Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

Most helpful review Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

• Back to Feudal Japan for another go.

   

  By Dhutchy (1 review) from Wednesbury, England , 06 May 2009

  [Highly rated reviewer]

  Tenchu has always been a great series in my eyes, providing intense stealth game play and satisfying kills throughout, with just enough story driven game play to keep you going throughout.
  
  The newest instalment Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is no exception. However the game has seen numerous changes from what many Tenchu veterans have become accustomed to.
  
  For those who don’t know Tenchu is a stealth action game set in feudal Japan, where the user plays as a ninja tasked with carrying out various missions ranging from Assassinations or Delivering Messages to Gathering Information or Crossing a certain checkpoint unnoticed.
  
  Gameplay
  
  The core game play remains the same, you play as Rikimaru and Ayame fulfilling missions for Lord Gohda, these missions, as always, require the ninja to go un-noticed and assassinate a target, or to pass through a certain checkpoint.
  
  However, the control scheme has changed this time around, fully utilising the Wiimotes motion control to perform sword manoeuvres or during stealth kills. The combat itself has changed drastically, which personally I find to be the weakest part of the game. Combat now plays out in first person view, where the player must tilt his or her wiimote to match the on screen prompt in order to block attacks, then during attack phase begin frantically flailing the remote around in order to finish off their foe, this is similar to a game play mechanic seen in Red Steel, however it is much more responsive this time around, and although it may not appeal to everyone, it is not particularly game breaking. During stealth kills the motion controls are also utilised, making up a series of quick time events that must be performed in order for the stealth kills to go as planned, although the quick time events may be simple and repetitive the kills are as satisfying as ever. The motion sensitive controls are not used when throwing objects however, the player must aim using the analog stick on the nunchuck, then move the remote itself to throw. This seems like a strange choice from the designers and can sometimes make throwing shurikens harder than it should be.
  
  The camera has been moved to an over the shoulder view (not unlike the viewpoint in Resident Evil 4) and the ninja’s movement is controlled using the Nun chuck. You can either run or walk (depending on whether or not you are holding down the B button) this form of analog control seems like a step back, but it does the job. This form of movement control can be somewhat off putting at first, but after half hour or so I was used to it.
  
  Another major change to the series is the removal of the grappling hook, there’s no more crawling around on rooftops this time around. This has caused the environments to be somewhat smaller, but again for me this isn’t particularly game breaking as there’s plenty of variety between missions.
  
  Graphics
  
  Tenchu: Shadow Assassins offers some of the best visuals I’ve on the Wii yet, the characters look great and move fluidly adding a good sense of realism. The environments are atmospheric and well detailed however there can be some ugly textures here and there but overall the game looks fantastic.
  
  Sound
  
  As always the music in this game is brilliant, offering a great atmosphere many people has come to love about the series. The sound effects are also spot on, helping to create believable fight scenes and stealth kills.
  
  Overall
  
  Tenchu: Shadow Assassins takes the series in a slightly different direction with its new game play choices, however it still feels like a solid stealth action game fans will expect. Coupled with a good story and a great musical score it is a very immersive and atmospheric experience. Despite its shortcomings this one Is definitely worth checking out for newcomers and fans of the series.

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