"Tenchu 2:  Birth of the Stealth Asassins" FAQ
(No spoilers/No nonsense)

9/9/00 version 1.15
By Joshua Kirkpatrick (razorknife@hotmail.com)

Table of contents:

1.  Why write a FAQ?
2.  The most common questions. (updated)
3.  The controls explained.
4.  Items and how to use them.
5.  The missions:  Where stuff is, and beating the bosses.
6.  Miscellaneous hints and advice.
7.  Version History
8.  Credits/Legal

========================================================================
1.  Why write a FAQ?
========================================================================

        I have been a huge fan of the Tenchu series since being introduced to
it by my friend Jason.  I eagerly anticipated this sequel and followed its
development closely.  Now that I have it, I'm rather pleased with it.  However,
I've noticed a lot of questions on the message boards that could be easily
answered, and also many people giving away important plot events.  I've been
averse to unnecessary spoilers since reading some otherwise excellent FF7 FAQs.
 Therefore, I chose to provide a FAQ free of spoilers and full of info.  I hope
it is useful to you in some small way.

        If you have a contribution to the FAQ send it to me at
"razorknife@hotmail.com".  Make sure to put Tenchu 2 somewhere in the subject
line, so I know it's not spam.  Once I update the FAQ, I'll add your name to
the credits section as well as where I made the change.  If you have a question
about playing the game that hasn't been answered by the FAQ, the manual, or the
game itself, you can try me.  Depending on my workload, my mood, the phase of
the moon, etc., I may very well help you.  Or I may not.  Guess we'll find out.

========================================================================
2.  The most common questions.
========================================================================

------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.1:  Can I drag bodies?  If so, how?
------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Yes, it's just harder than it should be.  Hold the [R1] button when
nearby, and press and hold [Circle].  Rikimaru and Ayame will need to sheathe
their weapons first.  You will only be able to drag bodies when you and the
corpse are on perfectly flat ground to start.  Once you have them, however, you
are able to drag them up and down shallow inclines.  You can nudge un-draggable
bodies around if you walk or crouch-step nearby.  You can even move them when
they are floating; just jump in and push them around.  It's a little harder
than when they're on land, but if you move them close enough to shore or a
boat, you may be able to retrieve your hard earned items from their corpses.

        It may also be useful to note here that if you cut off an adversary's
head or arm, you will be unable to drag them.  You can still search for items.

        Another bit about dragging enemies.  You probably already know this,
but try to face the direction you want to move the body before dragging it. 
There's nothing worse than having to pull a U-turn with a corpse in tow and an
alert guard straight ahead.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.2:  I used a silent kill move; why did the move stop halfway through?
------------------------------------------------------------------------

        As with dragging bodies, you will only be able to get the full
animation on a stealth kill cutscene when you and the enemy are on perfectly
flat ground and nothing gets in the way of your movements.  This is annoying,
but explains why the screen "jumps" from the cutscene to the normal view
suddenly.  Sometimes it will happen just as you go to kill the enemy and the
display will change rather jarringly.  Other times the animation will be almost
fully shown, then the display will revert to the standard view, with the enemy
dying (again) from a standing position.  There are some amusing possibilities
here as well, such as using Rikimaru's "from behind" stealth kill, and seeing
the same enemy's arm fall off.  Obviously this was not an intentional feature.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.3:  I just killed this guy, and I can't search his body.  Why not?
------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Sometimes you may kill a guard but be unable to check for items; you do
not gain any items when searching (with [R1]), but you do not hear the "no
item" sound.  This could be due to their positioning.  Seriously!  Some stealth
kills (such as Ayame's crouching kill) leave the enemy in a strange position on
the ground.  For whatever reason, this means you can't search for items. 
However, if you drag their bodies for even an instant, they will revert to a
spread-eagle pose.  Now you will be able to search them.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.4:  Is there a way to cancel the use of an item?  I'm always wasting blowgun
darts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Fortunately, yes.  To cancel the use of an item, press the [Square]
button while still holding [Triangle].  Very useful if you should, say, need to
reposition yourself after aiming.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.5:  How do I fight the bosses?  They're too hard!
------------------------------------------------------------------------

        I've listed some boss-specific techniques in the mission hints section.
 Otherwise, some basic tactics should be discussed.

        -Foremost, guard often.  You can hold Down on the controller, or press
[Circle].  Be careful not to try to move when holding the [Circle] button, or
your guard will be dropped.  Some bosses have a few attacks that can penetrate
your guard anyway, so this is not always the best option.

        -If you're feeling ambitious, interrupt your opponent's attacks with
your own.  Try to strike just before they do, cutting off their motion. 
Rikimaru is the best at this particular tactic.

        -Escape when you are low on health and drink some potion.  You will
want to bring several potions on the levels that have bosses.  Usually 3-4
should suffice.  If you are poisoned, try to do something about it right away,
because you will take damage every few seconds until you've treated the poison.
 If you don't have antidote, do everything in your power to kill the enemy. 
Their death should save you.

        -It may seem natural to try to get behind the enemy and then unload. 
However, when enemies are attacked from behind, they tend to slide toward you
rather then away.  This means they may eventually end up next to or behind you.
 Try using only moves that knock down the enemy, like Rikimaru's crouching
slash, when attacking from behind.  This has the twin advantage of keeping the
enemy's back to you constantly as well as doing lots of damage.  Ayame is a
little weaker in this area; she can only take opponents down with her reverse
attack.  Note that a few bosses will not actually fall down until they die.

