Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven

Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven was the series' first outing on the PS2. I'd wanted to check it out before, but people's opinions that the game was "outdated" and "boring" caused me to hesitate. Now that I've played it for myself, I see what they mean. Except for the "boring" part.

The fact that stealth-action games have progressed so much in the past five years is one factor when taking into account the out-dated feel of this game. Don't get me wrong, though: it's a very fun game to play. For starters, the single-player missions are competitive and engaging. There are twenty-six levels, each having three "layout" options. There are three characters available to play as, although only two are available right away: the infamous ninja Rikimaru and the she-ninja Ayame. At the end of each mission you're given a mission ranking. Chances are, you'll come back more than once to get better rankings, unlock more ninja techniques by making a certain amount of stealth kills, and try out the level using different enemy layouts.

I'll think you'll find that the gameplay is reminiscent to the more recent stealth action game Splinter Cell, only more fast-paced action-packed. The stealth kills are part of what makes the game so exciting. to perform a stealth kill, simply sneak behind a victim without him being aware of your presence, press the attack button, and your character will completely annihilate the guy. The stealth attack varies according to which side of the enemy your on. For example, if attack from behind using Rikimaru, you'll generally come up behind the victim and slit his throat. But if you attack the victim from the side, it's a completely new attack. Attacks can also vary according to distance, speed, and even whether you're in midair. Also, if you stealth kill someone while another enemy is just across the room, watching helplessly, the kill happens in slow-motion. Which I thought was a pretty neat touch.

The story isn't especially steller or captivating, but it will keep you playing to see what happens next. The dialogue and cutscenes vary according to the character you're playing as, as well the order of the missions, the enemy layouts, and mission objectives. The dialogue isn't particularly good, nor the voice-acting very convincing, but it gets the job done.

In addition to the single-player campaign there are two multiplayer modes: versus and co-op. Both modes feature the same five maps, only co-op mode has special mission objectives and what are called, "co-op stealth kills". Personally, I found co-op to be more engaging, but versus was a good addition as well.

Overall, if you're a fan of either stealth action or ninjas, it's hard to go wrong by going ahead and buying it. You can get it for $10 or less at a pawn or over the internet these days, and I doubt you'll be that dissapointed by such a good deal for what is a pretty good game overall.