Tenchu Stealth Assassins 2

Metacritic Game Reviews, Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins for PlayStation, Before the events of Tenchu, the House of Gohda is rocked by betrayal.

Contents.Gameplay The game begins with the protagonists Rikimaru and Ayame training to reach an honourable rank. In the training missions the performance of the character determines their rank; ranging from Thug, Novice, Ninja, Master Ninja to Grand Master. Lord Gohda himself gives his feedback on Rikimaru's performance, while his daughter Princess Kiku speaks to Ayame instead. The playable characters Rikimaru and Ayame are only selectable as singular players and their storylines vary considerably, yet they experience the same levels and missions. Rikimaru, the oldest of the two, is the primary character in the game. Armed with a single, he is stronger than Ayame but slower. Ayame carries a pair of and is faster and has more than Rikimaru, but is the weaker of the two.The game features ten levels, all of which 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. Many bosses react differently to the two ninja based on their genders, highlighting the social attitudes at the time.All missions, including the initial training mission, can be replayed an unlimited number of times, but Mission 2 and onwards cannot be accessed without the previous chapter being successfully completed. Three different layouts are used to distribute the enemies, obstacles and items spread on the levels' maps.

On playing the training level, only several throwable deadly objects and a grappling hook are automatically selected as interactive objects. The weapon selection section contains throwing knives (kunai)/shuriken (depending on the game version), smoke bombs, caltrops, poison rice cakes, coloured rice, healing potions, grenades and mines. Advanced items on completing a mission with the rank Grand Master are known as: Super Shuriken/Kunai, Lightfoot Scroll, Fire Eater Scroll, Protections Amulet, Sleeping Gas, Ninja Armour, Shadow Decoy, Resurrection Leaf, Chameleon Spell, Dog Bone and Decoy Whistle. These are optional to use on missions but are limited to a number of objects overall. The Grappling Hook is permanently locked into the inventory and does not consume item space.On failure, the character dies (sometimes being ridiculed by a boss) and the text 'Mission Failed' appears on the screen in front of the grave of the character. All items are lost until found in future missions. If the character succeeds in their mission they are scored and ranked, while the player's time is recorded into the game's system.

This score is compared to previous attempts and the scores of the partner to the current character if they have been played before. A cinematic scene happens at the end of each level revealing some of the character's personality to the player.Mission 10 has a longer cutscene which leads to the ending of the game and credits. The player still has an option to complete the game as the alternative character as the attempts in playing each level are limitless. Some aspects can be unlocked by completing sections of the game, which can include alternative costumes for Rikimaru and Ayame. Cheats can also trigger unlockables.Plot. This section needs expansion.

You can help. ( January 2011)The game takes place in, introducing a pair of ninja: (力丸) and (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 sorcerer Lord Mei-Oh seeks to destroy Lord Gohda, and using his demon warrior Onikage, wreaks havoc throughout Lord Gohda's province.Development A video of an early prototype build of the game was featured in Tenchu: Shinobi Hyakusen, showing a science-fiction type ninja game whose gameplay style was also very different from the one in the final version.

Famous ninja-roles actor/martial artist and his son were hired as actors for the game's combat moves.Release Japanese version The Japanese version of the game is somewhat different from the Western version and the remake Shinobi Gaisen. The game came with eight 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 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.European version The European release features some small changes to game graphics. Due to a ban on shuriken throwing stars in some parts of Europe at time of release, the shurikens have been replaced by Kunai knives.Reception ReceptionAggregate scoreAggregatorScore87/100Review scoresPublicationScore7/107.75/109/10A8.3/109/10(US version)82%Tenchu: Stealth Assassins received 'generally favorable' reviews, according to. It was ranked as the 54th top game of all time by the staff of in 2001: ' Tenchu: Stealth Assassins showed the gaming world that it takes more than just dark clothes and pointy throwing objects to make it as a ninja. Forcing players to learn and utilize stealth techniques to not only excel, but merely survive, Tenchu is a challenging, nerve-wracking game that leaves you screaming in frustration, then crawling back for more.' Reviewed the PlayStation version of the game, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that 'The complicated and involving nature of the various missions makes Tenchu a highly engrossing, one-player adventure - the sort of thing long nights are made of.' Reviewed the U.S.

PlayStation version of the game, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that 'Activision has made significant changes in the conversion, but it feels as if the developers have jury-rigged bug fixes and added filler material rather than improved the game.' Tenchu: Stealth Assassins had achieved sales of over 500,000 copies in Japan by June 1998, before its release in the United States. 'NG Alphas: Sony Music Entertainment'. November 1997. Pp. 70–71.

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This section needs expansion. You can help. ( January 2011)The game consists of controlling a character in a 3D environment through a third-person viewpoint. The player can use a variety of ninja tools and equipment and stealth to dispatch enemies and complete the game's missions.

Missions are set in different locales at varying times of day, ranging from rural farmland, bamboo forests, mountainous regions, beaches, ships, villages and caverns. After the player completes a mission, they are given a rank depending on their accomplishments during that mission such as number of enemies killed, number of times spotted etc.

High ranks are then used to unlock special gadgets that can be used in-game.One of the game's most acclaimed features was the Mission Editor. This gave the player the opportunity to create their own missions, including level layout, deciding which characters to place in it and mission objectives to complete. It spawned a tournament in to find the best created mission. Due to this acclaim, the Mission Editor was later brought back and revamped for the PSP installment,.Plot The Azuma Ninja have served the House of Gohda for countless generations.

