Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief

Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief is a stealth action game. It is a refreshed version of Kamiwaza Tourai, which was released on PlayStation 2 in 2004 and was never released outside Japan. Both the original and the refreshed version were developed by Acquire studio, known from Tenchu and Way of the Samurai series.

Plot

The action takes place in Mikado city in Japan during Edo era. We play as a thief named Ebizo, who wants to steal from the rich and give to the poor. However, he abandoned this profession for a long time after seeing his companions murdering innocent civilians.

After a decade out of the thieving business, he turned to honest work and raising a foster girl named Suzona. One day his adopted daughter falls seriously ill. The cost of treatment is way beyond Ebizo's means, so he is forced to return to his criminal activities.

Game mechanics

Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief is classic stealth game. We observe the action from a third-person perspective, and our task is to steal quietly and avoid detection. The hero is relatively weak in combat, so direct confrontations are risky.

Ebizo, on the other hand, is skilled physically. He can squeeze into narrow spaces, hover over ceilings and silently follow the backs of guards. We collect loot automatically by approaching them. Our hero starts each mission with a small bag on his back, but each collected item increases its size and weight, making it difficult to move.

The maps offer a lot of freedom. Besides the main objectives, they are filled with optional loot that we can steal. In addition, our decisions and actions during gameplay shape the development of the story, ultimately leading us to one of several alternative endings.

Game modes

The game offers a single player mode only.

Technical aspects

Compared to the original from PlayStation 2, Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief offers greatly improved graphics. The authors have increased the resolution, sharpened the textures and improved the engine performance.

Last updated on 14 April 2022