Originally intended as a Western exclusive, consequent adjustments were made to reduce its niche Japanese elements while also polishing the gameplay and graphics.
Missions are set in different locales at varying times of day, ranging from rural farmland, bamboo forests, mountainous regions, beaches, ships, villages and caverns.
They are Rikimaru, dedicated to his duty as a ninja; the rebellious and free-spirited Ayame; and Tatsumaru, the chosen successor to their mentor Azuma Shiunsai.
Over a period of time following Toda's death, the Burning Dawn partake in a series of underground criminal activities such as kidnapping, theft, forced labor, smuggling and murder.
In a final campaign by Lord Godha against the Burning Dawn on their flagship Fire Demon, Rikimaru kills Suzaku and then mortally wounds Kagame.
Tatsumaru slowly regains some of his memories, and when fighting Ayame kills himself with Rikimaru's sword as penance for his actions against the Azuma and Godha.
Rikimaru pledges himself to Lord Godha as the Azuma's new leader, and Ayame while depressed by Tatsumaru's death chooses to keep living for Kiku, who has come to see her as an older sister.
In the post-credits scene of Tatsumaru's campaign, Suzaku is revived as Onikage, servant of the demonic Mei-Oh and a leading antagonist of the first Tenchu.
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, developed by Japanese company Acquire, was released in 1998 and went on to sell one million units worldwide, prompting the creation of a second title.
The setting of a civil war over the Godha lands allowed for greater gameplay variety including escort missions.
[15] As part of Activision's requests, more overtly Japanese elements were toned down to make the game more appealing to Western players.
He had a lot of trouble with technical problems which persisted until the later part of production, mostly due to issues with getting the graphics to run smoothly.
[13] The enemy AI was upgraded to be more reactive, greater ability to hear sounds made by the player, and able to call reinforcements.
[5] Promotion of the title at E3 2000 was problematic, as it drew staff away from the American and European localizations, the latter requiring technical alterations by Acquire to match different frame rate displays for PAL televisions.
[23][24] The European version saw substantial alterations, featuring less blood, no decapitations, and shurikens removed due to laws prohibiting their portrayal in the United Kingdom.
[11] The development studio K2, newly-formed in 2000 by industry veteran Mitsuo Kodama, created the sequel Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven for release in 2003.
[42][43] Acquire's inability to work on Tenchu, but continued wish to develop titles using a feudal Japanese setting, resulted in them partnering with Spike to create Way of the Samurai.