Shinobi (2011) Critic Reviews

Shinobi might not have a huge hype around it, but that doesn't make it a bad game. It's a very challenging game that will be loved by everyone that is into platform games.

I definitely think Shinobi on 3DS is worth seeking out for system owners. It's a really great representation of old-school Shinobi without simply being a remake of what came before.

The developers were respectful to the franchise, yet the new gameplay elements make the experience unique enough to not be another retro rehash. Buy it and support quality third party developers, or at least rent and add it to your Gamefly list as soon as possible. I would like to see a 3DS sequel next year.

An old-school side-scroller, with the occasional throw-away 3D sequence included, that makes no concessions to the trend of making games so simple you can complete them by just pressing a button occasionally.

Shinobi won't be to everyone's tastes since we're now in an age where games are expected to be easy enough for everyone. But if you like the idea of a game repeatedly handing your backside to you until you learn the ins and outs, Shinobi will give you many hours of fun.

All in all, Shinobi surprises with a good comeback on the 3DS. The game combines the typical 2D level design with some 3D elements in lovely environments and offers a pretty challenging gameplay.

The presentation, challenging play and hidden items combine to form one of the coolest ninja romps we've played, perfectly suited for the hardcore crowd in desperate search of a challenge amidst easier fare. Just don't expect a cakewalk.

Proving that old school can still be cool, Shinobi makes a welcome return on the 3DS.

Shinobi on the 3DS is a strange game that takes a classic game and throws a 21st century twist on it with the inclusion of 3D graphics and some enhanced gaming controls and the like original, a few different mini-games. Even though the game feels different, it is also reminiscent of the original from the way it dishes out the scores which definitely opens up the game for another play.

Shinobi is totally old school: it can be freakingly hard, relies on a complex rating system and is a pure 2D Action fest! It's by no means perfect, but fans of the Golden Age of videogames will love it; it's a no-compromises games, requires a no-compromises dedition, gives a no-compromises satisfaction.

With a challenging main campaign and a plethora of StreetPass/Play Coin challenge stages, Shinobi packs in a lot of content. However, if you don't want to put the time into it and deal with bouts of frustration, you're better off avoiding this game.

Shinobi is a great game with tons to do. Some of the old-school elements are sure to turn many players off, but if you can surmount the steep difficulty curve, there is a substantial amount of satisfying gameplay to be found. Those who want a cohesive narrative or who can't afford to endure a few hours of frustration should look elsewhere, but those who can make it past the hump can wring out a lot of fun.

Recommended for those who like side-scrolling action games and for those who miss the 16-bits era.

Shinobi for Nintendo 3DS offers plenty of hardcore action which will be enjoyed by veteran gamers and fans of the classic games. Although the game falls in the visual side from the middle of the story, its great combat system offers plenty of fun.

Visually, Shinobi isn't exactly a showcase for the N3DS hardware, but the game runs smoothly and the art style works well with stereoscopic 3D.

What brings the game down considerably is the repetitiveness of the main combat, and the fact that the initially inspired level and art designs take a nosedive about halfway through.

If you're up for a challenge, it's among the small number of quality games in the growing 3DS library worthy of a spot on your shelf.

Shinobi: a name, many stories. The series, which for years has enthralled generations of gamers, comes to 3DS with some choices that will delight the old time fans.

Quotation forthcoming.

If you take it for what it is, this isn't a bad game, and the fun of dashing through the earlier levels mostly outweighs the bad. Griptonite has certainly captured the spirit of Shinobi games in this release, but falls short of creating an all-time classic to revitalise the canon.