Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Encyclopedia
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins is a stealth game developed by Acquire
and published by Sony Music Entertainment inc.
in Japan and Activision
in North America and Europe for the PlayStation
in 1998.
Tenchu is known for its stealth
gameplay and the eerie settings of feudal Japan. It was one of the first ninja games to incorporate stealth
, a very crucial aspect of ninjutsu
. However, aside from featuring traditional martial arts
in battles, the game incorporates elements of fantasy
and Japanese mythology
. The game also used motion capture
where actor/martial artist Sho Kosugi
and his son, Kane
, were hired as actors for the game's combat moves.
(力丸) and Ayame
(彩女), members of the Azuma ninja clan since childhood. The two ninja serve the heroic Lord Gohda, and work for him as his secret spies to root out corruption and gather intelligence in his province. However, the evil demon
ic sorcerer Lord Mei-Oh seeks to destroy Lord Gohda, and using his demon warrior Onikage who wreaks havoc throughout Lord Gohda's province.
, is stronger than Ayame but relatively slower. Ayame carries a pair of tantos(although she does carry wakazashis in the second game) and is faster and has more combos than Rikimaru, but is the weaker of the two. 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. Both characters are armed with a grappling hook which allows them to zip up to the tops of buildings and move freely across rooftops, which gave the game a sense of verticality that was rare among most action/adventure games of the time.
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.
for Tenchu. It was released on November 11, 1999 for the PlayStation. It is a standalone expansion, meaning it does not require the disc for the main game.
The game is based on the levels created by the users of Shinobi Gaisen. Acquire
held a competition for these levels, and the best one hundred missions were collected, and ultimately formed Tenchu: Shinobi Hyakusen. There are also secret missions to unlock. The whole game consists of 122 missions. The theme of each mission focuses on a chosen objective. Some missions emphasise elimination, while others focus on assassination
, finding a peculiar flower or protecting Princess Kiku along the way.
The game fundamentals and controls remained unchanged. However, missions in Shinobi Hyakusen are not bound together by any storyline. Playing through the missions earns the player FMV
and other promotional videos, beta test captures, artwork and other behind-the-scenes material otherwise not accessible.
Acquire (game developer)
is a video game developer based in Japan, mainly known for their Tenchu and Way of the Samurai series.-Tenchu series:*Dimensional Ninja Action Movie: Tenchu *Tenchu: Stealth Assassins *Tenchu: Shinobi Gaisen...
and published by Sony Music Entertainment inc.
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
in Japan and Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
in North America and Europe for the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
in 1998.
Tenchu is known for its stealth
Stealth
Stealth may refer to:*Stealth technology, technology used to conceal ships, aircraft, and missiles*Stealth aircraft, aircraft which use stealth technology*Stealth ground vehicle, ground vehicles which use stealth technology...
gameplay and the eerie settings of feudal Japan. It was one of the first ninja games to incorporate stealth
Stealth
Stealth may refer to:*Stealth technology, technology used to conceal ships, aircraft, and missiles*Stealth aircraft, aircraft which use stealth technology*Stealth ground vehicle, ground vehicles which use stealth technology...
, a very crucial aspect of ninjutsu
Ninjutsu
or may be:*the arts associated with espionage and assassination in feudal Japan, see Ninja*modern schools of martial arts claiming to be based in these traditions, see Modern Schools of Ninjutsu*fictional depictions, see Ninja in popular culture...
. However, aside from featuring traditional martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
in battles, the game incorporates elements of fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and Japanese mythology
Japanese mythology
Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agriculturally based folk religion. The Shinto pantheon comprises innumerable kami...
. The game also used motion capture
Motion capture
Motion capture, motion tracking, or mocap are terms used to describe the process of recording movement and translating that movement on to a digital model. It is used in military, entertainment, sports, and medical applications, and for validation of computer vision and robotics...
where actor/martial artist Sho Kosugi
Sho Kosugi
Sho Kosugi is a Japanese martial artist with training in shindō jinen-ryū karate who gained popularity as an actor during the 1980s, usually playing a ninja. He is the father of Kane Kosugi and Shane Kosugi. After taking a hiatus from film, he started a taiko group in California...
and his son, Kane
Kane Kosugi
born in Los Angeles, California is a American martial artist and martial arts actor. He is the son of martial arts star Sho Kosugi. In Japan, Kosugi is considered gaijin tarento due to his Nisei heritage....
