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Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

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Tenchu: Shadow Assassins
68
9.8 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 18 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 10 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: From Software

Genre(s): Third-Person Action, Adventure

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: March 24, 2009

Summary

Master the art of death on the PSP playing as Rikimaru and Ayame, elite ninjas who must use their lethal skills to keep the peace in feudal Japan. The accuracy of the PSP system's control buttons lets players battle enemies quickly and attack them with katanas, throwing stars, smoke bombs and more. Expect to find the original Tenchu villain Onikage wreak havoc through dangerous territories. Additional PSP game features include: Use 17 historically accurate ninja weapons and tools. Manipulate your environment to hide and to sneak in behind your targets. Unlock special artifacts including Rikamaru's original costume. Experience the epic adventures of Rikimaru and Ayame and put your true ninja skills to the test in a world of fierce combat and authentic tradition. [Ubisoft]

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

85

Vandal Online

The new Tenchu installment will surprise positively series followers, apart from genre fans. It is a slow game in which we'll have to think twice each of our steps in order to survive. It has great hours of action and fun, and also offers a story worth being followed up to the end.

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83

Gaming Age

I guess you could argue that the game loses a bit of its charm with the lack of the motion specific controls, and I'll agree to a point that they did add a little bit to certain movements, and they definitely made the kills feel a bit more visceral. However, the PSP version is definitely my preferred way to play the game, it didn't frustrate me control wise nearly as much as the Wii version did, and from that aspect alone I enjoyed it more.

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80

GamePro

A die-hard Tenchu fan, Heather was more than happy to see the series return to form in its latest portable iteration. It may even move a hardened assassin to poetry.

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80

Games Radar (in-house)

Shadow Assassin's flaws are easily forgiven though because the end package is just too great to hold a grudge.

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75

GameZone

Shadow Assassins for the PSP is not only a good entry in the Tenchu series but it also does stealthy ninja action well enough on Sony’s handheld. While the hardware limitations make for some slightly awkward gameplay issues, it doesn’t take away from an overall fulfilling experience.

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73

3DJuegos

Tenchu: Shadow Assassins redefines the series in a videogame more reflexive and less action paced than its predecessors. It's difficult, it's engaging and it's immersion, but the Wii version is better.

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71

Play UK

All credit to FromSoftware for cramming Acquire’s Wii version onto the PSP, but the slowdown can be a real drag in intense situations, and sometimes the conversion just feels a little sloppy.

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70

PSW Magazine UK

It's limited, but what's here is well-executed and very playable, even on PSP. [May 2009, p.84]

70

IGN AU

Tenchu is a fun PSP effort so long as you think of it as an all-new take on the franchise. The levels you play through are self- contained puzzles and not wide-open ninja-filled action-fests. If you prefer stealth to pure swordplay, you'll surely appreciate this approach.

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70

Meristation

Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is back on the verge with an adaptation that has nothing to envy its his eldest brother. It's very much the same game that we saw with the Wii version, with a funny story mode and a fair gameplay system that offers lots of stealth and a little bit of action. If you liked the original one, take your chances, but bear in mind that there isn't anything new to be considered if you owned the Wii edition.

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65

SpazioGames

Tenchu: Shadow Assassins may not be suited for long time fans, who will find a different gameplay, more puzzle oriented. The game is fun, anyway, even if it lacks the action typical of the franchise.

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60

Playstation Official Magazine Australia

Tenchu's in a dire need to go back to its roots. [June 2009, p.70]

60

Playstation Official Magazine UK

It's painstaking but satisfying. [June 2009, p.103]

60

Cynamite

The inflexible camera and the annoying trial&error gameplay will freak you out after a while.

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59

Multiplayer.it

Tenchu: Shadow Assassins delivers lots of stealth action, but it gives you absolutely no choice on how you beat each mission: if someone sees you, it's over. You can't go on rooftops anymore, and the first person combat system is poor and frustrating. The game comes with some good graphics, but the gameplay suffers from several flaws.

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57

PSM3 Magazine UK

An occasionally satisfying, but often frustrating experience. [June 2009, p.76]

50

Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

Ninjas are supposed to be cool. But when a poor control scheme and an even worse camera system make it difficult to perform even one of the three activities mentioned above, they're anything but. [June 2009, p.83]

40

Modojo

Shadow Assassins could've been a great game had some things been changed or revamped. Instead, only the truly dedicated will see it through to the end, and even they may opt for the original PSOne game instead.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.8 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

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