Compare Doom: The Dark Ages vs Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Camera behavior was criticized in the supporting review for a baffling dragon-control scheme.

Camera behavior is praised in one review for intelligently changing framing to support mood, traversal, and visual depth.

Tutorial delivery was criticized in the supporting review for interrupting pacing despite gradual mechanic introduction.

Tutorial quality is positive where one reviewer says the early tutorials made combat options easy to understand and apply.

Platforming was judged more limited than earlier modern Doom games in the one review that assessed it.

Platforming is often praised as tight, precise, and rewarding, though several reviewers flag optional challenge rooms or late-game traversal as frustrating or inconsistent.

Animation quality had a mixed single assessment, criticizing reduced or less refined glory-kill animations.

Animation quality is a standout, especially Joe’s motion, hand-drawn character work, and the way combat and traversal read in motion.

Crash stability was mixed across platforms and review periods, from flawless stability to dashboard crashes and freezes.

Crash stability is strong in the PS5 review that reports no crashes, soft-locks, or freezes over a long playthrough.

Frame rate stability was often praised on tested platforms, with one review reporting unstable PS5 performance.

Frame rate stability is mixed, especially on Switch, where reviewers note dips or painful frame-rate issues despite otherwise strong presentation.

Bug frequency was mixed: some saw glitches or falling-through-world problems, while another reported no bugs.

Bug frequency is a concern in one review that reports a severe save-wipe issue, even though other technical impressions were cleaner.

Content variety was split: multiple play styles and set pieces added variety, but gimmicky diversions hurt some reviewers’ impressions.

Content variety is strong across stage themes, optional challenges, enemy encounters, bonus levels, and replay modes, though some side segments are less loved.

Art direction was generally praised for techno-medieval style and fresh locations, though one reviewer found the direction less Doom-like.

The hand-drawn art direction receives near-universal praise for its style, cohesion, painterly look, and strong franchise fit.

Writing quality was mostly criticized for dull cutscenes, cliched dialogue and disjointed storytelling.

Writing quality is mixed-to-weak, with reviewers describing the script as fine, tropey, or not especially nuanced.

Immersion was praised in the supporting review for subtle audio and environmental feedback.

Immersion is supported by strong presentation and visual depth, though one reviewer says the game remained enjoyable without strongly resonating.

Upgrade systems were mixed: some liked streamlined and useful upgrades, while others wanted more depth or disliked passive-feeling progression.

The upgrade system is praised for meaningful amulets, combat additions, and flexible build choices that alter playstyle.

Movement was divisive: several reviewers liked the heavy but mobile feel, while others missed the faster, more acrobatic style of earlier entries.

Movement feel is heavily praised as fast, fluid, snappy, and fun, though one Switch review notes combat can feel slower than traversal.

Reviewers found the main loop engaging when the shield, parry and resource flow clicked, but some felt it became simpler or repetitive over time.

The core loop is widely liked as fast, stylish 2D action with strong combat and traversal, with a few reviewers calling it great despite structural complaints.

Faithfulness to franchise was mixed: some reviewers felt it still felt like Doom, while others called it the least Doom-like modern entry.

Reviewers broadly describe the revival as faithful to Shinobi’s legacy while modernizing it with new structure, combat depth, and visual presentation.

Enemy variety was generally positive, with many demons and variants noted, though one reviewer found some repetition.

Enemy variety is a strength, with reviewers praising the range of ninjas, soldiers, monsters, bosses, and specialized foes that shape encounters.

Difficulty balance varied widely by reviewer, with praise for parry generosity and sliders but criticism that the game could feel too easy or unfair.

Difficulty is generally viewed as fair and satisfying, but opinions split on spikes, projectile-heavy sections, undertuned enemies, and some hard optional challenges.

Atmosphere was praised in the supporting review for dark fantasy locations with a Demon’s Souls-like feel.

Atmosphere is supported by presentation touches such as camera framing and mood-setting scenes that help the 2D spaces feel more dramatic.

Graphics quality was consistently strong, with reviewers praising models, crisp visuals and cutting-edge presentation.

Graphics quality is a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly calling the game gorgeous, beautiful, and visually impressive.

The supporting review found the vehicle controls easy to grasp quickly, reflecting a low-friction learning curve.

