This pisses all over Shinobi (with silent, invisible ninja piss), despite its superficial similarities. Both go big on sword-slashing, throwing a lesser role to ranged weapons like shuriken. And both protagonists run along walls. The difference is in the fights. Most of the combat takes place in enclosed rooms. With multiple enemies in each room, the pace quickens and the punch-ups get tougher and cooler. Gimmicks like over-the-shoulder throws, slow-motion magic spells and ninja finishing moves soon become as vital as finding a good dry cleaner (it’s incredibly hard to get stains out of those cute black outfits). The jaw-dropping graphics help. As do the weapons, power-ups and the scope of the game (15-plus levels, 40-50 hours of play to complete). But it’s the fighting that really won us over. It’s just so charming!