Gaming

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance scratched my ‘Zero in Megaman X4’ itch

And then some

Published

September 3, 2025

Allow me to frame this properly. Megaman X4, specifically Zero’s campaign, is one of my all-time favorites. I can’t recall every detail anymore, but I’ll never forget the feeling — chaining that three-slash combo, jump-dashing, wall-hopping, and pulling off special moves. Playing SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance brought all of that flooding back.

This game didn’t just scratch my itch for a good 2D action platformer — it satisfied it. From the action to the platforming to the presentation, everything clicked in a way that made me feel right at home, while still giving me something new.

Vengeful combat

The starting moveset is strong. You don’t feel like the character was held back — from the get-go, you already feel like a badass ninja. Combos are fluid, chaining light and heavy strikes with kunai throws, and you can cancel into dashes to keep the flow going. By the time you unlock new skills, the enemies have already ramped up in ways that make each addition feel necessary rather than just flashy.

What really sold me was how layered the combat becomes. Beyond standard combos, you can pull off executions once an enemy’s stagger gauge fills, rewarding you with bursts of health or ammo. Ninpo skills add another dimension — special moves that let you clear space or punish groups when things get hectic. Later on, amulets and traversal tools fold into combat as well, letting you customize your approach, whether that’s aggressive, defensive, or a balance of both.

Even with all that, fights never felt overwhelming. Deaths were on me, not the game. The enemy variety kept me on my toes, and boss fights in particular made sure I used every tool I had learned up to that point. Each one felt like a proper exam on my ninja training.

What sealed it for me was one of the early boss fights. On paper, it wasn’t the toughest, but I played it jetlagged on a flight — not exactly ideal ninja conditions. I knew I had the tools to win, but it still took me close to ten tries before I finally nailed the rhythm. I landed the finishing blow just as the pilot asked us to prepare for landing. That mix of stubborn challenge and sweet payoff is what this game nails so well.

Challenging platforming

Jumping, double jumping, and air-dashing felt second nature right away. If you’ve played other 2D action platformers, you’ll slide right into the rhythm. Wall-hopping and wall-running took me longer to get a handle on — about two and a half hours before I stopped second-guessing my inputs — but once it clicked, it opened up the game in the best way.

Stages always kept things fresh. One level had moving platforms over bottomless pits that punished sloppy timing. Another leaned on vertical climbs, forcing me to chain wall runs and dashes in rapid succession. Later on, environmental hazards like lasers and collapsing floors made traversal feel like puzzles as much as platforming tests.

I fell plenty of times, but I never felt lost or cheated. The level design does a great job of pointing you in the right direction without handholding. And when new abilities unlocked, they didn’t just add flair — they gave me access to hidden rooms and shortcuts in earlier stages, rewarding exploration without dragging the pace.

Artful presentation

The hand-drawn look nails the vibe. Sharp character sprites and backgrounds pop without being too busy, and it sells the whole cyberpunk-ninja aesthetic. Each stage feels distinct — neon-soaked cityscapes, industrial factories, and eerie temples keep things from blending together. Enemy designs also play into the theme, mixing traditional ninja motifs with futuristic twists.

The soundtrack does a lot of heavy lifting. Pulsing synth beats push you forward during combat, while moodier tracks give boss arenas real weight. It matches the action so well that I found myself nodding along mid-slash.

Voice acting is solid across the board. The lead only communicates through grunts and battle cries, which is equal parts funny and fitting, but the supporting cast delivers their lines with enough conviction to carry the story beats. Speaking of story, it’s serviceable — a classic tale of revenge and corruption. You won’t be dissecting it years from now, but it does enough to keep the momentum going.

You also don’t need to have played past Shinobi games to enjoy this one. It stands tall on its own, even if you’re coming in fresh.

Is SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance your GameMatch?

A quick note: starting with this title, we’re gonna carry over our playful way of saying what’s worth your time — a seal of approval of sorts — into game reviews.

