Tenchu: Return from Darkness (Xbox)

by K2 (Japan)

Product Features

• Collect weapons, from traditional ninja swords to ranged weapons -- use them wisely to accomplish your goals, in multiple deadly missions
• Immersive stealth-based action as you try to approach your enemies as silently as possible, moving in for the kill, and escaping without being seen
• Earn new abilities and fighting combos as you advance through levels filled with espionage, theft, and assassination
• New spells like the blinding magic and the viper potion enhance your ability to attack & disappear
• Battle it out in beautifully rendered levels, including a two exclusive to Xbox - a samurai mansion and a deserted pagoda

Product Details

• ASIN: B00009KO3J
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,279 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

When evil reemerges, so must those who silence it. The violent rebellion and civil strife that have torn through the heart of 16th century Japan appear to be drawing to a close. Also coming to an end is the Azuma ninja clan's year of mourning in honor of the tragic death of Rikimaru. Alas, this long-awaited serenity may be short-lived.

The mysterious Tenrai has begun a quest to conquer the country by amassing an army of ninjas and lords of darkness. Your master, Lord Gohda, has called upon you, a cunning stealth assassin, to stop Tenrai and his disciples before all is lost. Live by honor. Kill by stealth.

Features:

• Experience online stealth ninja action via Xbox Live, playing with a friend in 2-player co-op mode featuring all-new stealth kills or choose from 20 playable characters and go head to head in Death Match mode.
• Take advantage of all-new abilities and tools. Drag and hide dead bodies to avoid detection or use ninja mind control to make your enemies turn against each other or commit suicide. New unlockable abilities include being able to camouflage yourself against a wall and an emergency evasion move that you can use to escape an enemy's combo attack. New grand master items include a viper drink that makes you 3 times stronger and a flash bomb that makes everyone within range dizzy.
• Complete unique mission objectives, including espionage, theft and assassination. Uniquely crafted levels allow you to determine the most efficient way to achieve your mission goals. Multiple game endings-based on your earlier decisions in the game and unique enemy placements-keep bringing you back for more.
• Explore 11 incredibly detailed levels, including 2 new single-player maps, Samurai Mansion and Deserted Pagoda Temple, featuring realistic lighting and weather effects, breakable items and authentic character animations.
• Master new combo attacks, including stealth and jumping moves, played out in breathtakingly gory detail via an improved fighting engine. Take the role of 3 characters-Rikimaru, Ayame and one unlockable character-utilizing over 20 authentic ninja weapons and tools. Earn new abilities and combos by racking up stealth kills. Improved gameplay balance with re-tuned enemy AI and new enemy and item placement force you to think on your feet.
• Pair up in 6 multiplayer levels with 2 mission modes: cooperative team-oriented missions and death match mode where you and a friend sneak up on each other as opposing ninjas.
• Enjoy 2 exclusive new functions for hardcore or novice players. The Restart function allows you to restart a mission with all the items previously collected. The Continue function, designed for novice players, alleviates the frustration of dying early in pitfalls and having to return to the beginning of a mission.

Product Description

Tenchu: Return From Darkness is an updated and expanded version of the incredible Tenchu: Wrath Of Heaven. Advanced graphics, superior AI and all-new gaming features bring the adventures of Ayama and Rikimaru to life. Follow the trails of criminals and traitors, and strike from the shadows, destroying all who stand in your way! Extra maps, new cut-scenes and Xbox Live capability with 2 player co-op gameplay

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great game, but should have been much better., March 19, 2004

By 

trashcanman (Hanford, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tenchu: Return from Darkness (Xbox) (Video Game)