        -When you have it, wear armor on any levels that have boss fights.  Not
only is damage halved, but it is rounded down.  Therefore, those arrows only do
two points of damage instead of five (5/2==2.5, rounds down to 2).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.6:  How do I attain Grand Master status?
------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Really, the best way to score Grand Master is not to be spotted
throughout the course of the mission.  This game is much more strict than the
original Tenchu, in that not only do you have to avoid being spotted, but you
must often eliminate all enemy guards in the level.  A good rule of thumb is
that if there are fewer than 20 guards in the level, you are not allowed to be
spotted at all.  Unfortunately, the point values you need seem to change from
level to level, rather than being constant; therefore, it is next to impossible
to list all of the requirements for each level.  However, there are a few
things to be aware of that might help you attain the highest score; most are
based on use of the Ki meter.

        -Each time the Ki meter displays "!!", you are penalized 30 points for
being spotted.  If the enemy has only seen you but doesn't recognize you as a
threat, the meter will display "!" and you will hear your ninja's heart
pounding in fear (Or is it the other guy?  It's too hard to tell).  Back off
quickly and you will be safe.  Also, when the meter displays "!?" status, as
long as you stay hidden you should be safe.  You will recognize the difference
over time.

        -If you use [R1] to crouch, you will be able to get much closer to your
opponent without being spotted.  Roll towards them as they move away, and roll
away when they close in.  Depending on conditions, the enemy will usually not
notice you until the Ki meter reads "?50" to "?60".  If you do get too close,
quickly roll away, and you should be fine.

        -Use your Ki meter to hunt.  When you get a reading, close in on the
enemy, using terrain for cover.  Observe from a distance, and make your move
when you know the enemy's pattern.  There are 3 types of patterns the enemy can
have:

        (1)  The easiest to deal with are stationary guards, although proximity
to other guards can make them quite difficult.  Every few seconds, they turn 90
degrees to the left or right, randomly.  When they are isolated and their back
is turned, you can move in with relative safety.

        (2)  Randomly moving guards are a bit harder.  They will turn in a
random direction, move a few steps, and stop for several seconds.  However, the
fact that they stop for so long makes them a lot easier to deal with.  Watch
out; they do climb up and fall off of ledges.

        (3)  Guards that move in consistent patterns are actually the hardest
to deal with.  This is because they move fairly quickly and tend to turn
unexpectedly.  For instance, a guard may be moving from right to left (from
your perspective).  He will move several steps, and then stop and turn toward
you.  After a second or two, he will turn counter-clockwise, and face away for
a couple seconds.  Then, he will turn clockwise to face you again, and quickly
turn all the way around counter-clockwise until he is facing to the right, and
will start moving in that direction.  Watch them long enough, though, and you
will get their pattern.  It's easiest to tag them when they're moving.

        -If they're on your side, don't kill them!  I can't believe some of the
advice that's out there.  Each time you murder an innocent person, you are
penalized 150 points, putting Grand Master status far out of reach.

        -There are some people you don't need to worry about spotting you;
basically, if they're on your side and they have a weapon, you can walk right
up to them with no problem.  However, if they see the enemy they will attack
them.  This isn't really bad; although the enemies will be alerted (in "!?"
status), just stay out of the way and the enemy will die shortly.  For some
reason the enemies won't strike back.  The only thing to be aware of is that if
the intruder is killed by your ally, you will not get credit.  This did keep me
from getting Grand Master on Rikimaru's "Ninja Village" mission a couple times.

        -Finally, be aware that your Ki meter works in 3 dimensions; therefore,
if the meter is reading "?70" and there's no one visible nearby, the enemy may
in fact be directly above or below you.  Jump, and watch the number change to
find out where they are.


------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.7:  How many different stealth kills are there?
------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Each character has 7 distinct stealth kills.  Basically, if the enemy
is in "?" status, and you attack them when nearby, the animation varies
depending on whether you are:

        -Behind the enemy.
        -To the left of the enemy.
        -To the right of the enemy.
        -Directly in front of the enemy.
        -Crouching near the enemy.
        -In midair when you press attack (easier with a "big" jump).

        For the seventh kill, you have to bump the enemy just before you hit
the attack button, so that they are aware of your presence, but don't have time
to react.  After the kill, any remaining enemies will still be in "!?" status. 
See the in depth Stealth Kill FAQ by Jeremy Drake for more info on the various
kills; it's an excellent document.

========================================================================
3.  The controls explained.
========================================================================

Neither training or the manual cover everything you can do in this game.  By
default, the controls are as follows:

Control Pad:

Up - Move forward
Down - Move backward, as well as defend.
Left, Right - Turn
Up and Left/Right (diagonal) -  Run while turning.
Down and Left/Right (diagonal) - Turn quickly.
Double Tap Up, Down, Left, or Right - Quick dash in given direction.

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[Select} Shows the level map, when appropriate.  You won't be able to access
the map on custom missions or training missions.  The map is updated as you
proceed.

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[Start] Pauses the game.  A warm reset is done by *holding* both Select and
Start for 3 seconds while playing.

