Release Date: October 11, 2022
Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief is a stealth game in which we play as a Japanese thief working in Edo period. Game offers a lot of freedom of mission execution and non-linear plot, shaped by our decisions.
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 Way of the Samurai series.
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.
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.
The game offers a single player mode only.
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.
Platforms:
PC Windows
PlayStation 4
Nintendo Switch
Developer: Acquire
Publisher: NIS America
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System Requirements for Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i7-4770 3.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 750 or better, 2 GB HDD, Windows 8.1/10/11 64-bit.
Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 970 or better, 2 GB HDD, Windows 8.1/10/11 64-bit.
Game Ratings for Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief Video Game.
The Beta Network: 4 / 10 by Anthony Culinas
Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief should have stayed a Japanese exclusive. Multiple mechanics fall flat and the tedium of go-fetch quests quickly starts to stack up several hours in. Constantly spamming one button for a full minute to steal valuable items isn’t fun. Neither is repeating the same generic mission setup with extremely vague target instructions. Doesn’t help that the branching storylines and characters aren’t particularly interesting either, apart from a few interesting designs here and there. So if the wacky, over-the-top silliness can’t grab your attention, it’s hard to say what else will.
Chalgyr's Game Room: 8 / 10 by Richard York
Overall, Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief is a really fun game. Really niche, yes, but also really fun. The stealth aspect is pretty fun, and the stylish points earned through your actions are an interesting take. The gameplay loop is pretty easy to get, allowing you to hop right in to your thieving ways, and you will probably find yourself easily racking up mission after mission. While this may be a re-release of an old PS2 title, it has aged surprisingly well, if not in graphics then in gameplay. It’s fun and quirky, and I definitely suggest you give it at least a chance.
Niche Gamer: 7 / 10 by Fingal Belmont
Fans of the Yakuza series will find something to like about Kamiwaza. It has a lot of the absurd and over-the-top humor and bouts of intense drama seen in those games. Gamers who grew up playing Tenchu or the Way of the Samurai games will especially adore Way of the Thief.
![[2:06] launch trailer](https://image.staticox.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.gracza.pl%2Fgaleria%2Ffilmy%2F640x360%2F1129589359.jpg)
