Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a 3D Game Disguised as 2D

The Shinobi franchise has historically been a 2D series, dating all the way back to some of its earliest titles in the arcade and on the Sega Master System. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance pays homage to the series' roots in this regard, but takes its visual design and mechanics a step further with detailed environments in the background, and often even in front of the primary plane players will traverse in its 2D action-platforming gameplay. While taking in the set pieces for each level of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance will have players looking toward the background, they may want to keep an eye there for more than just aesthetic purposes, and treat the game as if danger can appear from 3 dimensions.

Although a static background is commonplace in the 2D platformer genre, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance makes its stages feel more alive with its decision to include dynamic set pieces in the background. Shinobi's visual style is a huge draw for players interested in experiencing LizardCube's modern revival of the franchise, so these backgrounds are likely to turn some players' heads as they make their way through the game. However, there is a gameplay reason to watch each level's background like a hawk, since they can showcase potential enemies and obstacles headed the player's way.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Makes Keeping an Eye on the Background a Must

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Enemies can Telegraph Attacks from the Background

As players progress through Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's main campaign, they may start to notice that enemies will sometimes appear as shadowy figures moving in the background on certain stages. Not only do Shinobi: Art of Vengeance players have to worry about the enemies right in front of them, but they often need to keep tabs on the enemies moving in the background. The enemy's background movements serve as a way to telegraph to the player the future danger that the stage has in store for them, with these enemies appearing on the same plane as the player shortly after appearing in the background.

It may be tough for some players to balance their attention between the events going on in front of Musashi and what is occurring in the background, but players who manage to find the sweet spot will gain an extra advantage in combat. With the background telegraphing enemy attacks, players can anticipate them and be prepared with a well-timed kunai throw or one of Shinobi's Ninpo skills to stop an enemy in their tracks before they even have a chance to attack the player.

In some instances, enemies can also be telegraphed in the foreground as shadows running in front of the game's primary plane, meaning players will need to keep an eye on both the back and foreground.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's Bonus Stages Require the Most Background Focus

The stages where players will want to pay attention to the background the most are Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's bonus stages. While these auto-scrolling stages don't require players to fully complete them to progress in the main story, they do offer some invaluable rewards for players who can survive until the end of the onslaught of enemies and obstacles. Doing so is especially difficult, since the game throws a lot of distractions that players will need to account for as the level progresses—from both the background and the mid-ground.

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During these stages, players will have to contend with additional enemies appearing first in the background and then right in front of them, giving them some time to prepare before they will need to attack or dodge the incoming foes. However, even more dangerous are the giant enemies launching large AoE attacks from the background. Luckily, these enemies will telegraph the incoming attack first in the background and then in the mid-ground, so players will be able to anticipate their position and have Joe Musashi dodge accordingly.

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