Tenchu Z reviews

Francis pretty much said it all: “Disgustingly underrated”. I own all the “BIG” titles for 360, and there's only a select handful I keep coming back to for more. Tenchu Z is one of them. The Tenchu series are arguably the best stealth games out there. Granted the graphics aren't exactly great (I think because it was a hold-over from ps2), but good graphics alone do not a good game make. This game is addictive as hell, the controls are VERY smooth and precise, and once you get used to it, the straight out non-stealth combat's actually pretty fun. The only thing I don't like is that the levels are fairly repetetive, and the mediocre graphics like I said, but it's very easy to overlook this. In short, BUY THIS GAME!!! You won't regret it…

The Good:

• Insanely addictive gameplay
• Precise, intuitive controls
• Complete character customization (A first for the Tenchu series)
• A TON of fun abilities and items to pick and choose as you unlock them
• Excellent music and atmosphere
• Serial link multiplayer is engaging and often hilarious
• A long campaign with many missions that'll keep you busy for weeks, to find that you want to play it all again as the opposite gender!

The Bad:

• Mediocre graphics at best, no part of this game looks like it was meant for current-gen consoles
• Somewhat repetitive levels. It has a bunch of maps that occasionaly repeat, but with different enemy locations and patrols depending on the mission and the difficulty level
• Longish load times considering it's not a hardware-taxing powerhouse
• (Balance issue): female ninja clothing unlockables aren't as cool or impressive as the male's
• Online multiplayer has fairly severe latancy problems, sometimes almost unplayable. Stick to serial link

As the first review has said, this game is not as good as the originals. I personally think that Tenchu 2 on the ps1, graphics aside, is the best of the series. dont expect this to break any records.

Awesome game that is WAY better than the first one. Items are pretty robust. Weapon and character customisation is very in depth as well. Easiest game I have played to get all the Gamerscore.

If your a fan of the series you wont regret buying this title. It is definitely under rated and is definitely the orignal gameplay in a nutshell. But with added extras, like…

• Character unlocks and Customization though the guys get better unlocks vs female ninja's
• skill settings and the shop, in which you can buy various skills to help you in your travels, The Item shop is back too.
• System link and xbox live Multiplayer co op
• Varied up missions to add a little spice to the mindless killing.

On the other hand there are some cons, Like…

• A.I is utterly stupid and sometimes just frustrating.
• Level Layouts are re used just with different patrols and starting points
• Nothing New was tried gameplay wise. It is in no means ambitious, old school Tenchu gameplay.(other than a few new skills which can sometimes have little impact.

Overall for fans definitely try it out. For the average gamer it is a great stealth installment. And if your into it go for it.

Being the first game in the series I've tried, I can't really compare it, but I really enjoyed this game. The levels do repeat, but it's still fun. Plus there's the secret passages in various ceilings to find. It's nothing brilliant, but I thought the graphics were pretty good, and the environments are pretty cool. There's something stupidly satisfying about succesfully taking out an entire restaurant of baddies without being seen by leaping down off rooftops and out of bushes. Even if said baddies are a bit thick.

I agree with “Francis”, some of the comments below are far too harsh. If you have played the other Tenchu games prior, then you'll surely love this one just as I have. I'll admit the “AI” could do with a bit of work and the graphics could be better, but its still a really cool game. Sneaking over roof tops and stealth killing hundreds of guards, whilst avoiding being detected is loads of fun. The maps do start to repeat as you progress through the game tho, which I found a bit odd (Although you do usually start at the other end of the map if they repeat, so that sort of changes things up a bit). Also in order to get the highest rank you virtually have to stealth kill everyone on the level, as well as completing the mission objectives is a bit strange (I'm sure someone would get a bit annoyed if you sent a ninja out to retrieve stolen documents, and he came back with them but had Massacred the entire town…).

Overall tho, awesome game. Hours of fun!

I'll admit the game isn't ground breaking, but to say its “definitely a rental” is way too harsh. I am a loyal tenchu fan so I am a little bias but this game offers alot. A friend of mine who had never played tenchu before came round and found himself obsessing over it. The excitement of sneaking through japanese enviroments undetected is refreshing as apposed to unrealistic button bashers such as ninja gaiden, which give the term ‘ninja’ an incorrect assossiation with invincible wall climbing idiots. Additionally the rumors that you are stuck with a repeditive 3 hit combo are false with costomizable combo's which you can change throughout the mission. Definitely worth purchasing.

Having played the original, prequel and sequel of tenchu, this latest version is enjoyable.

The one area I found lacking in all the previous versions was the ability to complete storyline missions in co-op mode, this is the only version of tenchu that not only allows you to play co-operative, but you can have up to a total of 4 players from any country to complete missions.

There are some problems playing on live, when at the starting place you are able to hear and talk to your friends before the mission, but during the mission they seem to cut in and out and you can't hear them properly, so far it happens when I play with friends overseas.

The good thing about live is the ability to receive updates and hopefully they'll send some our way to improve/ fix areas of this game.

In a nutshell this game is fun, just don't expect it to have groundbreaking graphics with a storyline that will win academy awards.