The Tactical Art of the Ninja

Published May 3, 2007

The successful art of a ninja assassin is explored in great depth and with unrelenting difficulty in Tenchu Z. Each level offers a unique set of challenges, and you must explore every nook and cranny of the environment, study each enemy, and take every precaution to enjoy success. Whether you're a novice to Tenchu Z or a veteran of stealth games, it would be wise to consider the following tips.

Teamwork can be deadly.

Avoidance
The impulse of most gamers is to seek out confrontation at every turn, but in Tenchu Z, your first impulse should always be the opposite. In fact, your goal in each mission should be to kill only the primary target and no one else. This is all but impossible for any but the most masterful gamers, but aspire to this level of perfection. If it's possible to pass by a guard without them ever knowing you were there, do just that.

Patience with Patrols
Tenchu Z will test your patience at every opportunity, and in particular, with its use of patrols. When first spotting a patrolling guard, take the time to examine his entire path. Only move once you know where the guard is going, and how long it will take him to get there. The challenge comes when dealing with multiple guards on multiple paths and finding that perfect moment where no one will spot you. Only a ninja's patience will give you the necessary information to succeed.

The Patrol Kill
When the time comes that you decide a guard must be dispatched, take advantage of the guard's patrol path. It's always easier to wait for an enemy than attempt to approach them unnoticed yourself. For example, if you know the guard walks down an alleyway near a building, position yourself at the corner of the alley and wait for them to pass. The game will highlight the enemy when they get close enough for a stealth kill. Time your button-press right and that's one less guard.

The all-out assault will earn you a poor grade.

Run and Hide
Your first reaction to a guard spotting you should be to skedaddle to the nearest hiding spot. Once hidden, it only takes a few moments for the guard to lose interest and go back about his business as if you were never there. If you stand and fight, you risk the guard alerting the rest of the camp to your presence.

Shadow Kill
Whether you're inside or outside of a building, you will often encounter walls made out of rice paper. While you can't burst through them, you can spot enemy silhouettes walking back and forth behind the wall. Time it correctly and stab through the flimsy barrier to take your enemy down with a single stroke.

A Shuriken to the Head
Make sure to aim for the head when using shuriken. Hit location counts in Tenchu Z and with supplies being limited, you'll want to make sure every hit counts for maximum damage.

Surprise!

Meter Alerts
With in-game hints few and far between, the two in-game stealth meters take on even more importance. The numerical meter at the bottom of your screen increases the closer you are to your enemy. It's not based on line-of-sight and by default, it selects the closest enemy to you. Consult the meter consistently, and you'll never be surprised.

The alert meter is the circular color-changing icon in the bottom left corner of the screen. There are a few things to keep in mind:

• When the icon is yellow, you've been spotted but there is still time to sneak away.
• When the icon turns red and catches on fire, the enemy will charge you. You can still hide, but you better be quick.
• When the icon turns blue but is still on fire, the enemy is actively searching for you but doesn't know where you are. If you can stay hidden for a few seconds, the icon's state should revert to normal.

Mask Your Odor
Stealth is no longer just a question of sight and sound but odor as well. If you fall into a pit of sewage or are covered in gore courtesy of a recent battle, enemies can actually sniff you out. Your uniform will become soiled or bloodied when you're giving off an odor. If you haven't purchased the requisite deodorizing item from the store, find a source of clean water to rid yourself of the smell.

With these beginning tactical ninja tips, you're sure to find some success in this intriguing action stealth game.

Article by Ryan Treit