Since its debut on the PlayStation, the Tenchu series has had problems keeping up with the pack. While it was one of the originators of the stealth-action genre, only the first game showed any real impact. Instead, the series has been trying to keep up with a slew of titles that have continually pushed the barrier. Tenchu: Fatal Shadows, the latest in the series, attempts to keep up with the competition, but still falls dangerously behind.

Visually, Fatal Shadows manages to remain very true to the style found in past games, and even retools the engine a bit. The result is better-looking characters and environments. Still, even the shiny, new engine doesn’t keep problems from popping up. Animation is generally smooth, but does contend with some lag issues. Transitions are smooth, yet feel very unnatural at the same time. Even the combo-based special stealth kills, while cool to watch, feel awkward.

Sound (or the lack of it) is a major element of any stealth game – making some of the choices in Fatal Shadows feel out of place. Even though the game involves two ninjas, our silent assassins are anything but. However, this doesn’t seem to phase guards all that much since its still possible to clip-clop around guards unnoticed. The only sounds guards ever seem to notice with consistency are the shouts of their comrades, setting them up for some easy baiting.

I’m usually not one to care about Japanese voice tracks being included in games, but Fatal Shadows made me glad I had the option. The voice acting isn’t a shining example as to how things should be done, but it’s better than a number of games out there. The problem is that the voices really don’t match up to the characters, making the two ninjas sound like they should be out at the Beverly Center looking for Prada handbags.

Tenchu: Fatal Shadows gives the series a more feminine twist. Rikimaru, the game’s longtime protagonist, is absent. In his stead are two sneaky female ninjas: Ayame and Rin. After her village is destroyed by a mysterious figure, Rin sets out to discover who was responsible. Her path eventually leads her to Ayame, whom she believes is the culprit. As it turns out, Ayame is also the victim of a mysterious figure. This leads the two to patch up their differences and set out after the mystery man.

Even though you have the chance to play as both characters, there is very little difference between the two. Each have their own specialized moves, but both eventually end up feeling like the same character. This problem could have easily been solved by implementing a more dynamic skill tree that allows for some sort of player customization, but this isn’t the case.

If you came for the story, you might be displeased. Although it is certainly stronger than previous games, the narrative still doesn’t pull you into the story. In the absence of a strong story, it’s expected that the gameplay would make up for it. This is not the case. Levels are strictly linear and really don’t leave much room for exploration. A little leeway is given for dealing with thugs, but most of the time the setup is rather obvious.

What makes Fatal Shadows most appealing is the ninja feel of the game. One of the more enjoyable aspects is jumping between roof tops and climbing walls. Stalking guards from the rooftops and quickly dropping behind them make for some of the game’s more memorable experiences. It’s a shame that the same amount of fun couldn’t be found in the game’s ground-based stealth elements. You also have access to a number of other ninja gadgets, mostly weapons, which help to give the game some authenticity.

Fatal Shadows offers little outside of the single-player experience. Multiplayer – which was found in the previous game – has been removed. Co-op play, or some sort of competitive mode (such as Splinter Cell’s multiplayer mode), could have given the game a little more replay value.

Guards are also some of the laziest goofs around. Sometimes they get lucky and do their job, but they give up a little too easy. After alerting a guard to your presence, it’s expected that he’ll stick around for a bit. And, for the most part, guards will at least take the time to investigate things that are out of place. But, after a little snooping around, they’ll easily move back to their spots as if nothing happened. The aim behind this seems to try and set up a stealth experience that is both fun and functional; the result is a dumbed-down stealth title that feels a little too easy.

Compared to other stealth-action games like Splinter Cell, Tenchu: Fatal Shadows has a more arcade feeling to it. Stealth elements are playable, but not as strong as what is found in other games. Guards are generally stupid and fall for the same old tricks multiple times.

Like any other stealth-action game, the premise behind Tenchu: Fatal Shadows is to try and do everything as quietly as possible. Yet, there are times when simply going around a target isn’t enough, requiring you to remove it altogether. This leads into the game’s other big draw: stealth kills.

If you choose, you can, of course, rush up against guards, but the combat system isn’t really built for that. Instead, you have to rely on silently stalking and eventually killing guards. Building on previous games, stealth kills make for some of the more violent and flashier elements in the game. Stealth kills have undergone a few changes to the formula. The first is the ability to take out two guards with one quick attack. As you would expect, these are a little harder to pull off than one-on-one attacks, but are oddly satisfying when you can pull them off. The second is the ability to draw out combos, adding a little more brutality to some already violent kills. Combo kills are handled by pressing buttons in time with cues onscreen. Successfully pulling off stealth kills, especially combos, earns you scrolls that can be used to purchase new moves, and increases your Ninja rating, a grade you receive at the end of each level.

Tenchu: Fatal Shadows isn’t a total loss, at least not for fans of the series who will certainly find much to enjoy. However, for gamers spoiled by other stealth titles, Fatal Shadows feels like too much of a step back and may not satisfy their need to creep in the shadows.