Album: Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Game Soundtrack
Producers, Sound Design by: Yuzo Koshiro, Tee Lopes
Label: LizardCube, SEGA
Release: August 29th, 2025 (Out Now)
Behind the Music:
Many years ago in the gaming world, the Shinobi series experimented with arcade, and console platforms. Finding a home on Sega systems, it created a foundation with the Sega Sound G.E.M.S (Genesis Editor for Music, and Sound effects) engine used by the Genesis. It was also influenced by the sound styles heard in music at the time: from Electronic, and Rock (Industrial, and Rocktronica), Rap, plus R&B.
A Legend Returns:
Yuzo Koshiro, whom is a legend in the video game music scene branched out with numerous titles in the past. Most notably with Streets of Rage, as it used the atmosphere of the club scene, and pulse pounding beats. During this journey, he found a unique style with the Shinobi series. At the time, it could be noted as Experimental, as it did not have a label. But it did create an atmosphere, building the in game world all its own. A mixture of Japanese culture, emulating instruments, giving it an exciting build up, from guitar, synth, and club tunes all adding more to the game.
The sound style of Art of Vengeance, inspired by the past, numerous ideas would resurface in a whole new, and exciting way. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, Joe Musashi would return ready to take on any obstacle. Yuzo Koshiro returned to the series, collaborating with now well known Producer: Tee Lopes (well known for his work on Sonic Mania, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, and many more titles)
Shadows in the Light:
Within this new entry, it captures the magic that the series had explored in the past. Bringing back those vibes, and intensity found in the games from long ago. Gone are the limitations of hardware, as game soundtracks can now deliver a fuller experience. Finding a balance of different genres, and exploring new ideas that the past entries utilized, now this new game connects even more, expanding the sound styles with more vibes.
Fun note about Tee Lopes, he branched out into the music scene with Rap, and R&B. With his influences being Video Game Music, essentially his two loves, music and gaming had so much more in common. Combining that, with genres rarely heard lately, given more modern games have an orchestral design. But with a game series like Shinobi, it goes beyond anything you have heard before.
Oboro:
Art of Vengeance (and past games from the series) sound style can be summarized as: Tomoyasu Hotei, New Order, NIN, Wu-Tang Clan, Michael Jackson, Digital Underground, Soichi Terada, Shinichiro Yokota, Yellow Magic Orchestra (Haruomi Hosono, and Ryuichi Sakamoto), Shingo Nakamura and many more. Each artist found their own sound style, creating amazing art through their music. With video games, a spark creates something wonderful, a balance of harmony, beats, and so much more, that it makes it an awesome experience every time you play. (Or just want to get lost in the music)
Sega, as a creative brand loved to explore different genres of music within their games. Never settling on one idea, but trying out so many unique concepts to create a game’s atmosphere, telling its story through the character, and player. Within each stage you traverse, the story unfolds with : hope, peril, chills, action, and suspense. The music itself is an additional character, as it transforms like a chameleon, to become part of its environment, so too does vgm, shifting in its tones, and dabbling into various genres.
Shinobi: The Art of Vengeance – Tracklist:
Note: There are fourteen stages in total, each stage has its own unique theme. While the Battle rendition occurs when you encounter enemies. Boss themes take place near the end of the level.
Title Screen (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Intro (Composer: Yuzo Koshiro)
Musashi Home (Composer: Yuzo Koshiro)
Musashi Home (Battle), (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
Bamboo Forest (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Bamboo Forest (Battle), (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Oboro Village Ruins (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
Oboro Village Ruins (Battle), (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
Shrine (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
Shrine (Battle), (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
Ruse Theme (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
Boss Theme (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Trailer Theme (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
Map Theme (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Training Room (Ambient), (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
Ankou Rift Theme (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Chase (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Lake (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Lake (Battle), (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Lantern Festival (Composer: Tee Lopes)
The Lantern Festival (Battle), (Composer: Tee Lopes)
The Lantern Festival (Escape), (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Mountains – “Deep Voids” (Composer: Yuzo Koshiro)
The Mountains (Battle) (Composer: Yuzo Koshiro)
The Factory (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Factory (Battle), (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Caves (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
Neo City West (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Neo City West (Battle), (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Neo City South (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Neo City South (Battle), (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Neo City East (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Neo City East (Battle), (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Neo City North (Composer: Tee Lopes)
The Fish Market (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Fish Market (Battle), (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Docks (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Docks (Battle), (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Ocean Base (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Ocean Base (Battle), (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
Mad Train (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Mad Train (Battle), (Composer: Tee Lopes)
The Desert (Composer: Yuzo Koshiro)
The Desert (Battle), (Composer: Yuzo Koshiro)
The Temple (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
The Temple (Battle), (Composers: Tee Lopes, Yuzo Koshiro)
ENE Corp Lab (Composer: Tee Lopes)
ENE Corp Lab (Battle), (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Bamboo Forest – “Whispers in the Bamboo” (Extended), (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Whispers in the Bamboo (Extended & Battle), (Composer: Tee Lopes)
The Chase – “Trial of the Warborn” (Extended), (Composer: Tee Lopes)
Extra notes:
Sound Design: Joachim Neuville
Main Composer: Tee Lopes
Mixing: Tee Lopes, Andrew Gomes (aka: Andrew One)
Mastering: Tee Lopes, Andrew Gomes
Additional Tracks: Yuzo Koshiro
Guitars: Jonny Atma
Sound Director: Takenobu Mitsuyoshi
Where to buy this soundtrack? There are several options, for you to find it. Within the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game, it contains a mini soundtrack featuring songs from the game. Available on all platforms. Also there is a Collectors Edition of the game (exclusive with Limited Run Games), which contains the physical release of the soundtrack, listed as the Official Deluxe Soundtrack CD.
Sega Official online store
Shinobi Art of Vengeance
LRG (United States exclusive physical edition distributor)
Limited Run Games Collectors Edition
Extra note: There is no news in regards to a vinyl edition of the soundtrack. But if any news is announced, this article will be updated. Also the soundtrack is not yet available on digital stores. However, SEGA gives a game time to breathe after release, so it is possible this will change soon too.
