Retro Game Friday: Tenchu

This week for Retro Game Friday I’m covering a game that I didn’t get to play quite a lot. It’s Tenchu: Stealth Assassins!

Plot Synopsis: In feudal Japan, a pair of ninja: Rikimaru (力丸) and Ayame (彩女), are members of the Azuma Ninja Clan since childhood. The two ninja serve the heroic Lord Gohda, and work for him as his secret spies to root out corruption and gather intelligence in his province. However, the evil demonic sorcerer Lord Mei-Oh seeks to destroy Lord Gohda, and using his demon warrior Onikage who wreaks havoc throughout Lord Gohda’s province.

Plot: The plot was okay from what I remember. Honestly I didn’t get a whole bunch of time to play this game as my cousin only rented it once or maybe twice. That and I didn’t get to play much as I was rather young at the time and my parents didn’t want me to play it.

Gameplay: The game was really unusual for the Action/Adventure games of the time in that it included a sense of verticality that wasn’t present in many of it’s counterparts. This was done through the grappling hook that the player could use. In addition it had two playable characters who were quite different. Rikimaru who is slower, but more powerful and Ayame who is faster but less powerful. My favorite to play was Ayame, as I’ve always preferred the speed archetype and the fact that she had more combos was awesome.

Art: Sadly the game is very aged, and the artwork is very polygonal.

Music: I don’t remember it at all, sorry.

Overall: This was a fun game at the time, but I’m unsure if it’d be satisfying to players now.

For those who like: Action, Adventure, Stealth, Ninjas.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

Manga Monday: Black Torch by Takaki Tsuyoshi

This week for Manga Monday I’ve got another Quick Review, although this is a very new series. It’s Black Torch by Takaki Tsuyoshi!

Plot Synopsis: As a descendant of shinobi, Azuma Jirou has been learning ninja techniques his entire life. But in addition to that, Jirou also has the ability to talk to animals. One day when he rescues a strange black cat named Ragou, he learns that the world is filled with spirits called mononoke that can take the form of both people and animals…

Plot: The plot of this first chapter was pretty awesome, and while there were tropes aplenty I didn’t really mind them. That being said some will probably be less excited, but personally I think this might just become a great series in the future. I’ll probably hold off on reading the second (and latest chapter) until there are a lot more chapters to read.

Characters: Jirou is a pretty interesting main character, he’s a pretty slick young man who seems to have his stuff together pretty well, although he is a bit arrogant. Ragou on the other hand is pretty snarky, which was fun. I hope he keeps that quality as the series continues, as I always enjoy snark.

Art: The art is excellent, but given that this is a Shueisha publication I expected nothing less.

Overall: Giving this a go ahead, though with the warning that it’s only got two chapters thus far.

For those who like: Urban Fantasy, Ninjas, Supernatural, Action, Adventure, Drama, Great Plot, Excellent Characters, Awesome Artwork.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

Sensate Saturday: Shuriken and Pleats Full Review

This week for Sensate Saturday I’m doing something I don’t get to do very often, it’s a full review of a series! It’s a follow-up of last week with Shuriken and Pleats Full Review!

Plot: The plot sadly devolves after the first three chapters, which is a real shame because the series could’ve been great, but it looks like the series got axed and the last half of the series is full of rushed plot, Deus Ex Machina and the like. Honestly just read the first three chapters and you’ll be much more satisified with that as an ending, than the last three give.

Characters: Mikage is a decent lead character, but with the way the plot unfolds in the last three chapters it does nothing for the character development we could’ve had. The rest of the cast is okay, but I specifically don’t like the way they handled Rodd, which is a shame. I won’t say why specifically as it’d spoil the series, but it’s a travesty.

Art: The art is the only redeeming point in this entire mess, and it sadly wasn’t enough to save it from the editors or myself.

Overall: If you must read the series don’t go past chapter three. Otherwise avoid this series like the plagued monstrosity it is.

Retro Game Friday: Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon

This week’s Retro Game Friday is a game I loved to play, but never could remember the name for until just a few weeks ago. It’s Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon!

Plot Synopsis: The protagonist of Mystical Ninja is Goemon, a hot-blooded, kiseru-wielding ninja with blue, bushy hair based loosely on the legendary thief Ishikawa Goemon. The lord of Oedo asks him to find those who maimed Oedo Castle. Goemon lives in Oedo Town and is friends with Ebisumaru, a strange, gluttonous fat man who wears a blue bandana. Ebisumaru is defined as lazy and perverted. Their kunai-throwing friend Sasuke is a mechanical ninja (made by the Wise Man of Iga) who enjoys hot baths and Japanese tea. Rounding out the heroes is Yae, a fierce sword-wielding kunoichi, who happens upon Goemon’s band in Zazen Town. The villains of the game hail from the organization Peach Mountain Shoguns and include a gang of four “weirdos” led by Spring Breeze Dancin’ (Danshin Harukaze) and Kitty Lily (Margaret Ranko). They intend to transform Japan into a stage for their talents.

Plot: Honestly I don’t remember the plot at all, and the plot synopsis above just makes me confused although with this game if you aren’t confused you’re not playing the correct game.

Gameplay: In what can only be called one of the weirdest games ever this game combines Action-Adventure with Giant Robots. Boss fights are fought using a giant robot to fight another giant robot. That’s about all I remember about the game. It was released a long time ago, so give me a break.

Music: It was probably the first time I heard “Japanese” music, and while I’ve grown to love Japanese Music in recent years, I thought it was just funny sounding back when I played this game.

Art: The art was great for it’s age, keep in mind that it was building off the success of Mario 64, it’s terrible looking now, but it was great then.

Overall: If you can find a version to play you ought to just give this game a quick whirl. It’s highly amusing.

For those who like: To laugh a bunch, Action-Adventure Games, Giant Robots.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.