Shinobi: Art of Vengeance's Amulet System Explained

Throughout the Shinobi series, protagonist Joe Musashi has relied on his trusty sword and the various ninja arts and abilities he has learned. However, in the upcoming game Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Musashi has a new tool at his disposal: Amulets. Amulets in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance are special items that players can equip to boost Musashi's techniques. There is a wide variety of Amulets to choose from, allowing players to customize their gameplay and experiment with unique combinations as they explore the game's world.

In a conversation with The Best War Games, Lizardcube CEO Ben Fiquet and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance lead game designer Fred Vincent introduced the Amulet system, which did not appear in previous Shinobi titles. As Sega enthusiasts in general and Shinobi fans in particular, Fiquet and Vincent's goal was to create something new for fans of the series to enjoy while also honoring the core of the Shinobi experience: the various ninja arts of Ninpo and Ninjutsu that Musashi uses in combat. Amulets highlight and enhance the combat system in new and unique ways.

Amulets Provide A Crucial Boost For Joe Musashi's Many Moves

In Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Amulets are divided into two categories. Passive Amulets are always active, while Combo Amulets activate only when Musashi's combo count has reached a certain number. The effects of Amulets are extremely varied, and there are many that players can discover and equip as they progress through the levels. Vincent provided some details about just a few of the various Amulets players will encounter in Shinobi: Art of Vengeance:

"We have a lot of amulets, each improving a part of Musashi’s moveset or core abilities. For example, one of them allows your kunai to pierce through enemies. Another one upgrades your Fire Ninpo, which will deal more damage and have more range…We really want players to get them all and try out different combinations."

The inclusion of Amulets is a great way to make Shinobi: Art of Vengeance feel fresh and new while also including several of Musashi's iconic moves, such as his long-range thrown kunai, his elemental-based ninpo, and his signature diving kick. They allow players to focus on and enhance the moves they use most often, but also encourage flexibility, as Musashi will be confronted with a wide variety of foes that cannot all be defeated using the same tools or attacks.

Fire Ninpo

In addition, Amulets allow players to experiment with more varied play styles, as there are a limited number of slots for equipping both Ninpo and Amulets. Players can choose to focus on long-range or short-range combat, on weapons, or on elemental or magic-based attacks, or they can go for a mixed style that incorporates all of the above. "As you can equip only a set number of Ninpo and Amulets, it's up to you to try out different combinations and build your own playstyle," Vincent advised. With the addition of Amulets, Art of Vengeance players can experience this popular Sega series like never before.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image