TenchuZ
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Shipping this week: scary silver ninjas edition
Oh how far we have come. Only two weeks ago we had high profile games like Shadowrun and Forza Motorsport 2 descending on our Xboxen. Hell, we even had the Halo 3 beta. This week we get, um, Tenchu Z, Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia, and yet another movie tie-in (Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, if you must know). We pretty much had our minds made up about Tenchu Z since our Japanese buddy let us try out its Japanese counterpart, Tenchu Senran, nearly a year ago. It wasn't spectacular then, and it's not made any better with the addition of English subtitles. It's possible that Monster Madness has made significant strides since its demo released (and after a few delays), but we're not holding our breath. And then we have a game based on a sequel to a mediocre movie.Call us conspiracy theorists, but we think the releases over the last few weeks are part of a maniacal Microsoft plot to sell more copies of Shadowrun and Forza 2.
Tenchu Z demo sneaks onto XBLM
From high atop his Xbox Live throne, Major Nelson has sent word that the single player Tenchu Z demo is now available for download off the XBLM. Yes, we've been quite critical of the game and what is has to offer on both the gameplay and graphics side of the coin, but we're thinking you should give the demo a chance. You know, that is if you are an avid supporter of the Ninjas camp. We don't recommend going anywhere near this demo if you've sided with the Pirates. So, download at your own risk and be sure to tell us what you thought.
Tenchu Z demo creeps from shadows to Xbox Live in U.S., Europe
Like the fat kids in gym class picked last for ninja dodgeball, North America and Europe are finally getting their hands on the demo for Tenchu Z. This appeared in Japan a few weeks ago and in Official Xbox Magazine a few months ago, but if you've been unable or unwilling to get it through either of those means, it's now up for your downloading pleasure.The demo offers the chance to play through a single-player mission with "pre-selected ninja accessories." This is the point where we'd tell you that a real ninja wouldn't let some game dictate what accessories he could use. We would tell you that, but if you haven't gotten the demo by now, you're probably not terribly ninja to begin with. You're more of the Beverly Hills variety.
International demo week continues with Tenchu Z
You're probably already familiar with the lengths you'll have to go through to download an Xbox Live demo that hasn't been cleared for the U.S., a phenomenon we've covered fairly extensively this week. But this time it's a Japanese demo for Tenchu Z, and it's one case in which we can whole-heartedly endorse the use of clandestine tactics. You see, this is a ninja game.You know what ninjas do with regional barriers? They slice them with a katana. If they live in America and they want a Japanese demo, they don't even pretend to be from Japan when they make a dummy Gamertag. If you ever play Uno against someone named "ThisIsNotARealTagIJustMadeItToGetUnauthorizedDemos" be glad you made it out with your jugular intact. We know you're just a regular guy waiting for the Halo 3 beta to get rolling and it can be awfully scary getting illicit demos, but ask yourself ... WWND?
Sasquatch Music Festival sweepstakes
If you're a fan of winning free games or trips, then head over to Xbox.com and enter the Tenchu Z - Sasquatch Music Festival Sweepstakes for a chance to win a musical journey. One grand prize winner and a guest will be flown to Seattle for the Sasquatch Music Festival and chill for two days VIP style listening to bands like Arcade Fire, Interpol and the Beastie Boys. Additionally, 30 other lucky (or not so lucky) winners will each receive a copy of Tenchu Z for the Xbox 360. True, we've been rather hard on Tenchu over the past few months, but we have to give the game props for sponsoring one nifty contest. The sweepstakes ends on May 9th, so hurry up already and enter here for a chance to win. Oh, and if you see the infamous Sasquatch, tell him I need my hair brush back ... preferably hair free.
These screenshots get a two out of Tenchu Z
Imagine how surprised we were today to receive a press release for the upcoming Tenchu Z. You know, it's that game that we've been vocally disgusted by due to its barely PS2 graphics and gimmicky "features". But, we opened the press release with an open mind and were greeted with some new official screenshots. Interested, we downloaded the screenshots hoping they reworked the game so we could finally put to rest all the bad press we've written about Tenchu over the past year. But alas, we were given these four sorry, sad, and beaten images. Yes, they look horrendous and are supposed to show off some cool new invisibility and cloning features, but we just can't get past how muddled this game looks. Take a look for yourself, these are official press release screenshots. We'd be embarrassed to show these to our younger sisters let alone to Xbox 360 gamers. Maybe we shouldn't have even written about these screenshots, but we all need to see truly crappy visuals so we can appreciate great ones.
Tenchu Z: new name, same lame
Microsoft has revealed plans to localize and release Tenchu Senran, perhaps re-named as 'Tenchu Z' (ugh), for North America. We haven't heard much about this installment since its release in Japan last October, which leads us to believe Senran failed to restore the disgraced Tenchu franchise. Anyone have a go with Dark Secret?Senran introduces create-a-ninja, and builds off of Return From Darkness's dreary co-op play. A North American release date is pending.Note: a Senran demo is available on the Japanese version of Xbox Live Marketplace.
