Compare Shinobi: Art of Vengeance vs Styx: Blades of Greed

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.

The final boss drew especially harsh criticism, with one reviewer calling it the worst boss fight in a stealth game.

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

Crash stability is a serious concern in the harshest reports, including repeated crashes, a corrupted save after many hours, and other failures severe enough to halt progress.

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

Animation quality is a recurring weak point, especially in cutscenes where stiff movement, awkward transitions, clipping, and rough presentation are easy to notice.

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.

Post-campaign options are thin; one reviewer strongly criticizes the lack of New Game+ or another endgame mode.

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

The camera can fight the player in tight spaces, obscuring exits or climbing routes and making already finicky traversal harder to judge.

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

Managing abilities through the wheel can be annoying, particularly when extra slots are tied to side objectives and players must keep rearranging the limited loadout.

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

The quick-access interface can become cumbersome as more powers unlock, forcing repeated pausing and reshuffling instead of keeping the growing toolkit immediately available.

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

Direct combat is widely viewed as a weak last resort, with clunky lock-on fighting and poor responsiveness reinforcing that staying hidden is the better option.

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

Rough edges are part of the overall experience. Even reviewers who love the stealth repeatedly mention jank, awkward presentation, bugs, or missing polish that stop the game feeling fully finished.

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

Accessibility support is limited. Colorblind and subtitle options help, but missing visual feedback, subtitle inconsistencies, and restricted control remapping leave meaningful gaps.

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

Mission variety is a weak spot, with several reviewers calling out repeated fetch-style goals and objectives that do not evolve as much as the player’s toolkit.

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 divide opinion. Some find them tight and responsive, while others struggle with fiddly cover inputs, awkward combat commands, and actions that do not always register as expected.

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

The instant quick-save idea is widely appreciated because it encourages experimentation, but unreliable saves and less generous checkpoint behavior create exceptions to that strength.

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

Onboarding is uneven because the game begins as a direct sequel and often assumes familiarity with earlier characters and events, even though the tutorial explains the mechanics well.

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

The game feels fresh mainly because dedicated stealth is rare, not because every idea is new; several reviewers call the structure and story familiar or conservative rather than groundbreaking.

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

Enemy variety is mixed. Early encounters can feel dominated by familiar guards, while later areas introduce more unusual creatures and tougher enemy types that demand different tactics.

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

Platforming is one of the rougher edges: missed ledge grabs, awkward jumps, and finicky grapple attempts can turn the game’s vertical spaces into accidental falls.

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.

The stealth loop can be deeply engaging, but repeated trips to collect Quartz make the larger structure feel repetitive for some players.

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

There is a real learning curve built around patience, observation, and route reading. Once the systems click, the sandbox freedom makes the difficulty easier to manage.

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

The setting often feels lived-in and distinctive, with environmental detail and small narrative touches giving the dark-fantasy world more texture than the main plot alone provides.

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 uneven. Styx himself is often the highlight, while supporting characters are repeatedly described as flat, stiff, miscast, or lacking the intensity of the scene.

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

Immersion is vulnerable to technical roughness: pop-in, bugs, uniform environments, awkward cutscenes, and audio problems can pull attention away from otherwise convincing stealth spaces.

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

New tools and changing areas add variety, but the repeated Quartz structure and revisits can make the broader campaign feel familiar before the stealth mechanics themselves wear out.

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

The spaces are stronger than the objectives inside them. Several missions boil down to small errands or Quartz collection, leaving the heists less memorable than the routes used to reach them.

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

Navigation is a frequent frustration. The lack of a full map and vague guidance can make large vertical spaces hard to read, even though freeform pathfinding is part of the intended challenge.

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

The game can look striking, with dense environments and strong lighting, but dated textures, haze, pop-in, and inconsistent image quality keep the visuals from feeling uniformly polished.

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

The larger hubs, faster mobility, Metroidvania-style tools, and Quartz powers modernize the formula, but the sequel is generally seen as an evolution rather than a reinvention.

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

Saving is not consistently dependable: missing autosaves, unreliable quick saves, and even save corruption can turn a failed attempt into substantial lost progress.

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

The dark-fantasy atmosphere often works well through lighting, sound, vertical architecture, and a grim sense of place, although uneven performances and presentation can weaken it.

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

Upgrades add creative stealth options and stronger tools, though some of the most enjoyable abilities arrive later than players would like.

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

Performance is one of the biggest technical concerns, especially on PC where demanding requirements, stuttering, and heavy reliance on upscaling are repeatedly criticized.

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

The challenge suits patient stealth players, and a few reviewers praise its tuning, but early harshness, spikes, and occasional unfair-feeling situations can make the learning process discouraging.

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

Environmental detail is a strength, with dense, deliberate, lived-in spaces that make the major locations feel constructed for both stealth play and believable occupation.

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

HUD feedback has gaps, with some important information either unclear or missing, including situations where damage or objective guidance is harder to read than it should be.

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

Traversal can feel fast and fluid once Styx opens up his toolkit, but a few players describe movement as loose or janky in precision-heavy moments.

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

Art direction is often stronger than raw technical presentation, especially in distinct biomes and dramatic lighting, though some players find the image dated, washed out, or visually uneven.

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

Writing outside Styx’s strongest one-liners often falls flat, with awkward jokes and conversations that can feel forced instead of naturally building character or tension.

