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Awesome

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 23, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Kengo: Master of Bushido is quite simply the best fighting game I have ever played, and trust me... I've played alot of them! It's graphics are pretty good, although at points they are a bit jagged. The gameplay is very realistic, and it really helps you understand a samurai's struggles to becoming a master swordsman. Although I must admit that the training does get frustrating at times, it is still fun. If you like slicing an opponent open and seeing blood splurt out, you'll like this game. Parents, don't worry you can turn off the gore in the options menu. The tournaments are pretty fun also, but playing the first person levels are better. I hope you'll have as much fun as I have.

One of the best

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: December 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I love kengo: master of bushido. I don't have a katana but I bought a boken immediately. The game basically takes a bit. I had fun in sort of imagining my own story line.

The fighting is the whole game. It is extremely fun though. I won the tournament but the game still wasn't over. It can go on for a long time. You can train or fight other men. You also fight other schools for their sword's and technique's. I started out in the thrusting school and grew to love it like it was my home.

There are tons of different moves and combos. you can customize your own combos. They are really easy to pull off and you always know it hurt the other guy.

Basically the game is fun though. I chose a guy and made up my own story. Katanas can only be used during tournament play or when you kill a master. But the game is extremely fun still. I really wish I could find a copy though. If you can, hold on to this rare gem.

Words cant describe my joy of this game.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: May 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is a game, more games should be made like this. Im a person that likes fighting games but i cant stand the skilless button slamming games where all that matters is you pressed A faster then the other guy. Untill i found Kengo: Master of Bushido, i thought Tekken games were my only salvation. But now im tearing down that church and building a shrine to Kengo.
No more nightmares of seeing my poor character being pummeled by my friend as stupid flashing neon letters scream out 74 HIT COMBO OF DOOM!
This game is 1 of skill and tactics and strategy and thinking and planning, and all other words that mean you dont run at the other guy screaming.
You choose a swordsmen and then what school he should go to. Then you train him to pass all of that dojos tests and eventually beat its master. Then you go to other dojos to beat their masters and be the best. All the while you learn new techniques and train your skills.
Now im also not a big sword fan, but this game makes me want to build a time machine and go back in time in japan and do this stuff.
The game is fun requires you to think about what fighting techniques your opponent is usuing and what counters them, when to block dodge or parry. Oh theres so much i cant say it all.

In short if you hate button smashing lame games thats main selling points it half naked women and super insane fighting moves that dont make sense, Kengo:Master of Bushido is the closest thing youll get to your dream of a fighting game that makes sense, at least for now.

This is REAL SAMURAI FIGHTING

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 12, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game is a real samurai simulator. A lot of gamers who have tried this game complain about spending more time training than actually fighting. First of all, samurai fighting is an art and a lifestyle. And I think this is what this game is about; letting players experience how japanese swordsmen learned their craft. Also, comparing Bushido Blade with Kengo is like comparing Fencing with Judo. Bushido Blade is a fighting game, you go in and fight and go to the next opponent. Kengo is more than just going in and fighting, it's simulating the art of the samurai. I've already spent 102 "game-days" training my Samurai just to get him into tip-top shape once he starts duelling out with other dojos. The AI in this game is smart...very smart. Don't think for a minute you can get away with every combo you've mastered. The AI will pounce, sneak, jab the blade, block, counter move, taunt you, and wait for you to make a move. The only gripe I have about this game is the lack of the fatal one-hit death. Still the realism is there because the moves and combos are truly based on ancient swordfighting techniques. This is the only fighting game that I really cared for my player. When he's up against an opponent, I make sure I am doing the right stance and technique. Failure to do so will lead to some very bloody results.

Another thing that's also missing the online multiplayer potential of this game. Unfortunately PS2 still has no online upgrade for the system yet. Imagine creating your own dojo of players and duelling it out with other dojos online. Awesome!

Could have been a contender

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 13, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Fans of the Bushido Blade series should be cautious before snapping up this latest offering from Lightweight. While Kengo is undoubtedly fun and addictive, it strays from the virtues that made the Bushido Blade series very successful. In fact, the designers seemed to take several steps back. But before I delve into how the game disappoints, let's talk about how the game succeeds.

The first thing you'll notice, of course, are the updated 128-bit graphics, courtesy of PS2. Kengo, simply put, is absolutely gorgeous! Every dojo is lovingly crafted, down to the most intricate detail, with great lighting effects (just check out those reflections on the shiny wood floors). Character models are very nice, albeit jagged on the edges (it seems that pesky alaising bug is still around), and the motion captures look amazingly realistic and much more varied. And, if blood and gore are what you want, Kengo does not disappoint. The amount of blood that gushes from the characters is absolutely frightening! There's even a setting where you can have their clothing slowly soak in their own blood. Seeing your character emerge victorious albeit a bloodied mess, can be disturbing. But stunning graphics are just the beginning. Wait till you see how this baby plays!

