So much potential, but in the end it just leaves you wanting...
Three words come to mind: suspense, excitement and addictiveness. Unfortunately Tenchu Z offers up little, if any, of the above. Sure, there's a plot, there are a heap of missions to take on, you can build up your skills and becoming increasingly lethal, and you can build up your inventory of weapons and clothing. Everything any self-respected action/adventure/rpg-loving gamer could home for. Plus you get to be a ninja!
So why does it leave you with a hollow "I've just wasted hours of my life I can't get back" feeling after you try really hard to get into it? Well, I go back to those 3 words…
Suspense – it's seriously lacking. You would think that trying to be stealthy as through towns and buildings while trying to execute the most clinically ninja-like assassination would be, well, riddled with suspense. But it just aint. There's something rather dull about the whole process, quite possibly due to the clunky graphics and clunkier controls. Things just don't feel smooth and inviting. Plus the AI's ability to detect you is so damn inconsistent – "hey, I'm sneaking, I'm draped in darkness, and there's a wall between us…how the hell do you know I'm here when the previous dude didn't?"
Excitement – see above (yawn!). After you've done half a dozen odd missions, the gloss has really started to come off. The initial buzz of being all ninja-like has well and truly died off, and you're left doing really repetitive missions and just going through the motions. It's seriously mind-numbing.
Addictiveness – see suspense and excitement. Without either, the compulsion to see the main story all the way through to the end just isn't there. I confess – I fell way short of finishing this game, but it gave me no incentive to keep going (yep, not even the lure of gamer points could keep me going…and I LOVE getting gamer points).
Honestly, some early ninja thrills are replaced with glazed eyes and a bored mind. If you must try it, rent it so you can return it knowing you didn't waste too much money!