Tenchu 3: Wrath of Heaven Q&A

Activision revealed Tenchu 3 earlier this year, amid speculation regarding its development. It had previously surfaced that Acquire--the studio responsible for the first two Tenchu games--would not be handling the third. Though no other details were given, the announcement led people to believe that a new game was indeed in the works.

Tenchu 3 is the official sequel to the original Tenchu; the second Tenchu was actually a prequel to the first game. Not much has been revealed about Tenchu 3 so far. Fortunately, we recently had a chance to speak with Tadayuki Horie, the game's producer at Activision, who was kind enough to field a good number of our questions. While there's still a great deal still in the dark, we managed to unearth a few details that will definitely be of interest to those who've been following the series.

Read on, to learn about the continuing adventure of Rikimaru and Ayame.

GameSpot: Tenchu 2 was a prequel to Tenchu: Stealth Assassins. When does Tenchu 3 take place in the series' chronology?

Tadayuki Horie: Tenchu 3 takes place one year after the end of Tenchu 1. It is the first actual "sequel" to the series.

GS: What's the premise of the game?

TH: The game will be consistent with the universe of Tenchu. That's all we can say for now.

GS: You were able to play as three different characters in Tenchu 2. How many will you be able to play as in Tenchu 3, and who will they be?

TH: We are creating more than two playable characters, but we cannot discuss them at this time. Rest assured that each character will have a unique set of skills and abilities and a distinct storyline.

GS: What other characters from the series will we see in Tenchu 3?

TH: Sorry, I can't answer this either--it would spoil some of the mystery surrounding the end of the first Tenchu.

GS: The enemies in the first Tenchu were primarily demons, and in the second game, they were primarily human ninjas. Which will we see more of in Tenchu 3?

TH: We will see a mixture of both, both alive and undead.

GS: What sort of graphical detail can we expect from Tenchu 3? How will it take advantage of the PlayStation 2's abilities?

TH: The development team at K2 consists of highly talented people who work relentlessly to add minute details and make full use of the PS2's abilities. In a game like Tenchu, where atmosphere is so important, we work extremely hard to re-create the feel and mystery of feudal Japan. We have worked very hard on improving the character models and the animations to look smooth, natural, and cool.

GS: We saw the draw distance extend greatly in Tenchu 2 when compared with the first game. Will the draw distance extend farther in Tenchu 3?

TH: Yes.

GS: Will there be any changes to the game's camera system?

TH: Yes. We've done a considerable amount of research for the camera system, and we are working very hard to improve the camera.

GS: What new items and weapons can we expect?

TH: We will release information regarding the traditional and new items and weapons at a later date.

GS: Tenchu 2 received a few criticisms concerning its high level of difficulty and numerous boss encounters. Will Tenchu 3 be easier or harder than Tenchu 2, and will there be more or fewer boss encounters?

TH: We're balancing out the difficulty level for Tenchu 3 so that the boss encounters are challenging and fun. There will be fewer boss encounters than in Tenchu 2, but the bosses will require very different strategies to defeat.

GS: What aspect of the game are you most proud of so far?

TH: When I show people the game they initially all comment on how superb the animations and environment look. But after playing it they all mention how much fun it already is.

So to answer your question, the "fun" is the aspect of the game that I'm most proud of--sneaking around, looking down at enemies, using the grappling hook to get to better locations or to run away, and performing one-strike stealth kills on enemies that are usually bastards to fight. It's fun already.

We're adding in new attack combos and action elements that have already taken the game to a new level. Some of these new elements will surprise fans of the series and make the game more accessible to new players as well. Activision's Japan studio and K2 are working very hard to create a sequel that will be just as revolutionary as the first Tenchu.

GS: Are you considering bringing the game to any other game systems in addition to the PS2?

TH: Yes, but no comment [as to which].

GS: Is there anything that you'd like to say directly to fans of the series?

TH: We really appreciate the great support the fans have been giving the series, and we have been listening closely to your ideas and feedback. Tenchu 3 will be the most authentic ninja experience yet seen, and we're working hard to deliver a game as great as your devotion to the series.

GS: Thank you for your time.

TH: Thank you.