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Why can't more games be like this?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 10, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is one of those games that isn't particularly innovative, original, artistic, graphically beautiful, or well-written, but it's just so incredibly fun. Face it, you always wanted to be a ninja, didn't you? The makers of this game understood exactly how the appeal of being a ninja works, and integrated that fun and excitement beautifully. The gameplay builds up tension and suspense very nicely throughout each level. You gradually get new moves as you progress, so that the game becomes more and more complicated as you go along. I thought the pacing was perfect, so that the game stays fresh the whole way through, but never overwhelms.

The multi-player is barrels of fun. You can play against another player, or in co-operation with another player. There aren't many games where two players can play co-operatively, so that part alone makes me a very happy player. There are lots of items you can use, which means there is some element of strategy and flexibility in the game. The controls have a very steep learning curve, but once you get the hang of them, you'll be fine. The camera isn't great, but I don't know a single 3D action game that has really mastered the camera, so that's no surprise.

In conclusion, this is fun. Being a ninja is so very, very, fun.

Not a Very Good Stealth Game

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 01, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I played this right after I played Splinter Cell. For those of you that played Splinter Cell, you know that Splinter Cell is a near perfect stealth game. But Tenchu is just a dumbed down stealth game in comparison.

First of all, the point of the game is to get stealth kills. I didn't like that aspect at all. The point of being a ninja is to go through the mission undetected without leaving traces. But you're just jumping around and leaving bodies everywhere.

Also, the AI is stupid. I'm so used to Splinter Cell where the enemies can hear you sneak up behind them if you're not careful. But here you don't have to stalk. You just run up and kill them. They also give up too easily. You can hide behind a tree and they'll get stumped.

Finally the camera is horrible. It is very hard to actually sneak if you can't monitor the enemy because the camera is being retarded. I think this game might be a little more fun if the camera work was better.

eh.....so,so!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 18, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I love tenchu, but this one was short, i was a bit dissapointed, but still fin to play.

Could have been great!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Good graphics, great concept, great story, immersive gameplay - ALL of this completely ruined by terrible, uncontrolable camera angles. To me it wasn't worth the 5 dollars I paid for it on eBay. All they had to do was fix the camera...unbelievable.

The best ninja simulator to date, but something is missing...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Recommendation: Worth purchasing one game of the series. Chances are you'll enjoy it, but it will be more than enough.

Tenchu 3 is a true step into the world of Japanese mythical ninja popular culture. This is a consistent theme throughout the gameplay, the music, and the story, which makes this a very fun, interesting, and educational experience for anyone who is into such scenes. The problem is, Tenchu 3 brings nothing new to the gaming experience that we haven't seen again and again other than it's theme. This, unfortunately, is bound to happen when trying to resemble something precisely.

One of the most prominent drawbacks for this game has to be the repetition of levels, enemies, stories, and unlockable skills and items. While players will be given a choice among 3 different characters with their own storylines, they will all go through the same levels, achieve the same or similar purposes, unlock the same skills and items, and fight the same enemies. Many will agree that this is a crushing flaw as the majority of what propels players to complete a game is to progress further within it. Unfortunately, this means that after completing one character's storyline in Tenchu 3, basically the player will have played through the whole game of all the characters.

As far as the gameplay goes, it is far too simplified and instead of making the game more difficult by making the gameplay more creative, Tenchu 3 relies on archaic alternatives such as having the opponents deal more damage. Most combo/special attacks give little tactical advantage for the player and enemies, instead forcing the player to rely on luck or patience to wait out the enemy's attack. As for the enemy, they will have no reason to rely on luck or patience as they are much quicker than the player and calculate actions without falter, giving them a great edge over the player. Items the player may use additionally have no real tactical purpose other than damaging or knocking the opponent off balance to leave them open to damage, making even significant battles on the child's level of play - button mashing. And in the end, engaging in combat with enemies, regardless of how difficult is it, is simply a fast pass to getting a low score, as normal combat kills are only worth 1/4th what stealth kills are. This makes the tedious combat even more annoying to deal with.

Tenchu 3 really captures its audience with the stealth killing feature. This makes plowing through fortresses of clueless enemies quite a treat. Not only is it more fun, but it is also more rewarded in score - stealth kills are the only way to achieve the best score. There are various cutscenes for the interesting ways to surprise your enemy and run them through with your sword, however unfortunately you will find that you will only see one cutscene the majority of the time as it is based on location and generally you'll be attacking from behind. Often, the graphics might be too muddy to actually calculate a plan of stealth, which can become quite tedious, sometimes even leading the player to their death. And in Tenchu 3, if you die... you begin all the way from the beginning to repeat the averagely 40 minute stage all over again. But stealth killing still remains to be quite fun, especially when coupled with the grappling hook and some of the only useful skills in the game.