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[L1] - Look.  Use the Pad while holding this button to look about.  Up and Down
are reversed, like airplane controls.  Note that you can use [L1] with almost
any other button combination, or while performing any action.  Take advantage
of this to increase your visual range while rolling forward.

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[R1] - Stealth.  Many functions.  In the open, your ninja crouches.   Pad
functions change:

-Up, Down, Left, and Right cause your ninja to slowly crouch-step in the given
direction.

-Up and Left/Right allows you to turn while crouch-stepping forward.

-Down and Left/Right allows you to turn in the appropriate direction while
crouching and moving backward.

-Double Tap Up, Down, Left, or Right - Roll in given direction.

-[X] allows you to do a quick reverse roll.

-Near walls, you flatten out against the wall.  You can use the control pad to
slide along the wall.  When you reach a corner, the perspective changes.  I
advise that you use the [L1] button as well; this will give you a little more
flexibility.

-[R1] can be used to search dead guards for items.

-Also, [R1] can be combined with [Circle] to drag corpses.

-Use [R1] to hide when treading water.  Your ninja will breathe through a reed.

-Finally, [R1] + [X] can be used when swimming below the surface to quickly
reverse direction.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[L2]/[R2] - Item Select.  Use these buttons to scroll the highlight from one
item to the next.  The currently active item will be used when you press...

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[Triangle] - Use item.  Many of the items have special tricks; these will be
listed later.

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[Square] - Attack.  Used primarily to kill the unaware, and occasionally in
honorable combat.  Press it several times to execute a multi-hit combo.

-While holding Left, Right, or Down, you will attack left, right, or to the
rear, respectively.

-While holding [R1], you will execute a crouching attack.

-Double-tap Up and press attack for a rushing strike.

-You can also attack while in midair (Even during a moonsault!  You must jump
from a high point to a low one for the attack to have time to execute in this
particular case, however).

-Hold [Square] for about 2 seconds to sheathe your weapon(s).

Any basic attack (NOT item) that hits an *unaware* sentry will kill them.

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[X] Button - Jump.  Pretty basic:

-Up, Down, Left, Right:  Jump in respective direction.

-Double Tap Up + [X]:  Er, BIG jump.

-Back, then Forward + [X]:  Moonsault.  My favorite move.  Basically, a
high-arcing jump forward, during which your ninja spins to face the opposite
direction.  Use it carefully and with style.

-You can jump off of walls in midair with [X].  Cool but not too useful.

-Press [X] when underwater to breast stroke.  Pressing it rapidly will allow
you to swim more quickly.  If you break the surface while kicking, your ninja
will perform a "big" jump out of the water.  This can make a lot of noise; be
careful.

Note that your ninja can change trajectories in midair.  Jump straight up, then
move forward, then right, etc.

Also, you will need to learn how to hang from ledges.  If your ninja is facing
a ledge while (jumping/falling) in midair, s/he will grab it and hang from it
automatically.

-Up will climb up onto the ledge.
-Down will make the ninja let go, dropping to the ground.
-Left and Right will move your ninja, hand-over-hand style, in the given
direction.

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[Circle] - Multi Function.  Primarily, this button is for defense.  Hold it
while being attacked and you should block *most* attacks to your front.  You
can block almost everything within your field of vision.  Be aware that some of
the boss character basic attacks can "penetrate" your guard and do damage. 
Other functions:

-[Circle] + Up, Down, Left, Right:  Quick dash in given direction.

-[Circle] + [R1] AND + Up, Down, Left, Right:  Roll in given direction.

-[Circle] + Up AND + [X] Button - BIG jump.  Basically, [Circle] duplicates
double-tapping the Pad.

-Double-tap [Circle]: Sheathe weapon(s).  More useful than holding the attack
button.

-Once your weapon is sheathed, use [R1] + [Circle] to drag bodies.  Oh, you
probably get it by now.

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Notes:

Character specific moves:

---Rikimaru---

Left + [Square], Right + [Square] - Attack left, then right
Right + [Square], Left + [Square] - Attack right, then left

---Ayame---

Left + [Square] twice - Double attack to the left
Right + [Square] twice - Double attack to the right

---Tatsumaru---

[Square], Left + [Square]([Square], [Square], [Square]) - Attack with one
punch, then kick to the left.  Follow up optional.

[Square], Right + [Square] ([Square], [Square], [Square]) - Attack with one
punch, then kick to the right.  Same as above.

========================================================================
4.  Items and how to use them.
========================================================================

There are several different items in the game.  Only 4 item types are available
at the start:  Healing Potion, Shuriken, Caltrops, and Colored Rice.  All other
items either need to be earned via earning high scores or found within levels. 
There are three restrictions on bringing items with you on missions:

        1.  You are limited to bringing 12 items per mission.
        2.  Of the items you bring, there can only be 5 different types.
        3.  Certain items have their own limit which cannot be exceeded.

The grappling hook is always with you and is not included in the item selection
limits.

I have listed base damages for the appropriate items.  Be aware that all but
the easiest enemies are resistant to damage from items and will take less
damage.  Usually the amount is half damage, rounding down.

Several items are gained by earning Grand Master scores.  You need to earn
Grand Master on a certain number of levels to earn each item; the numbers are
listed below.  Note that when an item is unlocked, it is available for *all*
characters, not just the one that earned it.