Swipe Up means it’s highly recommended.
Swipe Right means recommended, but maybe not for everyone.
Swipe Left means not recommended.

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is an easy Swipe Up. The action, platforming, and presentation come together to make for a riveting experience — the kind of game that respects your time while still pushing you to master its systems. It’s a classic case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.

And if you grew up chasing that Zero slash-combo high like I did, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is the modern revival you didn’t know you needed.

It’s available now on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Nintendo Switch.

Related Topics:SEGA SHINOBI SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance

Gaming

The Switch 2 is getting its first Joy-Con color variant

It’s not as showy as the first Switch’s Joy-Cons.

Published

January 9, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When the Nintendo Switch 2 and its almost-all-black Joy-Cons launched, you might have wondered about how the dual controllers will rock other colors. After all, the original Switch’s ecosystem constantly tempted users with quirky color options. Because the Switch 2 uses a black shell, will future Joy-Cons look just as tempting? Now, we have our answer.

Today, Nintendo has announced its first color variant for the Switch 2 Joy-Con. We should have seen this coming, but the new variant will not have a completely redesigned shell. Instead, the controller will change the colors of the inner rails and the rings around the joysticks. This pair will rock light purple for the left Joy-Con and light green for the right one.

As you enjoy #MarioTennisFever, you’ll also have the opportunity to give your #NintendoSwitch2 a new look!

The first new colored Joy-Con 2 controllers—Light Purple and Light Green—also arrive Feb 12.

Pre-purchase now: https://t.co/xoK6jsePMp pic.twitter.com/JoE8r4oOQl

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 8, 2026

It’s a tad bit disappointing, especially when you’re comparing it to the previous model. It’s practically impossible to rep the new colors out in public because the inner rails are hidden by the Switch 2. It also doesn’t help that the console itself will still have its red and blue colors, clashing with the new variant.

That said, the Joy-Cons still look pretty cool when separated from the console. But it all depends on when the console gets more games that use only a single Joy-Con.

Thankfully, that’s coming soon. The color variant will launch alongside the upcoming Mario Tennis Fever, the perfect game for single Joy-Cons. Both will come out on February 12.

The new colors will sell for an eye-watering US$ 99.99.

CES 2026

Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept was possible thanks to TCL

Also responsible behind the foldable display of the new motorola razr fold

Published

January 8, 2026

Vincenz

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

At this year’s CES 2026 in Las Vegas, TCL CSOT (China Star Optoelectronics Technology) and Lenovo have further proved their long-term partnership. The newest Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept and the motorola razr fold are equipped with displays by TCL CSOT.

Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept

The continuous collaboration of the two mighty Chinese companies bring out something that has been envisioned in laptops for quite a while now.

Ever imagined of a conventional laptop with standard 16:9 display that can instantly stretch into a 21:9 widescreen monitor? Well, the Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept proves it’s more than possible.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Pioneering this partnership starts with TCL CSOT’s rollable display. Dubbed as the Lenovo PureSight OLED Gaming display. From a regular 16-inch 16:9 display, it completely transforms into an ultra-wide screen — stretching between 21.5 all the way to 24 inches.

For gamers and even e-sports athletes who seek visual flexibility (literally and figuratively), the display adapts to three (3) different training phases.

Focus Mode (16 inches) for honing reflexes
Tactical Mode (21.5 inches) for enhanced situational awareness
Arena Mode (24 inches) for full-scale competitive simulation

Behind that rollable display tech by TCL CSOT lies a dual-motor, tension-based system. This not only means that the rollable display can unroll smoothly, the expansion is not just controlled, its contraction also delivers minimal vibration and noise.

There’s also a dedicated tensioning mechanism that ensures consistent tautness across the OLED panel. Low-friction materials then secures durability throughout the rolling cycle.

motorola razr fold

Finally, after a long wait, motorola finally unveils their first ever book-style foldable.

The motorola razr fold headlines TCL CSOT’s 8.1-inch 2K LTPO flexible inner display. And unlike most foldable offerings in the market today, it supports a stylus!

