Ayame (Tenchu)
Encyclopedia
Ayame is a player character
in the Tenchu
video game series, and on of its two main characters along with Rikimaru
. She is featured in all Tenchu games except of Tenchu Z.
(Azuma Shinobi-ryu) in the desolate ruins of Kyoto
after it was devastated by the Ōnin War
. Shiunsai found himself unable to neither leave or help her, and so he eventually decided to take her with him and train her to become a kunoichi
(female ninja). Omon was probably the most raw-talented of Shiunsai's pupils, including his son Tatsukichi (Tatsumaru) and Chikara (Rikimaru
), and despite her late start and her tender age and bad attitude, she was initiated into the circle of ninja when she was only 14. Omon took the name Ayame and became known for her sharp tongue (often taunting her enemies before she kills them) and quick, deadly techniques, with a set of skills very different from Rikimaru, as she is faster and weaker but more cunning and aggressive than him, using a unique style of acrobatic, smooth attacks.
Chronology-wise, the first game in the series is Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins
, which begins just while Ayame completes her final exam. Soon after her initiation as a ninja, however, turmoil falls as her duties to Lord Gohda and duties to her heart and love, Tatsumaru, fall apart. Her character changes from a laid-back girl into a more mature, accepting woman. Her story continues in Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
, as 7 years have passed since Ayame has lost her master Azuma Shiunsai and the clan brother and love interest Tatsumaru. Now 21-year old, she is tough and sarcastic, killing her enemies cold-blooded without the sign of any doubt or hesitation, though she knows feelings like love, sadness and desperation. She has developed a strong relationship Lord Gohda's daughter Princess Kiku, became sort of an older sister to her after the death of Kiku's mother Lady Kei. Ayame will protect Kiku at any cost from any harm. She also respects fellow ninja Rikimaru well, fighting alongside him and willing to sacrifice herself for his sake if necessary.
One year later, in Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
, Ayame is the sole remaining Azuma ninja in the care of Lord Gohda after Rikimaru's disappearance, tasked to search for his body (she later paired up with the returning Rikimaru). During the events of Tenchu: Fatal Shadows
, Ayame was patrolling the border of Lord Gohda's territory when she happened upon a burned ninja village. At first considered an enemy by the young survivor Rin, they later ally to discover who was behind the attack. Ayame's story continues in Tenchu: Shadow Assassins
, in which Princess Kiku is killed by Rikimaru after she was used as a human shield
by the series' recurring villain Onikage. In the game's extended ending Ayame is shown speaking in Onikage's voice, suggesting that this traumatic experience caused her to be possessed by him when he was killed.
Ayame is also playable in the spin-off games Tenchu: Time of the Assassins
, Tenchu: Dark Secret
and Shadow Assault: Tenchu
, and is an only playable character in the mobile game Tenchu: Ayame's Tale.
figures of Rikimaru and Ayame, sculpted after their appearances in Wrath of Heaven by Keiji Iwakure, were manufactured and released by Kotobukiya in mid-September 2003 (although categorized as action figure
s, these only feature movable wrist joints).
In 2004, Ayame was included in Activision
's True Crime: Streets of LA
as an optional "skin" for its main character Nick Kang. In 2010, she also made a cameo appearance in From Software
's 3D Dot Game Heroes
.
, Rikimaru and Ayame were "like Batman
with all their decoys, dog whistles, disguises, grappling hooks and other toys, an essential part of the ninja experience that had been missing from video games for far too long." Ayame and Rikimaru were included among the "gaming's most shameful shinobi" by GamesRadar
in 2006, and in 2008 mentioned in the article The Top 7 Assassins as "probably the most realistic depiction of ninjas ever to appear in a videogame". In 2009, GameDaily
also featured them in the article Gaming's Greatest Patriots: Team Japan.
According to GamesRadar, Ayame "was a cool, relatively realistic-looking heroine in an era when polygonal female protagonists were largely defined by the enormity of the crude pyramids
that passed for their tits." In 2010, GamePro
included Ayame in their list of top 10 video game ninja characters at ninth place ("the stealthiest assassin on our list ... she’s the perfect ninja"), applauding her for possessing "a body that matches her profession, rather than a stripper or blowup doll, say (stand up Taki
and Mai Shiranui
)". In 2011, UGO
included her on the list of the "25 of the hottest (and deadliest) ninja assassin chicks".
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
in the Tenchu
Tenchu
Tenchu is the title of a stealth game series of video games originally developed by Acquire wherein the player assumes the role of a ninja....
video game series, and on of its two main characters along with Rikimaru
Rikimaru
Rikimaru is a fictional character in the Tenchu video game series. He is featured in every game in the series, including as a player character in most of them...