        Grappling hook:  Climbs ledges that are too high to jump to.  It's
somewhat crippled compared to the first game; you can no longer grapple
everything, but you can still use it to cover territory quickly.  Also be aware
that you will often miss grapple attempts, even with perfect positioning. 
Always in your inventory.

        Healing Potion:  Each bottle restores you to 100% health.

        Shuriken:  Inflicts 15 points of damage on a target.  Hold down [L1]
and aim before pressing [Triangle] for a smoother transition to the targeting
crosshair.  Not usually useful, but can be used to kill wolves (or whatever
they are) in a single hit when they are unaware.  If you pick up a few during
the level and are fighting a boss, you can quickly expend them at the beginning
of the fight for a head start.  Don't bother aiming, just point in their
general direction and fire.

        Caltrops:  More useful now than in the first Tenchu.  Each package
scatters 4 caltrops behind your ninja, each doing 3 damage.  They are very
handy when fighting bosses, as you can buy time to heal or position yourself.

        Colored Rice (Limit 5):  Still useless, despite the possible Ninja
Rebirth option listed in the manual.

        Poison Antidote:  Necessary when you are poisoned.  I originally
thought that only blowguns could poison your character, but with more
experience I've found you can be poisoned by bosses as well.  Still, you
probably don't need to actually bring it with you; on the missions you'll need
it, you'll most likely get it from dead enemies.  Also restores 20 HP.

        Smoke Bomb:  Great against bosses.  Use it to get 2, maybe 3 free hits,
or just to escape.  Go for single, powerful attacks rather than combos. 
Doesn't protect you from being spotted, however.  Enemies use them too.

        Grenade:  Explodes on contact, dealing 30 points of damage to the
target.  It has a relatively small blast radius.  Take them along when playing
a stress reliever.  Otherwise, just use the ones you pick up on the way to the
boss.  Like the first game, you can pick up the dud grenades; there will be
many.  Note that you can aim it using the look button.

        Poison Rice:  Crippled.  No longer can you clear entire levels with a
single poison rice.  This is mainly because rather than throwing the rice, the
ninja sort of rolls it.  Also, enemies still go right for it, but are much more
aware when doing so.  Enemies actually do become poisoned now, however, and
will die eventually.

        Air Bottle:  What?  What's this doing here?  It could *possibly* be
used in Rikimaru's last level, but I still can't figure out why you'd need it. 
In any case, it'll restore your oxygen when you're submerged.  Bonus points go
to the stud who comes up with something cool to do with it.

        Blowgun:  (Limit 5):  Your new best friend.  Kills from a distance if
the enemy is unaware, or even if you've been seen but not recognized ("!"
status).  Otherwise, simply poisons the enemy.  As with Shuriken, hold [L1] and
aim before hitting [Triangle] for a smoother transition.

        Mine:  Very volatile.  Be careful not to move forward after placing it.
 Note that you can set it off with any thrown item.  Huge blast radius as well.
 Does 35 damage.

        Blinding Powder:  Wide arc, but limited range.  If it connects, the
enemy will not know where you are for several seconds.  Not really that
different from Smoke Bombs, although the enemy may start attacking in the wrong
direction, allowing you to attack from behind more easily.

        Sleeping Gas (Limit 3):  Unlocked after getting 2 Grand Master ratings.
 Bounces a few times, then breaks, emitting a cloud of gas.  Thankfully, your
ninja is not affected by his own gas (insert joke here).  Anyone caught in the
gas falls asleep for about 10 seconds.  You can aim it with the [L1] button.

        Ninja Camoflage (Limit 3):  Unlocked after getting 4 Grand Master
ratings.  Basically, this item makes your ninja invisible for about 30 seconds,
or until an enemy is hit/killed.  Handy for those hard to kill soldiers or to
bypass areas unseen.

        Exploding Arrow (Limit 3):  Unlocked after getting 6 Grand Master
ratings.  Your basic exploding arrow, with a respectable area of affect.  25
damage.  Again, hold [L1] before aiming for a smooth transition.

        Leaves of Stealth (Limit 2):  Unlocked after getting 10 Grand Master
ratings.  Each one will teleport you just behind the enemy you are currently
fighting.  Really not worth taking, as there is a long pause between activating
it and it actually working.  Also, it fails when the enemy is far away and
unaware, which is when you'd really like to use it.

        Ninja Armor (Limit 1):  Unlocked after getting 15 Grand Master ratings.
 Worth the effort, however, as all damage taken is reduced by 50%, and then
rounded down.

        Dragon's Breath (Limit 1):  Unlocked after attaining 20 Grand Master
ratings.  This is the big one.  It does 60 points of damage to enemies in three
directions:  front/left, forward, and front/right, simultaneously.  Bring one
along for missions with boss battles against several opponents, like Ayame's
'Quarantine Village' and Tatsumaru's 'Head of Lord Toda'.  If it's a choice
between this and the armor, however, take the armor.

        Ninja Rebirth (Limit 1):  Unlocked after you reach 25 Grand Master
ratings.  Basically, this will bring you to life when you are killed.  If
you're on land, there'll be a long fade out, and you will return at a random
location, supposedly.  When I tested it, I returned to the beginning.  If
you're in the water when you die, you return to where you were, so it may not
be useful in that case.  If you drown, you will not be revived.  Again, if it's
between this and the armor, take the armor.

