Released: March 24th, 2009 (US)
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Stealth
Pros: Great story, awesome kill cut scenes, and unmatched stealth gameplay
Cons: Repetitive, slow paced, and difficult
Cloaked in the safety of a bush, I blow the nearby candle out. As the shadows engulf my body a guard is alerted to the loss of light. Creeping, ever so slowly towards my position, he relaxes as if nothing is wrong. Not knowing these words would be his last, he mutters, “Must have been the wind.” His final breath leaves his lips just as the cracking of his neck rings in my ears.
This is the kind of stuff I get off on. Am I being biased towards the stealth genre? Sure, but Tenchu has it down to a science. I’ll have to admit, the last time I played the entire way through a game in this franchise was on the original PlayStation, and I’ve seen many terrible things come out with the name Tenchu since then. But this time around it’s different, the original creators of Tenchu (Acquire) have come back to take the reigns and bring this stealth action series straight to its roots.
Sick Sadistic Satisfaction
Tenchu is not for the feint of heart. Much skill is required to accomplish the goals set within, and at times it can be frustrating. But fans of the stealth action genre will thrive in this land of ninja like in no other. Stalking your victims one by one as you strategically make your way closer, moving in for the kill, giving you a satisfaction that can’t be matched once you finally sink your blade into your prey. This pleasure is brought full circle with awesome cinema kills that allow you to tap different directions on the analog for optional killing style. Which I have to say are some of the coolest kill sequences I’ve ever seen, especially for a handheld, making sure you thoroughly enjoy the hunt each and every time.
Each and every time, unfortunately includes replays after you’ve been caught by the guards. This is where Tenchu gets tricky, forcing you to use caution with every move. If you don’t have a sword, then there is no way to fight the enemy once spotted and your ninja will cast a smoke bomb enabling you to start from the beginning of the level once more. Though all enemies you’ve killed will still be dead, one more mistake and you’ll have to start from square one. This sounds much worse than it really is, as each chapter is broken up into very small segments. So small in fact that there are certain segments that allow you to see the exit right from the entrance.
Sleight of Hand
For a game that relies heavily on timing and control, it’s a shame that the analog feels so clunky. Though you will quickly get the hang of maneuvering your ninja from shadow to shadow, it’s the tight sequences that get messy. Where every slight move counts, when an alerted enemy is close by or when you’re navigating the rafters of a building trying not to fall into the lap of an enemy.
Thankfully there are designated buttons for every movement that help execute kills and jumps even if you aren’t perfectly aligned. You’ll become acquainted with Hayate quickly, which allows your ninja to take a quick dash in whatever direction you’re moving, keeping you in the shadows and helping elude your enemies.
Few control issues aside, the only real problems that players may encounter, are the steep learning curve and repetitive play. There are no two ways to run through a level, no full on assault, no quick killing spree, only slow paced stealth, and it can give you a bit of deja vu. There are only a handful of enemy types too, which continue to get more challenging as the game progresses, but after a while you’ll be itching for more variety. On top of that, about half way through the game, you’ll find yourself retracing levels you’ve already played, which adds even more to the monotony.
Silent But Deadly
Bottom line for any fan of the stealth genre, you’re going to love this one! If you’re not a hardcore fan of the genre though, you’re going to find yourself neck deep in slow paced, monotonous gameplay. So think long and hard about how much you like stalking your prey from the shadows, because as the name implies, you’ll be spending a lot of quality time in them.
The story is so well written that you’ll be coming back for more just to catch what happens next. Twists and turns in the plot line keep you guessing all the way to the end. Without spoiling too much, a familiar face will reveal himself near the end as well, bringing clarity to the somewhat confusing story. Once you start, you’ll want to continue all the way through just to find out who’s playing who.
Let the hunt begin!
Popularity: unranked [?]
