Alright, so I just got to start saying that I did not play the games in sequence. I started off with this one and will play Shinobi down the line.

I really want to like this game a lot, I really really do. From its techno/sci-fi with ninja elements theme, the world lending a hand to its design with the gruesome robotic Hellpsawn monsters; to the fast paced and exhilirating techno DnB music that feels great to kill monsters to; dashing around and trying to get a high Tate score while trying to make Hibana look badass with the combos, all culminates in this visually appealing game even for its time. There's a lot this game offers in terms of style.

Unfortunately style can only do so much without substance. The game tries it 's best to shake things up in enemy variety, level design and strategy but ends up feeling repetitive in its linearity. Coupled with the move set you posses it clearly becomes a mash fest once you pass the first boss. Given I did play the game in Normal mode so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt that my enemies weren't as strategic or smarter. But I still can't shake the feeling that even in a higher difficulty the repetition of jump > dash > hit > dash > hit (or any variant of the sort) will be enough to keep the game fresh and engaging.

Bosses are not the most memorable, maybe with the exception of Hisui actually, I like her move set with the water effects and the level itself you fight her in is one of the most interesting set pieces.

Over all it's a good character action game that people should play, but it leaves you, the player wanting more out of it after its small runtime. Yes you can do the time attacks and replay the levels in different characters afterwards, but it's going to be the same game with a different coat of paint.