***IMPORTANT***:  You gain items with high scores, but LOSE items with very low
scores.  Also, as long as the system is not reset, any items you use during a
failed mission are gone, even if you quit and choose not to save.  If you wish
to retry a level but not to lose items, you must avoid saving when prompted,
then reload from the memory card after quitting.  This can be done via the
options menu.  Be careful not to accidentally save rather than load!

========================================================================
5.  The missions:  Where stuff is, and beating the bosses:
========================================================================

The following list has general locations for all of the ninja items located
within the various levels, as well as likely places for healing potion and
general boss tactics.  I expect some things to be omitted; please drop me a
line at "razorknife@hotmail.com" and I'll be more than happy to correct the
problem and give you crazy mad props.

Note that I said "likely" places for potion; this is because, for whatever
reason, sometimes it isn't there.  This may have something to do with your
performance, but I haven't yet verified that.  Whoever's clued in, please let
me know.

Also, be aware that I have been intentionally vague in my descriptions of some
of the levels/bosses/objectives.  This is done to avoid spoilers.

Note:  North refers to the top of the map in all cases.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rikimaru's Missions:
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Gang of Thieves:  You'll find the Antidote here, on top of a ruined
building located along the east side of the map, near the halfway point.  A
potion can be found in a basket on a cliff in the far north part of the map.

The boss isn't too bad, although he is strong considering the items you have
available.  He takes full damage from all attacks, so 6 shuriken will quickly
whittle him down to just a few hit points.  Watch out for his smoke attack; run
away if he starts using it.  If you take him down, quickly move in and use [R1]
+ [X] while close to roll behind him, then use a crouching attack just as he
stands.  Then just keep hitting him from behind until he folds.

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Treason at Gohda Castle:  You'll first come to the potion on this level; it's
in one of a pair of boxes located on the third floor, interior area, next to a
stationary guard.  On the fourth floor, you'll find the Smoke Bomb located in
the south center hallway, in the recessed area.  Watch out for "creaking"
floorboards here.

The boss here is pretty mean, but luckily you only have to take away half his
HP.   For the best results, just attack wildly, so he can't use his gun.  Use
caltrops and heal when necessary, or use any advanced items you might have.

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Lord Toda's War Camp:  The Grenade can be found along the west side of the map,
about halfway through, near a series of 3 red ninja.  A potion can be found
just to the east of where you found the grenade, in a crate inside the
cage-like structure.

The boss here is hard, too.  He can block your shuriken, and can use several
tools.  He *may* be able to poison you, but I haven't confirmed this.  Luckily,
you only have to weaken him, not kill him.  Use a smoke bomb to stun him, then
a crouching attack.  Quick-reverse roll behind him, and crouch attack as he
stands.  You should be able to keep hitting him from behind, winning relatively
easily.

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Demon Mountain:  A very well designed and interesting level.  The Poison Rice
is yours for the taking here; it can be found in a small nook near the west
side of the map, again at about the halfway point.  It's northwest of the long
bridge, on the ground.  There will be a stationary guard just northwest of the
item.  I was unable to find any potion on this level.

The boss is not too bad here.  Use the terrain to your advantage if you are in
trouble.  He's strong but has low HP, so be aggressive and you should win in no
time.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Secret Harbor:  You'll find a host of traps in this level.  You'll also
find the Air Bottle, for what it's worth.  It's located on top of the arch
along the west side of the map, just before the beach.  You can find a potion
in a basket at the north end of the ship.

The boss here is really nasty.  He's fast, hard to outflank, and has attacks
that can penetrate your guard.  The area you fight him in is also way too
small.  However, you can escape.  The exit to the deck of the ship is located
just behind you and to the right.  Climb the stairs and pelt the enemy with
long range weapons while he looks for you.  Then coax him upstairs to finish
him easily, or just run back down and own him there.  (According to
Activision's excellent web site, if you knock him off the boat you will need to
reset.  Tread carefully, Bizenya.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Temple of Dreams:  A huge and well populated level.  I believe there are 27
guards in this level, so getting lots of items and a great score should be a
snap, if you want to hunt them all down.  The Blowgun makes itself available
here.  It's hidden in a small cabin near the west edge of the map.  There are 2
ninja patrolling the building, and the entrance is underwater, on the east side
of the foundation.  I was unable to find any potion.

The boss here isn't really that bad.  If you like, use a smoke bomb, and again
get behind her and use crouching attacks.  Enjoy the cutscene when you win.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ninja Village Under Attack:  You need to wipe out all of the enemies on this
level to proceed.  Don't forget to grab the items first though.  The potion is
in a crate located in the southwest corner of the upstairs training area.  The
Mine can be found just north of the westmost pillar in the same area.

This area's boss is fast and deadly, but has low HP, and you only need to bring
him below fifty percent health..  If you can get behind him the match is a
snap.  Prepare for a meeting with my favorite character in the game:  Semimaru,
the Azuma Ninja Dog!  </sarcasm>

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In Pursut of What's-His-Name:  Ugh, this one is hard.  Be sure to bring lots of
blowgun ammo if you can, as it makes the level a lot easier to get through
without being spotted.  There are no items or potions to be found in this
level, so concentrate on the items carried by your rivals.

