|
Thursday 6 March, 2008
.GAMELOG ENTRY 2.
.Gameplay.
For the second half of my gameplay, I decided to try Tenchu in two player mode. There were two options of play: co-op and versus mode. I played versus mode with a friend, but it was basically like other PVP game (only with a few different weapons). It was fun trying out all of the different characters Tenchu had to offer. They all had their own signature attacks and styles, and not all button presses resulted in a simple kick or punch. There would be small cut scenes to showcase a signature move. Versus mode didn’t last very long.
After that, we decided to give co-op mode a try. This was one of my favorite parts of the game. Playing story mode was fun, but playing co-op was a totally new experience. Instead of working by yourself to kill all enemies in an area, you worked with someone next to you and could speak to them. It added a whole new dynamic to the game. For example, one player could spy on enemies from one side of the field and let the other player know what’s going on, and the other player could use that to sneak up on the enemy or move around without getting caught. The levels were difficult without being impossible, and kept my friend and I motivated enough to continue playing to beat each and every level.
.Design.
The reward system for Tenchu was very well designed. At the end of each mission, players are awarded new skills and items. Playing the game, one of my main goals was to learn new moves with which to destroy my adversaries. This was also partly because of the stealth kill cut scenes; a reward all their own. If you are able to get sneak up on an enemy, your character is shown performing a deadly one hit kill. This was motivation enough for me to continue with biding my time in the shadows instead of rushing out and just killing enemies.
Tenchu’s design fit very well with the style and story. The levels were designed with secret crawlspaces and beams that a ninja could very well utilize to surprise enemies. Lit areas always had shadows in which a ninja could hide. To give the player more reason to be stealthy, the designers threw in a few bystanders who would alert guards if they sensed someone sneaking around. Adding a bit of comedy to the game, enemies’ and guards’ mutterings could be heard when close by. Often, players can hear a man say, “I wish my wife was here”, but if caught, they get a loud, “NEEN-JA!” letting them know it’s time to run.
|