In the end, a poor game can at least draw in players with an intriguing story. Well... not Tenchu 3. The story here is so pumped full of filler sub-stories that it's hard to even determine which is filler and which is not. However, the story is also pumped full of classic Japanese lore, which is a treat to anyone who is into such scenes. Additionally, the only story that is well documented in cutscenes is Rikimaru's, leaving the other characters' stories simply bland and directionless.

Ninja dive on over to this sweet game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'm not sure how to Ninja dive, but that's why this game is so great. You get to move all smooth and stealthy, then kill a guy. It's all win-win. It's also wayyy better than the second one. I say buy it!

This is Ninja

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Tenchu 2 was once claimed to be the goriest game of all time. In many ways it lived up to the hype with its stealth kills. Tenchu 3 turns up the graphics, gameplay and stealth kills by a factor of 10 and then some more. Hopping across roof tops with your ninja blade looking for the enemy to perform a drop down standing on shoulders head through jaw thrust or a heart pull just makes this game a lot beyond want you have seen on the PS2 before. By the time the credits roll you would have been through a Ninja experience like-no-other. I can't believe how fierce this was to play. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, out there that plays quite like this. Imagine Solid Snake in MGSIII but with ninja skills. The game is as good as that.

Note: I am very surprised by the 15 cert on the game. It looks like whoever reviewed this game for content advisory probably didn't perform all the moves correctly. This should be 18 cert for good reason. There are murders moves in the game that would rank up there with "Manhunt".

Every Step Closer

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: February 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Tenchu is basically the only video game based off a ninja that actually plays similar to an actual "mythical" ninja.

Pros: Fun stealth, various weapons and distractions to use against the enemy, 3 characters to choose from with own stories, multiple ways to complete levels bringing high replayability, 2 player co-op mode, etc.

Cons: No personal mapmaking levels, 2 player co-op needs tweaking (better than none though), camera angles also need tweaking (but what 3D game doesn't)? Not replica of historical ninjas, (but than again, this is a mythical fiction story so we can all go with the flow. Plus it's closer than any other game to make one feel like a ninja).

This is the 3rd installment in the series and it hasn't taken a step back or seem like a complete rehash of the previous two. The ability to try multiple ways to complete each level makes it rare towards replayability. Enjoy.

Tenchu 3: Near Perfection!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

What a fantastic game! As an older gamer, it takes a lot to impress me. Most action-based games involve only action. The lack of thought and strategy it takes to win turns me off and I find myself going back to the computer to play RTS games. This wasn't the case with Tenchu 3, however. I couldn't get away from the intersecting story lines, new weapons, and of course the strategy of stealth.

The only items that could be improved are the A.I. of the enemy (which wasn't too bad), and a couple kinks in the storyline that never really pan out. Beyond that, this game is one that I see myself playing again 5 years from now! I still get it out ever-so-often and see if I can improve my mission ratings.

If you tired of the typical "hack n' slash" games and you're looking for something that offers thought, a great storyline, fantastic graphics, great weapons, and a tid-bit of Oriental history and art, then this is the game for you!

No such thing as a perfect game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: September 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

It seems if a game isn't absolutely perfect in every way, someone will find a knock on it. All the reviews I have read have something to say about the AI or the fight engine or something, and for people who haven't played the game, they might be turned off and never try it out. Well, I want to make sure that doesn't happen. Tenchu WOH is one of the jewels in my (admittedly small) library of games. Never mind the comparisons with the previous two titles, this game is just downright fun no matter how you slice it (no pun intended). The gameplay is unique (say what you want about Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid, none of them gave you the total mobility of a grapple hook), and the attention to the details of old Japanese culture is always a plus. The stealth aspect of this game is, of course, the key element and it is fun. If you're a fan of all-out fighting, then don't bother. You can pick fights with guards, but they are relatively simple, and not what the game is about. The real fun comes when you sneak around the shadows, looking out on unsuspecting enemies, leap out and deliver a quick and deadly blow, then quickly sink back into hiding. In order to set up these highly satisfying scenarios, however, you need to be patient. But it's worth it. Witness the fun of murdering one guard right behind another guy's back, then offing him when he turns around. Or, if you don't want to try that hard, just keep your distance and use your blow gun. The gameplay is unique, graphics are nice, the music sets up a nice ambiance for the game, and the small shortcomings such as camera angles and limited man-to-man fighting do not take away from the fun. A must-rent at the very least.

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