The release of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance marks the return of a classic Sega franchise that has been dormant for nearly 14 years. LizardCube, the studio responsible for another Sega revival with Streets of Rage 4 back in 2020, poured a lot of nostalgia for the series into Shinobi: Art of Vengeance that longtime fans are sure to appreciate. Even more than an homage to the heyday of the Shinobi franchise, Art of Vengeance pays tribute to Sega as a whole, with clever references to the company's history hidden throughout its levels.
Paying attention to the background of stages in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is almost as important as keeping an eye on the enemies and obstacles approaching Joe Musashi. Often, players will find that Art of Vengeance hides important details in the backgrounds of its levels, such as incoming enemies or future obstacles they will need to prepare for. Additionally, these backgrounds sometimes contain neat references to Sega as a whole, acting as Easter eggs for players with a keen eye for detail.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's Sega References Run Deep
Players Can Spot Hidden Sega References in the Backgrounds of Certain Stages
One of the most obvious Sega references found in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is on the Neo City stage. In the western part of the map, players will encounter a large building with a giant "SEGA" sign on top, which could be a reference to Sega's iconic arcade located in Akihabara, Tokyo. With Neo City looking like a futuristic depiction of Tokyo, this seems like the obvious inspiration, but it could simply be a reference to Sega as the owner of the Shinobi IP.
The Sega Akihabara building, which later became Gigo Akihabara, has unfortunately closed permanently, making Art of Vengeance's reference somewhat bittersweet.
Another Sega franchise Easter egg players can find in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is hidden in the Fish Market stage, and can be easy to miss if players don't know what they are looking for. When players reach the warehouse section of the Fish Market, they may notice someone driving a forklift pass by briefly in the background. Astute players will likely recognize the driver as Ryo Hazuki from the Sega franchise Shenmue, which features a forklift-driving mini-game. Although Shenmue is one of the more obscure Sega franchises today, this Easter egg in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance harkens back to the bygone era of the Sega Dreamcast and the revolutionary title that Shenmue was when it released.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's Sega Villains DLC Continues this Trend
While these Easter eggs are fun Sega callbacks on their own, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance players who are nostalgic for Sega classics are being treated to even more crossovers with the upcoming Sega Villains Stage DLC. This DLC aims to bring boss fights against classic Sega villains to Art of Vengeance, allowing players to test their mettle and Musashi's arsenal against iconic foes. So far, Dr. Eggman from the Sonic the Hedgehog series is the only boss confirmed for this DLC, but there are plenty of notable Sega villains to fill the expansion's roster.
The Sega Villains Stage DLC is slated for an Early 2026 release.
The inclusion of not only these Easter eggs, but an entire DLC dedicated to pitting Joe Musashi against Sega's roster of villains, shows that the game goes beyond simply acting as a revival of the Shinobi franchise. Rather, Art of Vengeance is a love letter to Sega and its fans, particularly those fond of old-school Sega games from the arcades to the Dreamcast. As more villains for the Sega Villains DLC are announced, it will likely only add to the burst of Sega nostalgia that Shinobi: Art of Vengeance captures.
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- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Platformer, Hack and Slash
