Compare Shinobi: Art of Vengeance vs Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter

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 main combat feels responsive, but the remapped high-speed toggle and crowded Quick Battle inputs frustrate some longtime players and make the control scheme feel less elegant.

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

Orbment and combat menus do a better job than the original of explaining how systems connect, helping players understand elemental values and party setup.

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

Performances are widely praised for strengthening both comedy and the game’s biggest emotional scenes. The main recurring complaint is selective voicing, where some lines or characters abruptly remain text-only.

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

Estelle is a standout protagonist, praised for warmth, optimism, vulnerability, and believable growth. Several reviewers place her among their favorite or strongest RPG heroines.

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

This is a poor starting point for completely new Trails players. The recap can refresh returning players, but multiple reviewers say it cannot replace the emotional and narrative foundation of 1st Chapter.

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.

Revisiting Liberl and repeating the familiar town-to-town Bracer routine can feel too close to 1st Chapter, especially early on. The stronger story and returning cast help, but the structural repetition remains noticeable.

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

The sequel lands unusually hard emotionally, with several reviewers describing tears, catharsis, heartbreak, and hope. Estelle’s personal journey and the payoff to her relationship with Joshua drive much of that response.

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

The supporting cast is a major asset, with returning companions receiving more personal stakes, stronger relationships, and memorable scenes. A few characters get less focus, but the ensemble is broadly praised.

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

Frame-rate performance is exceptionally consistent in most reports across Switch 2, PS5, PC, and Steam Deck configurations. Reviewers repeatedly describe steady or near-locked performance.

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

Character banter and conversations are a major strength, especially when the established cast is allowed to reconnect and deepen relationships. The tone can occasionally swing sharply, but the strongest exchanges are memorable.

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

The writing earns strong praise for character arcs, emotional payoff, and the way long-running story threads interlock. Improved localization also helps the script land more naturally than in the prior remake.

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

Technical bugs appear uncommon overall. One Switch 2 playthrough hit a late cutscene glitch, while a PC reviewer reported no bugs at all across roughly 70 hours.

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

The battle timeline and attack information are repeatedly praised for making turn order and tactical choices easy to read at a glance.

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

Tutorial support is mixed because the sequel often behaves as though players already know 1st Chapter. Returning players may appreciate the quick reminders, but newcomers can find the early systems dump too rapid.

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.

The story is the game’s clearest consensus strength, delivering major payoffs to 1st Chapter while expanding Ouroboros, Liberl, and Estelle’s personal journey. Even reviewers with pacing complaints tend to praise the eventual emotional and dramatic payoff.

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

Estelle’s growth from grief and dependence toward confidence and maturity is one of the game’s most celebrated achievements. Supporting characters also receive meaningful arcs and personal conflicts.

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

The underlying systems become manageable once learned, but the sequel assumes familiarity and introduces mechanics at a brisk pace. Newcomers can feel overwhelmed, while returning players tend to find the systems straightforward.

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

Fast travel is usually welcomed for cutting down the original’s heavy backtracking, but its usefulness is not universal. One late-story stretch temporarily removes travel points, and several reviewers still find repeated traversal tedious.

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

Large creatures, airships, Crafts, and major set pieces can look spectacular, though one reviewer still notices some unpolished effects around the edges.

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

The sequel greatly expands the interconnected Trails mythology, political context, and long-running story threads. Returning fans appreciate the foreshadowing, while newcomers get a much broader sense of the world’s scale.

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

Stability is generally excellent across the tested platforms. Most playthroughs report no crashes, with only isolated single-crash experiences mentioned on PS5 and in one video review.

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

Pacing is the most divisive major trait. Some reviewers love the stronger urgency and momentum, while others criticize dull opening chapters, repeated backtracking, long dialogue stretches, or a late-game slowdown.

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

The wide difficulty selection is well received, and tougher settings reward careful builds, buffs, positioning, and resource use. A few boss mechanics can feel harsh, but most reviewers find the challenge flexible and fair.

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

Exploration is consistently rewarding thanks to treasure, side quests, fishing spots, NPCs, and optional encounters. Reviewers like that wandering off the main route usually produces something worthwhile.

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

The remake’s character and combat animation earns strong praise for smoother movement, livelier cutscenes, and more cinematic attacks. A few comments frame the gains as refinement rather than a radical leap.

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

The hybrid combat system draws broad praise for blending fast field attacks with deeper turn-based strategy. Some reviewers find it simpler than newer Trails entries or occasionally too easy, but the overall response is strongly positive.

