Game 88 - Shadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice - Week 172 - Apr 23

hadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice

Typically I wouldn’t do an entry for a DLC but I’ve made an exception for two reasons:

• Shadow Tactics is phenomenal and I feel I didn’t do the story or gameplay justice in my last blog.
• It’s a standalone game that can be played without the main game (well, kind of, we’ll get into that)

First off the gameplay. If I had to pinpoint what games it’s similar to I would say WarCraft 3 meets Ghost Recon. On paper that makes no sense at all so let me elaborate. It’s an isometric game where you control 1-5 characters in real time (WC3). The combat focuses on stealth, manoeuvring your ninjas, a samurai and an old guy into position to perform various takedowns with the ability to queue and execute multiple attacks at once (Ghost Recon). Each has a unique skillset and faults that requires them to work together if they want to accomplish their guerrilla objective.

• Mugen the Samurai can kill other samurai or multiple enemies and has double health
• Con: armour and can't swim or climb (other than ladders)
• Hayato the Ninja can kill silently and from range with a shuriken
• Con: vulnerable to samurai
• Aiko the Kunoichi can use disguises to distract for extended periods
• Con: samurai can see through disguise
• Yuki the Girl (also a Ninja) can create traps and climb/vault instantly
• Con: weak and slowest to drag or hide bodies
• Takuma the Old Man - can kill from great range
• Con: old (slow) and can't swim or climb (other than ladders)

In addition to this everyone has a method of diversion. The Samurai can throw Sake luring the less intelligent foes, our Ninja can throw stones, the Kunoichi can reduce view distance with a special concoction, the young girl can lure with a whistle and the old man has an adorable little Red Panda. It’s interesting how these interact with the environment. For example on islands you’ll leave footsteps in the sand that will garner enemy attention. Normally a deterrent, but with Yuki you can use it to easily lure enemies around corners into her senbon trap.

Each move set is fun on their own but the game absolutely shines when lining up multiple moves with "Shadow Mode" to execute your ultimate strategy in an oh so satisfying manner. As a very simple example – Hayato, throws rock and distracts ones guard, shuriken’s another, (now execute Shadow Mode) and stabs the original distracted guard, Aiko uses perfume to shorten range on three enemies, Mugen moves in to cut them down in a storm of blades. There’s a bit of trial and error but with some practice and a generous save system, this quickly becomes a non-factor.

With everyone in position, Yuma pulls the lever triggering a trap that kills two guards as everyone else sinks their blade. 

Some of my favourite moves are actually the distractions. Yuma the Red Panda is a mobile distraction that doesn’t require any kind of line of sight but just needs to be in range of Takuma. His cuteness will attract lovely pats and a silent blade that befalls them not long after. Aiko is a close runner up from Shinto priestly garbs to Geisha outfits that are absolutely beautiful. Being able to walk around the villages with no risk of detection (beyond the sly Samurai) and distracting guards with your charm for an indefinite amount of time before producing a senbon from your sleeve is always immensely useful and satisfying!

Aiko distracts a Guard as everyone moves into position. 

The story is a simple one and the focus is where it should be – on the excellent cast of characters. Each character is just as unique as their move set which is captured perfectly by their personality, dialogue and background. The plot is as follows: Lady Chiyo, Aiko’s Sensai returns on the eve of their plot to assassinate Kage-sama, using her network and intel do undo their work. She captures the old man and child as collateral and tries to execute the others. You must rescue Yuki and chase Yakuma down, sabotaging some of Kage-sama’s gun powder supplies while you’re at it. Finally you track down Lady Chiyo and assassinate her.

I have a few issues with this. Despite the urgency of the Shogun’s order the rescue Takuma because they “owe Takuma”. It doesn’t feel very Bushido, especially with Samurai seeking to avenge his master in the group. Feel like they could have found a better reason. Perhaps they stand a much better chance sieging Kage-sama by eliminating his spy network and need Takuma to do so? Which is the direction the plot goes in anyway, it could have just been spelled out better. Also the fact that this interjects itself on the eve of assassinating Kage-sama (half way through the game) makes it weird as a standalone story. It fits seamlessly into the main story and would have been cool to play it through as one all-inclusive experience (and give you an excuse to release a definite edition!).

Ah Mugen. I missed seeing you cross blades...

Beyond that the characters are still great. Hayato is confident, arrogant and to the point. His banter with the Kunoichi and their difference in method’s is interesting. Yumi and Takuma have an interesting relationship as sensi and pupil. Takuma as a wily old man is easily the most fun. Laughing after he strikes down a foe with a long-range rifle hints at a derangement from years of experience (later somewhat confirmed as he state he’s walked many lives – including training Ninja and Kunoichi). Mugen and Aiko have what I thought was a brother-sister relationship as he comforted Aiko in her resolve to end her master. But later I remembered they were lovers. When did this happen? I didn't remember this at all but after rewatching Mugen's sepukku, I was reminded of both their romance and what Aiko hinted before Mugen's death. 

The gang is together again! 

The focus is of course on Aiko as she confronts her old master and makes the final act. The final mission is a culmination of all your learnings and one of the best in both games. You have three routes you can take – poison her or set an explosive trap. I choose the later and slowly worked my way up to the shrine. The final area was heavily guarded and inaccessible to my non-ninja. So Aiko entered disguised, Hayato threw a Shuriken at a guard in the corner, then Aiko quickly planted explosives while the attention was diverted before fleeing into a secret cave. When everyone lost interest, Lady Chiyo inevitably wandered to the shrine and took a face full of gun powder.

All along I thought “this was too easy” and I was right when Chiyo reveals herself to Aiko in their prologue campsite. Her plan all along was to use our band of thieves to disrupt Kage-Sama and escape into retirement. Now comes her choice – murder her or let her escape. Considering she revealed herself and put her at Aiko's mercy I considered her a threat no longer. Also she did help us, and after revealing the well-hidden fact (in Chiyo’s words) that Aiko is pregnant I let her live. "Let this be a time of peace" – well said Aiko. Yes she used us, but I don’t see this as very different to the Shogun using his blades to end a murdering tyrant. The story ends with Mugen and Aiko agreeing to start a family and inviting the rest of the gang. A village of ronin and ninjas…. wouldn’t that be an interesting tale? Sadly it’ll never come of course as their assassination attempt fails and Mugen does his Samurai thing and the others go on to avenge both the Shogun, but even more so Mugen. It also reveals what Aiko’s last gift was to Mugen and his last words “another life ends, another begins. Just at it should be”. Which makes it all the more sad that a son has to live without a father because of the Bushido. But even so, realistic and faithful to the honour and feudal culture. I would love to have sequel with Mugen Junior and Lady Aiko. Perhaps combining their mother (or Hayato) and father’s skillset? Aiko’s Choice was a nice addition to give us more time with all of the characters and add more weight – perfectly positioned on the eve of Mugen’s end.