The third installment in Activision’s series of stealth ninja games, Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven builds on the concepts introduced in the first two Tenchu games. The original Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, released for the Playstation in 1998 (just prior to fellow stealth action hit Metal Gear Solid), was one of the genre’s defining moments. This latest entry in the Tenchu series delivers every bit as much as its predecessors--and then some. Like the previous Tenchu games, Wrath of Heaven’s main character is a ninja assassin named Rikimaru. Thought dead at the end of the original Tenchu (Tenchu 2, being a prequel, sidestepped this particular plot development), Rikimaru has surfaced once again for more ninja action. Also along for the ride, as per usual, is Rikimaru’s female clanmate Ayame. Each of the two characters has their own 10-mission story mode; a third hidden character, a doctor-by-day-and-assassin-by-night named Tesshu, can be unlocked as well. Each mission in the game’s story mode has a set of objectives for the player to accomplish. Many of the same levels are present in each character’s story mode, though each character has his or her own specific goals for each level. These objectives typically consist of assassinating a specific target, as well as anyone else who gets in the way. Fortunately, Rikimaru and company are well-suited to such tasks. At the beginning of each mission, you are presented with a selection of equipment to suit yourself up with. Throwing stars, smoke bombs, health potions, and poison rice are but a few of the items you can choose from; as you clear more and more levels, your armory will continue to grow. Additionally, your trusty grappling hook is taken along for each mission. This handy item allows you to scale walls and reach otherwise inaccessible areas, allowing you to more effectively get the drop on your enemies. As you stealth about, in search of your target, a handy on-screen meter keeps you aware of roughly how close you are to an enemy guard. Sneaking up on a foe allows you to surprise him, usually resulting in a cool-looking, one-shot stealth kill. These one-shot kills look different depending on the angle at which you approach an enemy, be it from the front, back, side, or top. Racking up enough stealth kills in a level awards you with some nifty ninja powers, such as the ability cling to ceilings, and enhanced ninja vision (which allows you to zoom in for a more detailed look at your surroundings). Of course, should you be spotted by an enemy guard, you’ll have to duke it out toe-to-toe. The combat system in Wrath of Heaven isn’t overly complicated, though it definitely requires a sense of timing and occasionally some quick reflexes. You’ll want to learn how to dispatch of foes quickly, as getting ganged up on can be pretty frustrating--not to mention lethal. Guards also take notice of things like dead bodies laying around, so working efficiently is another definite incentive. The more stealth kills you get in a level--and, hence, the less you’re spotted--the higher your rank will be at mission’s end. The levels in Wrath of Heaven are pretty big; novice players are likely to get lost in some of the maze-like stages later in the game. Each mission has three different layouts as well, for those looking for an extra challenge. This, combined with several different difficulty levels, adds up to quite a bit of replay value. Wrath of Heaven sports a two-player mode, which replaces the custom level design mode that was present in Tenchu 2. The two-player cooperative mode is similar to the main story mode, with specific objectives in each mission. Gameplay commences on a split-screen display; this tends to be rather confining, as your field of vision is pretty limited. If you can overlook this annoyance, the cooperative mode is actually a lot of fun. The game’s versus mode is neat, though it’s a bit less elaborate than the cooperative mode. In versus mode, two players take their pick of several different characters from the main game and proceed to duke it out. As noted above, Wrath of Heaven’s combat system isn’t too elaborate--this is certainly no Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, but it’s a nice touch all the same. Aesthetically, Wrath of Heaven is a mixed bag. The characters animate well, and there’s plenty of detail to be seen, such as the realistic shine of your character’s blade. The levels themselves are also well done, though they do tend to get a bit repetitive. There are some minor clipping problems here and there (this is especially noticeable during certain stealth kills), but nothing terribly detracting. Though the game moves at a pretty constant framerate, there are patches of slowdown in certain areas. Finally, the opening cinematic is very cool, and does a good job of setting the mood for what’s to come. The game’s musical score, composed once again by Noriyuki Asakura, sounds wonderful. If you’ve played either of the previous Tenchu games, or last year’s Way of the Samurai, you know what to expect here. Wrath of Heaven’s sound effects, from the clanging of swords to Rikimaru’s footfalls as he makes his way across shallow water, sound crisp and realistic. Wrath of Heaven’s controls are possibly the game’s biggest obstacle. Make no mistake, the game controls fine; your character is very responsive and controls pretty tightly. Unless you’re a seasoned Tenchu veteran, however, it will probably take you a while to get comfortable with the game’s control scheme--though this certainly becomes a non-issue once you learn the ropes. Fortunately, an extensive tutorial mode is available for those who need it. The camera in Wrath of Heaven, while not as intrusive as some games, tends to be mildly irritating at times. It has the occasional habit of second-guessing the player, positioning itself into an often annoying angle in its flawed attempt to help you. This isn’t as frustrating as it sounds; it could be much worse, and you’ll typically be shifting the camera around quite a bit anyway while attempting to get the drop on someone--this is a game of patience, after all. Ultimately, Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is a worthy successor to its popular predecessors. Despite some exceedingly minor graphical issues, a high learning curve, and a two-player mode that could have used a bit more polish, it comes off as a really solid piece of work. Though it isn’t as elaborate as some of the other stuff that’s out there, Wrath of Heaven certainly has something to offer fans of the stealth action genre.
i have to start by saying wrath of heaven is a good game, it can be frustrating at times but deffinatly addictive. it can prove to be quite difficult at times especially near the begining of the game for first time pl... Read Full Review
I paid: $30 I would pay: $40 Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is pretty much exactly like Tenchu on the PSX. The graphics are better, there are more abilities and weapons, and a new character, but it's pretty much the same t... Read Full Review
