Compare Shinobi: Art of Vengeance vs Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

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

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

Synergy Ability animations are praised for personality and relationship expression.

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

Art direction receives high praise for maximalist world creation and imaginative modern design.

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 beauty, loss, escapism, and a strong sense of place.

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 fights are regarded as major highlights, with reviewers praising their spectacle, challenge, and layered design.

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

Reported bug frequency is low, with multiple reviewers saying they encountered no bugs or only minor visual issues.

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

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

Character development is a standout consensus strength, with reviewers emphasizing deeper bonds, richer backstories, and more rounded portrayals across the party.

The roster is praised for adding distinct, memorable party members whose combat styles and personalities broaden the experience.

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

The checkpoint system is praised for reducing repetition during tricky chocobo-taming sections.

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 points: reviewers repeatedly praise the hybrid action/ATB foundation, Synergy additions, tactical depth, and character-specific playstyles, while only a few note occasional clumsy or frustrating encounters.

One review specifically says AI-controlled party behavior and aerial-combat complaints from Remake were addressed through Synergy systems.

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

The game is packed with minigames, card battles, side activities, races, and regional diversions; most reviewers praise the abundance, while a few feel it becomes too much.

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

Reviewers describe the overall loop as a much larger and more satisfying RPG experience than Remake, with battle, exploration, and side systems keeping them engaged.

Crafting receives limited support and one reviewer found little need to engage with it.

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

Crash stability is strong in the limited evidence, with one reviewer reporting no crashes.

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

Dialogue is praised for charming quiet moments, sharp exchanges, and touching character interactions.

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

Difficulty balance is mostly manageable and rewarding, but reviewers mention a strange spike, demanding bosses, and encounters that occasionally test patience.

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

Emotional impact is very strong overall, producing tears, reflection, and attachment, though one review says the ending's delivery undermines a crucial moment.

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.

Postgame content is viewed positively for adding more to do after the main story.

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

Enemy variety is praised in combat-focused reviews, though one reviewer found open-world mobs bland and rote.

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

Environmental detail is heavily praised for making Gaia's landscapes, regions, and familiar locations feel vivid and emotionally resonant.

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

Exploration is broadly praised for rewarding curiosity with sights, activities, and regional depth, especially when the world design feels handcrafted rather than checklist-driven.

Expressive faces are credited with amplifying the cast's emotional drama.

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

Reviewers strongly praise its respect for Final Fantasy VII's legacy while still modernizing or reshaping it.

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

Fast travel is praised as well-designed, plentiful, and fast.

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.

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

Reviewers frequently describe the game, combat, Queen's Blood, and minigames as extremely fun despite pacing or bloat caveats.

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

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

Visuals are often praised for cutscenes, vistas, and character models, but performance-mode blur and occasional inconsistency reduce the score in several reviews.

Grind and bloat are manageable when players avoid completionist impulses, but the amount of optional content can be overwhelming.

Handheld suitability is mixed: Steam Deck/PC handheld play is possible but compromised, while PlayStation Portal use is praised.

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

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

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

Innovation is praised in the game's density, polish, and inventive design ambition.

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

The interlocking combat and progression systems can feel overwhelming at first, but reviewers say they become rewarding once understood.

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

Level design ranges from exceptional set pieces to divisive dungeons, with the Cait Sith/Shinra Manor-style segments and hallway-like stretches drawing the sharpest criticism.

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

Load times and fast-travel speed are praised as quick and convenient.

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

World Intel and regional information are praised for deepening understanding of Final Fantasy VII's world.

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

Map and compass design is criticized as insufficient for complex terrain such as Gongaga.

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

Menu usability has a notable complaint around the lack of saveable loadouts for equipment and Materia setups.

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

Some mandatory or heavily gamified tasks were criticized for interrupting flow and failing to give players breathing room.

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

Mission variety is mixed because Chadley-style objectives and world intel can repeat across regions despite the game offering many different activities overall.

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

Movement is mixed: broad traversal supports adventure, but dodging, climbing, chocobo handling, and uneven-ground movement drew complaints for feeling awkward or stiff.

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 response is divided: reviewers praise the character-driven journey and remixed story, but several criticize thin macro plotting, convolution, or the ending's execution.

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

Onboarding is uneven: Red XIII's recap helps returning players, but multiple reviewers warn newcomers may still be lost.

The open-world structure is the most divisive area: many reviewers admire its scale and reward loops, while others criticize bloat, repetition, and momentum-breaking busywork.

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

Originality is supported by reviewers who say the reimagined story still surprises them despite familiarity with the original.

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

Pacing is mixed: some reviewers like the scenic, character-forward route, but many complain that open-world checklists, minigames, and late sections slow or derail the main story.

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

Performance is mixed across platforms and modes: some reviews report smooth play, while others criticize blur, pop-in, texture streaming, or technical tradeoffs.

PS5-specific features receive light but positive mention through DualSense motion controls and haptics.

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 generally high but not flawless, with minor hiccups, visual issues, or areas needing more shoring up.

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

Folios and related progression systems are considered useful and flexible by several reviewers, though at least one found character leveling and skill growth confusing.

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.

Side quests are generally viewed positively when they deepen party relationships or world context, though some reviewers call out filler, repetition, or isolated dull tasks.

As a remake/reimagining, Rebirth is widely praised for honoring the original while expanding, modernizing, and sometimes boldly changing it.

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 strong thanks to hard mode, New Game Plus, postgame options, relationship outcomes, and many remaining activities.

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

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

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

Sound design is mixed: effects and environmental audio can impress, but multiple reviews mention poor mixing or music drowning out dialogue.

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 an overwhelming consensus strength, repeatedly described as incredible, phenomenal, moving, and among the series' best.

The small stealth segments were singled out as a weak link, especially because the engine was not seen as well-suited to stealth maneuvers.

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.

The character upgrade system is viewed as more nuanced and strategic than Remake's approach.

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

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 because of the game's length and abundance of content, though some reviewers question whether it asks for too much time.

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

Visual spectacle is strong, although one reviewer notes motion blur can obscure otherwise striking battle imagery.

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 one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly calling out expressive, emotional, and well-cast performances.

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

World-building is praised for making Gaia feel more alive, detailed, and newly understandable compared with older versions.

World interactions such as animals leading to objectives and fast-travel points were seen as pleasant touches that make Gaia feel reactive, though repetition remains a caveat.

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

Writing is strongly praised for expanding the original, deepening the human element, and selling relationships, even when broader story choices remain divisive.