Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief | PS4

Hailing from 2006, and the PS2 console era this 2022 remaster is a smaller sized game that's big on it's unique mechanics. Developed by Acquire, and published by NIS, "Kamiwaza" tells the tale of a band of thieves that are not unlike the West's Robin Hood. A thief's guild known as the Silver Ravens. Noble in their cause they set out to rob from the rich to give to the poor in a post Edo period where invasion from the West is rife, and famine is afoot. 

Unfortunately, thieves Ebizo and his partner in crime Ainosuke find out that there's dissent among the ranks in their routine rogue mission. Some of the thief's guild have gone rogue killing the innocent while robbing them for more selfish reasons. Caught off guard by this, Ebizo rescues a potential child victim caught up in the chaos, and makes a run for it. Ten years forward, and he goes legit as a carpenter. Up until his newly adopted daughter falls ill. It is here that Ebizo's past as a thief comes calling home, and a decision is made out of desperation to fall back into old habits to find a cure for Suzuna. Bumping into old acquaintances, and hooking up with a new underground thief community for benefits Ebizo tries to remedy his situation.

While dated in appearance, and functionality Kamiwaza brings to the player a deeply involved system of thievery and stealth. Rewarding players who control Ebizo efficiently with not only the money from stolen items, but the medicine Suzuna needs to stay alive as well. As Ebizo you have some tricks up your sleeves. The usual tools of the trade. This includes a multi-purpose bag for loot, a disguise, lock picks, and some sneaky skills that can get you in and out with your bounty intact. Utilizing these tricks of the trade, and the benefits of your newly found thief's guild you can set out to find that cure that Suzuna so desperately needs.

Gameplay elements in Kamiwaza can be broken down into a handful of categories including thieving, stealth objectives, self/Suzuna care, and guild dealings. Thieving, itself, is involved but simple enough. Pressing SQUARE to attack items will put those items in your bag. Some items are placed in such a way as to acquire additional efforts like jumping, or placing your bag on the floor in order to reach higher objects. Either that or drop kicking your bag into objects to get them down to your level. You'll also find that some items, the more valuable ones, have a health bar that must be depleted with repeated SQUARE attacks. Once the items are looted, and your bag is full you'll need to find your way back either to the Thief's Bathhouse for the payout, or to the Village where Suzuna is staying for a quick restorative rest stop on your way there. This all requires a stealth approach.

Stealth in Kamiwaza, as it were, includes everything from knocking people out with a drop kick of your bag to their face, to crouch walking, wall clinging, and even timed stylish evasions that will leave the people wondering what the Hell just happened while opening up more opportunities for instantaneous looting. That and pickpocketing. Most of the stealth action is indirect with applied approach requiring a more from behind tactic. In some situations though using evasive stylish maneuvers in plain view or item distractions from a distance are a must to get to where you are needing to go. This of course allows you tread the districts on foot, and guided by a map, with minimal notice. Between the village, and the thief's bath house lies a interconnected section of districts. Everything from a sacred shrine of worship to a marketplace, and even a fisherman's dock. Each with their own unique looting opportunities, and stealth situations. Sometimes pitting you up against armed samurai who can attack, and deal some lethal damage to Ebizo if caught in pursuit. 

When evading anyone in the game while using the stylish evasion technique (CIRCLE) Ebizo will rack up Stylish points per upscaled combo that can be later spent at the specific bath house vendor for licenses, and additional skills. Licenses being active/passive perks that affect Ebizo while equipped. Not only can Ebizo stylishly get out of trouble, but he can alternatively use a disguise that will hide his identity. This is crucial in late game situations where the wanted posters show more accurate depictions of Ebizo due to his being spotted too frequently. Infamy of course will make things harder for Ebizo as he will be more easily recognized. Other than that Ebizo can jump, and perform a dive maneuver. Allowing him to jump over obstacles to better getaway. Planking inconspicuously is also an option.

From time to time, and between forwarding the plot through visits to the various gated districts, you will need to revisit the main village where your humble abode, and Suzuna lie in waiting. It is here that you can save progress, rest for up to 12 hours, and give Suzuna food/medicine to help keep her health in check until you find a definitive cure for whatever is ailing her. Giving her old or tainted food will, however, have the opposite effect. Resting while there will additionally restore Ebizo's health in a similar fashion as to taking a bath at the thief's bath house. You can also change disguises, manage your bag's contents, and stash important inventory away for later use. 

Back at the bath house, or den of operations, you'll find several vendors that will aid Ebizo in his business of thievery. This includes a loot exchange vendor wherein you drop kick your collected loot into a treasure chest for payouts in both stylish earnings and monetary compensation. The gained stylish points can be spent at another local vendor who sells licenses, and skills. Other than that there's also an informant for missions that can be taken on as well as resident shop owner who will sell you goods for a price. Everything you need before going out on your next rogue rendezvous is located here at your base hub of operations including a bath house for health rejuvenation.

Being that Kamiwaza is also story driven you will trigger NPC driven cutscenes along the way. Forwarding the plot through some mainstay characters from time to time. Helping Ebizo to learn things that were not immediately made known to him. There is deception, and moral dilemmas in the mix. Ebizo's decisions in-game effecting the outcome of both his, and Suzuna's fate in the long term. Does he choose to go all in as a thief, or does he once again try to live a normal crime free life? That's up to him, and you.

The Presentation ...

Kamiwaza looks like a PS2 game even with it having been remastered. It's not really updated or upgraded all that much. Things like clunky camera angles, and dated animations remain fairly much as they were back in 2006. Beyond that it is a 3D action game of an older design with locations built with stealth approach in mind. A lot like the Tenchu series did, but without assassinations in the mix. There is no real violence depicted outright, and through Ebizo things are strictly stealth or thieving. Keeping true to the noble thief theme that the developer was going for. Audibly, Kamiwaza has a decent soundtrack. About what you'd expect from a post Edo period game. There's more traditional Japanese instrumentals with a lightly melodic or heavily grinding synth sounds depending upon the nature of the situation. Ramping up in intensity when Ebizo is spotted, and pursued. Alternatively, mellowing out when things are more calm.

The Verdict ...

For some reason I thought this was a new game. Imagine my surprise when I started playing. While it does have a unique quality about it with given thieving mechanics that I've not seen elsewhere I don't understand why NIS didn't just do a remake. It would have no doubt resonated more with the modern gaming crowd, and would have been less clunky in functionality. That being said I kind of dig it. It's an interesting premise, and the thieving and stealth features are kind of fun. The characters are definitely likeable, especially Ebizo. They've got character about them though some are far more fleshed out than others. Sadly Kamiwaza still remains lower in quality than what NIS has been putting out, and this might turn away some fans, unless they are curious about this PS2 classic.