, were hired as actors for the game's combat moves.
Story
The game takes place in feudal Japan, introducing a pair of ninja: RikimaruRikimaru
Rikimaru is a fictional character in the Tenchu video game series. He is featured in every game in the series, including as a player character in most of them...
(力丸) and Ayame
Ayame (Tenchu)
Ayame is a player character in the Tenchu video game series, and on of its two main characters along with Rikimaru. She is featured in all Tenchu games except of Tenchu Z.-Character biography:...
(彩女), members of the Azuma ninja clan since childhood. The two ninja serve the heroic Lord Gohda, and work for him as his secret spies to root out corruption and gather intelligence in his province. However, the evil demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
ic sorcerer Lord Mei-Oh seeks to destroy Lord Gohda, and using his demon warrior Onikage who wreaks havoc throughout Lord Gohda's province.
Gameplay
Rikimaru, armed with a single ninjatoNinjato
The , also known as or , is the most common name for the sword that the ninja are portrayed to have carried by ninja in television and movies. Historically, there is no physical evidence for the existance of this weapon. In reality, the katana was probably the ninja's weapon of choice...
, is stronger than Ayame but relatively slower. Ayame carries a pair of tantos(although she does carry wakazashis in the second game) and is faster and has more combos than Rikimaru, but is the weaker of the two. 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. Both characters are armed with a grappling hook which allows them to zip up to the tops of buildings and move freely across rooftops, which gave the game a sense of verticality that was rare among most action/adventure games of the time.
Characters
- RikimaruRikimaruRikimaru is a fictional character in the Tenchu video game series. He is featured in every game in the series, including as a player character in most of them...
is the servant and protector of Lord Gohda. He has obtained the sixth sense allowing special vision. - AyameAyame (Tenchu)Ayame is a player character in the Tenchu video game series, and on of its two main characters along with Rikimaru. She is featured in all Tenchu games except of Tenchu Z.-Character biography:...
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. - Lord Gohda is 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 trainer of Ayame and Rikimaru.
- Princess Kiku is 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.
- Mei-Oh is a powerful demigodDemigodThe term "demigod" , meaning "half-god", is commonly used to describe mythological figures whose one parent was a god and whose other parent was human; as such, demigods are human-god hybrids...
and boss of Tenchu: Stealth Assassins. He is the first to employ the services of Onikage. - Onikage - a ninja who serves Mei-oh and is the series' recurring antagonist. He has fought against Rikimaru several times, and he considers Rikimaru to be his ultimate rival, despite him being human, while Onikage is demonic in nature.
Cast
| Character | Voice actor (Japanese) | Voice actor (English) |
|---|---|---|
| Rikimaru | Toru Okawa | Paul Lucas Paul Lucas Paul Lucas is the name of:* Paul Lucas , French merchant, naturalist and traveller* Paul Lucas , French genealogist and Augustinian friar, known as Père Simplicien... |
| Ayame | Youko Soumi | Terry Osada |
| Sekiya | Kouichi Kitamura | Takeshi Kuwabara |
| Gohda | Yousuke Akimoto | Takeshi Kuwabara |
| Princess Kiku | Ikue Ohtani | Yumiko Yasuoka |
| Echigoya | Masaaki Tsukada Masaaki Tsukada is a Japanese voice actor working for Mouse Promotion. His wife, Masako Nozawa, is also a voice actress.-Voice roles:Major roles are in bold.* Black Lagoon as Chief Watsup* Bleach as Shikeguni Yamamoto-Genryūsai* Crusher Joe as Barney... |
Takeshi Kuwabara |
| Sasaki | Kiyoshi Kobayashi Kiyoshi Kobayashi is a Japanese actor, seiyū and narrator from Tokyo. He is currently attached to the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society... |
Kiyomi Shimada |
| Goo | Akimitsu Takase Akimitsu Takase ' is a Japanese voice actor who is affiliated with Mausu Promotion.-TV Anime:*Ceres, Celestial Legend *Daphne in the Brilliant Blue *E's Otherwise *Fafner of the Azure *Fullmetal Alchemist... |
Kazuhiko Amagai |
