help, i grew up on tank control centric games (survival horror games of that kind are my faves and i even played this and its sequel up through their first few levels) as a child but i might have hit my limit. i've been filtered by tank controls for the first time. on a moment to moment basis it isn't too bad but the issues show when you try to grapple up to something, jump across things/do any platforming, and also try to cut around corners or other level geometry so you can ream someone before they turn around. i didn't remember the game feeling this way but that might also be more of 2 than this one, i'll have to see.

taking said control difficulties with the limited draw distance/low visibility and erratic enemy ai behavior really exposes the limits of what you have to work with here. especially since i went with grand master ranks for both Rikimaru and Ayame's stories. nothing that the occasional save state can't help with but god.

all of this doesn't really sink the game because the vibes (especially the soundtrack which is one of the best ever) are truly immaculate. the only thing i would've asked for is maybe a bit more variance between the character campaigns, even if it only added up to a handful of missions like in Wrath of Heaven.

feels nice to have seen this through so many years later. onward to the other games soon then hopefully.