Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

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Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Cover art for Tenchu:Stealth Assassins
Developer(s) Acquire
Publisher(s) Japan Sony Music
United States Activision
Release date(s) Japan February 26, 1998
United States August 31, 1998
European Union 1998
Genre(s) Stealth Action
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) Varies from T (13+) to M (15+)
Platform(s) PlayStation
Media CD-ROM
System requirements memory card
Input DualShock controller

Tenchu:Stealth Assassins is a stealth action game in which the player takes the role of a ninja in 10 stages meeting the task required. Playable characters include Rikimaru or Ayame and follow the tasks from their master, Lord Gohda.

All of the levels take place at night to compensate for the technical limitations of the Playstation; the game's high rate of redraw is reduced by setting events at night and reducing the distance the player can see.

Contents

[edit] Rikimaru

Rikimaru is the loyal servant and protector of Lord Gohda. He has obtained the sixth sense allowing special vision. He is a ninja wielding a Ninjatō (忍者刀). He may be slower than his partner, Ayame, but his sword is still stronger than her daggers.

[edit] Ayame

Ayame is the loyal friend of Lord Gohda's daughter, Princess Kiku. They act like sisters toward each other but she, like Rikimaru, is a ninja protecting Lord Gohda. Although not as strong as Rikimaru, Ayame is very quick wielding her dual Tantō (短刀) and she has bigger combos.

[edit] Lord Godha

The leader and loyal royal of this ancient time. He has a daughter, Kiku, as well as two ninjas just as part as his protection. He has a counsel, Sekiya, who is also the trainers of Ayame and Rikimaru.

[edit] Princess Kiku

The daughter of Lord Gohda and best friend of Ayame. She is respective to and from Ayame especially at training. At the end of the game she is kidnapped but is rescued.

[edit] Gameplay

[edit] Items

[edit] Default items

Many items are given to the player from the beginning of the game and provided to equip before each mission to make it easier.

  • Shuriken are Ninja Stars that do damage of 20 health points.
  • Caltrops- are iron spikes that create a short diversion while injuring the enemy. They do little damage, good for slowing pursuing guards after they've already seen you
  • Poison Rice- when fed to hungry guards, who don't seem to mind finding mystery bowls of rice that appear directly behind them, it creates a diversion lasting long enough to kill them while they are distracted by poison.
  • Mine- set by the player. When stepped on it causes explosive damage, causing between 40-50 health points.
  • Coloured Rice- allows the player to leave tracks behind to know where they've been.
  • Grenades- creates explosive damage when thrown and causes 30 health points worth of damage.
  • Smoke Bombs- creates a cloud of smoke, confusing and distracting the opponent.
  • Healing Potion - restores the players health bar.

[edit] Special Items

These can be collected at the end of each level (including Training) when the player obtains a ranking of "Grand Master".

  • Training: The Super-Shuriken similar to shuriken but uses 8 projectiles instead of 1.
  • Level one:The Lightfoot Scrollcan be obtained which permits superspeed run for a short period of time and distance.
  • Level 2: The Fire-eater Scroll can be obtained allowing one to breathe fire.
  • Level 3: The Protection Amulet is given to allow an increased offense and defense for a limited time.
  • Level 4: The Sleeping Gas allows the character to put enemies to sleep.
  • Level 5: The Ninja Armour increases defense by 30% as well as a new costume while it is used.
  • Level 6: The Shadow Decoy allows the character to place decoys to confuse or distract opponents.
  • Level 7: The Resurrection Leaf allows the player to revive after death.
  • Level 8: The Chameleon Suit is a disguise suit which transforms you into a character most suited for blending in for that particular mission (enemy guards, civilians, etc.).
  • Level 9: The Dog Bone is accessed allowing to bring dogs to life to aid you in killing.
  • Level 10: the Clay Flute is a device imitating the sound of animals, can be useful to bring back to normal the enemy atttention if you have been sensed, but not yet spotted.

[edit] Levels

[edit] Level 1-Punish the Evil Merchant

A once-honest merchant, Echigoya, has been using brutal methods to destroy his enemies and gain wealth. Envious of the upper classes in Japan, he wishes to amass large amounts of wealth, regardless of the price in human blood. Echigoya must pay for his greed with his life.

