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This game kicks bum!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: May 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Just a little warning to those of you who are thinking about buying this game, if you do not like Samurai things this game is not for you. This game is great. The graphics are much like the graphics in Kengo: Masters of Bushido. The game play for this game is really good too. There are about 5 different endings that you can recieve by beating the game a certain way. You can also pick up new weapons along the way. There is a 2 player mode which makes it even better, mostly so that you can show your friends who is the better man. The only thing this game lacks is Save Points. There are not that many places where you can save your game. Also the saves are not like the normal saves you have on the rest of the PS2 games. The saves on this game are more like so that you can go do something then come back. The reason I say that is because you can only load that file once. Other than that one detail this game is REALLY good. So I would say get this game if you like Kengo, or any of the Tenchu series.

way of the samuri the sweetest game ever!.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: May 18, 2002
Author: Amazon User

way of the samuri is the definite best game for ps2. the end of the game is completely up to you, on what words you choose.and the combat is totally awesome and the graphics are the best around there are so many weapons to choose from (mainly swords) you can also pick up more on the way to your destination the Ai is also really good so if you want a game that has good graphics great gameplay and awesome story this is the game for you !!!!!

Way of the Samurai

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 25 / 26
Date: June 01, 2002
Author: Amazon User

A very interesting take on the end of the Samurai era in Japan. I just purchased this title earlier today, but so far I am already enthralled with it. The first things I noticed about the game were: one, its very hard, and two, the story is amazingly open and varied. On the difficulty end of things, there are very few save points and you only get one life; if you die the game is basically over. The story plays out like and old samurai movie or Clint Eastwood western (think "Yojimbo" or "Fistful of Dollars"; you encounter warring factions in a small town and everyone seems to want to recruit you to help tip the balance of power in their favor. However, the game never pushes you towards a specific direction. Your character's choices remain refreshingly open ended as the plot develops. You can fight, switch sides, or just sit back and watch while the npc's fight it out. The game also has it's quircky Japanese moments, like the afro-haired samurai, and sometimes downright bizzare quips you can choose to taunt your oppents with during battle. The bigest weak point in the game is definately in the graphics department. The character faces are genuinly unique and fairly expressive, but the game itself is somewhat jaggy, and definately displays some texture seaming problems. Another possible quible could come from the intitial dificulty level, which is fairly high. However, starting from scratch often is not as bad in "Samurai" as in some other titles, because it alows the player a chance to view different possible story arcs. One final not on the music: it's fairly eclectic, I personally enjoy it, but its probably not for everyone. The rest of the in game sounds are fairly minimal, so if you want to listen to your stereo instead of the game you at least won't be missing anything important.

By far one of the best PS2 games out there.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: June 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is one of the best games I have ever played, period. I am not a hardcore gamer, so take that with a grain of salt. But still, this is an incredibly well crafted and well thought out game. Fans of the PSX Tenchu series will immediately be reminded of Way of the Samurai's roots: much of the background music is similar to that of Tenchu, as is the general approach to the scenery. The swordplay is similar to that of Kengo: Master of Bushido (an underrated game, in my opinion). The graphics are incredible, as is the sound. The camera is moveable with the right analog stick, which is a very nice touch.

You assume the role of a samurai in the early Meiji Period, and as such must make decisions as to how to interact with the many characters you meet as you travel around the map. Each decision affects the outcome of the game. The non-linear aspect of this game is very well created, and makes for interesting gameplay.

But the game is not only about meeting and talking to other characters. Intrinsic to it is sword fighting. In the beginning you are equipped with only a mediocre sword and few fighting skills. As you fight other samurai, you can obtain new swords and new skills. You can also have the swordsmith work on your sword to increase its durability, sharpness, and flexibility. The approach to fighting is interesting: your sword has a certain durability factor that determines how many "strong attacks" can be blocked before your sword will break. You can parry, cause your opponent to stumble in order to open up an attack opportunity, and even low and high kick while fighting.

