TENCHU Z PC SERIES
One of the problems that has plagued this series is a questionable camera. Some new moves add to your ninja’s mobility, including the incredibly useful ability to peak over the edge of roofs. This is a good addition in theory, but due to some questionable AI, is not always as useful or neccesary as it seems.
Approaching an enemy from behind with a sheathed sword will give you the ability to choke him and pull him where you want to, so you can kill him away from light/prying eyes. You can now sheathe/unsheathe your weapon, which expands your movement and stealth kill possiblities. Nailing a passing enemy into a wall with your katana never fails to be a blast, and some of the newer animations are positively brutal. The good news is the great stealth kills that the series is known for have returned, and are better than ever. The gameplay will feel instantly familiar to fans of the series, as not much has changed.
Considering the architechure of the game has remained nearly identical through all the games in the franchise, there should have been plenty of leftover resources to beef this game up visually. Level design is pretty standard for the series. Textures are muddy, character models (while a step up from past games in the series) lack the detail that is traditionally present in next gen titles, and there is some slight pop in. Visually, it’s hard to view Tenchu Z as anything but a disappointment. This “RPG lite” addition, while limited in scope, does add a welcome new wrinkle to the traditional Tenchu formula which future games in the series should hopefully improve upon. This customization is limited at first, although as you progress through the game you’ll earn the opportunity to purchase new clothing, items, even skills and combo’s. Z allows you to create your own ninja, customizing their look, dress, and attributes. This time, he’ll be giving a some young guns (Young Swords?…doesn’t have the same ring to it) a chance to get their throat slitting on.
Rikimaru, the series primary character, has taken the hint from his prematurely greying hair and is sitting this one out. While it doesn’t revolutionize the genre, it is a fun (yet very flawed) way of walking a mile in another man’s super cool ninja outfit. Tenchu Z, the latest in the Tenchu series (and the first to make the jump to next gen), attempts to capture the utter cool of being a ninja. Is there anything cooler than that….I mean seriously. In one motion, you roll off the roof, slide your sword around the guards neck and send a crimson spray into the night air….and no one is the wiser. Sneaking along a rooftop, peering down as a guard walks underneath you.
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