To achieve greatness at Tenchu you will soon need to master the controls. This game is all about not being seen and to so do requires much skill. Stealth is very important if you are ever to become a true Grandmaster. The basic controls for Tenchu are as follows (with some key moves highlighted bold):

Moving

Advance								Run forward
Retreat								Walk backwards
Left turn								Turn left
Right turn								Turn right
Quick left turn		+						Turns quickly to the left
Quick right turn		+						Turns quickly to the right
Step in								Take a quick step forward
Step out								Take a quick step backwards
Left step								Take a quick step left
Right step								Take a quick step right

 

Jumping

Jump								Jump straight up
Forward jump		+						Jump forward
Backward jump		+						Jump backwards
Jump left		+						Jump to the left
Jump right		+						Jump to the right
Strong forward jump			+					Jump forward powerfully
Moonsault jump			+					Jump forward and reverse direction
Ricochet Jump								Flip off wall (need to be next to a wall)

 

Stealth Mode (crouching)

Crouch	R1							Crouch
Advance	R1	+						Advance while crouching
Retreat	R1	+						Retreat while crouching
Move left	R1	+						Move left while crouching
Move right	R1	+						Move right while crouching
Turn left	R1	+		+				Turn left while crouching
Turn right	R1	+		+				Turn right while crouching

Note: In Tenchu the circle button can also be used for stealth mode.

Stealth Mode (walls)

Press against wall	R1							Press back against a wall
Move forward	R1	+						Move forward against a wall
Move backwards	R1	+						Move backwards against a wall
Move left	R1	+						Move left against a wall
Move right	R1	+						Move right against a wall

Stealth Mode (rolling)

Forward roll	R1	+						Roll forward
Backward roll	R1	+						Roll backwards
Left roll	R1	+						Roll to the left
Right roll	R1	+						Roll to the right
Quick reverse	R1	+						Roll through 180º

 

Hanging

Move left		while hanging						Move left while hanging
Move right		while hanging						Move right while hanging
Climb		while hanging						Stops hanging and climbs
Drop		while hanging						Stops hanging and drops

Note: By jumping, hooking or grappling the ninja can hang on to an edge.

Blocking

Block		while enemy strikes						Blocks enemy sttacks from the front
Knock down arrows		when arrow is in range						Knocks arrows out of the air

Attacks

Forward slash								Ninja slashes forward
Slash left		+						Turn and slash to the left
Slash right		+						Turn and slash to the right
Jump attack		while jumping						Slash while jumping
Dash attack			+					Slash while running forward
Turnaround slash			+					Roll 180º and slash
Slash while crouching	R1	+						Slash while crouching

 

Rikimaru Specific Attacks

Left switchback slash		+		,		+		Slash to right, then left
Right switchback slash		+		,		+		Slash to left, then right

 

Ayame Specific Attacks

Double left slashes		+		,				Two slashes to the left
Double right slashes		+		,				Two slashes to the right

Note: Multiple use of the square button reuslts in a combo. Rikimaru has a 3-hit combo. Ayame has a four hit combo.

 

Items

Pick up items	Directional buttons							Walk close to an item
Aim crimson blade*		+	directional buttons					Target sight is displayed
Throw crimsom blade*		(release)						Blade thrown at target sight
Aim grappling rope		+	directional buttons					Target sight is displayed
Throw grappling hook		(release)						Grappling rope thrown at target sight
Select item	L2/R2							Scroll through item you ninja is carrying
Use item								Selected item is used
View map	SELECT							Displays level map

*Crimson blades are also known as shuriken

 

Other

Look around	L1 + Directional buttons							Ninja looks around
Pause	START							Pauses the game
Cancel pause	While paused, START							Resumes game
Quick reset	SELECT + START							Returns to title screen