Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

Tenchu: Stealth Assassins (1998)

by ACQUIRE Corp., Activision Publishing, Sony Music Entertainment Japan
Genres:Adventure
Themes:Action, Fantasy, Historical, Stealth
Game modes:Single player
Story:Tenchu: Stealth Assassins is an action-adventure stealth game developed by Acquire and published by Sony Music Entertainment Japan in Japan and Activision worldwide for the PlayStation in 1998. Tenchu is known for its stealth gameplay and the eerie settings of feudal Japan. Tenchu 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 historical 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.Show more
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Stories about this game (10)
What’s your memory of Tenchu: Stealth Assassins?Share your favorite moments and see what others remember about this game.
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This only having 7 votes is depressing, we wouldn't have Ghost of Tsushima without this! the most amazing ninja stealth game ever, this and the second one, you could even create your levels! legendary
user avatar@thuperdanuser avatar@thuperdan
January 29, 2025
This first true stealth game in my opinion, opened a whole new genre of gaming. Absolute classic remember getting grandmaster status on every level for never being spotted. I also loved the first levels end boss echigoya just for being a dirty old man harassing the geisha “c’mon, c’mon” hip thrusting at them, just hilarious!
user avatar@Capticeuser avatar@Captice
January 31, 2025
One of my first PS1 games I bought on a whim since the store already sold out of copies of what I wanted to buy and I refused to leave empty handed so I randomly picked this off the shelf. It was my first difficult game to start but I could not put it down. The stages were large, there were many points of entry, there was a lot to explore, some hidden locations, iconic soundtrack, difficult combat and satisfying stealth kills and animations. Ayane was fast and lethal while Rikimaru killed with honor. I still have the soundtrack on CD.
Tenchu and its following titles are for me and probably many others just the absolute non plus ultra when it comes to Ninja's and Stealth gaming. We grew up on this and the whole story around Rikimaru and Ayame is just legendary. "Where did you hide?" or "You chose the wrong party to craaaash" im sure everyone will just recognize those lines and get instant nostalgia. Its a shame these titles are not playable on modern systems and I wish, beg and hope people will give these titles their due respect.
user avatar@hellsrealmuser avatar@hellsrealm
February 09, 2025
best stealth game ever! the gameplay mechanics and you just flat our murderball your opponents is great! this series needs to be remastered for sure! too bad not many people give this game much thought which is super sad. first type stealth game ever invented and without it i think many other gaming company wouldn't follow suit or thought of it.
In its time this was the most advanced combat system and the great grandfather of sekiro!!!! countless memories with this game with its mix of stealth and combat, traversing roofs with grappling hook and not only was the gameplay ahead of its time, the soundtrack is a 10/10, this is in my opinion is the most deserving of a gog release.
Oh man, where do I begin? This is probably the first game I ever played and I still come back to it, to this day. Tenchu has everything going for it. Solid stealth mechanics, beautiful environments set in Feudal Japan (yes, even with the dated graphics), one of the most incredible soundtracks you will ever hear, and fascinating lore which consists of ninja mythology and a blend of fantasy elements. Fight anybody from corrupt merchants to a powerful sorcerer and his demon army.
user avatar@dotrakiuser avatar@dotraki
March 02, 2025
The game that influenced the creation of Sekiro, Tenchu, the greatest stealth + ninja game in action, the entire gameplay is sensational and its level of difficulty and enemy intelligence, in fact, was too remarkable for the time, Tenchu ​​1 and 2 on the PS1, the PS2 ones were also sensational. Tenchu ​​and Metal Gear Solid within the genre are eternal and remarkable and that's why Tenchu ​​deserves to be on this list, I'm waiting for you from GOG, hugs.
One of the first stealth games I ever played and I've loved the genre ever since. A fine example of how gameplay and story combines to make a rewarding experience.
user avatar@mdqpuser avatar@mdqp
April 23, 2025
I personally played Tenchu 2 before this one, however I have great memories with both of them. Watching an enemy getting closer when you have a poor hiding spot is really tense, and sneaking up on an unsuspecting enemy is truly something, however the best memory is probably from the very first level: the dimly lit road as the music kicks in, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, avoiding the guards... Tenchu has a superb atmosphere, and weirdly enough I feel like the PSX graphics helped with that, rather than hinder it. It's a real gem of a game and it's shocking to me that we don't have more games like it nowadays.
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