Way of the Samurai

"Another cult-status-worthy title from Acquire"

OK, I'm a bit late on the PS2 scene, but reviewing is just so much fun, it doesn't matter if there are twenty other reviews!

Let's think back to Tenchu (1)...it was a great game, but certainly had some major flaws; flaws that would make its rise to fame a little slow. You could list issues like the small number of levels, the sometimes clunky game engine, weird camera angles, etc., but all of these faults were aside the point. Tenchu was a truly original game that would find a place among a small niche fan base. There are some people who will never care about trying to perfect levels, and whose idea of replay is simply how long it takes to see the ending.

Way of the Samurai rests strongly upon that same tradition; which is to say that to some of us are going to find WotS one of the most deeply rewarding games on the PS2, but others will find only a clunky hack and slash game with only a few hours of replay.

Story: 8/10

I for one like the originality here. You wander into the valley as a ronin with no clue about what is going on (which seems pretty realistic.) The story becomes what you make it, and there are many permutations. All of them (at least, all the ones I've seen) build nicely to an explosive climax. The stories do not seem at all realistic, and when there are plot twists, they are not terribly surprising. In short, the stories that are here belong to the genre of samurai films. If you like that sort of thing, then the story will NOT disappoint.

Graphics: 7/10

In a lot of ways, WotS really looks like a pumped up version of Tenchu. There is a certain blockiness that I've never seen in any other series, and I wouldn't be surprised if some people took it as poor graphics. Some guards walk about in a silly bow-legged fashion. The environments aren't terribly interactive and it is often hard to tell where you are supposed to go, or even if something is an exit or a dead end. If you've seen some of the best graphics on PS2, you aren't going to be impressed. Even some of the top DC titles leave this game looking rather unspectacular. Well, to put it short--if you are buying this game for graphics, think again. It simply isn't that kind of game.

Now on the other hand, there are some very nice details. The clothing for each of the characters does a nice job reflecting just what kind of person that individual is. The faces have perhaps the greatest attention to detail--such that you'd recognize anyone of these guys if you saw them walking down the street. I'd argue that the graphics do their job where it counts.

Controls: 8/10

I'm giving an above average rating for the controls because, unlike so many newer games, it lets you use both directional and analog stick interchangeably; and that's a plus when you realize that the pad is better for fighting and the stick is better for moving. It's also quite covenant that the right stick rotates the camera--so you can change this even in the middle of combat! (I so much wish Devil May Cry allowed for this).

Beyond these points, the control is pretty standard. It might have been better to assign some of the shoulder buttons for speech and perhaps allowed more control of the sword (note for instance the analog stick control of the sword in MGS2--there is a lot more that could have been done beyond just two button sword controls.)

Sound: 7/10

Screams, sword strokes and clashes, footfalls. Not much to really comment on--in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if some of these sounds were recycled from other games. The one real point of note is the lack of voice acting. When a character begins speaking, you hear a grunt, a laugh, etc. They DO NOT say their lines--and I really like it that way. Can any of you actually play Onimusha with the English dub? I can't. This seems like a really humane alternative.

Music: 10/10

Noriyuki Asakura gives us a score as equally strange (and ultimately appealing) score as the Tenchu soundtrack. I suspect that to many, the music may sound nothing short of bizarre--perhaps in the same way Morricone's music at first sounded bizarre (putting electric guitar in more traditional settings, etc.) Ultimately though, the soundtrack does an incredible job at carrying the game--it is both highly memorable, often exciting, but at its best, thoughtful and reflective. Moments that might drift or seem meaningless are given focus by Asakura's magnificent score. Whether or not you find the soundtrack appealing, it is highly original and effective.

Overall gameplay: 7/10

I was at first rather turned off by the challenge the game presents you with--namely, an all or nothing scenario where if you die you lose your sword and any moves you learned along with it. There are no adventures to choose from. You go to the valley, and if you are lucky, you leave alive.

On second glance though, much has changed. You could be trying to explore the many story-lines. You could be trying to power-up a sword (there is about 80 yen you can get at the beginning of the game very easily--then spend it all on sword improvements.) You could be trying to get as many swords as possible. Who knows, maybe you are trying to kill every character in the game. The system actually allows for a lot of freedom, and while the overall game area is rather small, what you chose to do with your two days in the valley is up to you.

