Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

 Wii
  • Publisher: Ubisoft
  • Release Date: Feb 5, 2009
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 39 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 39
  3. Negative: 7 out of 39
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  1. sabaothkelly
    Sep 16, 2019
    0
    THIS Tenchu main title is so bad...., that it makes any other Tenchu main title look like a masterpiece. Even the combat system in it is nothing more than a bad joke. IT SUCKS
  2. DJukor
    Jun 25, 2015
    6
    As a big fan of Tenchu series playing this game disappointed me.
    The game, while not horrible is nothing like the original Tenchu games.
    Gone is the Grappling hook, and combat is limited to motion controlled predetermined mini game segments.
    In the end what we have is more of a puzzle game, that feels like forced stealth segments in other modern non stealth games.
  3. MinionX
    Sep 14, 2019
    0
    The worst main title ever in the Tenchu franchise, since it not only retains the same problems of its predecessors with respect to the camera, and the very stupid AI of the NPCs, but does not even allow basic elements to be used in the gameplay of Tenchu, as the well known Grappling Hook; The combat has never been something remarkable in Tenchu compared to other similar titles, but in anyThe worst main title ever in the Tenchu franchise, since it not only retains the same problems of its predecessors with respect to the camera, and the very stupid AI of the NPCs, but does not even allow basic elements to be used in the gameplay of Tenchu, as the well known Grappling Hook; The combat has never been something remarkable in Tenchu compared to other similar titles, but in any case it has always been satisfactory, which is the opposite of this title, where the fighting basically do not exist, since everything is resolved through a boring and repetitive minigame; Also not forgetting that for some striking reason, the personnel weapons of Ayame, and Rikimaru (Izayoi) magically disappeared in this title, so now the player has the option to start the levels with a generic ninja sword that even wastes an inventory slot.… Expand
  4. ToguroYounger
    Oct 16, 2019
    0
    ¡¡ This TECHU title just SVCK AZZ !!
    Even the combat system barely present of it is TRASH.
  5. gyigyo2
    May 22, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wow just wow the best tenchu games of all time is so real everything! like a true ninjas and old Japanese world...
    pros:music,story,gameplay,voice actors,
    cons:-

    Rikimaru was the best and Onikage and the ending was pefect! I don't know if there will be next sequel I want to see ayame die or rikimaru with onikage... that would be a perfect closure of rikimaru tale.Or live both of them I just DONT want to see tenchu game going to dribbler and loveish,Naruto ugly things.    … Expand
  6. BillAvery
    Feb 16, 2009
    9
    Holy moly, guacamole. Ninja action at it
  7. KarenBarber
    Feb 16, 2009
    10
    Aw man! BEST! Wii! Game! EVER! I just completed the second stage, and all I can say is get this game. I assume that only people who haven
  8. marsvolta
    Feb 18, 2009
    9
    I would be tempted to say that the game gets a bit redundant, in how
    you're just kind of sneaking around and coming up on guys and
    everything. But that's what this game is. It's stealth, it's suspense, it's not getting caught and it's beautiful. In this game you're a true assassin. You're not sniping political figures from roof    I would be tempted to say that the game gets a bit redundant, in how
    you're just kind of sneaking around and coming up on guys and
    everything. But that's what this game is. It's stealth, it's suspense,
    it's not getting caught and it's beautiful.