When closed, its 6.6-inch external display delivers the familiarity of a candy-bar smartphone. Furthermore, its sleek, striking, and slim silhouette will feel comfortable in one’s hands.

Not much has been shared but more details will soon be unfolded by motorola.

The Co-Innovation Legacy

The steady legacy of TCL CSOT and Lenovo has already delivered consumer-ready products past the convention center show floor showcase.

Those include the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i with a flexible 4K OLED display unveiled at CES 2025. Even the motorola razr 60 series flip-style foldables launched last July 2025 was not missed.

And, with the introduction of the Legion Pro Rollable Concept and the motorola razr fold, both companies continue to turn advanced display research into practical, user-focused products — setting new standards for performance, comfort, and sustainability.

With past display innovations, these newer advancements offer a more immersive viewing experience, better eye comfort, and flexiblility across various user applications.

This continuous collaboration highlights the companies shared commitment to advancing display technology and elevating the visual experience for users worldwide.

TCL CSOT’s constant strive for innovation is mainly driven by their APEX values:

A-mazing Display Experience
P-rotective of Eye Health
E-co-Friendly to build and use; and
X-Unlimited Imaginative Potential

Jun Zhao, the Senior Vice President of TCL Technology and CEO of TCL CSOT, states that the company is dedicated in providing Lenovo high-quality displays and custom diplay solutions that turn advanced technology into something “We are dedicated to providing Lenovo with high-quality, custom display solutions that turn advanced technology into everyday excellence, and

He also says “they look forward to exploring new frontiers together.”

CES 2026

This Razer AI companion can tell you how much of a noob you are

The brand also unveiled an AI headset and an immersive gaming chair.

Published

January 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Whenever you’re playing a single-player game, do you miss the toxic banter of teammates telling you how bad you are? Sometimes, it feels impossible to play without another voice in your ear. For those moments, Razer reintroduced Project AVA, an AI desk companion designed to keep you company while gaming and for more.

Project AVA

Technically, Razer already introduced the AI companion during last year’s CES 2025. This year, however, the brand has added more functionalities to the upcoming product, turning the device from a mere esports coach into an actual companion.

Previously, the assistant can use your camera, eye-tracking, audio input, and the screen to tell you how to get better in your chosen game. Now, Razer has added the ability to help you with everyday tasks like organizing schedules and suggesting fits.

Additionally, users can choose between a variety of 5-inch animated holograms as avatars, such as Kira, Zane, and even Japan’s favorite salary woman SAO. Users can also pick personalities for them from sassy to friendly.

Since it’s still a concept, there’s no word on when Project AVA will be available as a finished product.

Project Motoko

Last month, we reviewed the BlackShark V3 Pro, one of the most comfortable gaming headsets we’ve tried. Not content with prioritizing comfort, Razer has now added AI to a headset.

Project Motoko showcases a headset that uses AI technology to anticipate your needs. Besides a flurry of microphones, the headset uses two cameras positioned at eye level to analyze your surroundings. Razer says it can even track how many reps you’ve done at the gym and summarize a document you’re looking at.

Because the software is specifically designed to detect your surroundings, it can reportedly heighten your senses and find things you might have missed from your peripheral vision. Additionally, it can heighten your hearing and amplify conversations and sounds you might find important.

Project Madison

To cap it all off, Razer also unveiled an immersive gaming chair. Project Madison is a chair that uses lighting, audio, and haptic feedback to deliver an immersive gaming experience.

First of all, the chair uses Razer’s iconic Chroma RGB to simulate your surroundings while playing a game. With 16.8 million colors, it makes you feel visually immersed in your game.

Secondly, the chair has THX Spatial Audio. On its own, the chair’s speakers can provide audio immersion. Further, if you pair it with front speakers, you can upgrade this to a 7.1 surround sound system.

Thirdly, Project Madison features Razer Sensa HD Haptics to deliver a tactile sensation that makes you feel every impact and explosion.