I guess the rule of thumb about being a ninja is all about tradition, and not just this character who dresses up in black and hacks and slashes his way through a kingdom insisting he (or she) is an invincible force. A ninja uses stealth, weapons, tactics, cunning, and sometimes even just plain luck to get from point A to point B, hiding almost as much as attacking and proving to be a diabolical force in the process.

Lately, I've been sinking more into ninja games, taking on the role of these noble warriors and having a hell of a time leaving enemies in a pool of blood. Latest plays include Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven on the PlayStation 2 and Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden, a game that redefines how you actually have to work in a game to really get somewhere. I like that, even though I've probably developed a couple of ulcers just trying to get to level three.

Now Activision's Tenchu series makes a stop onto the Xbox with Tenchu: Return From Darkness, which is essentially Wrath of Heaven ported over with some Xbox Live bonuses thrown in for good measure. The game takes focus around a couple of different ninjas, a veteran with powerful moves and a spry, sexy female whose looks are as killer as her skills, as they take on a number of missions and oppose a demonic force that's growing in power. Throughout the missions, you'll take advantage of a number of weapons, as well as your own cunning to use stealth and hiding so you can avoid getting noticed, caught, or killed.

That's a neat thing about the Tenchu series- it was one of the first game series, alongside Metal Gear Solid, to incorporate stealth into a video game environment. Return From Darkness keeps up this tradition, as you must keep a close eye on a meter on-screen to see if an enemy notices you or even gets the idea someone else is nearby. Of course, when the time is right, you have the ability of pulling off a vicious kill and building up a power meter, where your skills can be improved. If you get caught otherwise, you still have the chance of finishing them off in battle, although your final rating is affected.

Return From Darkness doesn't offer too much new from Wrath of Heaven, but the presentation's still excellent for the most part. Developer K2 has put together some stunning environments, from small villages loaded with traditional housing to snowy fields where only campfires provide comfort. The graphics and sound come together for a beautiful harmony that show off the traditional side of Japan, although the voice acting is genuinely cheesy, like a dub job of a traditional ninja flick. Some of the animation's a bit off, and the camera runs into big-time problems at parts, but overall it still works.

Gameplay is a big bonus here with Tenchu, as it still holds intact. Like I said, you use stealth as an advantage, but you also have a number of weapons, like a grappling hook that elevates you to higher levels, ninja stars, spikes (to trap your enemies on the ground), an explosive star (throwing this at an enemy is quite fun, really), and a few others. You have some combo-esque moves in your arsenal that you can pull off, which come in handy for the stronger enemies, such as bosses.

Now let's get to the Xbox Live support for Return From Darkness. Activision has touted this heavily, and for good reason- it seems to be the primary reason the game was ported over. The main mode that I enjoyed most thoroughly with Xbox Live would have to be the co-op play, where two players partake in the same mission and hack and slash their way into some kind of competition to see who's the better ninja. The other modes are typical, and the support seems a bit off from time to time, but still better to have it than not.

I'm a little disappointed that the game doesn't have a handful of new stuff that we haven't seen before in Wrath of Heaven. The new stuff is noticeable but doesn't really justify a separate purchase if you've already snagged that classic for $20. Also, I'm really bothered by the camera problems within the game- there are just times that the angles seem all wrong and cost you some precious health as a result. And is it just me, or are some of these enemies who are supposed to be loyal and alert seem a bit too easy to kill? Perhaps I've just grown a bit accustomed to my skills.

Tenchu: Return From Darkness isn't what I would call an essential purchase, especially if you have been keeping busy with that other Tenchu game or, more importantly, the incredible Ninja Gaiden. However, it's not a bad game by any means, and Activision and K2 have made a solid product for those who haven't tried it yet or are just itching to give their online ninja skills a go. Give it a rent and see if it grapples you.