To achieve greatness at Tenchu 2 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 2 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

Note: In Tenchu 2 you can also use the circle button and the direction pad to perform steps in the four directions.

 

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)

Note: In Tenchu 2 you can also perform the strong forward jumping by pressing circle, up and x.

 

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

 

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

Note: For the following to work you must be close to 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

Note: In Tenchu 2 you can also perform a roll by pressing R1 and circle together with the direction you wish to roll.

 

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

Defend		or						Blocks enemy attacks from the front
Knock down arrows		when arrow is in range						Knocks arrows out of the air

 

Attacks

Unsheathe weapon								Ninja unsheathes weapon
Sheathe weapon								Ninja sheathes weapon
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		+						Turn 180º and slash
Slash while crouching	R1	+						Slash while crouching

 

Rikimaru only Attacks

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

 

Ayame only Attacks

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

 

Tatsumaru only Attacks

Forward and left attack		+		,		+		Attack forward, then left
Forward and right attack		+		,		+		Attack forward, then right

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

 

Items

Pick up items	Directional buttons							Walk close to an item
Aim throwing knife*		+	directional buttons					Target sight is displayed
Throw throw knife*		(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

*Throwing knives are also known as shuriken

 

Other

Look around	L1 + Directional buttons							Ninja looks around
Drag dead body	R1	+		+	dirn			Ninja drags dead body
Search dead ninja	R1	(over dead body)						Ninja searches body for items
Water Phantom Technique	R1							Ninja hides underwater
Submerge and swim								Ninja swims underwater
Water turnaround	R1	+						Ninja turns underwater
Pause	START							Pauses the game
Cancel pause	While paused, START							Resumes game

Note: To drag a dead body your weapon needs to be sheathed.