Compare Shinobi: Art of Vengeance vs Hades II

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

Accessibility evidence is positive, including God Mode, subtitle and screen-shake options, Aim Assist, language/audio settings, and story accessibility for newcomers.

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

Animation is praised for subtle character touches, fluid combat transitions, improved visual motion, and illustrated enemy work.

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

Art direction receives near-universal praise for mythic character designs, color, UI styling, and strong visual identity.

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

Atmosphere is praised for its witchy identity, mythic presentation, and Supergiant’s polished sense of style.

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.

Boss design is widely praised, especially musical and dynamic fights, memorable move sets, and challenging but learnable encounters.

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

Bug evidence is positive but limited, with reviewers explicitly reporting no bugs or crashes in tested PC play.

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

Camera evidence is limited but mildly negative on handheld, where the zoomed-out perspective can make small enemies hard to read.

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

Character development is mixed: reviewers praise layered relationships and connection, but one critic found Melinoe too flawless.

The character roster is mostly praised as vast, captivating, and varied, though one reviewer preferred the original cast.

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

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

Combat is one of the strongest areas: reviewers call it fast, satisfying, tactical, and deeper thanks to casts, omega attacks, mana, and more deliberate battlefield control.

Familiars are viewed as useful companions that help in battle and resource gathering, though evidence focuses more on their utility than advanced AI.

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

Content variety is one of the strongest themes: reviewers cite more characters, weapons, upgrades, systems, bosses, biomes, and two major routes.

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.

Controls are described as tight and responsive, with strong input feel, cancelable animation frames, and smooth handling across platforms.

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.

Reviewers generally praise the run-die-upgrade loop for making failures feel rewarding, though a few note random encounters or roguelike repetition can still frustrate.

Alchemy, incantations, cauldron work, gathering, and material use are praised as thematic witchcraft systems, though some reviewers think there are too many materials.

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

Crash stability is positive in the available evidence, with reviewers reporting no crashes or technical trouble.

Cross-save support is directly praised for letting players bring PC progress to Nintendo Switch 2.

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

Dialogue is repeatedly praised as reactive, plentiful, well-written, and strongly tied to runs, characters, and player choices.

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

Difficulty is considered challenging but manageable, with harder routes, boss pressure, modifiers, and God Mode helping players tune the experience.

The resource economy is mixed: reviewers like targeted material hunting and meaningful carrots, but several complain about clutter, busy work, or too many currencies.

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

The emotional response is positive but not uniform; reviewers mention moving music and family themes, while some feel the sequel loses some heart.

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.

Endgame content is positively covered through postgame challenges, completionist hours, epilogue pursuit, and additional mechanics after credits.

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

Reviewers praise the expanded enemy lineup and note new enemies often push players to use Melinoe’s different combat tools.

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

Environmental detail is praised for distinct themes, hidden details, rich biomes, and spaces with a strong sense of presence.

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.

Faithfulness is strong: reviewers repeatedly say it keeps the Hades identity while expanding, polishing, or doubling down on the formula.

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

Frame-rate evidence is strong, including stable 120 FPS reports, smooth 60 FPS handheld Switch play, and no reported frame-rate problems in tested versions.

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

Fun factor is very high, with reviewers emphasizing joy, grin-inducing play, and satisfying action.

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

Reviews describe Hades II as a broader mechanical evolution, adding new systems, magic, resource layers, and build tools without abandoning the original action-roguelite foundation.

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

Reviewers consistently describe Hades II as gorgeous, beautiful, and visually polished across PC, Switch, Switch 2, and handheld play.

Grind level is mixed to negative: some reviewers mention repetition, same bosses, or tedious resource grinding despite strong overall enjoyment.

Handheld play is mostly praised on Steam Deck, Switch, and Xbox Ally-style devices, with some portable readability caveats on smaller screens.

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

HUD and visual clarity are mixed, with portable readability and crowded effects sometimes making combat harder to parse.

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

Immersion is supported by the game feeling like a place to inhabit, with memorable characters, music, and a Crossroads hub reviewers wanted to return to.

