Shinobi: Art of Vengeance’s Bonus Stages Are Optional in…

Like with most action-platformers, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is filled to the brim with secrets and optional content for curious players to discover as they explore each level. Outside individual levels, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance offers players the chance to tackle bonus stages between major story acts, which hide secrets of their own for skilled players. Despite being labeled as bonus stages, these levels are far more important than they might seem, and players would be wise to complete them.

A large portion of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's upgrades are hidden throughout the game's levels. Players can find secret Oboro Relics that allow them to upgrade the shop and purchase new Combat Moves, but Shinobi's Ninpo skills also tend to be found in hidden corners of various stages. However, important stat upgrades are often what await at the end of Shinobi's bonus stages, making them more mandatory than their name would lead players to believe.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's Bonus Stages Are More Important Than They Seem

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Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Doesn't Make Completing a Bonus Stage Mandatory

The Chase
Riptide

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance has two bonus stages that both share a similar formula. Players will have to contend with an auto-scrolling level in both instances, first on the back of Yamato, Musashi's massive dog companion, and the second, riding the waves on a surfboard after being dropped out of a plane. The challenge comes in dodging the oncoming obstacles and enemies without the ability to stop, and with limited chances for health and kunai refills.

The Chase is only the second overall stage in the game, giving players a chance to familiarize themselves with the bonus stage mechanics very early in a playthrough.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance World Map Costume selector

However, players can technically "finish" these bonus stages without finishing them at all, as dying during the stage ends it and allows players to move on to the next main chapter. For players intent on simply seeing the end of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's main campaign, dying during a bonus stage is of little concern since nothing is stopping them from continuing in the story. On the other hand, players hoping to optimize their run through Shinobi will want to retry these bonus stages until they are successful, because rewards earned by holding out until the end of the bonus stages can be game-changers as players get further into their playthrough.

Finishing a Bonus Stage Nets Players Useful Upgrades

While they may seem insignificant, the rewards for fully completing Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's bonus stages can have a bigger impact, especially in the late game. Completing The Chase earns players a permanent increase to the maximum number of kunai they can carry. Carrying more kunai becomes especially helpful in Shinobi's later levels, as new enemies are introduced that punish players for getting too close, making ranged combat options like throwing Musashi's kunai a necessity.

The reward for completing the Riptide bonus stage can come in even more clutch as players enter the endgame of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. For completing this stage, players will earn a permanent increase to their maximum health. With how hard enemies can hit by the time players reach the final stages of Shinobi, having as much health cushion as possible is critical for success. Endgame boss fights will become longer as well, meaning players have a better chance at survival with even a sliver more health than they would otherwise have.

Although these specific permanent max kunai and health upgrades are locked behind completing Shinobi's bonus stages, players can find additional upgrades for these stats hidden throughout the game as well.

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