5. Shinobi

This is one of those games that hits you in the face with its difficulty. Or rather punches you, because in Shinobi you can die without you doing anything. Actually, the protagonist Hotsuma wields a blade named Akujiki, which slowly drains your health bar unless you kill enemies.

Shinobi encourages you to be bloodthirsty and stay focused on the action, then, something which requires quick thinking and reflexes. This is at odds with some of the later platforming sections of the game, in which going too fast might lead to players falling to their deaths if they mistime their jumps. But killing enemies quickly and performing combos increases your sword’s power, which is a good thing when trying to take down the game’s bosses such as a blind ninja intent on cutting you to shreds. This PS2 game is even more difficult than the earlier Shinobis made by Sega too, but is still a nice challenge for those who enjoy very difficult games.

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