Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Sega Villains DLC Review – A Second, Nostalgic Wind

Sega’s planned revival of its older IPs kicked off with a bang last year with the 2D action-platformer Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. As one of my favorite games of last year, I’ve been looking forward to its continued support in the form of the Sega Villains DLC. This pack was confirmed to unite antagonists from other Sega properties into one cohesive experience, and after giving it a whirl, it’s a satisfying second wind for the title. Yet, it doesn’t quite live up to the base game’s highs.

Truthfully, there isn’t all that much to say about the Sega Villains DLC, since what you see is pretty much what you get. Unlocked by the time you reach the base game’s Kaiju level, you gain access to five new stages, with three of them containing the crossover bosses. These battles feature Death Adder from Golden Axe, Goro Majima from Yakuza, and Dr. Eggman from Sonic the Hedgehog. Reaching them in the first place is somewhat of a trial, though, due to lengthy stages primarily comprised of enemy gauntlets.

Stage Design and Structure

My main disappointment with this DLC is actually rooted in that design. The vast majority of these stages encompass mob fights that, while enjoyable in their own right, do overstay their welcome. I would’ve preferred more platforming challenges, at least at a similar frequency as the battles. You do have mini platforming escapades with your glider, grappling hook, and wall-climbing; it’s just not as widely embraced.

Boss Encounters

You’re really just going to be here for the bosses, and they’re all well-designed. Each bout boasts multiple phases and a decent level of challenge that’s mostly on par with what the bosses in the main game’s second half delivered. Death Adder’s golden axe and spells are used creatively with punishing timing windows and invincible dashes, while Majima’s recognizable Mad Dog style is depicted with ceaseless knife throws and doppelgangers. I will say that I found Majima’s boss fight to be less challenging than the other two villains’.

Dr. Eggman is perhaps the most surprising for reasons I can’t go into, but he is undeniably the toughest of these encounters. His classic depiction is done justice here with an emphasis on older-styled robots and other mechanisms that feel right at home with the Sonic franchise’s roots. Admittedly, I have long since grown tired of Green Hill Zone being the constant choice to represent the Sonic franchise; numerous other memorable locations exist. Additionally, unlike Death Adder and Majima, who each have two stages, Eggman has only one, which was a mild letdown.

Combat and Rewards

Still, in the context of this battle-focused scenario, I was wholly satisfied. Across all of these DLC fights, you need to have grasped a solid unconscious actualization of Musashi’s moveset, particularly his dash and ninpo, to get the most out of every situation you find yourself in. Earning victory in these bouts across their dedicated boss rush mode was a gratifying endeavor, too.

Speaking of the latter, victory against a boss will reward you with a brand-new ninpo based on what that opponent is capable of, and they’re all appreciably handy. There are also themed outfits that, aside from Majima’s, all look neat. The new music coating these latest stages and confrontations is fittingly excellent, too, in line with the rest of the title’s superb audio.

Free Update and New Features

On a final note, the Sega Villains DLC launches simultaneously with a free update that adds the new Hardcore Mode. I haven’t tried this new mode yet, but its claims of increased difficulty with rebalanced damage, healing, enemy placement, and boss patterns definitely make it seem like a brand-new experience altogether. This then leads into the new Ultimate Boss Rush upon completion. If I get time one day, I’d love to give it a try. The update also features some accessibility incorporations, namely an enlarged map display, tutorial displays, and combat settings for hit stop, hit flash, camera shaking, and character outlines.

Final Verdict on Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Sega Villains DLC

To be entirely honest, the Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Sega Villains DLC will probably not stick with me in the way the core game did. While I had a blast with the new boss fights that pay terrific homage to their source materials, the mediocre platforming sequences make the stages, especially with the lack of secrets and the like, rather forgettable. There’s also the fact that, at least for me, the Majima battle felt substantially easier than Death Adder and Dr. Eggman. Above all else, though, every encounter was well crafted and rewarding to figure out through and through. At its heart, the Sega Villains DLC is a worthwhile evening to revisit one of 2025’s greats; just temper expectations.