Tenchu: Shadow Assassins harkens back to the classic stealth-action formula of its predecessors, tasking you with missions of infiltration and assassination in a feudal Japanese setting. Players utilize shadows, gadgets, and acrobatic maneuvers to outsmart guards and execute targets with brutal efficiency. While its core stealth gameplay can be satisfying, Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is hampered by clunky controls, occasionally frustrating enemy AI, and the omission of some beloved series features like the grappling hook.
This game left me very mixed. On one hand, the soundtrack was great (even downloaded some tracks), i liked the story (i would rank this lower than Tenchu 2's story though, this game's ending was very sudden) and game looks good too. On the other hand, no grappling hook, you can carry up to 3 items, combat (if you can call it that, its just a Simon Says game). Movement doesn't feel great with the over the shoulder camera, and i heavily dislike that raft jumping is now context sensitive. But at the same time if you can get past its bad quirks, you might enjoy yourself, i actually enjoyed the shadow/light system, it's got some cool stealth kills here and there. All in all, an all-over-the-place game.
Disclaimer: I never ended up beating the game but played far enough to want to share my thoughts on this game. This was another exciting "mature" release for the Wii at the time.
As a stealth game, Tenchu SA ends up being average since it's fairly linear and slow in nature with a rinse and repeat approach of slowly progressing through levels via cover and shadows and killing enemies along the way. Unfortunately, controls can be cumbersome at times and frustrating since you crave for precise controls and game performance in these types of games. Levels can be very challenging, especially if you are trying to achieve a high ranking but this challenge provides a satisfying feeling when completing a level. The graphics were very good for being a Wii game and art direction was appropriate for the time and setting of feudal Japan.
As a stealth game, Tenchu SA ends up being average since it's fairly linear and slow in nature with a rinse and repeat approach of slowly progressing through levels via cover and shadows and killing enemies along the way. Unfortunately, controls can be cumbersome at times and frustrating since you crave for precise controls and game performance in these types of games. Levels can be very challenging, especially if you are trying to achieve a high ranking but this challenge provides a satisfying feeling when completing a level. The graphics were very good for being a Wii game and art direction was appropriate for the time and setting of feudal Japan.
They removed ever kind of functionality just to release a very basic game just to not lose the license, it got to be reason why this game exist. You follow a linear line, you walk, crouch, kill and repeat. Do you remeber that Karateka game from 1984? Same thing but on PSP. Awful.
Forever frustrating that Tenchu left off on a mediocre game that significantly changed the gameplay formula that ends with a sucker punch of a cliffhanger. The pain is still fresh nearly 12 years later.
A harsh stealth game that is very short and extremely punishing. Doesn't manage to entertain all the way through.
The controls felt a little too bad for me
Mediocre
A bad stealth game that showcases how limited the PSP can be if you don't play to its strengths. It's restrictive to a fault, with corridor level design, atrocious draw distance, limited amount of tools to use with very basic usage, uninspiring combat, and clunky tank controls. I kinda like the dark, broody atmosphere of the levels, and I guess the story is pretty neat, but that's it.
"Disappointment" is the word here.
Take Tenchu. Limit all the tools. Remove movement options. Make levels basically linear puzzles. This is what you get. You know how in old Tenchu you have a fun grappling hook that lets you get nearly anywhere? Well that's gone. To rub it in, an early level made me very slowly push a crate so I could get on it and reach a ledge. Remove combat and replace it with some garbage motion control gimmicks, too. Play Shinobido instead of this absolutely worthless piece of shit.