Silicon Fusion >> Reviews >> Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven

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Review:

16th April 2003:
Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
A game so cool it invented a genre all to itself. Is Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven a worthy assassin or a plain old vagrant?
Posted by John Wasabi - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe

Ninjas, the very word brings images of assassins that were proficient in the deadly art of killing. As morbid as it sounds I wanted to be a Ninja when I was a child. Wrapping myself from head to toe in a black bin liner and armed with a plastic katana was the sort of mischief I would get up to as a child. Now that I am grown up, those days are behind me but thanks to Activision, we can all play out our Ninja fantasies to our hearts content.

Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is the third installment to this awesome Ninja simulation and a true to sequel that helps to answer plenty of questions from the original. From 'Is Rikimaru dead?' to 'What happened to Lord Mei Oh?' this sequel is here to bare all. Tenchu is set during feudal Japan in the mid 1570s, a time of Warring states and political instability and by some miracle Rikimaru has survived. How you ask? Well, that would be spoiling things wont it? The story is straightforward, an Evil sorcerer is searching for a Sword that will grant its holder unimaginable powers. Yep, you guessed it, you'll have to get that sword before he does but the developers have done extremely well in layering and piecing the story together. You can't just play with one character to get the full picture; you'll have to play it through 3 different characters before all is revealed which makes for some exciting plot twists.

Those who have played the series before will feel right at home, the control scheme has remained the same but overall feels faster and more fluid. There were times when the original Tenchu felt clunky and block like, nothing like that here, everything is silky smooth. Like the previous installments, each character has their unique skills, attributes, kill animation, weapons and combos. What would your ultimate Ninja simulation be without your basic Ninja arsenal such as Shurikens, smoke bombs, and poison rice to just name a few? Nowhere, so luckily for us, Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven has more items, gadgets and spells than its predecessors by far, we're talking a deadly arsenal of 30 items in total for your usage.

Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is not for the light-hearted or squeamish. It is gory, features plenty of decapitation and bone snapping never before known possible. In fact Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven rewards players for gruesome stealth kills, complete 10 stealth kills and you will be rewarded with new moves that can range from Ninja Vision that allows you to see further away to new combo moves. Each character can learn 9 Ninja moves, most of them brilliant and compliments the character style and movement.

AI of your enemies hasn't changed that much from the previous series, they follow their usual routine and when they lose sight of you they go back to their business unaware that a deadly assassin is ready to pounce as soon as their back is turned. Ok, this may not be realistic, but after all Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is a game and if their awareness stayed at full alert, I doubt the game would have been that fun. Sure it can be improved, but for now, it's adequate. One noticeable area that AI improvement has shown is in combat. Not only do they tend to block your attacks with precision, they attempt new strategies such as somersaulting behind you, throwing objects like bombs and shurikens. Its great stuff as hand to hand combat proves challenging yet enjoyable. Heck the AI may need glasses but there's nothing wrong with their hearing. The slightest noise such as water splashing will alert them to investigate their surroundings and touches like that really add to the gameplay. Personally, the only time my enjoyment of the game was let down came when the undead creatures were introduced. It's a minor letdown for me, Why you ask? It's a blooming Ninja simulation in which I want to maim, sneak up on evil men and drive sharp pointy swords through them, not battle the undead. That sort of stuff is left for Buffy, not a cool self-respecting assassin. However, it is something you get over fairly quickly so do not fret.

Graphically, Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is superb, it may not be technically superior or boast ground breaking technology, but it achieves more than most other games on the PS2. Character models are detailed and beautifully animated creating a smooth and fluid experience. Your surroundings are detailed too, forests are lush, cemeteries are spooky, and buildings are well laid out and in line to the period's architecture.

Soundtrack of the game may not be to everyone's taste but it does suit the atmosphere of the game. Tracks are varied but they mostly encompass traditional Japanese music blended with modern electronic effects. Personally I found it annoying when all my focus is directed to sneaking up on fiends only to be distracted by the blaring music.

If you enjoyed the previous series, Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven will not disappoint. It may not give you the feeling of awe or originality that the first one had, but it wont disappoint you like the second (prequel) in the series which kind of lost the plot. If you want to experience a game that requires stealth, cunning, gore and provides an intricate storyline, then look no further for there really is no other game like this of the same quality in its genre.

John Wasabi

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Review Summary:

If you want to experience a game that requires stealth, cunning, gore and provides an intricate storyline, then look no further for there really is no other game like this of the same quality in its genre.

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Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
for PlayStation 2

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