'Samurai: Way of the Warrior' – An iPhone Hack and Slasher
posted by Big Albie on September 2nd, 2009 1:54 AM EDT in $2.99, 3.5 stars, Action, Fighting, Reviews, iPhone games, iPod touch games
Samurai: Way of the Warrior [$2.99] is simply one of the most original and entertaining iPhone hack-and-slash games to date.
The game has a storyline that is well incorporated throughout presented in comic book style cut scenes that honestly conveys a strong sense of adventure and bloodletting. You control the fate of Daisuke Shimada, the wandering samurai as he ventures through the countryside dealing with the villainous Lord Hattoro and his two henchmen Kumo and Orochi. Of course, they have a significant army to carry out their misdeeds, and let’s just say that Daisuke doesn’t take too kindly to village bullies.
Hack and slash is the name of the game, and you’ll be doing plenty of that. Samurai has two game modes: Story and Dojo. Story mode consists of 7 chapters and variety of different enemies presented like a short novel or Japanese DVD. Dojo mode is a survival mode where Daisuke battles fellow hack and slashers in a ring for as long as possible.
The art style is among the best you’ll come across in a game of this nature. The 3D textures and graphics really pop as you explore the different environments with a definite Japanese feel. Combined with the melodic Japanese soundtrack, and this game exudes the charm of the Far East.
To move Daisuke, tap on a specific location on screen (Warpack Grunts-style), and he will move there with full 360 degree movement. The game also uses swipe controls to initiate specific sword maneuvers, and after playing it, I couldn’t imagine this game without swipe controls. Through specific swipe motions, any one of 9 Samurai sword skills are initiated. The sword movements are quite different, inflict different levels of damage, and can be used in unison for combo attacks which inflict maximum damage. Proper swordplay does require some practice and the game becomes particularly challenging at Stage 3.
Controls have been a point of concern in the game for some, and are demonstrated in this gameplay video from AppBank:
Literally, enemies are sliced and diced into pieces, and if you’re good enough, beheadings are in your future as well.
The gameplay starts off relatively easy as you hone your skills. Daisuke’s healthbar is replenished as he defeats enemies and unlocks gates. Enemies become more skilled and more evasive as you progress through the chapters, and the ability to use combos will be essential to survival.
Samurai: Way of the Warrior has to be one of the surprises in the iTunes store. It’s a terrifically well-designed, visually appealing game that I think will catch many off guard.
App Store Link: Samurai: Way of the Warrior, $2.99
TouchArcade Rating:
PLEASE ADD SUPPORT TO 1ST GENERATION IPOD TOUCH USERS!
Thanks TA for putting Samurai on the home page. This is quite simply one of the best action games on the platform. And the fact that it just appeared on the App Store, without fanfare, without hype, just blows you away.
I've been buying games now on iTunes for 13 months. You see 'em come and go blazingly fast. I feel I'm a "seasoned" vet when it comes to resisting hype or simply believing what someone promises about a game.
Unfortunately, Albie seems destined to send me back to rehab due to relapsing. I told myself, when I saw this game hit the store, that ultimately I didn't need it. However… *hits the "Buy Now" button on iTunes, all the while shaking a weak and unsteady fist at BA*…
IPOD touch 1st generation is enabled now…
sorry for that mistake
is that through an update? Cause I just tried buying it on the wifi app store and it still gives me the incompatible notice.
I dunno how it works exactly. Probably it need some time, untill it will came through their systems
Please be patient …
The art style reminds me of game called Okami (for PS2). Lovely!
@mad finger games
i like developers who actually present! i think your game has something special! great job guys. could be a cult-game
Good work!.
INSTANT CLASSIC!
YES. Love it. Have him battle the master Mushashi Myamoto in the end for the ultimate battle.
same sentiments entirely as rich_952000. just when i think i'm all jaded and can't be impressed any more, along comes this game. just a few minutes of viewing the video was it all took to convince me to try and buy.
Is enemy placement randomized, at least in Survival Mode?
In survival mode (The Dojo), yes. In the story, no — the placement is actually very thoughtful — it works out a bit like a puzzle (if you approach the right way, you can avoid a brawl and can take the enemies one by one, for example).
Is the gameplay similar to ninja gaiden dragon sword (DS)? Looks like it
in the middle two screens, it looks like it says "SHITS!"
lol. Brilliant!
haha i checked the comments just to see if i was the only one who saw that
@jaytee, thats exactly what I thought it said too. when I first say that screen shot lol
Man this game looks great. Impulse buy FTW!
The game is garbage. It runs on the unity engine. Don't fall victim to the fake positive comments. It's a terrible game with pretty screenshots
2kitties1cup,
I would like to see better feedback form you,why this game is so bad… I know, that we cannot praise everybody, but why so hard comments ? Please send me more information why you dont like it and how we could improve it..
Thank you
Mad Finger Games
Here's why I am disgusted with this game: It is by far the most frustrating game that I have played in 25 years of gaming. I think Level 3 is impossibly difficult and I'm guessing that no one has yet to surpass it because that is all there is. nothing beyond it. This game is a hoax Bravo on wasting everyone's time.