The learning curve is favorable because reviewers describe the combat as simple to engage with while still rewarding mastery.

Side character depth was usually criticized, with reviewers calling supporting characters forgettable, unmemorable or impossible to care about.

Side character depth is weak in the evidence focused on Ankou, whom one reviewer calls dull despite liking the broader visual design.

Narrative quality was highly divided, ranging from Doom’s strongest story to self-serious, confusing, bland or unnecessary storytelling.

Narrative quality is the most mixed creative element: some call it one of the franchise’s better stories, while many describe it as simple, thin, or tonally inconsistent.

Dragon and flying sections were the most repeated weak point, ranging from acceptable spectacle to dull, half-baked or mechanically thin segments.

Flying mechanics are mildly criticized in the glider’s case, with the reviewer saying it slows down otherwise snappy traversal.

Combat drew the strongest agreement, with most reviewers praising shield-led, melee-heavy gunfights, while a minority felt the defensive shift weakened Doom’s flow.

Combat is the most consistently praised attribute, with reviewers calling it fluid, deep, expressive, satisfying, and central to the game’s appeal.

Innovation was broadly praised for reinventing Doom’s formula, though some reviewers saw the simplification as a tradeoff.

Innovation is praised where reviewers say the game evolves Shinobi meaningfully instead of merely repeating the past.

Accessibility options were consistently praised, especially difficulty sliders, color customization and tuning tools, with minor caveats around clarity or audio-cue gaps.

Accessibility options are praised for adjustable difficulty, assist settings, and sliders that make the challenge more approachable without fully flattening it.

Lore depth was praised where codex material and broader Doom world-building were assessed directly.

Lore depth gets mild praise where the reviewer appreciates Shinobi’s blend of cultural mythological elements.

Polish was praised in the two supporting reviews as polished and technically clean.

Polish is praised where reviewers highlight the game as well put together and visually refined.

Pacing was split: some liked the measured rollout and breathless campaign, while others disliked the ending, reduced momentum or open-map slowdown.

Pacing is mixed: several reviewers like the length and steady tool rollout, while others say long stages, revisit loops, or samey rhythm weaken momentum.

Fun factor was strongly positive overall, even in mixed reviews, with reviewers repeatedly calling the campaign fun, rewarding, or charismatic.

Fun factor is high, with many reviewers calling the combat, challenge rooms, and overall ninja fantasy enjoyable or easy to recommend.

The shield saw and revised mechanics were often praised as a major new layer, though a few reviewers found the system one-note or overly dependent on the shield.

Gameplay mechanics are praised for depth and power fantasy, though one reviewer argues an execution mechanic lacks meaningful challenge pressure.

Exploration and secrets were commonly praised as rewarding, though some reviewers disliked backtracking or losing the old teleport/backtrack convenience.

Exploration is divisive: many enjoy secrets, replayable routes, and rewards, while others find backtracking or Metroidvania-lite detours less compelling.

Environmental detail was strongly praised for vistas, lighting and rich scene composition.

Environmental detail stands out in reviews that praise painterly backgrounds, large-scale set pieces, and richly detailed level backdrops.

Mission variety was praised for wider spaces, linear sections and open objectives that changed pace.

Mission variety is supported by praise for fresh objectives and distinct environments across the stages.

Onboarding was praised for welcoming new players and easing them into the revised systems.

Onboarding is praised for easing the player into each move rather than overwhelming them with the full combat kit at once.

Value for money was criticized in the supporting review for the price and perceived lack of content.

Value for money is positive overall, especially for combat-focused or completionist players, though one review frames value as more moderate for players skipping side content.

Replay value was mixed, with secrets and challenges helping, but some reviewers doubting long-term appeal or completionist-heavy longevity.

Replay value is strong for completionists thanks to collectibles, secrets, stage revisits, Arcade Mode, Boss Rush, ranks, and unlockables, though not every reviewer loves revisiting.

Boss design was more negative than positive, with reviewers citing missed opportunities, underwhelming finales and recycled boss ideas despite one positive mention.

Boss design earns many positive notes for memorable, exciting encounters, though a few reviewers find some bosses too easy, clunky, or mechanically weaker than regular fights.

Map and navigation design drew complaints about navigation difficulty, excessive map checking, or secrets already revealed on the map.

