Starting to play this, I have left the samurai side well alone.
Wanted to play as ninja!
Had visions of being Rikimaru from Tenchu.
Turns out I am Kung Fu Panda's distant cousin Ninja Panda!
I am as graceful as a fat kid in a sweet shop sale.

The game looks and sounds beautiful.
Music adds to it, not distracts.
I have chosen to use English language, instead of authentic Japanese & Portuguese voices.
The weather and lighting really adds to it.
Rain makes things difficult to see.
Wind blows the bushes you are hiding in, making you not so invisible.
Darkness is my friend, sunlight not so.

You can put out candles or light them as needed.
Doors you open can be used to hide behind, nice touch.
As is looking through peep holes to spot bad guys.
You can hide inside a well and drag/assassinate next victim into it.
You can hide inside cupboards.
Still have not found a needle in the haystack though.

My gameplay loop is finding castle.
Spend up to two hours meticulously picking off bad guys quiet like.
Then the last thirty minutes or so turning the game into a Quentin Tarantino movie.
Think Kill Bill and you won't be far off.

You can build your own hideout?
Complete with stables and authentic Japanese garden.
On your travels, you can collect cats and dogs to add to hideout.
Paint pictures of wildlife, then hang the pictures in hideout.
Massive open world map to explore.
Controls seem clunky at first, though I am now getting used to them.
I am really enjoying this.