The third level is challenging but not impossible. Anyone with half decent skills should be able to get through it. Instead of randomly swinging your sword why not try and use some strategy… In any case, the game is amazing and bashing it cuz you suck is just proving what a talentless retard you are to everyone…
You wont be disappointed! I wonder what additional content is going to be added(If there will be.) Great game as is…I highly recommend!
the game isnt 'garbage' yer being totally unreasonable there, or perhaps hack n slash games were never your thing.
anyways, having said that, im still not bowled over by this other than the visuals. in dojo the swipe moves seem to work reasonably well, whilst in story mode, i still cannot get them out a majority of the time. its a bit frustrating and supposedly a massive part of the games appeal.
i dont love or hate this game. its just another game with a real nice visual appeal to me.
"5 hits!" = "Shits!"
it's way too short. i bought it this afternoon and it took like one hour to finish the story mode.
"Particularly challenging" after stage 3 is a ridiculous understatement. It's downright infuriating, there's absolutely no strategic help or tips on how the dodging system works or ways to prevent you from getting your ass handed every single time. The controls frequently crap out and you stand there to take a blade through the face. Have I mentioned this is infuriating?
Gorgeous game, love the concept, haven't seen anything implemented nearly this week. But the problems it has are massive and complete buzz kills.
Try the leftright combo to push back the enemies. You can also hear the enemies scream in the moment before their attack so you can jump aside. Its hard at first but thats allright
There are certainly things I like about it. The art style and animations are excellent, and the over-the-top cartoony violence fits the theme very well and hasn't gotten old after going through 3 of the levels and some of the dojo mode.
That said, whether you pull off a dismembering kill or not – and on which hit of the combo it happens – seems to be completely random, and that's unfortunate if true. I want to be able to try for those and be rewarded when I'm doing something right, not just randomly get a one-hit kill every once in awhile. It's exacerbated by the fact that the generic "you killed a guy and he fell down" animation is really lackluster and feels like a punishment for not doing the combo right.
And as another poster mentioned, dodging seems very inconsistent. Sometimes it works and I feel like I did it intentionally, sometimes I do it by accident, and sometimes I try to do it and it just won't.
I feel like the game's off to a very good start, but I also feel like it needs an update or two before the replay value and skill reward will really be there.
Its not random….. You have alway some chance do critical hit, but some other things improving you chance to do it (like combo phase or number of hits already distributed, or health of enemy)… Also some enemies (higher one) decrease you chance, some increase (lower enemies)…
Maybe we could make more difference between first and final attack
Enjoy game
Mad Finger Games
wow! great! it seems somebody read my control idea's
& fat lance fighter) , more levels, more enemy's, endbosses, combo by gesture, but do swordslash by swipe, hitting for hitpoints, include some rpg elements, love the blood, more blood! give em magic, doubletap for dash, unlockables, maybe different weapons, sell it 5,99, become rich!
you did really a great job. there is still lot's of potential.
didnt play it myself but ill soon.
concept is perfect, samurai, you can do lot out of it, different characters (female ninja
great game, keep it up!
looks good. keepin an eye on this one
i don't know about you guys.. but its not hard at all. lol. really fun slicing baddies in half! haha.
I wonder if there will be another game mode with "special skills" and made up "characters" like a sumo-sized fire breather(can also tank dmgs)..
special skills like: blink/teleport to a certain spot.. (to avoid the fire breather or behind the fire breather) (double tap to blink/teleport but with a delay so u wont double tap to teleport all over the place)
like geelet said different weapons for different combos.. spears? if its possible.. then PERFECT =]
Yes, the end of level 3 is quite hard, at least the very first time. But I'm amazed how one can get better with this game over time, that's also quite visible in the Dojo for me.
Great game!
Amazing. Just finished the game
Very nice game, I finished it as well. The control scheme does get frustrating time to time, because of the fact that the later attacks comes with 3 strokes, but the 3rd stroke is almost always dodged by the enemy, making it useless! And after the 3rd stroke misses, there's a lag where you can't do anything, and that's when the enemy strikes you
Unless there's strategies I'm not not aware, the attacks are lacking from the middle to the end of the game. It would be nice if we weren't just limited to 3 strokes of attack.
BTW, the story could use some improvement as well.. really disappointing. More levels and a longer (BETTER!) story line would make it have much more replay value.
I downloaded the Lite version and played it a thousand times. I'm stingy you see and I couldn't bear myself to pay 0.99cents. Well, after a thousand times playing the Lite version I decided to man up and buy the whole game.
I gotta say, I don't regret it a single bit. This game is truly a masterpiece. I love every aspect about it. I gotta admit the controls were hard at first but then they easily grow on you. Now I'm doing all the combos without hesitation.
Overall great game, worth the money, beautiful graphics you get 10++++
i gotta wonder what some of you do when you're not playing video games.
It was 99 cents and you didn't want to buy it? I get playing the lite version to see how it feels, but… god… being so uptight about money…its madness
I love this game: It looks really gorgeous and the controls are awesome. But I always start to panic when I'm about to die
D I guess this isn't exactly my type of game but even so I would rate it five stars.
Nemo,
We got 4,5/5 start from TouchArcade originally, I really dont know why there is 3.5/5 now
(