Overview

The Tenchu series received another sequel in 2003 with Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven, known in Japan as Tenchu 3. Despite the change of developer and publisher, Noriyuki Asakura was asked to return to create the music and was given plenty of freedom. He offered the series' most expansive soundtrack to date and also its most accessible, but does it live up to the reputable name of Tenchu?

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Once again, it is the vocal opening theme and instrumental ending themes that provide the most emotional moments of the soundtrack. Focusing on the opener "Fate ~SADAME~", Asakura created the composition to reflect how the returning protagonist, Rikimaru, always remains strong and never relents even when faced with an overwhelming number of enemies. Following an atmospheric introduction focusing on Yui Murase's divine voice, appropriately the track becomes enpowered and masculinised from the one minute mark with courageous string motifs and raw guitar parts, before exploring various other emotions during its thorough development. The final composition is both a stunning complement to the visuals and a delightful stand-alone listen.

The background music of the title was created with accessibility in mind and is therefore less eccentric than earlier Tenchu titles. Like much of today's video game music, most tracks evolve from riffs that are repeated throughout, rather than developing freely and wildly like the original Tenchu. "Echinoya's Estate", for instance, creates groovy rhythms throughout with a mixture of funk licks and orchestral elements. The track still captures plenty of mood and attitude, particularly with the string motifs and more ambient interludes, but it is definitely less highbrow artistically. Moodier tracks such as "Limestone Cave" and "Tenrai Fortress" showcase Asakura's ability to offer dark pan-Asian fusions just as impressively as those of Tenchu, though feature a greater rhythmical impetus to compel listeners to immerse themselves.

There are some delightful action tracks supporting the various stealth themes. "Decisive Battle" is much easier to stomach than Asakura's usually abrasive action themes, since there are uplifting trance-inspired beats supporting the dissonant orchestral chords and traditional instrument solos. It's not as deep as equivalents from Tenchu, but very creative, enjoyable, and fitting nevertheless. Hardcore fans of the composer will nevertheless be pleased that he doesn't hesitate to offer raw and brutal action themes at the climax, particularly "Ukyo" with its overdriven guitar parts and "Desperate Struggle" with its raging taiko drums. "Last Decisive Battle - Big Tenrai" is a particularly fascinating addition to the experience, since it combines the deep and shallow, hostile and accessible features of the soundtrack into a unifying whole.

The soundtrack for Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is one of the few in the series that it is complete. However, this comes as a price since the second disc of the soundtrack is dominated by short cinematic cues and subsidiary themes, all of which are fitting in context but superfluous outside it. Thankfully, the major compositions from the game are grouped together in full-length tracks across the first disc, so the additional tracks in no way disrupt the main listening experience. The album ends with a fascinating bonus club remix that once again demonstrates Asakura at his craziest and is rather fitting given the increased mainstream focus of the soundtrack.

Summary

The soundtrack does feature its superficial elements and its superfluous tracks, but it still comes together to form an inspiring whole. After the somewhat disappointing Tenchu 2 Soundtrack, it is excellent that Asakura focused on creating numerous expansive fusions once again here. The addition of mainstream-targeted grooves and beats somewhat compromises the soundtrack as a serious artistic experience on par with the original Tenchu, but it ensures that the album is attractive and compelling throughout, while still filled with creativity in other ways. Highly recommended.

Overview

In 2008, Noriyuki Asakura returned to score the latest title in From Software's ninja stealth series, Tenchu: Shadow Assassins (aka Tenchu 4), for the Wii. After a five year break from the series, Asakura was asked to restore the concept of the score for Tenchu, while still creating an entirely new score. He dealt with this seemingly contradictory request by blending the series' trademark sounds with a range of new elements.

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For the first time in the series, Noriyuki Asakura wrote the vocal themes for an artist other than add'ua's Yui Murase. Instead singer-lyricist Tomoko Shibata takes the lead here and brings out the Eastern flavour of Asakura's melodies. Her voice has a more operatic feel compared to the series' previous vocalists and this ensures a particularly breathtaking peak at the 2:25 mark. The overall track creates a nostalgic feel similar to old Jidaigeki movies, but is still full of unique creativity and heartfelt emotion from composer and performer alike. The melody also returns on the introspective ending theme "In the Depths of Dreams", treated in a similar way to a Japanese operatic aria, and again in a bonus remix with an expressive violin lead. Both are excellent arrangements with a genuinely tear jerking effect.

Right from the first instrumental cue "Disastrous Scene", it's clear that Noriyuki Asakura has returned to the concept of the original Tenchu score, with dense and emotional hybrids of Asian and contemporary elements. However, he still offers a range of novel components throughout to ensure the experience is still a novel and interesting one. One of the most prominent changes is the increased focus on solo and ensemble string parts, due to participation of the Gen Ittetsu Strings. These performers sometimes to offer great passion and radiance, as in the beautifully performed violin lead on the first stage theme "Approaching Pursuer, Complicating Blade", though are sometimes used for more sinister means, as in the combination of low strings and gritty guitar parts on "Life's Hide-and-Seek" or the utterly wild solos on "Burning Castle". They really draw listeners into the score.

There is also a greater Hollywood influence on this title. "Violating Hell Melody" and "Rain", for instance, incorporate moody string parts and and electronic infiltration beats indicative of a modern cinematic influence, though they are still excellently hybridised with Asakura's pan-Asian features. "Taboo -GOHATTO-" meanwhile is among the more perplexing additions to the soundtrack, since it incorporates the chromatic chord progression and moody suspended strings characteristic of James Bond scores; while it suits the process of espionage, it is too gimmicky and superficial to really impress, though thankfully the gorgeous individualistic sections subsequently make up for it. The conclusion of the score, "Transmigration of the Soul", is a perfect blend of the modern cinematic influences and traditional Asian elements, offering a sentimental blend of piano and string parts together with unrestrained Eastern improvisations.

The score does have one major problem. Like Tenchu 2 before it, there are a considerable number of short cinematic cues and subsidiary tracks that disrupt the stand-alone listening experience. While they work fine in the game and are still artistically inspired, tracks such as "Error", "Cold Sleep", and "Time of Stealth" bring little to the album itself. Thankfully, there are still numerous highlights throughout the soundtrack to full make up for this, unlike Tenchu 2 before it. Whereas the original Tenchu score could stand up in its own right as an original album, the Tenchu: Shadow Assassins sounds very much like a soundtrack, through both its frequent interruptions and Hollywood influences. The distinction is obvious, though it is by no means necessarily a bad thing.

Summary

Overall, the Tenchu: Stealth Assassins score features a number of obvious and subtle changes compared with other soundtracks of the series. However, the emotional, intellectual, and functional value of the music remains the same. The Tenchu 4 Original Soundtrack will be very satisfying for those who enjoy the music of Tenchu and Noriyuki Asakura.