I only bought this game yesterday, and have not played it for very long so far, but I can tell you that it is well worth the money. And while some of the reviews of the Japanese version (or maybe it was a demo version, I don't know) have claimed that it plays a bit short, I can say that it is not easy to win sword fights against the more powerful opponents. That, combined with the non-linear play, should make for a game with high replay value. In addition, there is a 1P vs. CPU and 1P vs. 2P fighting mode.

Some cons. The map is a bit small. But that is intentional, as the story is supposed to take place in one mountain pass and the immediate environs. Since there are many characters (some minor, some major) that you meet along the way, the small map does not detract from gameplay at all. Each area of the map is rather small, meaning that each time you move from one area to another you have to wait for it to load. But load times are really, really short. The only other gripe I have is that sometimes when fighting the view is blocked by something in the landscape (a small tuft of earth, a fence, etc.). It only happens once in a while, though, and is relatively minor.

If you are at all a fan of samurai/sword games then this is a must own. If you are interested in playing a fighting game with stunning graphics and a lot more to offer than the usual hack-and-slash, then this is at the very least a must play.

a 76 year old gamer

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 24
Date: June 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Based on the screenshots I've seen of this game, the graphics look very PS1-like, so don't expect anything groundbreaking in the category.

A 79 year old gamer

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 04, 2002
Author: Amazon User

After reading some negative reviews about the games graphics and length I was hesitating to buy it. But it definatly turned out better than I thought. The graphics really aren't bad - characters are detailed and the landscapes are nice. In fact at times this game looks quite beautiful, especially at sun rise. Even though the game is short it has great replay value. From what I read there are 6 endings, but even more ways to get there. EVERY time I played it something different happened. There's a great variety of swords and the fighting is awsome and extremely fun. There is an unlockable two player feature wich I haven't tried yet. You can unlock new costumes and head to edit your character. In my opinion the only flaw in this game is the saving system. You can only save when u get to certain points. Then you have the option to either save and quit or continue without saving. Sounds normal right? But the catch is that every time you load the game your saved game will be erased and you have to play till you reach the next save point. If you do not reach it and turn the ps2 off, the next time you'll play, you will start from the beginning of the game again. This is especially bad when its bed time and your mother keeps shouting at you to go to bed, or when you are late for something and you can't find a damn save point. This flaw doesnt bother me too much though since I think the game is so fun that I dont mind starting from the beginning again. But for some this is quite annoying. This minor or not so mnor drawback schouldn't stop you from getting this great game though. And parents should not be too worried about the M rating. I have not yet heard any foul language, the violence isnt that violent- really and there is an option to turn the blood off wich there isn't so much of anyway.

AS IF I WERE TOSHIRO MIFUNE-SAN

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: June 04, 2002
Author: Amazon User

right away i'll admit..i was excited about this game months before it came out.(yes i am partial to all things samurai)
upon playing this for the first time; it lived up to all my expectations...it is a true samurai simulator.
here is a brief synopsis....you play the part of a wandering samurai(ronin) the look,name and sword of your ronin are of your choice,and you earn other options as you play the game.
on your travels you enter "rokkotsu pass" and this is where your scenario begins.
the scenario of this game never changes,however the events and the ending are entirely up to you. the game may seem short at first, but i have gone through it six times and each time it has been different.
the combat is very similar to "KENGO-MASTER OF BUSHIDO" in fact if you were a samurai fan i would recommend having both games as this seems a progression of "KENGO" where kengo concentrated on creating a samurai "WAY OF THE SAMURAI" picks up after you have become a master.
"samurai" also follows a grading system...similar to TENCHU...so it is hard to believe this game would ever become tiring as the replay value is extremely high.
with this said...if you are a samurai afficionado this is a must buy, if you think you are interested in samurai....this is a must buy. If you are not familiar with samurai RENT "KENGO" and "SAMURAI".....then watch SANJURO,YOJIMBO AND SEVEN SAMURAI. AND REMEMBER- "HONOR AND INTEGRITY COME BEFORE ALL ELSE"

Not perfect, but very fun.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: June 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