Tenchu on the PS1 is one of my all-time favorite games and influenced the mighty Splinter Cell in many ways. When I heard of an xbox version, I was positively thrilled by the possibilities. All they had to do was fix up the bad aspects of the first (I never played the second as I have no PS2): the useless aiming system, bad camera angles, clumsy swordplay, stupid enemies that relax their guard again and start yawning 10 seconds after getting hit in the face with a shuriken, you know what I'm talking about if you've ever played the series before. Unfortunately, none of these problems were addressed. That's not to say that you won't have fun; this is as good as authentic ninja-action gets. Too bad they just ported over the old PS2 version, problems intact, and just added a few more levels, this could have been much better than Splinter Cell. I love the stealth aspect and the items and weapons. Too bad about half of them are useless (colored rice to mark your path; what is this Hansel and Gretel? You have a map, bonehead!). The bows and spears taken from guards are an awesome idea, but are both so unwieldy that you're more likely to die trying to utilize them then if you just passed them by. I also wish for more main weapons then just what's given to you. Imagine choosing between a whole armamnet of ninja weapons like tonfa, chain weapons, spears, sai, sickles, etc. each with their own killing moves instead of just the same old swords every level. Speaking of killing moves, they are awesome, easily the high point of the game; the first time I executed a mid-air fatality with Ayame by landing with the guard's head between her knees and snapping his neck I actually shouted "YES!". Many of the new items are cool and some are even useful, but the best addition to this one is the ability to gain new move on each level by performing a certain number of stealth kills/fatalities/killing moves/whatever. You can cling to the ceiling, fake suicide and kill the guard when he comes to check if you're alive, camouflage against a wall by using a reflectory tarp, and all kinds of totally awesome and useful attacks and tricks. All in all, the new features help balance out the old mistakes and I recommend this game. Despite it's age-old flaws, Tenchu remains a must play series for wanna-be ninjas everywhere.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good game but not a great port, March 16, 2004

By 

Lisa Shea "medieval swordfighting enthusiast" - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Tenchu: Return from Darkness (Xbox) (Video Game)

Tenchu is a great series, but they like to be confusing. Tenchu Return From Darkness on the XBox is really just a port of Tenchu 3 Wrath of Heaven on the PS2.

The game is very much like the PS2 Version - Wrath of Heaven with the addition of 2 new levels. You can play a male or female ninja. You go sneaking around levels doing your utmost to not be seen. If you are spotted, you have to kill your opponent quickly with one of your ninja weapons so they can't raise the alarm.

The graphics are reasonably nice, although not up to other XBox standards. The moths flickering around a torch, the falling petals from the well detailed trees, and the body movements are quite well done. But there are various clipping issues, causing bodies to merge with walls and ceilings. And again, as in the PS2 version, the water and floor/wall textures are pretty low quality.

Note for those who don't like blood - the game involves a guy with a ninja sword slashing at enemies. Blood does flow, and heads do go flying. Be warned.

I really would have expected something better from an XBox version. If they went through the trouble of giving it a new name and making it a new release, it should be a fresher game. But beyond those 2 new levels, it really shows its age now.

The background sound is inoffensive and Japanese-ey but the actual in-game sounds are again not up to Xbox standards. The bad guys all yell "NINJA!" and grunt occasionally. Other sounds are not very realistic.

If you've already got Tenchu 3, I wouldn't get this one unless you are a true Tenchu fan who absolutely must have each version of the series. If you haven't played Tenchu 3 yet, this is worth getting in the sense that Tenchu 3 was fun ninja swordplay. It's sort of like Splinter Cell in its stealthy aspect, just with poorer graphics and less smooth controls. The plot (saving young girls from forced prostitution, etc) does give you a sense that what you're doing is worthwhile.

Expect a fun game, but not a groundbreaking one as far as the XBox goes!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Having played it..., March 14, 2004

By 

J. Leigh "jleigh7" (chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tenchu: Return from Darkness (Xbox) (Video Game)

For those familiar with Tenchu 3 for PS2:

The game comes with 2 extra missions. The 2 extra missions are pretty good (ie still gets your adrenaline pumping) but very short compared to the regular missions. AI seem to be better in the extra missions and about the same in the regular missions. I think the better AI in the extra missions is more due to the fact that they have a higher concentration of patroling NPCs than the fact that they are "smarter."

The cutscene in the beginning that tries to explain the story better is only going to make sense to diehard TEnchu fans who remember what happened at the end of Tenchu 1.

Graphics are better but not up to the quality that the Xbox is capable and not significantly better than PS2 where you would say: "Wow! now that's an Xbox game!"

I have not tried xbox live, nor multiplayer so I can't comment on that.

If you are a devoted fan and want to support the franchise, then buy it (I own every version of Tenchu). If you've never played Tenchu before, buy the PS2 version (it's half the price now). The PS2 version gives you most of the same good Ninja action. If you end up liking this game, go buy yourself a copy of Tenchu 1. It is well worth it.

If I were to rate this game on its own I'd give it a 5/5. By itself it is still an excellent game.

If I were to rate this game as an update of the PS2 version I'd give it a 4/5. The extras are not groundbreakingly better than the PS2. If the developers had ported the Tenchu 1 missions into this game, fans will worship them forever :)