Tenchu Z Image
Metascore

Mixed or average reviews - based on 51 Critics What's this?

User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 45 Ratings

  • Summary: True ninjas conceal their identity. In Tenchu Z, you can customize your ninja's appearance by choosing to change facial features, hairstyle, tattoos, head accessories, tunics, pants, arm accesories, footwear, weapon sheathes and more. As you complete more missions, more articles of clothing may become available for purchase. Oh boy! The key element of disguise, however, is a special ninja power-up called "Impersonation," which allows you to steal the identity of your victim temporarily in order to better evade detection and blend into the environment. Are you the master of disguise? [Microsoft] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 51
  2. Negative: 11 out of 51
  1. Tenchu fans will definitely not be disappointed. Tenchu Senran is easily the best Tenchu game to date. [JPN Import]
  2. 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. [June 2007, p.74]
  3. 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.
  4. Ninjas, ninjas, and more ninjas can't save the technically flawed, uninspired Tenchu Z.

See all 51 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. 10
    As a huge fan of medieval Japan, I just love this game!! Its not your typical flashy, over the top game, and its just perfect like that! its simplicity is very attractive. The setting is great, the missions are very down to earth and realistic - just what I like. The story is very simple, but it works for me. The controls are great and the stealth action is awesome, intelligent and challenging! I just love it. Expand
  2. AaronC.
    9
    A fantastic game! I had loads of fun and huge replayability factor, I only wish it had more missions so I can keep on playing!
  3. AdamB.
    8
    This is a very fun game once you get past the steep learning curve for the controls (I hadn't played in a year and had to do the tutorial again). It's not a standard fast-paced fighting game; it's a much slower game with a more intelligent, deliberate feel. Though you can storm through the stages, to get real enjoyment you have to go for the Ninja 5 rating which requires very careful gameplay. Character customization and online play are fun, though there is a bit of lag and most frustrating to me, there's no ability to have multiple save slots or to change your character mid-game (or even give them a name). If you want to try a different ninja you'll have to start over and lose all your hard-earned items and Ninja ranks. This significantly hampers replay value, especially since there are only a few types of map to play in. As for the AI and combat system, it's not meant to be about enemies planning complex strategies and chasing you around the map, but it's about the placement of the opponents and figuring out the best way to cut a hole in the defense, avoiding combat. Reviewers complaining about the AI and combat depth is like complaining about Super Mario Bros. for the same reasons. Still, an improved sequel would be appreciated. Expand
  4. Aaace5
    6
    It's pretty easy to see that this game was originally an xbob 1 game, that they shined up and ported over to the 360. The overall game itself is ok... But it could have been something great! If they had have did a graphical overhaul, made the A.I. smarted and more realistic, and tightened the controls up some - tenchu Z would have easily been the best in it's history. I suspect that this game was a test to see if 360 gamers cared if tenchu was on 360, so I believe that the next version should make this game a distant memory... I hope! Expand

See all 19 User Reviews