

Endgame content is generally seen as useful for replay through Arcade Mode, Boss Rush, superbosses, and ranking challenges, though one reviewer sees arcade mode as padding.

Enemy variety is usually praised as sizable and fresh, though a few reviews still complain about samey enemies.

Enemy variety is a strength, with reviewers praising the range of ninjas, soldiers, monsters, bosses, and specialized foes that shape encounters.

Environmental detail is mixed: several environments look good, but some reviewers find areas washed out or drab.

Environmental detail stands out in reviews that praise painterly backgrounds, large-scale set pieces, and richly detailed level backdrops.

Exploration is mixed: several reviewers like hidden rewards and shortcuts, but others find exploration limited, stifled, or nearly absent.

Exploration is divisive: many enjoy secrets, replayable routes, and rewards, while others find backtracking or Metroidvania-lite detours less compelling.

Reviewers broadly describe the revival as faithful to Shinobi’s legacy while modernizing it with new structure, combat depth, and visual presentation.

Fast travel convenience is mixed, with praise for resuming from checkpoints but criticism that players cannot freely warp inside levels.

Fast travel is repeatedly praised for making revisits, secret hunting, and post-completion cleanup smoother rather than tedious.

Flying mechanics are mildly criticized in the glider’s case, with the reviewer saying it slows down otherwise snappy traversal.

Frame rate stability is positive overall, with only rare drops or exceptions reported.

Frame rate stability is mixed, especially on Switch, where reviewers note dips or painful frame-rate issues despite otherwise strong presentation.

Fun factor is very strong overall, with many reviewers saying the game is joyful, addictive, satisfying, or peak despite difficulty.

Fun factor is high, with many reviewers calling the combat, challenge rooms, and overall ninja fantasy enjoyable or easy to recommend.

Gameplay mechanics are praised for depth and power fantasy, though one reviewer argues an execution mechanic lacks meaningful challenge pressure.

Graphics and visuals are viewed positively, with reviewers praising cel-shading, presentation, and attractive visual identity.

Graphics quality is a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly calling the game gorgeous, beautiful, and visually impressive.

Grind level is mildly criticized because skill-point acquisition can be time-consuming.

Handheld suitability is praised where Steam Deck play is discussed.

HUD clarity receives a mixed score because flashy combat effects can make the player lose track of the action.

Immersion is positive in one review that finds the experience engaging and brutal.

Immersion is supported by strong presentation and visual depth, though one reviewer says the game remained enjoyable without strongly resonating.

Innovation is praised in one review for meaningful twists on familiar mechanics.

Innovation is praised where reviewers say the game evolves Shinobi meaningfully instead of merely repeating the past.

The learning curve is steep, with early difficulty spikes strong enough to make one reviewer consider stopping.

The learning curve is favorable because reviewers describe the combat as simple to engage with while still rewarding mastery.

Level design is highly divisive: some reviews praise memorable layouts and shortcuts, while others call the levels basic, boring, recycled, or even terrible.

Level design is usually praised for scale, variety, secrets, and challenge structure, but some reviewers criticize flow, pacing, or underused combat spaces.

Live-service support looks uncertain in post-release coverage, with reports of a likely final patch and a murky future.

Load times receive explicit praise for being very fast.

Load times receive a positive note from one Switch reviewer who says they did not take too long.

Loot opinions are mixed: some call it manageable or streamlined, while others find the volume of gear chore-like or excessive.

Lore depth is limited in one review’s view, with little to learn beyond mechanical hub functions.

Lore depth gets mild praise where the reviewer appreciates Shinobi’s blend of cultural mythological elements.

Map and navigation design is praised for clear mission information and segmentation.

Map and navigation design is mixed: reviewers like map clarity and fast travel, but some cite confusing secret tracking or unclear pits.

Menu usability is mixed: one loot process is streamlined, but other reviewers find respec and gear menus annoying or time-consuming.

Menu usability is praised through the clean, easy-to-navigate interface that removes friction around fast travel and play.

Mission design is a weak spot in the harsher reviews, with complaints that missions can feel like formalities or use puzzling reset structures.

Mission design is praised through comments about well-crafted stages that mix platforming, combat, puzzles, and optional routes.

Mission variety is mixed to weak: some remixed side content adds freshness, but boss reuse and recycled side missions are repeated complaints.

Mission variety is supported by praise for fresh objectives and distinct environments across the stages.

Movement feel is heavily praised as fast, fluid, snappy, and fun, though one Switch review notes combat can feel slower than traversal.

