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The Tenchu series is by no means new, but it is new to the next-gen/current-gen consoles. Besides new graphics, what do you really get in the recently released Tenchu Z?
Pirates. For real. You get to fight pirates.
If you aren't convinced that pirates vs. ninjas makes for the best game EVAR, hit the jump for our Frankenreview—the only review requiring the sacrifice of five innocent reviewers reviews to create.
Gamer 2.0
...the lack of diversity in the mission objectives is excruciating. About 85 percent of the missions require you to stalk from rooftop to rooftop, dropping down and killing a multitude of guards, and finally slipping into a room with the "mark" and assassinating him. [And] if you die at any point during the mission you have to start over at the very beginning.
Gamespot
Tenchu Z's graphics do little to improve the experience. The first few levels don't look half bad—the towns and villages look decent, and there are some nice details to admire here and there. Then you get further into the game and notice that each village looks the same as the next one and there are only a few different types of buildings. Characters all look pretty cool and they're all intimidating, but their faces are an absolute mess and there are only a couple of different character designs, which are animated poorly and frequently fade in and out of view thanks to a less-than-impressive draw distance.
1up
Tenchu Z is considerably more fun than its low-tech, disparate parts might suggest...The fully customizable characters, with a wide range of parts, equipment, and items to purchase, may be expressionless and lacking in dialogue (you basically just accept your mission and go), but they grow on you with every personal touch added en route to the game's finish line.
Team Xbox
Things really start to get fun when combos and Secret Arts (special moves) are earned, further increasing the scope of Tenchu Z's combat system. Unfortunately the fighting is still a bit stiff and staccato as it has been in the earlier games, but at least there are more kill animations and special moves this time around.
GameInformer
The co-op mode allows you to slash and sneak your way though missions with up to four friends. It's great watching your fellow ninja (who happens to have bright purple hair) spring from a behind a box to slay an unsuspecting guard urinating over the edge of the dock. But like Rainbow Six Vegas, the game doesn't showcase the storyline or cutscenes when playing with friends, which takes away from the overall experience.
It's a stinker. And in my book, there's no excuse for a $59 game to have some of these issues.