. She is featured in all Tenchu games except of Tenchu Z.
Character biography
Ayame (彩女) was originally Omon, a young shocked girl, unable to remember anything but her name and age, discovered by Master Shiunsai of the small Azuma school of ninjutsuNinjutsu
or may be:*the arts associated with espionage and assassination in feudal Japan, see Ninja*modern schools of martial arts claiming to be based in these traditions, see Modern Schools of Ninjutsu*fictional depictions, see Ninja in popular culture...
(Azuma Shinobi-ryu) in the desolate ruins of Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
after it was devastated by the Ōnin War
Onin War
The ' was a civil war that lasted 10 years during the Muromachi period in Japan. A dispute between Hosokawa Katsumoto and Yamana Sōzen escalated into a nationwide war involving the Ashikaga shogunate and a number of daimyo in many regions of Japan....
. Shiunsai found himself unable to neither leave or help her, and so he eventually decided to take her with him and train her to become a kunoichi
Kunoichi
is the term for a female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu .-Etymology:The term is thought to derive from the names of characters that resemble the three strokes in the kanji character for ; said in the order they are written: ku - no - ichi...
(female ninja). Omon was probably the most raw-talented of Shiunsai's pupils, including his son Tatsukichi (Tatsumaru) and Chikara (Rikimaru
Rikimaru
Rikimaru is a fictional character in the Tenchu video game series. He is featured in every game in the series, including as a player character in most of them...
), and despite her late start and her tender age and bad attitude, she was initiated into the circle of ninja when she was only 14. Omon took the name Ayame and became known for her sharp tongue (often taunting her enemies before she kills them) and quick, deadly techniques, with a set of skills very different from Rikimaru, as she is faster and weaker but more cunning and aggressive than him, using a unique style of acrobatic, smooth attacks.
Chronology-wise, the first game in the series is Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins
Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins
Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins is a stealth game developed by Acquire and published by Activision in North America and Europe and Acquire in Japan for the PlayStation in 2000.-Plot:...
, which begins just while Ayame completes her final exam. Soon after her initiation as a ninja, however, turmoil falls as her duties to Lord Gohda and duties to her heart and love, Tatsumaru, fall apart. Her character changes from a laid-back girl into a more mature, accepting woman. Her story continues in Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins is a stealth game developed by Acquire and published by Sony Music Entertainment inc. in Japan and Activision in North America and Europe for the PlayStation in 1998....
, as 7 years have passed since Ayame has lost her master Azuma Shiunsai and the clan brother and love interest Tatsumaru. Now 21-year old, she is tough and sarcastic, killing her enemies cold-blooded without the sign of any doubt or hesitation, though she knows feelings like love, sadness and desperation. She has developed a strong relationship Lord Gohda's daughter Princess Kiku, became sort of an older sister to her after the death of Kiku's mother Lady Kei. Ayame will protect Kiku at any cost from any harm. She also respects fellow ninja Rikimaru well, fighting alongside him and willing to sacrifice herself for his sake if necessary.
One year later, in Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is a stealth game developed by K2 LLC and published by Activision in North America and Europe and From Software in Japan for the PlayStation 2 in 2003....
, Ayame is the sole remaining Azuma ninja in the care of Lord Gohda after Rikimaru's disappearance, tasked to search for his body (she later paired up with the returning Rikimaru). During the events of Tenchu: Fatal Shadows
Tenchu: Fatal Shadows
Tenchu: Fatal Shadows , is a stealth game developed by K2 LLC and published by From Software in Japan and Sega in North America and Europe for the PlayStation 2 in 2004.- Plot :...
, Ayame was patrolling the border of Lord Gohda's territory when she happened upon a burned ninja village. At first considered an enemy by the young survivor Rin, they later ally to discover who was behind the attack. Ayame's story continues in Tenchu: Shadow Assassins
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is a stealth game developed by Acquire for the Wii and From Software for the PSP and published by From Software in Japan and Ubisoft in North America and Europe for Wii and the PlayStation Portable in 2008.-Story:In the land of Lord Gohda, peace has not been fully restored...
, in which Princess Kiku is killed by Rikimaru after she was used as a human shield
Human shield
Human shield is a military and political term describing the deliberate placement of civilians in or around combat targets to deter an enemy from attacking those targets. It may also refer to the use of civilians to literally shield combatants during attacks, by forcing the civilians to march in...
by the series' recurring villain Onikage. In the game's extended ending Ayame is shown speaking in Onikage's voice, suggesting that this traumatic experience caused her to be possessed by him when he was killed.