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

Liberl benefits from richer color, detail, and expressive 3D spaces. New areas are singled out as visually delightful, while towns and environments feel more alive than in the older presentation.

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

The reactive world and smooth presentation help immersion, but inconsistent voice coverage can break it when one character speaks aloud while another abruptly returns to text.

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

The 3D remake is widely praised for colorful environments, strong character models, and a cleaner modern presentation. Even reviewers nostalgic for the older art generally consider the new visuals attractive.

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

The remake is seen as respectful of the original’s spirit and broader Trails identity, modernizing presentation and systems without discarding the series’ deliberate storytelling style.

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

Despite its length and occasional slow stretches, the game is repeatedly described as a joy to play. The combination of combat, characters, side activities, and emotional payoff keeps enthusiasm high.

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

Enemy variety is viewed positively, with bosses standing out most for memorable attacks and presentation. Regular encounters provide enough variation to support the expanded combat systems.

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

The bright anime-inspired 3D style is viewed as a polished, appealing modernization of Liberl, with bold color and a clear visual identity.

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

Progression remains satisfying because levels, Orbments, Quartz, equipment, and Bracer rewards feed into one another. Reviewers enjoy how new options steadily broaden build possibilities.

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

The remake is repeatedly described as polished, with smoother combat, refined presentation, and fewer rough edges than expected from such a large RPG.

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

Expanded Orbment slots and stronger Quartz give the sequel more room for build experimentation, making upgrades feel meaningful without abandoning the original system’s structure.

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

Liberl’s politics, towns, recurring NPCs, and connections to the wider Trails saga are major strengths. The sequel builds on the first game rather than resetting the world, making prior events feel consequential.

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

Dungeon and route layouts are one of the clearer weak spots. Several reviewers find some dungeons too long, repeated areas too familiar, or layouts increasingly repetitive.

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

The interface is functional and readable, but one reviewer finds it somewhat plain compared with the otherwise upgraded presentation.

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.

Bosses are generally memorable, visually spectacular, and satisfyingly demanding, but reactions to Rage Boost, Endure, and similar difficulty spikes are less positive because they can feel abrupt or underconsidered.

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

Maps generally make overworld and dungeon navigation straightforward, but not every navigation aid lands cleanly. Some reviewers praise convenient guidance while another finds certain indicators vague and clunky.

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

Performance is strong across PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Steam Deck impressions, with smooth play and few technical interruptions. Steam Deck benefits from tuned settings, but the underlying port is still viewed positively.

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

The score is one of the presentation highlights, with new arrangements frequently praised for strengthening emotional and dramatic scenes. A few reviewers prefer selected original versions or dislike some rock-oriented arrangements.

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.

Character-choice dialogue, New Game Plus enemy-level options, and fresh perspective for series veterans give the long campaign meaningful reasons for another playthrough.

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

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

The action-to-turn-based structure is one of the most consistently praised parts of the game. Quick Battles keep routine encounters moving, while Command Battles preserve the positioning and timeline tactics reviewers value.

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

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

The main story is described as a complete experience on its own, with side activities adding texture rather than being required to understand the core narrative.

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

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 expressions are praised for giving emotional scenes substantially more impact than the older presentation could deliver.

The redesigned fishing is a clear improvement for reviewers who disliked the older timing-based system. Better controls, useful rewards, and visible catch information make it an enjoyable side activity.

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

The game is very long, and one reviewer warns that its heavy dialogue and pacing issues can test patience. Others embrace the scale, but this is a substantial time commitment.

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

Portable play is a strong fit for such a long RPG. Switch 2 and Steam Deck impressions praise the convenience, though Steam Deck users may need settings compromises for the best balance of clarity, frame rate, and battery life.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The remake is overwhelmingly seen as a successful modernization that preserves the original’s heart while improving visuals, combat, voice work, and convenience. Several reviewers call it the definitive way to experience SC.

Liberl feels reactive because NPC conversations and small resident storylines change after major events. That continuity makes revisiting familiar towns feel more meaningful.

Quartz and Orbment setups give the party meaningful build flexibility without erasing individual roles. Reviewers especially like experimenting with Estelle and tailoring characters around magic, physical damage, and support.

The new localization and voice direction are widely viewed as an improvement, with corrected terminology and pronunciations bringing the remake closer to established series conventions.

Platform-specific options are solid where discussed, including portable modes and PC features such as ultrawide, HDR, upscaling, and soundtrack or voice switching.

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

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.

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

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

Side quests work best when they deepen Liberl’s residents and ongoing stories, making ordinary Bracer jobs feel personal. Some routine objectives remain, but the stronger quests add meaningful world-building and rewards.

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