Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven

"Move Like A Shadow - Strike Like A Snake"

INTRO

''Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven'' is the third installment of the greatest ninja simulator series ever created. You once again revisit feudal Japan to immerse yourself in true ninja gameplay as you assassinate, retrieve and perform other missions that involve stealth, tact and most of all patience. This is the biggest, baddest and most enthralling Tenchu of them all. (However, Tenchu 1 and 2 are also excellent games)

STORY 9/10

In ''Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven'' you once again assume the roles of both Rikimaru and Ayame as they do the dirty work for their master and mentor, Lord Ghoda. Rikimaru is the male character that you can play as and Ayame is the female character. The story takes place one year after the events of ''Tenchu 1'' where it appeared that Rikimaru died at the end. Well he's back, though I won't spoil it for you, and he's badder than ever. This time an evil overlord named Tenrai has set out to gather several stones of mystical powers that will grant the bearer immeasurable power. He uses magic and demon spirits to assist him in this quest and has even resurrected certain characters from past Tenchu games to try and stop you from saving Lord Ghoda's realm. Ayame is also back and more matured and refined than ever before. Lastly there is a third, secret character named Tesshu who will become available to play with after you've completed all of Rikimaru's and Ayame's mission. He is not a ninja but rather an assassin who employs deadly hand to hand combat moves that devastate his victims. The storyline consists of 26 missions and one bonus level that is unlocked after beating every character's missions. The missions consist mainly of assassinating someone, saving someone, infiltrating and retrieving items.

CONTROLS 9/10

The controls have evolved to the next level this time around as the PS2's memory has the ability to handle a lot more than its predecessor console. This time around the characters have many more special moves and unlockable abilities that all function quite well in terms of controller design. You also have the ability to reconfigure the entire control scheme which is a nice addition for people who may want to change something around. In terms or responsiveness I think the controls are set up very well. Every button is used and used effectively. You can even control your characters point of view more now than ever before giving you the sense that you have absolute and total freedom not only in movement but also in sight.

GAMEPLAY 10/10

Gameplay is stunning in every aspect. You have multiple combat maneuvers that are very easy to learn as well as the use of a grappling hook that will allow you to literally go anywhere within a level. (The grappling hook is akin to the one from ''Tenchu 1'') You can scurry along rooftops, Grapple onto ledges and slither along walls all while trying not to be seen by the enemy. There are also multiple secret abilities that you can unlock as you successfully Stealth Kill nine enemies in each level - Just don't spill the blood of an innocent or you'll have to start afresh in your quest to unlock that particular stage's ability. Abilities include clinging from ceilings, wall kicks, feigning death, ninja mind control and several others. The enemies A.I this time has been refined a bit more in the sense that they are a little smarter in face to face fights but unfortunately they still forget about you very quickly when you jump onto a roof or run around a corner. They also stop to chat with each other which can make for some comical conversations. One definite improvement is that if an enemy is stationed in a corner or against a wall he will not turn completely around facing into the wall. This makes it a little more challenging as you need to time your attacks and execute them flawlessly to avoid being spotted. Also some of the enemies deeper into the game can really pack a punch if you are not careful. As is now almost a given, ''Tenchu: WoH'' features a very ingenious Ki meter concept concept in that if an enemy is not aware of your presence you can sneak up behind them and take them out in one of six possible stealth kills. these are shown in an animated FMV from multiple angles and make the entire stealth concept worthwhile. You can also fight your enemies face to face if you choose but chances are you'll enjoy sneaking up and pouncing on them unsuspectingly much more. There are also a wide variety of special weapons and items available which will grant you even more flexibility in how you choose to dispose of enemies. Items include exploding shuriken, fireworks, camouflaging outfits that mimic the enemy, grenades, mines, blinding dust and tons more including my favorite, the kumihimo (Tesshu only). Needless to say the gameplay is fantastic and captivating down to the very marrow of your bones.

GRAPHICS 10/10

The graphics are excellent in ''Tenchu:WoH'' and are amazingly detailed down to the smallest decoration. The backgrounds in the various levels are highly detailed and the characters and enemies also look amazingly fresh and alive in every aspect. There are streams, snowflakes, mountains, lava pits, castles and entire villages that are absolutely beautiful to explore and sneak around in. Everything has been taken into consideration it seems as even the heavens seem to be alive with weather. There are moths, bees that attack if you disturb their nest, bats and even footprints left behind in the snowy levels as you scamper through. Beautiful and immersive is an understatement.

CAMERA 10/10

The Tenchu series has always allowed you much more camera freedom than most other games. By simply holding the ''L1'' button you can totally control the camera from a first person perspective. Also by using other buttons you can lock the camera onto your nearest enemy which helps you out in boss fights and really just makes life a little easier than in previous Tenchu games. Some people may gripe that the camera is a little wild at times but I have only experienced very slight problems when turning quickly in tight spaces. Overall I think the camera could not have been designed much better but it might take a new player a little while before becoming completely fused with the camera's limitations.

FMV's, MUSIC and SFX 10/10

The cutscenes in ''Tenchu: WoH'' are incredibly rendered and designed. There are beautiful landscapes and sceneries that captivate your imagination and the Stealth Kill animations are once again unique and most impressive. The dialogue is very well done and is very reminiscent to ''Tenchu 1''. The battle sounds and guards struggling for their last breath is also very realistic and the background sounds are very true to life. There are sounds of water running, fire burning etc. Last but not least the soundtrack is among the best that I've ever heard period. The background music is the fiber that binds the entire game together in one harmonious mesh and takes you out of your world and into the world of the ninja. (Listen to the sounds Ayame makes when falling down a pit to her death, a sense of humour too.:-)

REPLAY VALUE 10/10

''Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven'' has a lot of replay value to offer you. There are three different enemy layouts for each level so it is unlikely that one could memorize each and every enemy's location. There is also the addition of a Multiplayer mode which allows you to both play Co-op style with a buddy or even head to head in Deathmatch mode. This in and of itself can offer you endless replay value. Also because of the non linear mission design you can complete the same levels in a countless number of ways. There is also a secret unlockable mission and the demo level can also be unlocked. You really couldn't ask for more replay value than this and expect it to be possible.

OVERALL 10/10

Overall this Tenchu game is a definite step forward in the Tenchu series. Anyone who has played ''Tenchu 1'' and or ''Tenchu 2'' is sure to be very very pleased with this game. It is a must have for any Tenchu fan and a must play for any gamer who wants freedom, story, action, secret abilities and wicked FMV's and cutscenes. If you haven't bought it yet then what are you doing reading this? I say buy it and enjoy moving like a shadow and striking like a snake.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/07/03, Updated 03/07/03