Now three young ninja, Tatsumaru, and, must protect Lord Gohda Matsunoshin against a attempt and a mysterious ninja group calling themselves the Burning Dawn consisting of their leader, Lady Kagami, Suzaku 'The Red Sparrow', Genbu 'The Green Turtle', Seiryu 'The Blue Dragon', and Byakko 'The White Tiger', the four Lords of the Burning Dawn. To make matters worse, the recently made leader of the Azuma Ninja Tatsumaru, goes missing during a battle with Lady Kagami. It is later revealed that Tatsumaru has lost his memory and as a result of this, has now took on the mantle of Seiryu 'The Blue Dragon' and allied himself with the Burning Dawn.The following Plot is taken from the player playing as RikimaruThe three new Azuma Ninja's first mission has them called to Gohda Castle which is under attack by Lord Gohda's uncle, Gohda Motohide and his army of samurai. After a bloody battle, which includes the death of Lady Kei, Lord Gohda's wife, and the kidnapping of Princess Kiku, Lord Gohda's daughter.

Rikimaru stops Gohda Motohide from killing Lord Gohda but when attempting to strike down Gohda Motohide, Lord Gohda steps in between the ninja and his uncle, being struck by Rikimaru's sword. With Lord Gohda wounded and Rikimaru in distress for striking down his lord, Gohda Motohide then escapes from the castle. It turns out that Gohda Motohide has allied himself and his forces with a rival feudal lord, Lord Toda. After following Gohda Motohide's trail back to Lord Toda's Camp, Rikimaru is confronted by Suzaku, who reveals to him that 'a new age' is upon all ninja throughout the land. After battling Suzaku and winning, Rikimaru arrives in the central camp to find the body of Gohda Motohide and the decapitated body of Lord Toda.

He runs to a nearby cliffside to witness along with Ayame, Tatsumaru engaged in combat with Lady Kagami. The cliff edge begins to crumble and both are dropped into the raging sea below, presumed dead.The following day, Lady Kagami is washed up upon the shoreline and regains consciousness, and discovers that Tatsumaru has also survived the fall. She wakes him up to discover he has lost all memory of his former life as an Azuma Ninja. She takes the opportunity and begins to brainwash him into thinking his name is Seiryu 'The Blue Dragon' and he is one of the four lords of the Burning Dawn, erasing all knowledge of his previous life.With Tatsumaru presumed dead by the Azuma Ninja, Rikimaru and Ayame continue their efforts to stop the illegal activities and operations of various criminal organisations such as bandits and thieves, who are linked in different ways to the Burning Dawn. Rikimaru discovers during the 'Demon Mountain' mission that the ninja there are capturing civilians in order for them to be used as slave labour in building a giant warship called the 'Fire Demon', which will be used to conquer the land by the Burning Dawn. Upon rescuing more civilians from a harboured Chinese slave junk and defeating the captain, Tatsumaru confronts Rikimaru and reveals himself as Seiryu, with Rikimaru confused and shocked at his former comrade's claims. He tries to refresh Tatsumaru's memory but is quickly silenced, claiming Rikimaru is 'a mad man' and he does not know him and never has.Rikimaru then receives a lead from a source that the Burning Dawn are using a temple near a lake as a base of operations.

He is again confronted by Suzaku 'The Red Sparrow'. Stood aside by his lover, a female kunoichi, Yukihotaru, also known as the 'Ice Firefly', attacks Rikimaru but is swiftly beaten.

As she crawls towards Suzaku asking for his help, he stabs her in the side of her neck with his sword. He then engages in a sword fight with Rikimaru and is again, defeated. Exiting the temple, an Azuma Ninja carrier pigeon brings word that the Azuma Village is under attack by the Burning Dawn.Rikimaru returns home to find the Azuma Village under siege by the Burning Dawn and sets about the area, slaying the invading ninja. After killing all the invaders, he reaches Master Shiunsai's house to find him dead, with Tatsumaru standing over his corpse, sword drawn.

After defeating Tatsumaru in combat, Rikimaru hesitates to kill Tatsumaru and as he lowers his weapon, Tatsumaru draws his sword and slashes upwards across his eye and giving him his signature scar (as seen in the first Tenchu game) Tatsumaru then escapes with Lady Kagami, with her stating that the age of the ninja has come and that Rikimaru should join them, which he blatantly refuses. Ayame returns to the village to find Rikimaru cradling his master's body, with Ayame stating that she will kill Tatsumaru when the time comes.The two ninja set out along with their ninja dog, Semimaru to find where Tatsumaru has gone. The trail leads into a giant bamboo forest. Nearly out of the forest, they are stopped in their tracks by Byakko 'The White Tiger', one of the four lords of the Burning Dawn along with his pet albino tiger, Chiro who attack both Rikimaru and Ayame.

They are both defeated and continue following the trail which leads into a giant cavern network. The Azuma Ninja discover the cavern is the secret base used for the construction of the 'Fire Demon' and promptly board the vessel as it begins to set sail.As the warship begins attacking Lord Ghoda's castle, Rikimaru and Ayame split up to find a way of stopping the ship. Rikimaru first encounters Suzaku, killing him this time around and then confronts Lady Kagami on the bridge, stating her disappointment in Rikimaru and the others for not joining their new rebellion. Lady Kagami, Suzaku, Tatsumaru and The Burning Dawn's flagship 'Fire Demon' are swiftly defeated by the combined efforts of Rikimaru and Ayame, as well as naval elements of the Gohda army.It is revealed in a post credits cut scene that Suzaku has been somehow resurrected from his death at the hands of Rikimaru and gives himself a new title, Onikage.Reception ReceptionAggregate scoreAggregatorScore77/100Review scoresPublicationScore6/1072%B−8.3/109.1/106/10. Roether, Julia (August 15, 2000). Archived from the original on January 7, 2001.

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