The Leader

Issue date: 11/8/06 Section: A&E

Platform: Nintendo DS
Rating: T (Teen) Violence, Blood
From Software

Seppuku For the Eyes

Before you go to your local EBGames and pick up a copy of "Tenchu: Dark Secret," here is what you must first do. Go to a weapon shop and pick up a katana. Next, spread out a carpet and kneel down. Now, take your katana and fall stomach-first onto it. This is a much better fate that being forced to play "Tenchu: Dark Secret" for more than ten minutes. Taking the usual "stupid princess has been kidnapped" story, Rikimaru and Ayame must slog their way through top-down dungeons full of terrible graphics, virtually unplayable controls, and game ideas not worth more than three of your hard-earned dollars.

The Reason Ninja Hide

"Tenchu: Dark Secret" is such a failure because it is such a departure from the wonderful over-shoulder camera-based game play of the originals. From decided to take out the entire point of the Tenchu games: the creative stealth kills. Instead, you walk up behind enemies and attack them with little aggression. Then-here's the good part-they sometimes die. Not always, just sometimes. The game has removed the beloved grappling hook and traditional weapons of the ninja to use half-assed traps like bamboo spikes and the magical four-foot wide throwing star. It takes a lot for me to wonder why From decided to move so far from the Tenchu franchise. What could have been a success is a monumental failure.

The ONLY interesting part of "Tenchu: Dark Secret" is the item creation system. You take item A and B and make them into traps or items. Moderately interesting, but hardy redeeming.

The Verdict

2 out of 10

"Tenchu: Dark Secret" does not anger me as much as disappoint. Players of the series will be tragically disappointed to find a Tenchu game worth none of their effort. Spend your money on "Wrath of Heaven" or "Deadly Silence."

Attention Leader Readers!!!
Next issue will be the second annual video game awards! Last year's topics were:
"Best Game Ever" "Best Video Game Hero" "Best Video Game Villain" and "Best Video Game Moment" What do you want to see this year as topics? "Scariest Game?" "Best Video Game Weapon?" "Worst Video Game?"
Please E-mail me at pmmetz@uwm.edu with ideas and VOTE whenever you can!

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