Narrative quality is mixed: reviewers like the coherent revenge setup and some entertaining moments, but many call the story thin, generic, predictable, or underwhelming.

Narrative quality is the most mixed creative element: some call it one of the franchise’s better stories, while many describe it as simple, thin, or tonally inconsistent.

Onboarding is uneven: tutorials can work, but some reviewers say the intro and early ramp fail to showcase or teach the best systems well.

Onboarding is praised for easing the player into each move rather than overwhelming them with the full combat kit at once.

Originality is mixed to weak: reviewers often call the game derivative, while still noting that it executes borrowed ideas well.

Originality is praised where reviewers call the revival fresh for the series rather than a simple nostalgic retread.

Pacing splits opinion, with one review praising its momentum and another calling the campaign laborious and rehashed.

Pacing is mixed: several reviewers like the length and steady tool rollout, while others say long stages, revisit loops, or samey rhythm weaken momentum.

Performance optimization is strongly praised, with multiple reviewers reporting pristine or highly optimized performance.

Performance optimization varies by platform and context, with PS5 impressions strong but Switch-oriented reviews noting optimization and frame-pacing caveats.

Platforming is often praised as tight, precise, and rewarding, though several reviewers flag optional challenge rooms or late-game traversal as frustrating or inconsistent.

Polish is praised overall, though a few bugs and design caveats remain.

Polish is praised where reviewers highlight the game as well put together and visually refined.

Progression is broadly praised, especially boss-attempt rewards, free skill respecs, and multiple growth systems that keep failures productive.

Progression is praised for steadily adding moves, abilities, upgrades, and customization that keep combat and traversal evolving.

Protagonist appeal is polarized, with one review calling Khazan ideal for the game and another finding him flat.

Protagonist appeal is positive where Joe Musashi is described as a compelling, badass ninja fantasy rather than a talkative character.

Puzzle design receives a mild positive note for being logical and not slowing the action down.

Replay value is moderate: New Game+ and weapon experimentation help, but limited build variety and repeated playthrough fatigue are recurring concerns.

Replay value is strong for completionists thanks to collectibles, secrets, stage revisits, Arcade Mode, Boss Rush, ranks, and unlockables, though not every reviewer loves revisiting.

Save reliability is praised because frequent saving prevents meaningful progress loss after crashes.

Save reliability is split: one review praises frequent saves, while another reports the serious problem of a save being wiped twice.

Side characters are a recurring weakness, often described as generic, shallow, or not meaningfully integrated.

Side character depth is weak in the evidence focused on Ankou, whom one reviewer calls dull despite liking the broader visual design.

Skill trees are usually praised for depth and experimentation, though some reviewers say build variety remains narrower than expected.

Sound design is praised for impact, weapon clashes, parry sounds, and matching the game’s brutal tone.

Sound design is mixed: impact feedback and combat audio are praised, but one reviewer strongly disliked the harsh radio or speaker filter.

The soundtrack is generally liked, especially for elevating boss fights and tension.

The soundtrack is mostly praised as energetic, fitting, and memorable, though one review finds it weaker than the visuals and Genesis-era expectations.

Tutorials receive positive notice for being clear and non-intrusive.

Tutorial quality is positive where one reviewer says the early tutorials made combat options easy to understand and apply.

The upgrade system is praised for meaningful amulets, combat additions, and flexible build choices that alter playstyle.

User interface design earns praise for an encyclopedia that explains abilities and systems.

User interface design receives praise for being clean and easy to navigate.

Value is strongly positive in reviews that mention price or buy guidance, especially for action/Soulslike fans.

Value for money is positive overall, especially for combat-focused or completionist players, though one review frames value as more moderate for players skipping side content.

Visual effects are praised for making climactic moments more dramatic.

Visual effects are praised for stylish Ninjutsu, cinematic flourishes, audiovisual impact, and bold combat feedback.

Voice acting is consistently praised, especially the English performances and lead voice work.

Voice acting receives mixed-to-positive reactions: some reviews praise the performances, while others call the English voices merely fine or jarring.

Weapon balance is mostly positive because weapons feel distinct, though some reviews want more variety or deeper differences within weapon classes.

World-building gets positive notice for shaping factions, locations, and the Dungeon & Fighter setting.

World-building is weak in the evidence that explicitly says not to expect captivating world building from the campy action story.

Writing quality ranges from edgy entertainment to predictable revenge-story criticism.

Writing quality is mixed-to-weak, with reviewers describing the script as fine, tropey, or not especially nuanced.