I'm left with rather mixed feelings because in truth this is such an innovative concept. Video game makers have rushed to make games with MORE areas and MORE plot twists and MORE weapons and MORE everything. What they've missed is that games like Street Fighter have encouraged enormous replay through depth rather than bulk. In a sense, WotS has done something rather similar. Game play is really not much more than an hour or so, but that one play is only a fraction of what lies within. I'm still not sure what I think about it--but there aren't any other games like this.

Non-combat game mechanics: 7/10

The game flows well and you move at a pretty good pace. Hopping is mostly ineffective for getting to other areas, and after the vertical freedom of tenchu, one feels a little non-plussed by the lack of things to explore. In the end, you'll be walking from point A to point B, occasionally seeing other people you can interact with. Not that there is anything wrong with that. That's pretty much real life. You'd hardly be a samurai if you whipped out your grappling hook and did most of your traversing on roof tops.

The other thing you do when you aren't running or hacking at someone is talk. WotS provides a menu driven system for talking with people which is sometimes quite satisfying and other times leaves a little to be desired. Sometimes you'll find no choice that really fits what you want to do. Sometimes there are things you'd never have dreamed of--often leading to some pretty unsamurai-like behavior if curiosity gets the better of you.

In the end, while quite likable, the non-combat aspects of the game aren't going to win any awards. It isn't that I only like the fighting engine. I really love what you can do -without- fighting, but let's face it, watching someone run around and talk to the occasional stranger isn't going to win fans over to the game. What really makes this part of the game good is the story line behind it and the freedom to do whatever you want. If it wasn't for those things, WotS would be a truly poor game.

Combat game mechanics: 8/10

The system isn't stellar. I've already given some suggestions in the 'control' section about what could be changed to give it more variety. On the other hand, this isn't Devil May Cry or a fighting game. When you consider that and how well the fighting engine actually works--plus the depth added through different swords, different moves, pushing, parrying, dodging, juggling and the infamous awase ability, fighting is definitely far more thought out than you might have thought at first. Indeed, you'll have to become quite good before you can take on some of the more challenging characters--and an unlockable 'versus' mode will let you become quite talented with a sword.

What you shouldn't expect is a system that is totally dedicated toward fighting. Rather, imagine Bushido Blade with a truly interactive story behind it. What's more, you'll need to be a bit careful when you move in and out of combat--some folks are a bit freaked by strangers running around with their swords unsheathed! Thus, the combat and non-combat systems are integrated beautifully--you can often hack up someone who was in the middle of talking to you (if that's your thing.)

Replayability: 9/10

Replay needs to be measured in a slightly different way than you'd measure it elsewhere. Again, the game itself isn't that long, and if you see it in nothing more than a linear fashion (like getting to the end of an RPG) then you'll miss the whole point of WotS. My first objective for instance was to actually hang on to that first sword so I would be able to retain the moves it took a whole game to learn. Second, you'll find quickly that your sword will need to be pumped up a bit to keep it from breaking and to add some much needed health, attack power, etc. Never mind that there are some 40 other swords to get and master--I haven't mastered one sword yet. There are also more outfits, more heads (want a face-lift for your character?), unlockable tutorials, that versus mode I told you about, etc. etc. etc. Ultimately, there is a LOT of junk to unlock, plus, there are three modes of difficulty to boot. With so many ways to play WotS, so many weapons, extras, etc., it is hard to give WotS anything but high replay marks. On the other hand, certain players will find this pointless. It's all up to you, which is why I think WotS is more aimed toward cult status than mainstream. Much of my enjoyment anyway comes from small things like the way the game does push you toward reflection--when you kill a main character, the music often changes and you are given a moment to consider your actions. While many games have more options, more paths, or whatnot, few really let you chose your destiny like WotS.

Buy or Rent: Perhaps you should rent first to see if this game is for you (I could say that for a lot of games.) The problem is that you probably won't warm up to the game right away. As I've said throughout the article, it isn't perfect by any means, and a quick examination may tend to overemphasize all the faults and none of the things that make this title enduring. Hopefully a good 5 day rental will leave you either never wanting to play WotS again, or sell you on it. I own the title and look forward to putting in another twenty hours before it starts collecting dust.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/07/02, Updated 12/07/02