Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

"This makes you proud to own a PSX !"

Introduction

When you pop the disc in the Play-Station you’re presented with a short FMV. Tenchu live by stealth, die by honor.

Game-Play

The game play is more then awesome, it’s unique. You can pick two characters, Rickmaru and Ayame. Both ninja has their own characteristic. Rickmaru is a noble ninja. Equipped with a sword. Rickmaru attacks have power, but lack in speed. Ayame is equipped with two daggers, which is fast and deadly. So has speed and agilely but lack in power. I prefer to play Rickmaru. To take full advantage of being a ninja, you get items to help you accomplish your mission. There are Shuriken (throwing stars), Healing potions, caltrops (spiked metal that is dropped to slow downs the pursuing enemies) smoke bombs (to help you escape from the enemies) poison rice (used to paralyze the enemy) and a lot more items. Some which you can unlock by completing the training mode. On to the actually game-play. You need to accomplish an objective to advance to the next level. Such as killing a certain enemy or revive a certain item. You point is not to kill the enemy, but to kill him with STEALTH. There is a special KI meter. The KI meter determines if you do the stealth kill or not. In Tenchu you can kill someone in one shot. If the KI meter is showing a? Mark. Then you are able to deliver the stealth kill. If the KI meter is showing? It means the guards are looking around, being specious. You cannot deliver the stealth kill. If the KI meter is showing! It means you in trouble. The guard had spotted you. So you can see its isn’t about charging up and killing. It’s about patient and stealth. The character does can a variety of moves such as roll from side to side, jump and hang on the edge of the roof, couch. You characters mastered the art of combat. You can do forward lounge, side attack, and combos. You what makes tenchu combat system interesting. It doesn’t stop from there. Each character has special stealth animation. For example if you do a stealth attack in the back of the guard, the character would slit they throats. But if you do a stealth attack from the side of the guard, it would do a completely different animation.

Sound

The music for the game is equilent to the game play. It is just excellent. The music of the game is from the Eastern. The music creates a mood for stealth. So it really blends in well. There are around 10 sound tracks in the game. Each one is unique. The sound effects in the game are average. You hear enemies groan now and then.
The voice acting is great. Rickmaru and Ayame voices are great. So are the villains.

Graphic

I have to admit tenchu graphic isn’t much of an eye candy. But it stills good. The texture seems to repeat because the environment is made up of house. The characters look detailed. But there are some glitches though (you can see through walls) but its nothing major. The cut scene in the game is great also...

To buy or rent?

Defiantly a buy! This game makes you a proud Play Station owner. Besides it has been out for a few years now and it is pretty cheap. This should provide you over 100 hours of entertainment! The debug mode is also fun to fiddle around with. I give it 9/10 (not an average)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/08/01, Updated 08/08/01