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

Innovation is one of the weaker scored areas, with reviewers saying it follows the Hades form and does not reinvent the wheel.

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

The learning curve can be steep or overwhelming at first, especially for players carrying over Hades muscle memory, but reviewers generally adapted.

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

The two-route structure, distinct biomes, and varied regional layouts are repeatedly praised for expanding the game and reducing route fatigue.

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

Load-time evidence is limited to Switch comparison, where Switch 1 was smooth but had longer loading than Switch 2.

Room rewards and run rewards are described as consistently useful for powering up, though this is a smaller part of the evidence than broader progression.

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

Evidence points to a dense story and lore layer for players who want to dig into mythology and character backgrounds.

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

Navigation and pathing are mixed: the route structure is strong, but one reviewer wanted more agency and variety in pathing.

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

Menu usability has a small caveat: one reviewer liked the game overall but needed time to find inventory submenus.

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

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.

Melinoe’s movement is more deliberate and mage-like than Zagreus, which several reviewers found distinct, while one felt she was not quite as slick.

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.

Narrative reception is positive but mixed: many reviewers praise the reactive story structure, while some find the ending, heart, or central plot weaker than the first game.

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

Onboarding is mostly positive for returning players and measured mechanic delivery, though reviewers mention early adjustment and sequel context.

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

Originality is mixed: reviewers admire the new parts, but several call it safe, familiar, or more of a sidestep than a reinvention.

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

Progression pacing is praised for regularly reversing fatigue with unlocks, story beats, or new challenges when repetition starts to creep in.

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

Performance evidence is very strong, with reviewers reporting flawless or issue-free performance on PC, Switch 2, Steam Deck, and Xbox handheld hardware.

Platform-specific support is strong, including Steam Deck/cloud-save support and Switch 2’s 120 FPS mode.

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

Polish is consistently high, with reviewers calling the game fine-tuned, mirror-polished, well-constructed, and polished across systems.

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

Progression earns very strong praise for constant unlocks, Arcana cards, cauldron upgrades, weapons, resources, and meaningful rewards after failed or successful runs.

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

Melinoe is generally liked as a charming and strong protagonist, though one reviewer felt she lacks flaws and another preferred Zagreus’ charm.

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

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.

Replay value is very high across reviews, with repeated praise for one-more-run momentum, build experimentation, postgame goals, and continued discovery.

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

Save reliability evidence is narrow but positive, focused on Switch 2 cross-progression preserving PC progress rather than broad save-system testing.

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

Side characters are praised for having more than one dimension, especially gods, mentors, rivals, and mythological figures.

Reviewers highlight Arcana, Hex paths, boons, and build planning as deep customization systems, with magic management adding further decision-making.

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

Sound design and dynamic audio receive strong praise, especially music reacting to boss phases and the overall audio presentation.

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

The soundtrack is one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly praising Darren Korb’s music, vocal boss tracks, and genre-blending score.

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

Evidence is limited and mixed, with one reviewer noting the cast timing took a long time to master rather than praising a formal tutorial.

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

Weapon, attack, and general upgrade systems are praised for giving players powerful new options and making improvements feel substantial.

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

Interface design is praised as part of the game’s broader art direction, with Supergiant’s menu and UI work singled out positively.

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.

Value is strong where discussed, with reviewers citing a reasonable price and a large amount of content.

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

Visual effects are praised as standout and stylish, though one reviewer notes effects can sometimes clutter the screen.

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

Voice acting is consistently praised as top-notch, brilliant, and characterful across the cast.

Weapon and build variety are broadly praised, though one reviewer noted possible imbalance favoring long-range magical options over close-range melee.

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

World-building is a major strength, with reviewers praising Greek myth reinterpretation, expanded settings, and Supergiant’s character-first mythological framing.

Hub and downtime activities such as gardening, bars, gifting, familiars, and environmental touches make the Crossroads feel more interactive than a simple menu hub.

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

Writing receives very strong praise for sharp dialogue, mythic reinterpretation, charm, and character-driven storytelling.