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

The glider generally strengthens traversal by smoothing movement, reducing backtracking, and opening vertical routes, though one review found its descent less graceful than expected.

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

Unlockable travel points make revisiting the three large regions much easier, helping reduce the cost of backtracking as the campaign opens new routes.

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

Lighting and visual effects help distinguish safe shadows and give interiors atmosphere, although presentation quality is not consistently clean enough to stand out on its own.

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.

The story is one of the least consistent elements: some enjoy the lore connections and Great War setup, but many find it forgettable, thin, confusing for newcomers, or less compelling than the gameplay.

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

Styx remains a divisive but memorable lead. His sarcasm and nasty humor are a major source of personality for many players, while others still find him grating.

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

Longtime fans are well served by the sequel’s continuity, returning mechanics, callbacks, and familiar world, with multiple reviewers saying experienced Styx players should feel immediately at home.

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 varies sharply: some reviewers see huge potential in alternate routes and builds, while others feel repeat runs need self-imposed challenges to stay interesting.

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

Fun is the strongest point of agreement. Even critical reviewers repeatedly describe sneaking, experimenting, traversing, and pulling off elaborate kills as addictive or deeply satisfying.

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

Progression is meaningful because new traversal tools and Quartz powers change how older spaces can be approached, making upgrades feel tied to exploration rather than simple stat growth.

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

Exploration benefits from vertical routes and traversal upgrades that reveal new paths, though weak navigation and repeated backtracking can make roaming feel less rewarding at times.

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

Dialogue is frequently criticized for awkward phrasing and delivery, and subtitle mismatches further weaken scenes that already struggle to feel natural.

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

The story rarely lands emotionally for critics who struggled to stay invested, connect with the cast, or feel much impact from its dramatic beats.

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

Load times were praised in the one detailed assessment, with movement between maps described as quick and the longest first-visit shader wait measured only in seconds.

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

The tutorial is generally helpful and detailed, giving new players a structured way to learn darkness, movement, distractions, and the rest of Styx’s stealth toolkit.

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

The score generally supports the stealth mood well and earns praise for richer orchestration and atmosphere, even if it is not always memorable.

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

Frame-rate stability is unreliable across several setups, with stutters and drops appearing often enough to distract from a game built around precise, deliberate movement.

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

The crew is usually seen as underdeveloped and short on memorable screen time, though one review felt they were fleshed out enough to function beyond set dressing.

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

Returning fans get rewarding lore connections, callbacks, and links to the wider Styx timeline, though a couple of critics still found some areas thin on meaningful context.

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

Character development is mixed: some material gives Styx more depth, but the broader crew can feel underdeveloped and short on meaningful conflict or growth.

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

The basic gameplay systems are a strong foundation: sneaking, stealing, takedowns, movement, and tools generally work together in a satisfying way.

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

Sound is useful as a stealth tool, with footsteps and ambient cues helping track danger, although positional audio can occasionally become muddled.

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

Bugs are common enough to matter, ranging from geometry problems and broken patrols to invisible characters, failed interactions, and occasional progress-blocking issues.

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 improves as more tools arrive and the maps open up, but the early hours can feel slow or front-loaded and later Quartz runs can sap momentum.

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

Large, layered, highly vertical levels are one of the clearest strengths, giving players many routes through dense spaces and turning infiltration into spatial problem-solving.

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

Levels often work like puzzle boxes, with multiple entrances, environmental solutions, and small Quartz obstacles that reward observation rather than a single prescribed route.

Enemy AI is inconsistent. Guards can search aggressively and react cleverly, but unpredictable detection, implausible awareness, and occasional oblivious behavior undermine trust in the stealth rules.

Tool aiming is one of the cleaner control improvements, with the revised aiming described as more intuitive.

Crafting adds tactical preparation, but shared and scarce materials can make players hoard resources instead of experimenting freely with the most interesting gadgets.

The paid cosmetic extras drew weak value sentiment in the one direct assessment, which questioned whether purely cosmetic content was worth the extra $10.

Resource scarcity is a recurring frustration. Amber, potions, bolts, traps, and crafting materials often compete for the same limited supplies, restricting how freely Styx’s toolkit can be used.

Repeated Quartz hunts, backtracking, and fetch-style objectives can feel like padding, especially when the mission structure asks players to revisit familiar areas without enough new narrative momentum.

Handheld impressions are mixed but promising on stronger hardware: one handheld PC still looked good on low settings, while weaker portable hardware was flagged as a poor fit for the game’s demanding performance.

The semi-open structure is mostly a successful evolution, widening player choice without turning the game into a checklist-heavy full open world.

Side and fetch-style quests can be vague or fiddly, with objectives that sometimes feel like busywork instead of meaningful additions to the stealth sandbox.

Freedom is a major draw: objectives usually support several routes and tactics, letting players improvise from rooftops, vents, crawlspaces, hidden paths, or gadget-assisted approaches.

The skill-tree depth is less convincing for players who settle on a narrow stealth style, because branches tied to unused powers can feel largely pointless.

Pure stealth is the game’s defining strength. Planning routes, using shadows, and improvising with tools repeatedly produces the kind of satisfying infiltration that genre fans rarely get.

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.

Environmental tricks are consistently satisfying, especially poisoning food, dropping chandeliers or crates, and using the surroundings to remove guards without direct fights.