It wouldn’t have taken much to sell me on DLC for Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. In a year already packed with great games, Shinobi’s 2025 return was a surprising highlight, and one that I was desperate to jump back into even after tearing my hair out at the brutal Ankou Rifts the first go around.
Shinobi’s fairly linear structure made it a perfect fit for any kind of expansion, but I was personally hoping for a more traditional DLC with grand new levels, fresh moves, and an even greater challenge than the already tough base game. Things got a lot weirder when it was confirmed that the seemingly only expansion would be centred around Sega villains, including Yakuza’s Goro Majima, Sonic’s Dr Eggman, and a rogue pick with Golden Axe’s Death Adder, but I was willing to try anything for more Shinobi.
Still, I was a little bit mixed on what seemed to be just a Sega-themed boss rush, as good as Art of Vengeance’s boss battles were, especially if this was all we were getting for Shinobi’s post-launch. I’m happy to say that isn’t the case, though, as the Sega Villains DLC is more than just a few crossover fights, which are admittedly awesome in their own right.
Shinobi’s Sega Villains DLC Has Some Great Stages, With One Notable Miss
Shinobi’s Sega Villains DLC seems to act as somewhat of an epilogue to the base game, and sees Joe Mushashi being pulled out of his peaceful life once more to deal with interdimensional portals spewing out familiar faces. Although the big fights against Sega villains are the main draw, some normal levels are sprinkled in alongside them.
Five new stages are included with the expansion, and two of them (one based on Yakuza and the other on Golden Axe) have nothing to do with boss battles and just give you more of the stellar platforming and expressive combat that Art of Vengeance is known for. As someone who just wanted more Shinobi, these ‘ordinary’ stages were the highlight of the DLC, especially since they’re damn challenging and force you to make use of every tool and ability in your arsenal.
It took me a while to shake off the rust, but I was fine once I remembered the dropkick and execution combo that’s just as overpowered as always.
Each of these levels feels like a love letter to their respective series, with plenty of nods to the games they’re based on, like the Cabaret club and signs from Kamurocho appearing in the background of Majima’s stage. I’m not versed enough in Golden Axe to get the deep cut easter eggs, and would frankly have preferred any other Sega series making an appearance, but Lizardcube gave it an interestingly dark and broody vibe that makes it stand out from the rest of Art of Vengeance’s colourful levels.
You might have noticed that I haven’t talked about the Sonic the Hedgehog stage yet, and that’s because, despite being the biggest and most interesting crossover of the bunch, it’s the only one that doesn’t have a companion stage. The fight against Eggman acts as the finale of the whole DLC and, as grand as it is, it’s the only big knock against Sega Villains that Green Hill Zone (and a surprise second stage) are basically just gorgeous window dressing.
Majima, Eggman, And Death Adder Are Art Of Vengeance’s Hardest Bosses Yet
Once you’ve beaten the initial exploration stage, Shinobi throws you to the wolves with what are easily the game’s hardest boss battles. All three Sega villains pack a massive punch, with Majima and Death Adder both having near-impossible-to-avoid ranged moves, close-up attacks that can halve your health bar, and ultimate moves that took me out more times than I care to admit.
Beating these bosses also gives you a new Ninpo based on their moves. They’re not as powerful as the GOAT bomb and shuriken, but they’re a fun reward alongside the new costumes.
These fights are not for the faint-hearted and feel like a massive test of everything you’ve learned from Art of Vengeance. As tough as they are, it’s also a joy seeing all of their signature moves translated to a Shinobi boss fight, like Majima’s clones as his ultimate and Death Adder’s massive golden axe and magic.
Eggman may have been a letdown if you wanted to explore Sonic’s world, but his two-part boss fight is both the standout (and most difficult) of the three. It took me a good four tries to get through it by the skin of my teeth, and even if I would have definitely liked a dedicated stage alongside it, it’s hard to deny how cool it is to see Eggman, of all characters, give me Art of Vengeance’s best boss battle.
I’m not sure if this is really the end of Art of Vengeance or whether Sega and Lizardcube have more plans for Shinobi after the Sega Villains DLC, but the final few moments certainly made it feel like a send-off. If Sega Villains really is one last hurrah for the game, then it’s going out with a great, if somewhat uneven, bang that’s worthy of one of my favourite games in recent memory.
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