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Tenchu: Shadow Assassins wii Game Reviews
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins
Critic Score
Metascore: 70 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.2 out of 10
based on 34 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 15 votes
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Rate this game

Tenchu: Shadow Assassins uses the Wii Remote to fight, dash, jump and kill like a true ninja. Players continue the saga of Rikimaru and Ayame, elite ninjas who must use their lethal skills to keep the peace in feudal Japan. Playing as both stealthy Rikimaru and aggressive and acrobatic Ayame, players fight their way through more than 10 missions and 50 side quests and experience the thrilling adventure of being the ultimate ninja. [Ubisoft]

PUBLISHER: Ubisoft
DEVELOPER: Acquire
GENRE(S): Third-Person Action, Adventure
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE: February 3, 2009

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...

90
Gameplayer
Perhaps best of all, though, the developer has managed to create a graphically rich and detailed version of 13th Century Japan that’s positively dripping with atmosphere.
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85
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, it's exciting and it's very inmersive. If you want to act like a real ninja, this game is definitely for you.
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85
Wii Brasil
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is a great game, recommended to anyone who enjoys action, thievery and the sensation of being a true ninja.
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80
NGamer UK
Really get into it and you'll spend weeks finding the perfect 'solutions". For everyone else, this is a rare actioner on Wii, and very competently handheld. [JPN Import; Mar 2009, p.58]
80
IGN
Despite some issues with regard to character control and the fact that some series staples like lots of rooftop exploration are oddly missing from the Wii sequel, the end product is still fun.
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80
Worth Playing
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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80
Games Master UK
A rare slice of meaty action on the Wii. Plenty of sneaky entertainment to be had. [Mar 2009, p.68]
80
GameZone
One of the best Tenchu sequels ever made.
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80
InsideGamer.nl
Tenchu 4 aint a perfect game, but the gore makes it very interesting. Are you a fan of ninjas, stealth and diverse missions? If so, then Tenchu is your game!
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78
Cheat Code Central
The further you delve into the game's entrancing plot and ninja sneakiness, the more you'll come to appreciate its high points. Plus, who doesn't love being a ninja assassin?
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78
XGN
Ubisoft has placed a good Wii title on the shelves, with some flaws and small imperfections. Overall it looks good and the sound is also really fine. Every gamer will be entertained at least ten hours with the storyline. Despite the small mistakes, Tenchu is definitely a must have for the Wii!
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75
Vandal Online
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is a good game, but because of its design, not everyone will like it. Is a pretty demanding game that can become frustrating, above all in those moments we will have to wait hoping not to be tracked down and be able to continue. Because of that is a game recommended to those patient players or to the ones used to this game mechanics.
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74
GameTrailers
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins gives the Wii’s family-friendly catalogue a welcome streak of red, but an ancient design and trifling motion controls make it an old dog of war. Many aspects of the game simply feel dated, but the series is definitely back to its stealthy fighting form. It’s going to take a lot more for it to achieve a successful contract kill.
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72
Official Nintendo Magazine UK
The best Tenchu in ages and good fun for the most part but this is a series that badly needs a reinvention. [Mar 2009, p.76]
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70
Gamervision
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins isn’t a bad game by any stretch of the imagination. It gives gamers a unique experience that while not always successful, certainly gives its all.
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70
Nintendo Power
Shadow Assassins is a solid stealth title that can be both fun and frustrating, a mix of truly impressive features and clumsy missteps. [Feb 2009, p.88]
70
Meristation
Acquire has made its job innovating with a franchise that was almost set up to death. Our objective is to kill without being noticed, so we'll definitely use shadows to hide and to proceed with an instant murder. Quite impressive visuals lacking a better gameplay system is very much what we're going to find on the latest installment of Tenchu.
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70
Everyeye.it
Tenchu is back in a vivid reproduction of the Ninja lifestyle, with dark and light in its path. It's a shame to be forced into awful first person sword fights, because the entire game is full of tension, quality and pathos. A good game for the Wii owners, that's for sure! Welcome back, Acquire!
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70
SpazioGames
Wii debut of the Tenchu saga with Shadow Assassins is a good one, thanks to the team Acquire, creator of the original episode. Nevertheless the innovations introduced by the developer drive the game away from the typical stealth formula, limiting the possibilities given to the player. Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is a more linear game then the predecessors; even if the new ideas may seem interesting, the result is not fully convincing. Recommended more to newbies than fans, who may be let down by the change of direction.
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70
PALGN
Tough but flawed, Tenchu is still an enjoyable mature experience on the Wii.
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70
Cynamite
Nice visuals, varied levels and a tight atmosphere - only the needlessly hard sword duels and some minor quirks prevent the Shadow Assassins from scoring higher.
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69
GamingTrend
The graphics are average for the Wii, the sound is out of place, the sword fighting is Red Steel levels of bad and the fact that the bad guys will let their guard down when their buddies are lying dead at their feet all add up to a disappointing game. Hopefully Ubisoft goes back to the drawing board before releasing Tenchu 5.
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69
Multiplayer.it
Even if it’s not nearly as bad as most of the recent Tenchu games, Stealth Assassins sadly fails in delivering a concrete upgrade to the series: developer Acquire wanted a game that both hardcore and casual gamers could get into, but the risk is that nobody will really like it.
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67
1UP
Once you grow accustomed to the game's quirks, you soon find yourself in a rhythm where gamer instincts overcome sloppy game mechanics. Eventually, the thrill of starting a level -- unarmed -- and slowly but surely making your way over rooftops and underwater and over rafters becomes a guilty thrill.
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65
Game Informer
However, the clunky controls, frustrating camera, and broken combat all spoil the game's flow. [Apr 2009, p.86]
60
Gamer.nl
The new and improved puzzle-styled Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is a step in the right direction for the series. Nevertheless the game has little to do with the original Tenchu, making it a strange experience for the Tenchu veteran. But if you're open to it, Tenchu: Shadow Assassins will offer a very entertaining fifteen hours of ninja-power.
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60
Teletext GameCentral
The best Tenchu for years, even if it does still leave too many frustrating relics from the past.
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60
VideoGamer
There are two campaigns to play through, an extra series of 50 brief assignments to complete, and a smattering of new items and artworks to unlock; to this extent, the game is quite generous, but I think that most players would have preferred less content and more room to manoeuvre.
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60
LEVEL (Czech Republic)
It could be a great stealth action game but inaccurate controls and offenses against stealth genre corrupt all the fun. [May 2009]
60
Edge Magazine
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]
60
games(TM)
It takes several hours of frustrating play to get to the more enjoyable sections of the game. [Mar 2009, p.116]
58
GameShark
Tenchu works best when taken as a puzzle game that requires you to master your ninja sense and proceed step-by-step, error-by-error, to every stage’s inevitable boss. As a “stealth action” game, however, it falls short of expectations.
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50
GameSpot
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins attempts to sneak in the footsteps of its stealthy predecessors but ends up a stumbling, bungling mess.
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40
G4 TV
The series makes a blind leap into a new genre, only to fall flat on his face satisfying neither the fans of puzzle or action games.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

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