Tenchu 3 is the short name for Wrath of Heaven. Same stylish ninja stealth, same Edo mood and same catalogue of takedowns. A PS2 shadow classic.
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Category
Action Adventure1 player16+
Description
An Acquire action-adventure released in 2003, the original Japanese edition of Tenchu 3, Japanese equivalent of Tenchu Wrath of Heaven. The third main Tenchu franchise entry in Japan, where Rikimaru, Ayame and newcomer Tesshu carry out ninja infiltration missions in Sengoku Jidai Japan. Signature stealth mechanics, silent elimination and medieval-fantasy atmosphere. Original Japanese edition.
Tenchu 3 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
The Japanese edition brings forward the irruption of the supernatural into feudal stealth. Alongside the human guards prowl demons, sorcerers and creatures from folklore, whose presence darkens the ninja's world. The art direction thus slides from historical realism toward macabre fantasy: supernatural mists, monsters lurking in temples, spectral apparitions, and the game of shadow is doubled by a threat no longer merely human.
The score oscillates between two states, keyed to the hunt. While the ninja stays unseen, the music turns almost motionless, muffled pads and spaced notes that prolong the wait. But the moment an alarm bursts, the moment a guard cries out, a lively, pressing percussion falls upon the scene, marking the tip from patience to panic.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
The Japanese and Asian version of Tenchu 3, the third major entry in the ninja stealth series, refining its furtive kills and vertical level design. Its interest lies in the original edition of this peak of the stealth saga and its loyal niche demand rather than scarcity. A piece sought by stealth fans attached to the Japanese version.
Is Tenchu 3 still worth playing in 2026?
Stealth from K2 and Activision, Tenchu Wrath of Heaven, the series' third entry, places two ninjas in feudal Japan, where stealthy assassination from the shadows takes priority over direct confrontation. The satisfaction of the silent kill, the verticality of the levels and the hushed mood make all the appeal of a genre forerunner. The temperamental camera and a dated AI temper the whole. A good stealth game for fans of stealthy ninjas and nostalgics of the pioneers of shadow assassination.
