Tenchu sneaks up on PSP

By Tom Bramwell Published 23 May, 2006

Out next month.

SEGA's sneaking right up on us and thrusting a giant sword in our pocket next month - with Tenchu: Time of the Assassins on PSP, which has sprung from behind a development-shaped bush and presented itself for release on June 23rd.

Developed in partnership between K2 Studios (who did Tenchu: Fatal Shadows on PS2) and FromSoftware, Time of the Assassins is a fully featured Tenchu stealth-'em-up with enhanced versions of the old techniques and new kill moves, which even work on bosses this time.

Rikimaru, Ayame, Rin and Tesshu all make it into the PSP version, which sports a big story mode as well as an unlockable 50-level "free mission" mode, and co-operative and head-to-head wireless modes. There's even a level editor and the facility to swap your creations using wireless too.

All good news for Tenchu fans then, and there must be some or we suppose they'd stop making them. If you're one, you might also want to check out the screenshots SEGA's released as you sit and wait for June 23 to sneak up and steal your money.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (12) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • 786Beast #1 6 years ago

    good stuff!

  • lambtron #2 6 years ago

    I really liked the tenchu games on PS1. But they never updated the god awful control system and now I think I would rather push masonry nails into my eyes than play it. Unless they have fixed that of course.

  • itamae #3 6 years ago

    I even enjoyed the latest Tenchu game (Kurenai?) to some extent so I guess I'll have to buy this. Initial reviews seem to agree that it's an "okay" game with serious camera problems.

  • jellyhead #4 6 years ago

    23rd June! Gah, same day as locco rocco!
    oh, camera issues. Maybe the choice won't be so tough after all. hmmm.

  • Psi #5 6 years ago

    nice but give me last ninja on the ds!

  • El_MUERkO #6 6 years ago

    I've played the japanese version and I have to warn you I was bitterly disappointed.

    The draw distance is shocking, I get that its supposed to be at night but that is used as an excuse in my opinion.

    They make good use of sound to make up for it but having seen Syphon Filter in motion it only compounded my disappointment.

  • NoCodeNed2 #7 6 years ago

    I loved the level editor on Tenchu2 (I think?), reckon I'll check this out.

  • Triggerhappytel #8 6 years ago

    I really liked Tenchu 1 one the PS1, but thought the others since have been pretty poor. Also, like Lambtron says, the controls leave a lot to be desired on the later versions (just doesn't seem to work on analogue).

    TBH I don't expect this one to be any different, but I hope I am proved wrong.

  • kangarootoo #9 6 years ago

    much as I don't got for bandwagons, I have to add my "loved the original PS1 Tenchu, unimpressed since" tuppence to the pile. I could swear the more recent ones are actually worse, but maybe that is just nostalgia buggering about with my memory.

  • tengu #10 6 years ago

    First three Tenchu games were all great. Fatal Shadows less so, but okay in it's way. Been waiting for the PSP version to get a release for ages now, so this is welcome news.

  • bunglebonce #11 6 years ago

    I played the Japanese one that came out at the end of last year. It was awful.

    Don't get your hopes up.

  • tentonipete #12 6 years ago

    i played the awful japanese one too. is this just an english version of the same game?