[edit] Level 2:Deliver the Secret Message

A large group of outlaws has planned an attack on Lord Gohda's territory, but you've stolen a copy of their plans. You must deliver the plans to Lord Gohda and circumvent the possibility of a brutal war. Unluckily for you, the outlaws have hired a group of ninja to intercept and terminate you.

[edit] Level 3:Rescue the Captive Ninja

A Gohda ninja has been captured and is being held in an obscure forest. Although the ninja code forbids rescues, Lord Gohda has bent the rules and asks you to rescue the captive ninja.

[edit] Level 4:Cross the Checkpoint

While spying in hostile lands, you learn of a massive army preparing to attack Lord Gohda's territory. You must report back to Lord Gohda - and that means crossing an enemy checkpoint.

[edit] Level 5:Execute the Corrupt Minister

Lord Gohda's finance minister, Kataoka, has been accepting bribes from merchants like Echigoya. Kataoka is Naotada Sekiya's son (Sekiya is Gohda's chief adviser). To avoid bringing shame on Sekiya's name by overtly dealing with Kataoka, you are ordered to execute him.

[edit] Level 6:Infiltrate the Manji Cult

A long time ago, an evil spirit was trapped inside a stone. The stone had the power to control minds and alter bodies. Recently, the Manji cult has stolen the stone and is using it to build up an army of demons. You must retrieve the stone.

[edit] Level 7:Destroy the Foreign Pirate

The ferocious Spanish pirate, Captain Balmer, has been wreaking havoc on the town. You must stop him and restore the balance of trade.

[edit] Level 8:Cure the Princess

Princess Kiku is slowly losing her sight. All conventional methods of treating her ailment have failed, so you must obtain the magical herb that grows on Mt. Shiba (it's rumored to be able to cure anything).

[edit] Level 9:Reclaim the Castle

Last night, Onikage led an army of demons against one of Lord Gohda's castles. They quickly overwhelmed the meager defenses and overthrew the castle. A frontal attack is impossible and impractical; you must infiltrate the castle and deal with the problem from within.

[edit] Level 10:Free the Princess

Lord Mei-Oh has kidnapped Princess Kiku. You must rescue her and destroy Mei-Oh and Onikage once and for all.

[edit] Cast

Character Voice Actor (Japanese) Voice Actor (English)
Rikimaru Toru Okawa Paul Lucas
Ayame Youko Soumi Terry Osada
Sekiya Kouichi Kitamura Takeshi Kuwabara
Gohda Yousuke Akimoto Takeshi Kuwabara
Princess Kiku Ikue Ohtani Yumiko Yasuoka
Echigoya Masaaki Tsukada Takeshi Kuwabara
Sasaki Kiyoshi Kobayashi Kiyomi Shimada
Goo Akimitsu Takase Kazuhiko Amagai
Onikage Hisao Egawa Seiichi Hirai
Tazu Atsuko Tanaka Maki Inoue
Akechi Junpei Norita Hiroki Morita
Hikone Atsushi Ii Junichiro Tsuge
Kataoka Yasuo Owata Takeshi Kuwabara
Bizenya Masaaki Tsukada Paul Lucas
On Tamio Ohiki Kiyomi Shimada
Balmer Mitsuaki Hoshino Aaron Casillas
Mei-oh Tamio Ohiki Takeshi Kuwabara
Narration Kiyoshi Kobayashi Robert Belgrade

[edit] Tenchu: Shinobi Gaisen

Tenchu Shinobi Gaisen
Shinobi Gaisen Cover
Developer(s) Acquire
Publisher(s) Sony Music
Release date(s) Japan February 24, 1999
Genre(s) Stealth Action
Mode(s) Single player
Platform(s) PlayStation
Media CD-ROM

Tenchu was re-released in Japan in February 24, 1999 with many updates, including different mission layouts, all the stages seen in the American and European versions (levels 4 and 5 were missing in the original) and 4 selectable languages: Japanese, English, Italian and French.

The main feature of this version was its mission editor. The possibilities in creating missions were endless and it generated a special edition disc with the 100 best missions created by Japanese players called Tenchu: Shinobi Hyakusen.

[edit] External links

In other languages