Tenchu: Return from Darkness

I am a big fan of all the Tenchu games and eagerly awaited the Xbox version (Tenchu: Return from Darkness). It is basically the same as the PS2 version. There are a choice of two main characters, and a third is unlocked on completion of the 11 levels of the game. The graphics are good although a touch comical at times, and I still think the original Tenchu Stealth Assassins for PS1 have the best graphics. The game relies on stealth rather than fighting, which is annoying when you do get into a fight, or at the end of a level when you have to fight the boss. The enemies and bosses are more varied than the other Tenchu games, although a little more history of their characters and raison de etre would have made the game more enjoyable. The control configurations (even when altered from the default) are a little clumsy and awkward, which is irritating when the game relies so much on stealth, but more fun is gained after playing the game through once and then replaying missions to increase your scores. The sound and dialogue are a bit weak, but the environment graphics and weather conditions are very atmospheric, and the music with it's Eastern and Asian influence is quite eerie. A little more cohesion with the plot would have given more incentive, and some missions seem somewhat pointless, but if you enjoy sneaking around as a 16th Century ninja in a feudal and often supernatural Japan, killing and questing, then this is the game for you.