Format: Cartridge
Genre: Action platformer
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega

Rich but not overtly stylized, Shinobi III is one of the Genesis' visual tour-de-force titles, with stages that are intricately detailed and full of variety, and with character and baddie sprites that are fluidly animated and quite clever in design. There aren't as many little touches put into the stages themselves as there are with some other Genesis games-- like butterflies, or loads of background animation-- but some of the truly memorable boss designs, like the godzilla mech, more than make amends.

Although Yuzo Koshiro was either not available or not chosen to score this entry in the series, the three headed composition monster of Nagao, Murasaki, and Akiyama still produce one of the best soundtracks on the Genesis. From the jaunty, emotion-filled opening melody to the stark darkness of the sixth stage song, the title's excellent mix of traditional Japanese instrumentation and synth rock is so good that even the title's outstanding sound effects are not able to steal the show.

Shinobi III has some of the best level design that the industry has ever seen. Coupled with the mechanics-- which Sega had clearly been honing through the series' several entries-- the stages are paced to perfection. What makes them especially admirable is that they can be played in so many different fashions, leading to tremendous amounts of ludonarrative potential.

Outside of a very select few games, contemporary video games are simply not able to touch the artistry of a title like this. In Shinobi III, the player feels more like a ninja than in any other video game; what makes that feat impressive is that the effect is achieved through pure subtlety-- pixel-perfect level design, and mechanics that work in such harmony with the stage design and overall aesthetic that it's as if every potential movement of the player at every juncture was thought through and designed with impeccable attention.