Thanks to the processing power of PS2, gameplay is fast, furious, and ultra-smooth. Controls are very intuitive as well. Anyone can pick up the controller for the first time and start hacking away. But just saying that may be doing the game a little injustice. While the controls are user friendly, it does take a lot of practice to be a Kengo master. So many factors affect your performance in a match. Your distance from your opponent for instance, has direct impact on the variety of moves you can make. And just as in the Bushido Blade series, you have a variety of "attack techniques" to choose from (using the L1, L2, R1, R2 buttons). Unfortunately, this is where the good stuff ends.

Bushido Blade purists will have a problem with the definite "arcade" feel of the game. Kengo utilizes "health meters" (ugh) which were refreshingly absent in the previous offerings. Thankfully, there is an option to turn the meters off (I highly recommend turning them off). However, unlike before, where one devastating blow can end a match, it takes quite a few more strokes to demolish your opponent in Kengo (hence the need for a health bar) - this is one of the steps back that the designers have taken. Another thing that may bother purists is that, fighting occurs in enclosed arenas (a la Soul Calibur) - no more running through expansive grounds, which is a shame, given the power of the PS2. Maiming during combat (arm going limp, legs giving out), has been discarded in favor of a "Danger" alert. You can be mortally wounded, and eventually bleed to death in mid-battle. The bleeding system isn't bad, as it adds a bit of a strategical element, but it would have been nice to still have one hit blows (no health bars, please), and maiming, thus giving the game the realism that Bushido Blade had.

Single Mode is where the game redeems itself. While "Tournament Mode" (where you play against the CPU), is fun by itself, it's the "Single Mode" that'll keep you coming back. This is the meat and potatoes of Kengo. In it, you get to live the hard life of a "bushi." You start off with very little skill, and in quasi RPG style, you build-up your character and move him up the ranks - challenging dojo after dojo, acquiring their techniques (and special swords) and utilizing them as your own. Occasionally, on your quest, you're challenged by overzealous swordsmen, and engage in a few "street fights" which can be incredibly difficult. Eventually, you get to compete in the Imperial tournament which ultimately decides who's the best "Kengo" in the land. Aside from some of the in-game flaws mentioned above, this part of the game can be totally immersing.

Bottom line, if you want a great Kenjitsu sim, then you're better off playing the first Bushido Blade. If you're the arcade type and love Soul Calibur but need a slight change of pace, then this is definitely the game for you.

Slashfest

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: January 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

If you are looking for a massive slashfest this is your game. Controls are pretty simple and the learning curve for the game is farily low. The beauty of the game is the compition against other human opponents, the game allows for some epic battle against your friends. The single player game gets a bit old pretty quick. You have to train any 1 of 3 characters in 8 different dojos. Along the way you can earn different moves and swords that allow you to do different combos. During this mode you only get to fight with a wooden sword which is pretty lame. All the training comes in the form of button mashing which gets old after a while. The big difference in this game from the old Bushido Blade titles it the life bar. I thought this would make the game horrible but it after playing it all night I find that it really doesn't make a huge difference. Overall if you are looking for a game where you can trash talk your friends and have edge of your seat battles with them you might like this game.

finally a game for me...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: July 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Now I know a lot of people does not like this game for a few reasons. 1.you spend a lot of time training to get stronger. 2.a very short tournament. and 3.can only save once. well I have this to say...samurai's really did have to train a lot to get strong and only for a short tournament because its all in one day. the thing about only saving once...well you can only save once on a memory card...so its really just a sneaky way to make you buy more memeory cards. all in all the game is great and it shows how hard a samurai's life was. yet then again this game is for people who have friends to play with...that way the game does not get boring after you beat it.

Samurai simulator? Awsome!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: March 24, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Even if the grafics may not be as "spectacular" as some games for PS2 out there, this baby is solid!!! And as soon as you get the hang of it, the grafics become a secondary factor (I can even say that they are really good, specially the blood, HE HE HE (evil laugh).

This is not a rental, like some other reviews say. This is a deep game... with Zen, Ki & spiritual meditation attached with sword agility and strength training.

You get involved with your caracter, and it takes time to master him, but it's good all the way up to the Imperial Tournaments, which when you win, you get to face your own Sensei who's waiting for you outside like the school bully that wants your lunch money, but in this case he looks 100 years old and he wants your life.

When you eventually kill the old fart, you take over the Dojo, and after that your mission is not to allow anyone to take it away from you...

Bottom of the line...If you like fighting games then BUY IT, YOU WILL NOT, I repeat, WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!

great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 23, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game. One thing many of the reviewers fail to note is the skill that a true comefrom behind victory requires. This is brought on by the bleeding death feature. If your severly down, chances are your not going to dart in and cut them to pieces before you drop from blood loss. It really adds a sense of urgency to your fights and requires you to think faster. No more hanging back and waiting for them.

Back to the Basics in (EXCELLENT ) Gaming !!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This for some may not tickle the eyes as much as the new genre standard, such as capcoms flaver of the year and others like twisted metal extc, but as far as playing skill it makes the grade and then some!! looking for this writer to jump back at us on this one. maybe this time he'lladd more eye candi? Ha Ha Ha...

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