Tenchu: Shadow Assassins Preview - PSP
- March 13, 2009 14:28 PM PST
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Tenchu: Shadows Assassins is gearing up to be a refreshing installment to the dwindling Tenchu series, reverting back to its more successful roots.
Like many series that seemingly never end, you inevitably begin to lose interest. Tenchu is a prime example. The series started off strong with a cast of memorable characters and a stellar stealth dynamic. But with every new installment thereafter, issues began to arise, such as increasingly repetitive gameplay and a clunky camera. Yet I can assure you that the next Tenchu installment, Shadow Assassins, is looking to be just what the series needs, a step in the right direction.
Death from Above
Shadow Assassins reverts back to the basics revolving around Azuma ninja clan members Rikimaru and Ayame, the original cast members of the series. For the first half of the game you romp around Feudal Japan as Rikimaru the silent, scarred head ninja. Finally heeding to complaints, a new, more convenient over-the-shoulder camera is present. This small aspect does worlds of good for the game and is especially important to the famous stealth mode.
Kicking off the game in search of a shady merchant, the starting mission is a tutorial level. The first thing you learn is how to dispose of an aloof guard. This action entails sneaking up behind him and pressing Square to perform a finishing move which instantly kills enemies in various fashions depending on where you are in retrospect to your target. If you are merely behind a guard, a simple neck snap occurs.
The assortment of different assassination cinematics are both enjoyable to watch and full of sadistic flavor. One of my favorite forms of finishing moves is from above. While sitting in close proximity above an enemy and pressing Square, you slink down and snap their unsuspecting neck. Another enjoyable form of the silent finishing moves is from a body of water. A press of Square triggers you to grab the enemy's leg and pull him under for a brutal little beating. All in all, Tenchu: Shadow Assasins covers silent, stealthy doom from all angles.
Eye of the Beholder
Another welcome addition is the Mind's Eye view. This view, which is accessed by holding down Triangle, makes successfully stalking enemies in the shadows a much smoother experience. When the view is activated, objects of interest are highlighted such as the enemy's line of sight, suggested pathing, and interactive objects so you can better plan your attacks. If you are having troubles finding a shadowy hideout, no problem! Press X near a torch to blow out the flame to create more stealth cover for yourself. Larger torches need to be doused with water. Using a bamboo tube to collect water out of a jug and shooting it at the flame quickly solves the problem.
Now you may be asking yourself, why go through such great lengths to refrain from being spotted? Well the answer is simple. If you are caught nosing around, you must defend yourself by pushing the analog stick quickly and accurately in the direction that the enemy swings his sword. If you fail to do so, death ensues. This may not seem like a big issue but it is by far easier to sneak around killing guard after guard unnoticed. When you are spotted for the first time you automatically use a smoke bomb to escape to the shadows but every time after that you must face the brutal consequences.
From the short demo we played, it's easy to see that Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is shaping up to be one of the better stealth-action games on the PSP. With it's refurbished yet all too familiar stealth mode and strong focus on the often overlooked gameplay, Tenchu: Shadow Assassins will please fans both old and new, yours truly included.
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