Ayame is also playable in the spin-off games Tenchu: Time of the Assassins
Tenchu: Time of the Assassins
Tenchu: Time of the Assassins is a stealth game in the Tenchu series. developed by K2 LLC and published by From Software in Japan and Sega in Europe for the PlayStation Portable in 2005....
, Tenchu: Dark Secret
Tenchu: Dark Secret
Tenchu: Dark Secret is a stealth game in the Tenchu series, developed by From Software and published by From Software in Japan and Europe and Nintendo in North America and Australia for the Nintendo DS in 2006....
and Shadow Assault: Tenchu
Shadow Assault: Tenchu
Shadow Assault: Tenchu is a downloadable video game in the Tenchu series for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade, developed and released by From Software in 2008.- Gameplay :...
, and is an only playable character in the mobile game Tenchu: Ayame's Tale.
Merchandise and promotion
PVCPolyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
figures of Rikimaru and Ayame, sculpted after their appearances in Wrath of Heaven by Keiji Iwakure, were manufactured and released by Kotobukiya in mid-September 2003 (although categorized as action figure
Action figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
s, these only feature movable wrist joints).
In 2004, Ayame was included in Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
's True Crime: Streets of LA
True Crime: Streets of LA
True Crime: Streets of LA is an action-adventure video game developed by Luxoflux and published by Activision for the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and GameCube in November 2003 and the first game in the True Crime series...
as an optional "skin" for its main character Nick Kang. In 2010, she also made a cameo appearance in From Software
From Software
is a Japanese video game company founded in November 1986 known primarily for being the developers of the Armored Core, Demon's Souls, King's Field, Otogi and Tenchu series.-Games:...
's 3D Dot Game Heroes
3D Dot Game Heroes
is a 2009 action-adventure video game developed by Silicon Studio and published by From Software in Japan, Atlus in North America and by SouthPeak Games in Europe. The game uses a unique style, presenting 2D retro-style graphics in a 3D environment using voxels...
.
Reception
According to a retrospective article by CraveOnlineCraveOnline
CraveOnline is a male lifestyle website based in Los Angeles with sales offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. The site is owned by media company AtomicOnline, the publishing division of Evolve Media Corp.- History :...
, Rikimaru and Ayame were "like Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
with all their decoys, dog whistles, disguises, grappling hooks and other toys, an essential part of the ninja experience that had been missing from video games for far too long." Ayame and Rikimaru were included among the "gaming's most shameful shinobi" by GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
in 2006, and in 2008 mentioned in the article The Top 7 Assassins as "probably the most realistic depiction of ninjas ever to appear in a videogame". In 2009, GameDaily
GameDaily
GameDaily was a video game journalism website based in the United States. Launched in 1995 by entrepreneur Mark Friedler under the name Gigex and focused on free game demo downloads, The site changed its business model from a flat fee per download CDN distributed service network to an...
also featured them in the article Gaming's Greatest Patriots: Team Japan.
According to GamesRadar, Ayame "was a cool, relatively realistic-looking heroine in an era when polygonal female protagonists were largely defined by the enormity of the crude pyramids
Lara Croft
Lara Croft is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Square Enix video game series Tomb Raider. She is presented as a beautiful, intelligent, and athletic British archaeologist-adventurer who ventures into ancient, hazardous tombs and ruins around the world...
that passed for their tits." In 2010, GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
included Ayame in their list of top 10 video game ninja characters at ninth place ("the stealthiest assassin on our list ... she’s the perfect ninja"), applauding her for possessing "a body that matches her profession, rather than a stripper or blowup doll, say (stand up Taki
Taki (Soulcalibur)
is a fictional character in the Soul series of fighting games by Namco. Taki, one of the series' good characters, is a demon huntress and a runaway kunoichi whose motive is destroying the evil sword known as Soul Edge....
and Mai Shiranui
Mai Shiranui
is a player character in both the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series of fighting games by SNK and in related media, also appearing in a large number of other games...
)". In 2011, UGO
UGO
UGO Entertainment, Inc. is a website providing coverage of online media in entertainment targeting males age 18–34. The company is currently based in New York, New York, United States. On July 24, 2007 it was announced that Hearst Corporation would acquire UGO Entertainment...
included her on the list of the "25 of the hottest (and deadliest) ninja assassin chicks".
External links
- IGN: Ayame (Tenchu) (IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
) - Ayame (video game character) (GiantBomb)
- UGO's Ninja Guide | Rikimaru and Ayame of Tenchu (UGO.com)