Shinobido: Way Of The Ninja
Verdict: A ninja dog of a game.
Platform: PS2
Rating: 3/5
There’s nothing meaner than being bestowed with super powers that are rendered impotent by a crushing weakness. Achilles has been there - practically invincible yet held back by a gammy ankle that could be attacked for massive damage. Shinobido has a similar weak spot, if games had ankles that is, which proudly holds its head high in the shape of one of the most unwieldy cameras thrust upon mankind’s furtive steps into 3D gaming.
Beyond the crippling, glitchy, wayward camera that hearkens back to 3D’s dark age, there lies a game with much ambition. Made by the original team that created the PS1’s flawed classic Tenchu, Way of the ninja is its spiritual PS2 successor. Retaining all that made the original great - the free form missions, the fusion of feudal history and fantasy, the ninja styled stealth and grappling hook action, Shinobido attempts to blend the deeper aspects of the Way of the samurai series (their previous PS2 titles) via the game’s evolving story and mission structure.
As a lone assassin with amnesia you find work with warring clans as you attempt to literally piece together your mind from glowing stones (happens to the best of us). Allowing you to pick and choose which missions you do affects the success of each clan and their attitude towards you. It also allows you to play them off against each other, utilising their weaknesses to further your own gains.
Adding to the game a sense of interaction normally lacking from action titles, Shinobido allows you to see immediate results varying on the success of your mission. Unfortunately it does little to bolster the rest of the in-game experience.
Combat is made up of a restrictive lock on system and dated moves that are supported by usable items like poisoned rice and the obligatory stealth abilities and silent assassinations. The grappling hook has lost its immediacy, buried behind a slow menu and while Tenchu’s stealth action was lauded at the time, compared to Sam Fisher and Agent 47’s antics it’s rather quaint.
Ancient chinese warrior say ‘ninja with bad camera suffer many restarts and gnashing of teeth’.