    In this game you're a true assassin. You're not sniping political
    figures from roof tops. That's getting old. You're in a time when
    getting these things done required much more human aptitude. It
    definitely helps that you can pretty much turn into smoke and hide
    behind things that wouldn't provide cover, but hey, it's a video game.
    And the effects are waaaay tight.    … Expand
  9. Curarecyd
    Feb 22, 2009
    8
    Pros: graphics decent for the Wii for once. Stealth kills are fun. Soundtrack and storyline quite good. Ninja items useful, so are camouflage and hiding places...and ability to do kills using cover. Cons: no rooftops! no maps. face to face fighting is horrible. Summary: ubisoft is uber cool. they've done something new for the series with the new console generation. not all of it Pros: graphics decent for the Wii for once. Stealth kills are fun. Soundtrack and storyline quite good. Ninja items useful, so are camouflage and hiding places...and ability to do kills using cover. Cons: no rooftops! no maps. face to face fighting is horrible. Summary: ubisoft is uber cool. they've done something new for the series with the new console generation. not all of it works but knowing that there's going to be a trilogy it's encouraging that ubisoft is experimenting now for a better gaming experience.… Expand
  10. Folstar
    Jul 19, 2011
    8
    A solid addition to one of the best series in gaming. My only serious qualm with this game is that certain motions with the Wiimote do not register well (thrusting specifically) during kills. Adjusting the sensitivity up and exaggerating your Wiimote motions helps, but even then a perfect kill gets ruined sometimes. Lesser qualms would be the linear level design, occasionally very longA solid addition to one of the best series in gaming. My only serious qualm with this game is that certain motions with the Wiimote do not register well (thrusting specifically) during kills. Adjusting the sensitivity up and exaggerating your Wiimote motions helps, but even then a perfect kill gets ruined sometimes. Lesser qualms would be the linear level design, occasionally very long "where are you" breaks, and the bogus though completely avoidable (for the true ninja) combat system.… Expand
  11. BaronMonaco
    Feb 6, 2017
    5
    Tenchu was one of the lonely series to put you in a ninja skin in feudal japan but the licence is kind of dead since this episode, did it deserved it ?

    Technically the games runs fine and the motion controls are simple enough to be recognize easily by the hardware. But the graphics are hideous and so they tried to cover it by making everything very dark, way too dark to be fully    Tenchu was one of the lonely series to put you in a ninja skin in feudal japan but the licence is kind of dead since this episode, did it deserved it ?

    Technically the games runs fine and the motion controls are simple enough to be recognize easily by the hardware. But the graphics are hideous and so they tried to cover it by making everything very dark, way too dark to be fully playable ! Even with my luminosity settings at their top there was still areas where I couldn't see.

    Concerning the gameplay it's a bit clumsy and clearly the nunchuk wasn't the best way to play this game, specially when the moving controls are simple gadgets. Overall the game rely on your infiltration skills to backstab every enemy in your way, the level design is okay and the challenge is fair but it will get repetitive pretty soon despite some new class of enemies.

    The story is very cliche with bad voice overs, it's clearly a cheap occidental point of view of that era and you won't be looking forward the different steps of the game. It is also pretty short (count 8 hours if you don't die a lot).

    So overall Tench : Shadow Assassins is pretty poor game with no substantial quality to attract any kind of player, but at least it assures the minimum (except for the graphics) and if you absolutely have to try it out you'll be able to go through the game, still I don't recommend it to anyone.    … Expand
  12. Lyserg1260
    Aug 23, 2015
    10
    Great comeback of great series. You can feel that this game is made by the same people that made Tenchu 1 and 2. It has great story and atmosphere. It's realistic again, so goodbye monsters from Wrath of Heaven. It has huge variety of stealth kills and items are really useful at last. Character design is just great. However, fighting system is not good. But it's stealth game, so if youGreat comeback of great series. You can feel that this game is made by the same people that made Tenchu 1 and 2. It has great story and atmosphere. It's realistic again, so goodbye monsters from Wrath of Heaven. It has huge variety of stealth kills and items are really useful at last. Character design is just great. However, fighting system is not good. But it's stealth game, so if you have to fight it just means you failed. There are only about 5 moments when you are forced to fight. Also, physics behave odd sometimes.… Expand
  13. gold
    Mar 28, 2018
    10
    Интересная стелс игра, в неё приятно играть. Геймплей - 10, атмосфера - 10, локации - 8, графика - 6

Awards & Rankings

81
#81 Best Wii Game of 2009
32
#32 Most Discussed Wii Game of 2009
31
#31 Most Shared Wii Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 35
  3. Negative: 1 out of 35
  1. Edge Magazine
    60
    The simple Remote application – flicks to activate instant takedowns – is one of many wise steps taken away from the convoluted mechanics weighing down other current-gen entries. [Mar 2009, p.93]
  2. games(TM)
    60
    It takes several hours of frustrating play to get to the more enjoyable sections of the game. [Mar 2009, p.116]
  3. Worth Playing
    80
    Here's hoping a few things can be cleaned up for a second iteration on the Wii, and I'd definitely suggest that curious fans give Shadow Assassins a try.
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