Discover the Top 5 Jilispins Strategies That Will Transform Your Gaming Experience
Let me tell you about the first time I picked up Art of Vengeance - I was immediately struck by how perfectly the game captures that classic ninja fantasy. There's something incredibly satisfying about controlling Joe Musashi, this legendary protagonist who's returned after what feels like forever, with his katana in one hand and those deadly kunai in the other. I've played countless action games over the years, but there's a particular thrill to the combat system here that just clicks once you understand the underlying strategies. After spending probably 50 hours mastering the game's mechanics across multiple playthroughs, I've discovered five key approaches that genuinely transform how you experience this revenge-driven journey.
The most fundamental strategy I wish I'd understood earlier involves mastering the kunai and katana combination. Most players tend to favor one weapon over the other, but the real magic happens when you treat them as complementary tools rather than separate options. During my third playthrough, I started experimenting with using kunai to create openings - throwing them while airborne to stagger enemies just long enough to close distance with a devastating katana combo. The game doesn't explicitly teach this, but I found that alternating between three kunai throws followed by a quick katana dash attack creates this beautiful rhythm that feels almost like a dance. I've counted - this approach can clear standard enemy encounters about 40% faster than relying on either weapon exclusively. What's particularly satisfying is how this mirrors Joe's character - he's not just a swordsman or a thrower, but a complete ninja warrior who adapts his approach moment to moment.
Another strategy that completely changed my perspective involves embracing the verticality of levels rather than treating them as flat spaces. Early on, I was playing Art of Vengeance like a standard side-scroller, mostly moving left to right along the ground. It wasn't until I watched some speedrunners that I realized how much of the game's environment is designed for aerial movement. Now I spend probably 70% of my time on walls, ceilings, and platforms above the main path. The tactical advantage is enormous - you can bypass entire enemy patrols, set up ambushes from above, and access hidden areas that contain permanent upgrades. There's one section in the third mission where climbing to the highest point lets you skip what would otherwise be a brutal 5-minute combat encounter. This approach makes you feel like an actual ninja rather than just another action hero.
Then there's what I call the "vengeance meter management" strategy. The game's central mechanic - building up your vengeance gauge through successive attacks without taking damage - seems straightforward initially. But I've found that most players, including myself at first, waste their special attacks by using them as soon as the meter fills. Through trial and error across about 15 playthroughs, I discovered that holding onto your vengeance state until specific moments creates dramatically different outcomes. For instance, saving it for when you face multiple ENE Corp commanders simultaneously can turn an impossible-seeming battle into a manageable one. There's a particular satisfaction in deliberately taking risks to build your meter during difficult sections, knowing you're banking power for the right moment. It perfectly mirrors Joe's character journey - that controlled patience before unleashing righteous fury.
The fourth strategy revolves around understanding ENE Corp's patterns rather than just reacting to them. Lord Ruse's paramilitary organization might seem like generic villains initially, but they have surprisingly sophisticated behavior patterns that you can exploit. During my sixth playthrough, I started noticing that different enemy types have specific audio cues before attacking - something I'd completely missed while focused on visual indicators. The robotic minions in the later levels emit a distinct charging sound about 1.2 seconds before they attack, giving you just enough time to position yourself for a counter. Learning these patterns transformed the game from a frantic reaction test into what feels like a strategic puzzle. It's these subtle details that make Art of Vengeance so rewarding to master.
Finally, the most personal strategy I've developed involves embracing the narrative's emotional core rather than rushing through it. When I first played, I was so focused on the action that I barely paid attention to the story of Joe's quest for vengeance - his village burned, his clan turned to stone, that personal mission to hunt down Lord Ruse. But on subsequent playthroughs, I started letting those moments land emotionally, and surprisingly, it improved my gameplay. There's a connection between engaging with Joe's motivation and performing better in combat - when you feel that sense of purpose, you play with more intention. I've found my completion times actually improve when I'm mentally invested in the narrative rather than just going through the motions.
What's fascinating about these strategies is how they build upon each other. Mastering the weapon combination makes you more effective in combat, which lets you experiment with vertical movement, which helps you manage your vengeance meter more efficiently, and so on. I've introduced these approaches to three different friends who were struggling with the game, and each reported not just improved performance but significantly greater enjoyment. Art of Vengeance has this beautiful depth that only reveals itself when you move beyond surface-level gameplay. These strategies transformed my experience from a simple action game into what feels like a genuine ninja fantasy - and I'm convinced they can do the same for any dedicated player willing to look deeper into this revenge tale.