You'll want to bring a few toys for the captain, of course.  He's not bad
though, you can work your way behind him as well.  Note that some of his
attacks will penetrate your defense.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Kansen Caverns:  This fairly large area is riddled with traps.  The potion
can be found on top of the arch near the entrance, in what looks like 2 stacked
square bags.  The Blinding Powder can be seen from the ground nearby, but isn't
actually accessible until near the end of the level.  It can be found just
behind you after coming up a ramp from an area with 1 green guard and one
(usually sleeping) red guard.  The arrow trap in the narrow hallway near the
beginning is (barely) avoidable if you jump at the last minute.  Also, I
recommend that you bring a few throwable items with you to defuse a few of the
mines in the trap room about halfway through.  There's no boss on this level.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Sea Battle:  Clear your evening schedule first, this is a very long level
with 2 distinct parts.  Beware of a shark in the water about halfway through. 
You'll find a potion hidden in a crate on the big ship near the beginning with
two archers.  You'll need to head to the second large ship in the northwest
corner, and deal with the enemy leader there.

The boss is fast, can occasionally penetrate your guard, uses smoke bombs,
grenades, shuriken, poison knives, and probably anything else he wants. 
Luckily, you can use your own smoke bomb on him, get behind him, and
crouch-attack him to death.  Do so, or find some other surefire way to beat
him.  You will then be rewarded with another set of heads to bust.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Sea Battle, Section Two:  Luckily you don't need to clear this entire area,
but if you want to, it won't hurt your inventory or score.  There are two
potions here; one is in a crate dead ahead of where you start, and the second
is located in a crate near a cannon, torch, and archer in the northwest corner
of the map.  The final battle will actually be in the inaccessible area at the
top of the map, but you need to proceed to the southeast corner to get there.

The enemy general is fast and can not be knocked down with a crouching attack
in the first part of the battle.  I still recommend using it when possible
though, as it does a lot of damage.  Halfway through the fight, the enemy will
switch weapons and tactics.  Some of the attacks can penetrate your guard; be
careful.  The smoke bomb/crouch attack combo will see you through.

Congratulations!  You've cleared the game with Rikimaru.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayame's missions:
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Mountain Bandits:  You'll find the potion in a crate just north of the
ravine, about halfway through the map.  The crate itself is just south of a
small hut.  The antidote is a bit north of where you found the potion, on the
floor of another ruined house.  Both are toward the east side of the map.

The boss of this area is pretty tough, especially given the items you have. 
Luckily, you may have already unlocked some of the more advanced items with
Rikimaru; if so, bring a few with.  Otherwise, wear him down with your
shuriken, then block his attacks until you can get an opening.  Use your
rushing attack for two big hits, followed by a reverse attack.  Or, just unload
on him with your six hit combo.  Either method is risky.  If you want to play
it safe, run up the stairs and use a hit and run approach.  Use caltrops to
escape when necessary.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lady Kei in Danger:  This is a fairly hard level, especially if you are trying
for Grand Master.  The medicine can be found in a crate near the beginning of
the level, inside the building.  You will need to work around the innocent
woman without being seen; I recommend taking the second entrance and working
your way back.  You'll find the Grenade outside, in the southwest courtyard
near another innocent woman.  Don't be spotted unnecessarily; the camoflage
item works well here.

The boss of this level is pretty hard, even if you're well equipped .  Use the
grenade you picked up on him, and your rushing attack when he's open.  If you
can, follow up with a reverse attack.  Heal as necessary.  Luckily, you only
need to hurt him, not kill him.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To Save a Princess:  (Remember when that was the goal of every game?)  You must
not be seen while playing this mission, or you will lose.  Find the Blowgun on
a small hill fairly close to the beginning on the east side of the map, near a
stationary guard.  I've thus far been unable to find any potions.  The goal is
in the southwest corner.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kubon Island:  The air bottle can be found toward the northwest side of the
map, on a small gray island with a stationary rifle guard.  There are two
potions here; one is in a crate located in a cave on the west side, towards the
interior of the map.  You can either swim or go by land to get there, but it
might take you some looking either way.  I found another potion in a crate
located in the northeast part of the map, near a rock trap (rock rolls down
hill trying to crush you).  Watch out for some *brutal* invisible wall action
near the exit; you may want to approach the goal from the northeast.  No boss.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Island Fort:  You'll find the poison rice in a small cave near the center
of the map here.  It's accessible via the well, or another entrance to the
south.  Medicine can be found in a crate next to a house in the northeast
corner.

The boss here is insanely hard, in my opinion.  I always just barely beat him. 
The big problem is that your attacks have next to no priority over his, so he
always hits in a tie.  Not to mention that you're still a bit light on items. 
Hopefully you'll have earned some good supplementary items by now.  Armor will
do you the most good.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Quarantine Village:  Both the smoke bomb and and a potion can be found in a
courtyard of one of the 3 sided buildings, toward the center.  They will be
guarded by a scythe wielding ninja.  Incidentally, you may want to bring an
extra sleeping gas or ninja camoflage to bypass the innocent man near the exit.

The boss battle in this area is pretty fun.  There are three of them; none of
them are particularly powerful, so use group weapons like smoke bombs and
grenades to wear them down.  Then take them out, one at a time.  Use your big
damage moves, like rushing strikes and reverse attacks.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Cherry Tree Hill:  Not as bad as it sounds; just take your time.  Focus on
stealth items such as blowgun ammo, camoflage, and sleeping gas when you
choose.  There are no items, and no boss.  The trees do have a nasty habit of
obscuring your vision.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In Pursuit of What's-His-Name:  The mine can be had here; it is located about
halfway through the map along the east side, in a nook with a sleeping guard. 
Be careful not to step on the *other* mine just outside.