For those of you who are trying to decide whether or not to buy this game, this is the review for you. This game is not the best PS2 game ever, and it certainly doesn't deserve 5 stars. However, it is a LOT of fun. You just have to go into it knowing what to expect... The story is similar to "Last Man Standing" w/ Bruce Willis (which was a remake of Kurosawa's "Yojimbo"). Two rival clans are preparing for war against each other, and you are a lone Samurai with the power to sway the outcome of conflict. This is what makes the game so much fun. You are free to choose how you want to interact with people, and your decisions cause chain-reactions that ultimately change the entire story line. There's nothing forcing you to be good or bad. You can help those in need... or beat them up if you feel like it. Because of this, there are several different endings, giving the game high replay value. The story is relatively easy to follow, but the dialog probably could have used some revisions. Some nuances have clearly been lost in the translation. The graphics for this game are decent, but below the quality of what we've seen capable on the PS2. The characters are unique and have a lot of personality, but their bodies are blocky, and the (non-fighting) animations are repetitive and stiff. The environments are pretty nice, but they are limited in number, and there is little or no "exploration" to speak of. Most of the areas are noticeably devoid of the presence of humans. Even in the main town area is almost completely empty (except for when the fighting starts). It would have given the game some nice atmosphere to have at least a few random townspeople walking about. The music in this game is very good. It is similar to that which appeared in the first Tenchu game (no surprise). There aren't that many ambient sound effects other than random animal sounds or that of a passing train. Consequently, a lot of times the game seems overly quiet. It would have been better if the characters had speaking voices. All conversations take place in dialog boxes and balloons, and people just grunt or make random noises so you know who's talking. The fighting sounds, however, are great--on par with any fighting game out there--and that does a lot to liven things up. The highlight of the game (other than the changing story line) is the sword fighting. It is incredibly deep, and it takes a LOT of practice before you even begin to realize how much potential you have. There are air-juggles, throws, blocks and parries... and you can even use some items in the environment as weapons. If you play the game on normal or hard, expect to die... a lot. But once you get the hang of it, you'll be loving it. You start off with a single sword, but there are dozens of weapons you can obtain along the way. Each weapon has different moves, and you have the ability to improve the stats on them by taking them to a blacksmith. AND the ones you manage to "save" can be used in subsequent games. Because the fights take place in different environments, the camera sometimes gets stuck in unhelpful angles. Plus, the camera angles often switch, which will cause occasional confusion. But these issues are common in games like this, and they definitely don't ruin the experience. Also adding to the replay value is the fact that, based on your performance, there are plenty of things to unlock, including a 2-player VS. mode. Well, this review is already way too long, so I'll end it here. I am definitely enjoying this game, I'm sure you will too.

A Samurai Epic that redefines "Replay Value"

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 07, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I was a little catious towards this game at first when I found out that Acquire had opted to create this game instead of another sequel to Tenchu. But after playing the game, there is no doubt, this game is awesome. A multi-faceted story that made unique and ever changing by your actions, words and timing. A great story about the fall of the Samurai empire brought out by vivid landscapes and a great event structure. Not to mention and involving fighting system that utilizes swords that carry with them a variety of fighting moves. Now there is some speculation as to the length of this game. If you are one to just run straight thru a game just to get to the end, then you may find this game very short indeed. But playing through to get the different endings, trying out various ways of behaviour and actions to see where the story takes you and to try and get the various swords in the game will bring the length of this game up greatly. The replay value is through the roof. This game is a majestic masterpiece and well worth checking out.

Way of the Samurai...A Must Buy

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: June 10, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game is a must buy for any fans of samurai action. Way of the Samurai is a very intriguing game that allows you to determine the outcome. There are around 6 different endings to acquire, different costumes to earn, hundreds of swords and moves to learn for each sword, and much more. You can customize your character's face and clothing. Two-player vs. mode is fun and plays much like Bushido Blade. Combat isn't too hard to learn and provides plenty of entertainment though after killing a little over 100 guys...it kind of gets repetitive. Camera angles screw you over a few times, but not often enough that it gets frustrating. This game is tons of fun and should be rented at least if not bought. And sometimes it's pretty comical like when you go into the little restuarant, there is a black guy with an afro who has "dedicated his life" to the ways of a samurai. What are you waiting for? Go buy it!

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