Game is a classic with soul
Yes it is, still a worse game then 2 when it comes to gameplay/level design.
The soundtrack alone makes it worth playing
I mentioned that.
Why explore a level? Well, what the fuck are you doing, cheating like a bitch and using a guide? You HAVE to explore levels by virtue of not knowing exactly where the objective is, duh. And often levels have two such unknown objective locations.
I am using the cheat called press select to see the map combined with my eyes.
The level design has subtle hints where to go.
If you are spawned near something hook able and there ain't no obstacle in front of you, then that is usually the way to go.
Even exceptions like the winter castle level offer a lot of breadcrumbs. If you actually follow the normal path into the castle you will reach a archery range. You will see a enemy that you will probably want to kill, now if you move forward after that you will find the bodyguard. The bodyguard will die from a arrow. You just passed a archery range?
Also, maps will tell you where you need to go most of the time. Checkpoint, captured ninja, infiltrate the cult, pirate, etc...
You can easily tell on the map which structures are the ones that you are going for.
And if not, just going vertical until you see the largest building/unique building-object is the correct way.
You see, this is the reason Tenchu 2 butchered the verticality. Because it pretty much invalidated the ground area in most levels. Once you know your objective you can clear a level in less then 5 minutes.
Even the Japanese fans hated this because the expansion disc filled with fan made levels focuses on the ground.
Additionally, there are items hidden in every level, really not many (typically 2-3), but they exist.
Yes, but you also get a increase in items with the grandmaster/master ninja rating anyway. Plus, most of the items will be heal/bomb/some damage items. It is a nice bonus, but not really worth transforming a sub 5 minute level into a 10+ minute one to scour everything.
One more, is if you are spotted once, you can still get grand master rating and the associated item unlock if you go do some more stealth kills. If I recall.
Yup, 5 stealth kills practically remove the penalty of getting spotted. Technically you can get spotted multiple times as long as your score stays at 400. And you get 300 just from finishing a level.
I may have seemed harsh when talking about the game, but if Tenchu 2 never existed I would gladly recommend this game.
And since you obviously like the game as well, may I recommend Tenchu : Shinobi Hyakusen. You get a 100 fan made levels to play with.
It is obviously all in Japanese, but it is not a big problem for a gameplay focused game like Tenchu 1.
