Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

立体忍者活劇 天誅 (Rittai Ninja Katsugeki Tenchū)PlayStation1998

  1. JP1998
  2. NA1998
  3. EU1998
  4. RU—

In Japan the game is Rittai Ninja Katsugeki Tenchu (立体忍者活劇 天誅); the expanded Western version, Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, was sold in Japan in 1999 as Tenchu: Shinobi Gaisen. No current digital store release is on record.

Tenchu: Stealth Assassins is a stealth action game set in feudal Japan, developed by Acquire as its first project. Sony Music Entertainment Japan released it for the PlayStation in Japan on 26 February 1998, and Activision published it in North America on 14 September 1998 and in Europe on 30 October 1998. Takuma Endo directed it and also worked as planner, scenario writer, sound editor and tester.

The original pitch was set in a near-future New York City before the team moved to feudal Japan, drawing on Akira Kurosawa's films. The Ki meter warns of nearby enemies without a minimap. Noriyuki Asakura's soundtrack mixes Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Turkish elements with Western rock and fusion, and the opening theme is sung in Hausa. Kane Kosugi worked on the game as a motion actor.

The Western release added two levels, a level editor and smoother graphics; Japan got this version as Shinobi Gaisen in 1999. Activision's demand for a sequel led to Tenchu 2 in 2000.12

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Tenchu: Stealth Assassins PlayStation Sep 14, 1998 Activision 1
JP 立体忍者活劇 天誅 PlayStation Feb 26, 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Japan 1
EU Tenchu: Stealth Assassins PlayStation Oct 30, 1998 Activision 1
JP 天誅 忍凱旋Tenchu: Shinobi Gaisen: the Western version with new cover art by Hiroaki Samura and a new opening; moved to the budget 'The Best' line on 11 November 1999. PlayStation Feb 22, 1999 Sony Music Entertainment Japan 1
JP 天誅 忍百選Tenchu: Shinobi Hyakusen, a standalone expansion with 100 user-created levels. PlayStation Nov 11, 1999 Sony Music Entertainment Japan 1

Also known as: 立体忍者活劇 天誅 JP1天誅 壱 JP2天誅 忍凱旋 JP1

Box art by region

  • Tenchu: Stealth Assassins box art, North America release
    NA Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
  • Tenchu: Stealth Assassins box art, Europe release
    EU Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.

Version differences

  • ContentNAEUShinobi Gaisen

    The Western version adds two levels, "Cross the Checkpoint" and "Execute the Corrupt Minister", plus alternating mission layouts, a level editor and a cheat menu.1

  • GraphicsNAEU

    For the Western release the graphics were polished and the frame rate stabilized.1

  • CensorshipNAEU

    A female boss in "Cross the Checkpoint" was made to look more mature to pass Sony's approval criteria.1

All differences (5)

Reception

Tenchu scored 87 on Metacritic and was a finalist for Console Action Game of the Year at the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. Sales figures vary by source: English Wikipedia gives 250,000 in Japan and over 1.4 million worldwide by 2003, Japanese Wikipedia 270,000 in Japan and 1 million abroad. A former Activision producer estimated five million units including re-releases.1

In lists

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2ja.wikipedia.org

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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