Tenchu 2
- November 24, 2000 14:47 PM PST
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Fans of the original can look forward to more and better assassination action when Tenchu 2 hits the streets next week. 'Till then, here are some details for all you armchair ninjas to chew on.
The main characters from the original Tenchu are back, but Rikimaru and Ayame now have 12 missions each, and the plot is told from a different perspective for each character. There are a lot of FMV sequences throughout, so you'll get more mileage out of the main game. Extra bonus missions await you once you've reached the end, and the mission editor will let you create your own levels for more stealthy fun.
Ninja-Tech
Being a ninja isn't an easy task, so the tutorial has been beefed up to train you better in Tenchu's stealthy gameplay. There are a few surprises for veterans as well. In addition to your trusty sword, grappling hook, and throwing stars, you'll be able to employ a handful of new items, including exploding arrows, a blowgun, invisibility, dust to blind your enemies, and a breathing reed for remaining undetected underwater, among others. Combat controls remain much the same, though you can attack directly behind you now, and when you do make a kill, there are new stealth kill and bloody death animations.
The Art of Invisibility
Improved graphics with reduced draw-in will help budding ninjas see enemies a bit sooner, but a more aggressive AI has guards chase after you more often and further. You can search corpses for items, but you'll also have to hide the bodies of your victims or enemies discovering a carcass will raise the alarm.
The original Tenchu was a blast to play, and with all these new additions to the game, Tenchu 2 looks to be a worthy successor. Remember stealth assassins, stay low, and keep quiet: you never know what evil lurks in the shadows
