Tenchu Z Critic Reviews

Tenchu fans will definitely not be disappointed. Tenchu Senran is easily the best Tenchu game to date.

Ninja games being as rare as they've become, its nice to have "Tenchu" back, especially given the number of refinements FROM have added, along with the online play.

The story was completely disjointed, and the graphics were only satisfactory, but the gameplay was really fun, and the soundtrack is good, so I'm not going to hate on this one too much.

Once I got past all of the problems in the collision-detection and accepted the fact that as long as my ninja stabbed the floor within a three foot radius of a bad guy, it was a kill, I had a mild amount of fun.

Stealth kills never get old, and the variety of mission types help to break the same old same old.

For fans of serious stealth, the title is a must buy. Less hardcore gamers will probably be better off with something more mainstream, but if you're trying to understand what "cult classic" means, Tenchu is probably a safe bet.

Surprisingly, Tenchu Z comes off “chunky” in general; the antithesis of what a ninja game should feel like- sleek and efficient.

It was a major letdown considering the extensive weaponry and ninja moves available, but in the end this game runs dry fast.

Although it's not a great game, it is worth investing time in, and one that grows on you in less than a half-dozen missions.

Tenchu also needs a serious upgrade to its enemy AI. It’s hard to imagine that a developer would release a game in this day and age where if you climb up to a rooftop or crawl under a building while an enemy is taking a swing at you, he completely loses track of you. Ninjas deserve better.

Sadly the game doesn’t really reward you for playing like a pro and if you are looking for advanced action based combat a la Ninja Gaiden then you might be a little disappointed.

Tenchu Z may be a game that only fans of the series, or fans of stealth games could love. Some fatal flaw bogs down every aspect of this title that shows a glimmer of promise. You would have to be a true fanboy to overlook all of these flaws.

Too expensive, but find a cheap copy and it has a bit of fun to offer stealth fans.

The Tenchu series needs a series reinvention, but Z plays just well enough to warrant a look for anyone with a thirst for honourable blood.

The concept is solid and new elements like sense of smell are great ideas, but the execution and lackluster A.I. just don’t add up to the cohesive product it could have been.

Tenchu Z is a fun game for Tenchu fans, and for fans of similar stealth-action titles. A few flaws and poor visuals detract from what otherwise would have been a resurrection for the Tenchu series.

With a little more work, Tenchu Z could've been a big hit, right up there with Team Ninja's more vigorous Ninja Gaiden games. The stealth kill system, customization options and co-op sessions give the game more weight than expected. Nevertheless, the game doesn't deliver a quality ninja experience.

Never has patience been a bigger virtue than in Tenchu Z. It succeeds as a game of stealth, but only as a game of stealth. Any deviation from hiding and throat slitting - say, katana-slinging your way right up main street like a samurai - won’t elicit much fun.

But we can't get behind playing it for very long, even as fanatics.

If you are a fan of the Tenchu franchise then this latest iteration, Tenchu Z for the Xbox 360, is worth picking up. For others, I would recommend renting this one to see if it's your cup of tea.