Map and navigation design is mixed: reviewers like map clarity and fast travel, but some cite confusing secret tracking or unclear pits.

Sound design was generally strong, with praise for heavy feedback and crunchy effects, though one reviewer found effects too soft.

Sound design is mixed: impact feedback and combat audio are praised, but one reviewer strongly disliked the harsh radio or speaker filter.

Puzzle design was lightly covered, with reviewers describing simple exploration puzzles as enjoyable but rarely demanding.

Puzzle design receives a mild positive note for being logical and not slowing the action down.

Level design received mixed praise for larger arenas, secrets and vistas, but some reviewers found open spaces flatter, bland or less tightly paced.

Level design is usually praised for scale, variety, secrets, and challenge structure, but some reviewers criticize flow, pacing, or underused combat spaces.

Mission design was praised in the supporting review for making the core demon-slaying missions feel exciting.

Mission design is praised through comments about well-crafted stages that mix platforming, combat, puzzles, and optional routes.

Menu usability was mixed, with one reviewer criticizing melee switching and another wanting clearer difficulty-slider explanations.

Menu usability is praised through the clean, easy-to-navigate interface that removes friction around fast travel and play.

Controls were generally praised for responsive shooting and melee feel, though one reviewer criticized slow weapon switching.

Controls are usually described as smooth, tight, intuitive, and responsive, with a few caveats around moments where scripted control loss or platforming inputs feel awkward.

The protagonist’s power fantasy was praised in the supporting review as strongly delivered.

Protagonist appeal is positive where Joe Musashi is described as a compelling, badass ninja fantasy rather than a talkative character.

Performance optimization was mostly positive, especially on capable hardware, though some reviews noted high requirements or drops.

Performance optimization varies by platform and context, with PS5 impressions strong but Switch-oriented reviews noting optimization and frame-pacing caveats.

Soundtrack quality was divided: several reviewers loved the metal score, while others found it less memorable or a downgrade from earlier entries.

The soundtrack is mostly praised as energetic, fitting, and memorable, though one review finds it weaker than the visuals and Genesis-era expectations.

Character development is limited overall, with one reviewer liking a supporting character but another calling broader character depth minimal.

The checkpoint system is praised as a quality-of-life improvement because it reduces frustration around difficult optional challenges.

Dialogue quality is uneven: one review criticizes a dull character, and another finds paused dialogue barks jarring despite fun narrative moments.

Mech/vehicle-style sections were mixed to negative overall: some enjoyed the spectacle and scale, but many found them shallow, repetitive or underpowered.

Resource balance was split between praise for easier ammo sustain and criticism that ammo pressure became irrelevant.

Emotional impact is limited in the review evidence, with one reviewer wishing for a stronger moment of emotional weight.

Endgame content is generally seen as useful for replay through Arcade Mode, Boss Rush, superbosses, and ranking challenges, though one reviewer sees arcade mode as padding.

Facial animations received a positive single assessment as solid.

Fast travel is repeatedly praised for making revisits, secret hunting, and post-completion cleanup smoother rather than tedious.

Haptic feedback integration had a mixed single assessment, with DualSense features noted but controller-speaker output called obnoxious.

HUD clarity receives a mixed score because flashy combat effects can make the player lose track of the action.

Load times receive a positive note from one Switch reviewer who says they did not take too long.

Originality is praised where reviewers call the revival fresh for the series rather than a simple nostalgic retread.

Progression is praised for steadily adding moves, abilities, upgrades, and customization that keep combat and traversal evolving.

Sandbox freedom was praised for giving players meaningful freedom in larger maps and objective order.

Visual effects are praised for stylish Ninjutsu, cinematic flourishes, audiovisual impact, and bold combat feedback.

Weapon balance was broadly praised for useful, varied weapons, though some reviewers felt guns were simplified or overshadowed by the shield.

Semi-open design was praised for broader spaces, optional content and player choice in objectives.

User interface design receives praise for being clean and easy to navigate.

World-building is weak in the evidence that explicitly says not to expect captivating world building from the campy action story.

Save reliability is split: one review praises frequent saves, while another reports the serious problem of a save being wiped twice.

Voice acting receives mixed-to-positive reactions: some reviews praise the performances, while others call the English voices merely fine or jarring.