Tiger:  One of the hardest battles in the game.  Be prepared with lots of
explosives.  Definitely wear armor if you have it.  I always use up all of my
damage items right away, and then finish him with smoke bombs, and combos mixed
with rushing attacks.  Be careful, though, not to rush too far and let him get
behind you.  Rush from a distance.  This is one time you should avoid using
your rear attack.  Use caltrops or smoke bombs when you need to heal.
	
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Kansen Caverns:  The blinding powder is hidden is this level.  It's in a
cave in the southwest corner, next to a lake.  There should be an innocent man
tooling around nearby.  I'd highly suggest bringing at least one sleeping gas
or camoflage specifically for this area; this should allow you to incapacitate
the man without hurting him, or simply slip by him.  Also, you'll find the
potion near the entrance of this level, by the horse.  There'll be a sleeping
guard nearby as well.  The potion is in what looks like a stack of bags.  There
is no boss here.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Fire Demon:  This is a very long mission with lots of enemies.  You'll find
a heath potion near in a crate in the third area, near a red enemy with large
claws and 3 grey chests.  You may want to double back as you reach the end to
make sure you don't miss any enemies.  The exit is near the cargo hold;
approach the large solid staircase to fight the first boss of the level.

The first boss is pretty tough, but you've fought him before.  Use the same
tactics, but be aware that your rear attack will knock him down this time.  You
may want to take advantage of that.  Use your combo when you are close.  Save
your smoke bombs for the next battle.

The second boss is aggressive and fast but doesn't take much damage.  Use that
to your advantage by stunning him with a smoke bomb and hitting him with your
best moves:  combos, rushing attacks, and rear attacks (only when his back is
to you).  You should win in short order if you are careful.

Good work!  You've finished the last of Ayame's missions.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tatsumaru's missions:
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Shadow:  A surprisingly large and complex mission, due to use of all three
dimensions.  The Antidote can be found in the southeast corner of the map,
again near the innocent woman, as in Ayame's mission.  I was unable to find any
health potion in *ANY* of Tatsumaru's missions except the last.

The enemy leader is really not that bad, especially if you're wearing armor. 
Block his attacks and counter attack.  The terrain can help you here.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Head of Lord Toda:  You can find the Blinding Powder behind a tree in the
far southeast corner of the map, just behind a tree.  One of Toda's samurai
should be nearby.

You will face 2 boss fights on this map, and you might be a bit overwhelmed. 
In the first battle, try to wipe out the archer, then the pikeman, then work on
your primary target.  You won't have much room to move around, nor will you
have many items to work with.  Sleeping gas and exploding arrows could really
help you out here.  Caltrops will help you escape to heal.

In the second fight, you just need to reduce the enemy to 50% life.  It
shouldn't be too hard, just use your combo when you can, and keep your
adversary in front of you.  Once you win, you'll be treated to a lovely cut
scene.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tatsumaru mission 3:  This isn't too hard, although you can't be spotted at
all, or the mission will end.  Once you get 8 kills, you will succeed.  Only go
after the guards; the women are of no use to you.  You might need to get a cut
scene on each kill; I haven't yet verified this.  The Poison Rice can be found
here, in the southwest corner of the map, next to a building.  There's no boss
on this level.  Note that if you fail on this mission, the cut scene is pretty
funny.  :)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tatsumaru mission 4:  Be careful about being spotted here.  There are a lot of
guards with overlapping coverage.  If you really want it, grab the Air Bottle
along the north center area of the map, near an archer.  You will need to
eliminate all of the enemies to proceed.

The boss here is slow but has a powerful combo.  Get behind him and uppercut
him repeatedly, and he'll go down quickly.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tatsumaru mission 5:  There are a lot of soldiers tightly concentrated on this
map.  Do a little scouting before you attack, and you'll save yourself some
work in the long run.  The Grenade can be found in the south center area of the
map, in an alcove near the pit.  There should be a basket right next to it,
hiding it from view.  Eliminate all the enemy soldiers to exit the mission. 
There's no boss here.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tatsumaru mission 6:  You don't need to eliminate all enemies to exit the
mission, but you can't get Grand Master without doing so.  You'll find the
Smoke Bomb inside of one of the lower pair of houses.  I would suggest getting
the smoke bomb early in the mission, and then borrowing as many of them as
possible from the guards milling about.  You can fight the boss by stepping in
front of the house that is nearest the northeast corner.

The enemy leader is fast and powerful; use the smoke bombs you picked up to
stun him, and follow up with uppercuts.  Again, you can get behind him and
uppercut repeatedly for excellent results.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tatsumaru final mission:  This is the big finale.  You must eliminate all of
the enemies to finish this mission.  I did finally find the mine; it's at the
southernmost point of the map, on the white structure between the two main
cannons.  You might be able to find a healing potion on the eastern cannon deck
near the beginning, and another in the northeast corner.  Once you've eliminate
every guard, you'll face the final boss.

The last opponent is pretty fast, but really not hard compared to what you're
used to, especially if you are wearing armor.  He does a lot of damage, so be
careful.  Use the standard tactic; use a smoke bomb, get behind him, uppercut
repeatedly.  This will let you win in no time.