| Onikage | Hisao Egawa Hisao Egawa is a Japanese voice actor from Tokyo who works for Aoni Production. Egawa is most known for the roles of Shin'ichi Maki in Slam Dunk, Geki Kuroiwa in Brave Command Dagwon, Geki Hyūma and Goldymarg in The King of Braves GaoGaiGar, Killer Bee in Naruto Shippuden, and Falco Lombardi in the Star Fox... |
Seiichi Hirai |
| Tazu | Atsuko Tanaka Atsuko Tanaka is a Japanese voice actress who works for Ezaki Productions. Her deep and sultry voice is often used to portray villainesses and mature female characters.-TV anime:*Angel Links *Black Cat *Berserk *Cowboy Bebop... |
Maki Inoue |
| Akechi | Junpei Norita | Hiroki Morita |
| Hikone | Atsushi Ii Atsushi Ii is a Japanese seiyū from Tokyo. He was formerly attached to Mausu Promotion and Production★A Gumi before settling at Arts Vision.-Television animation:*GeGeGe no Kitarō *GeGeGe no Kitarō... |
Junichiro Tsuge |
| Kataoka | Yasuo Owata | Takeshi Kuwabara |
| Bizenya | Masaaki Tsukada Masaaki Tsukada is a Japanese voice actor working for Mouse Promotion. His wife, Masako Nozawa, is also a voice actress.-Voice roles:Major roles are in bold.* Black Lagoon as Chief Watsup* Bleach as Shikeguni Yamamoto-Genryūsai* Crusher Joe as Barney... |
Paul Lucas Paul Lucas Paul Lucas is the name of:* Paul Lucas , French merchant, naturalist and traveller* Paul Lucas , French genealogist and Augustinian friar, known as Père Simplicien... |
| On | Tamio Ohiki | Kiyomi Shimada |
| Balmer | Mitsuaki Hoshino Mitsuaki Hoshino is a Japanese actor and voice actor who works for Arts Vision. He is married to Yūko Kobayashi.-Anime:*Black Jack: The Movie *D.Gray-man *Gallery Fake *Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex... |
Aaron Casillas |
| Mei-Oh | Tamio Ohiki | Takeshi Kuwabara |
| Narration | Kiyoshi Kobayashi Kiyoshi Kobayashi is a Japanese actor, seiyū and narrator from Tokyo. He is currently attached to the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society... |
Robert Belgrade |
Japanese version
The Japanese version of the game is somewhat different from the Western version and the remake Shinobi Gaisen. The game came with 8 levels (missing Cross the Checkpoint and Punish the Corrupt Minister) and each level only has one layout. The option screen, character select and level select all come with different graphics. The boss characters have different weapons and before each level there is a small amount of Japanese dialogue that gives more detail into the game. The fighting moves are also different, whereas on the later version, mashing the button for attacks is all well and good, but in this version each strike must be timed to get the full flurry of moves. The 180 degree reverse roll is also absent.Tenchu: Shinobi Gaisen
Tenchu was re-released in Japan on 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 four 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.
Tenchu: Shinobi Hyakusen
Tenchu: Shinobi Hyakusen is an expansion packExpansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
for Tenchu. It was released on November 11, 1999 for the PlayStation. It is a standalone expansion, meaning it does not require the disc for the main game.
The game is based on the levels created by the users of Shinobi Gaisen. Acquire
Acquire (game developer)
is a video game developer based in Japan, mainly known for their Tenchu and Way of the Samurai series.-Tenchu series:*Dimensional Ninja Action Movie: Tenchu *Tenchu: Stealth Assassins *Tenchu: Shinobi Gaisen...
held a competition for these levels, and the best one hundred missions were collected, and ultimately formed Tenchu: Shinobi Hyakusen. There are also secret missions to unlock. The whole game consists of 122 missions. The theme of each mission focuses on a chosen objective. Some missions emphasise elimination, while others focus on assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
, finding a peculiar flower or protecting Princess Kiku along the way.
The game fundamentals and controls remained unchanged. However, missions in Shinobi Hyakusen are not bound together by any storyline. Playing through the missions earns the player FMV
Full motion video
Full motion video based games are video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV-quality movie or animation rather than sprites, vectors, or 3D models to display action in the game. In the early 1990s a diverse set of games utilized this format...
and other promotional videos, beta test captures, artwork and other behind-the-scenes material otherwise not accessible.