| Tenchu Z | |
|---|---|
| |
| Developer(s) | K2 |
| Publisher(s) | From Software Microsoft |
| Designer(s) | Kiyoji Tomita Masanori Takeuchi |
| Composer(s) | Yoshikazu Takayama |
| Platform(s) | Xbox 360 |
| Release date(s) | JP October 15, 2006 NA June 12, 2007 EU June 29, 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Stealth action |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer, system link |
| Rating(s) | BBFC: 15 CERO: 18+ ESRB: M OFLC: MA15+ OFLC: R16 PEGI: 18+ |
| Media | DVD-ROM |
| Input methods | Gamepad |
| Prev game (release) | Tenchu: Dark Secret |
| Next game (release) | Shadow Assault: Tenchu |
Tenchu One Thousand Wars (天誅 千乱 - Tenchū Senran?), released in North America as Tenchu Z, is the eighth game in the Tenchu series. It is different from previous games in the series in that the player creates their own ninja characters, then builds up their skills as they play through the game rather than choosing from a small selection of pre-made characters, as they take orders from the series' previous main male character, Rikimaru. It features four-player cooperative play through Xbox Live. The game contains 50 missions with different difficulty settings and objectives. Characters also have different attributes (which are strength, agility and health) that can be altered to the player's liking.
Plot[]
The House of Gohda, where the Azuma Ninja Clan of ninja reside under the service of Lord Gohda, is on the brink of war with the neighboring country of Ogawara. As a new recruit in the Azuma clan, the protagonist is sent to assassinate those who are assisting Nagayori Ogawara, including army officials and spies who have infiltrated the House of Gohda, as well as recover stolen items and rescue prisoners. In between thwarting country of Ogawara's plans, the protagonist also receives missions in which he or she eliminates "evil" people such as abusive monks, gangsters and greedy merchants.
Gameplay[]
Gameplay is relatively the same as the previous games in the series. The main difference is that players create their own character and unlock new skills, items and clothing for him or her as the game progresses. Only one fighting style is available: a ninjato that can either be set with slower but more damaging attacks (the same as Rikimaru's in previous games) or faster and weaker attacks with different animations. The unlockable skills however are more varied, with most of them making their first appearance in the series while others return from previous games with some tweaks. Certain skills can be upgraded twice, enhancing the protagonist's abilities beyond those of the characters from previous games.
Enemies can now hear the protagonist's footsteps if he or she runs too close to them (indicated with 聴 kiku "to hear") and they may hear the footsteps from a greater distance if the protagonist runs on noisy surfaces such as a puddle of water. They can also smell the protagonist if he or she falls into a cesspool (only found during some missions; after the protagonist emerges from the cesspool, a brown haze surrounds him/her, indicating that the player can be detected by smell at a certain distance) or is covered with blood from an earlier fight (indicated with 嗅 kagu "to smell"). Unlike the previous games, lighting is also a factor here as the protagonist is less likely to be spotted while standing or crouching in a dark area.
Character customization[]
Character Customization in Tenchu Z
The game's character edit features are quite in-depth, allowing you to use gold obtained by doing well in missions both in single player and multiplayer to purchase new aesthetic styles for your ninja, new abilities, items to use during missions, and different special attacks to use in combat, in addition to combo-editing abilities.
Release[]
In January 2007, Microsoft announced they would be publishing Tenchu Z in North America. A demo is available on the Japanese Marketplace, which, in North America, was later included in its original Japanese language form on the Holiday 2006 demo disc of Official Xbox Magazine. In June 2007, the demo was made available on Xbox Live Marketplace in the remaining regions.
Unlockables[]
- Victory celebration
Hold Up, Down, Left, or Right after completing a mission before the "Mission Completed" screen appears to do one of four alternate victory poses.
- Alternate costumes
Successfully complete the game on any difficulty setting to unlock the secret costumes. The costumes are Foreign Set 1 (white), Foreign Set 2 (green), Foreign Set 3 (forest camo) and Foreign Set 4 (winter camo and red).
- Modern Army costume
Successfully complete all 50 missions under the Hard difficulty setting with a Ninja 5 rank.
- Special Costumes
Kill 50 Tomikichi to unlock the Special Costumes, which include the Lion Costume (face), Hotdog (sheath) and Kite and Flag (accessory).
- Lurk and Feet abilities
Get 1,000 Stealth Kills.
Missions[]
- Path of the Ninja
- Before the Wind Blows
- Recover the Bombs
- Gather Information
- Cross the Bridge
- Punish the Greedy Merchant
- Steal the Matchlock Gun Designs
- Stray Dog Slaying
- Eliminate the Gangsters
- Kill the Shameful Monk
- Break Through the Checkpoint
- Punish the Corrupt Official
- Steal the Ronin List
- Punish the Evil Merchant
- Infiltrate the Inner Mansion
- Pursuit of Echigoya
- Daylight Battle on Deck
- Purge the Foreigners
- Kill the Unworthy Monk
- The Silencer
- Recover the Secret Documents
- The Rescue
- Recover the Secret Teachings
- Expose the False Landlady
- Assassination of Vassal
- Wind on a Moonlit Night
- Contorted Night
- Kill the Ninja Master
- Kill the Greedy Merchant
- Recover the Bombs
- Kill the Thieves
- Save the Captive Agent
- Information Gathering
- Kill the Agent
- Punish the Extremist
- Stealer from the Shadows
- Dead Calm at Dusk
- Wipe Out the Enemy
- Break Through the Checkpoint
- Infiltrate the Inner Mansion
- Find the Secret Documents
- Wipe Out the Enemy
- Punish the Corrupt Administration
- Assassination of Vassal
- Requiem for Fireflies
- Merciless Destruction
- Hammer of Judgment
- Purging Flames
- Twilight Duel
- Divine Punishment - Tenchu
Gallery[]
Videos[]
External Links[]
| Tenchu Series |
|
Main Series Stealth Assassins • Tenchu 2 • Tenchu 3 • Tenchu 4 Portable Games Time of the Assassins • Dark Secret Other Versions and Releases Dimensional Ninja Action Movie • Shinobi Gaisen • Shinobi Hyakusen • Return from Darkness • Fatal Shadows • Tenchu Z • Shadow Assault |