Nice job!  You've won with Tatsumaru.  Don't miss the excellent movie after the
credits.  It should make it all worthwhile.

========================================================================
6.  Miscellaneous hints and advice.
========================================================================

If an enemy is in "?" status and on a ledge just above and in front of you, you
can use Rikimaru or Tatsumaru's crouching attack for a quick kill.  Ayame may
be able to do the same with very close enemies, but don't count on it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A word about hard difficulty vs. normal:  There are just a few differences:

        (1)  The enemies are able to see you at increased ranges.

        (2)  Bodies that fall in hard mode (say, after you drag them off a
cliff) alert all guards ("!?" status).  If you miss a grapple and fall flat,
it'll do the same.

        (3)  When the enemies are alert, but unsure where you are ("!?"
status), they tend to throw things in your general direction.  That means you
might be just far enough away to watch your enemy but not for them to find you,
and suddenly they'll chuck a grenade at you.  Or more commonly, a shuriken.  Or
worst of all, a poison dart.  If you're moving, you usually won't be hit, so
keep that in mind.  Also, if you hear the sound of a shuriken nearby, check the
area; you might get a free weapon (and a bit of a scare, depending on the
proximity).

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You can find 6 different items when searching enemies:  shuriken, caltrops,
antidote, grenades, blowgun darts, and smoke bombs.  You can only find a tool
on an enemy when you have previously found it in a level.  For example, if you
really want poison darts, and you happen to be on the mission in which you gain
the blowgun, try picking up the blowgun *before* neutralizing any enemies who
might be carrying them, thus giving yourself a chance to find ammo on their
bodies.  You may be able to kill them, find the blowgun, then return to their
corpses and loot them.  Frankly, I haven't really wanted to try this.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The creaking floorboards found in a few areas are no problem if you roll over
them rather than walking.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If you're jumping an enemy from a rooftop or ledge, you may want to roll
forward.  You'll save a little time when you hit the ground, because you will
land more smoothly (rolling animation rather than "landing" animation).

Similarly, when closing in on a moving target, run towards their destination,
not where they are at the moment.  You can often save one or two steps this
way.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Remember not to take too long; you are limited to 99 mins and 59 seconds (I
think) to beat a level.  If you exceed that limit, the mission will end and you
will be brought to the Game Over screen, as if you had died.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Use items such as poison rice or grenades to defuse mines if they are in your
way.  Particularly useful in Level 10 for both Rikimaru and Ayame.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Extra cool trick:  You can jump out of the water onto an enemy, and perform a
stealth kill.  The positioning is brutal, but it's cool when it works (and
pretty sad when it doesn't)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If you use the blowgun on bosses, it will usually poison them, but they only
take damage once and then revert to being healthy.  Some bosses will be
poisoned but not take damage from it.  So it's usually not worthwhile.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I recommend clearing the game with Rikimaru first, scoring Grand Master on
every level if you can.  This will give you many useful items for Ayame's
missions, which are much harder, IMHO.

Incidentally, when you get Grand Master on every level, your carrying capacity
is increased to 24.  Not that you need the extra capacity at this point...

========================================================================
7.  Version History
========================================================================

Version 1.0:  First public release.  Distributed 9/4/2000
Version 1.1:  Minor fixes to various sections.
-Added the crouching stealth kill (I forgot it before, sorry)
-Added boss info to Tatsumaru mission 6
Version 1.15:  Minor formatting fixes.
-Removed many unnecessary carriage returns
-Fixed several minor grammatical errors, and clarified the confusing language
in some areas.
-Added entry to the credits

========================================================================
8.  Credits and Legal
========================================================================

-Credits to Activision and Sony Music Entertainment, and more importantly,
their respective staffs, for creating an excellent sequel to a superb game. 
Not only do you own all of the trademarks listed herein, you own them with
*style*.

-I don't want to exclude anyone, of course, so an extra thanks to everyone who
helped make this game happen.  Really.

-Special thanks to one Mary Kay Bergman, whose voicing of Kagami still gives me
chills.

-Thanks to Jeremy Drake for an excellent guide to stealth kills.  If you're
reading this and you haven't seen his guide, READ IT!

-Special thanks to my good friend Stacey for helping me with various
grammatical fixes.  You're a good peanut.

-Your name could be here!  Find something I missed and tell me about it, and
I'll put you in the credits.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Tenchu" is a trademark of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.  "Activision"
is a registered trademark, and "Birth of the Stealth Asassins" is a trademark
of Activision, Inc.  All other trademarks, if not specifically mentioned, are
recognized as the property of their respective owners.

Unpublished work Copyright 2000 Joshua M. Kirkpatrick

This FAQ is for personal, private use only.  This document can not be used for
profit, gain, or promotional purposes.  This FAQ may be duplicated
electronically so long as no content is deleted.  You may print this FAQ, or
portions thereof, for personal use.  Don't go copying bits of the FAQ wholesale
and putting them in your gaming magazine as your original work; that's just not
right.  If you want to publish my work, let me know.  I will probably give you
permission, so long as I get a mention.

========================================================================

" ...in Tenchu 2, for instance, it's possible to punch someone's arm off.  Not
only is this frighteningly realistic, it _makes sense_."

Keep an eye out for my Semimaru tribute page!
