Bushido Blade 2
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| Bushido Blade 2 | |
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| Developer(s) | Square Co., Ltd. Light Weight |
| Publisher(s) | Square Co., Ltd. Square Electronic Arts |
| Release date(s) | March 19, 1998 (Japan) October 27, 1998 (North America) |
| Genre(s) | Fighting |
| Mode(s) | 1 - 2 Players |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T (Teen) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation |
| Media | 1 CD-ROM |
Bushido Blade 2 is a fighting game published by Squaresoft, released in both Japan and North America in 1998. It is the sequel to Bushido Blade, which had been released the previous year.
Due to disagreements between Squaresoft and the games' developer, Light Weight, the series ended abruptly with this game, despite the fact that this game's ending left open the possibility of a sequel. Light Weight would later use the same game engine in the Kengo: Master Of Bushido series.[citation needed]
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[edit] Gameplay
Bushido Blade 2 expands on some of the aspects of Bushido Blade, while limiting or removing others. The story mode is changed from one large connected level to a series of skirmishes, each set on a different map. Playable characters are chosen from groups which represent two opposing schools of ninja, and they are armed with swords or polearms of varying types.
The fights in Bushido Blade 2 mark the progress of the chosen character who—depending on the character—either fights to regain a legendary sword, or to destroy the opposing ninja school. Levels involve a pattern of fighting several generic ninja followed by a boss, who is one of the playable characters from the opposing school.
Two characters in Bushido Blade 2 are exceptions to the typical opponent roster: the gun-wielding Tsubame and Katze. They have sworn loyalty to opposing schools, and battles involving them provide a higher level of difficulty as the playable characters are not as well armed. With proper tactics, such as monitoring the opponent's remaining ammunition, however, the player can defend just as well, if not better, against the firearms than the melee weapons.
[edit] Story
In the 13th century, on the island of Konoshima (in the Seto Naikai, Inland Sea, of Japan) there existed two feudal clans, the Kagami and the Sue, both aligned to the same Daimyo. They lived in peace until war on mainland Japan crushed the Daimyo. The Kagami swore fealty to the new Daimyo while the Sue were loyal to their master until the end. The conflict between the two began with the Kagami drawing the Sue off of the island and into battle. The Sue, having been defeated in battle, then lost their sacred sword the Yugiri. For centuries after, secretive battles were fought that were fierce, but not widespread.
Some 800 years later the Shainto school, comprised of the remaining descendants from the Sue clan, attacked the Narukagami Shintoryu, the Kagami clan dojo, at their headquarters: the Meikyokan. To redeem their honor, they move to recover the Sacred Sword Yugiri and wipe out the last descendant of the Kagami family. That is the point from which the opening FMV begins, covering the assault which is later seen more fully in the story mode.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Overall Description
Most of the playable characters from the first game have returned, including Red Shadow, Mikado, Kannuki, Tatsumi, Utsusemi and Black Lotus (as Highwayman). They all, with the exception of Highwayman, belong to the Narukagami clan, while Kannuki, Mikado and Tatsumi are in the starting roster and featured in the opening FMV, as are Kaun, Gengoro and Jo of the Shainto. The game also features an uncommon fighter unlocking system. During the Story Mode, each of the main PCs will face two "bonus battles", when a player temporary (for one battle) is given a new character. If that character dies in a level, then the main character jumps in and the story continues progressing normally. However, if the player manages to complete a level with a new character he/she will be unlocked in the character roster. As in Bushido Blade 1, all of the main characters have two outfits, one for the Story mode and second for the other play modes, while unlockable fighters use a single costume for the entire game. Additionally, a gunman (Katze and Tsubame from Bushido Blade 1) and a secret "clown character" for each clan are unlockable by satisfying certain requirements.
[edit] Narukagami characters
- Kannuki (starting character) is proficient with heavy weapons.
- Matsumushi (unlockable character) uses Daishō.
- Mikado (starting character) is proficient with the naginata.
- Night Stalker (unlockable character) is notable for being very fast.
- Red Shadow (unlockable character) uses dual battle swords.
- Sazanka and Suminagashi are unlockable characters.
- Tatsumi (starting character) uses Daishō.
- Tsubame (special character) wields an M-16 rifle.
- Utsusemi (unlockable character) uses Daishō.
- "Clown" (special character) is the "clown character" for the Narukagami clan.
[edit] Shainto
- Chihiro(unlockable character) has a pet frog instead of sub-weapon.
- Gengoro (starting character) is proficient with heavy weapons.
- Highway Man (unlockable character) uses dual battle swords.
- Isohachi (unlockable character) has a special "yell" attack instead of sub-weapon.
- Jo (starting character) is proficient in acrobatics and the use of light weapons.
- Kaun (starting character) is proficient with the spear.
- Katze (special character) wields a revolver.
- Takeru (unlockable character) uses throwing axes.
- Tony (unlockable character) uses a katana.
- Utamaru (starting character) uses the lightest sword in the fastest game stance.
- "Clown" (special character) is the "clown character" for the Shainto clan.
[edit] Weapons
Most of the weapons are straight from the first game, excluding the spear, M16 and the Yugiri (a sword which is quite similar to the Nodachi), which is only accessible in the final battle versus the unarmed "last member of the Kagami clan". The original Bushido Blade's selectable weapons — Rapier (which doesn't appear as a selectable weapon, but only in Highwayman's 2-sword stance when he has the long sword equipped), Sledgehammer and Ninjato (last one dubbed in Bushido Blade as the Sabre)—as well as the boss-specific "Double-Bladed Sword-Staff" and "Special Sabre", have been eliminated. Is worth noting that the weapons usable by both schools (such as the katana) have a slighly different design for each school. The only new weapon available is the Spear, so Bushido Blade 2 is less diverse when it comes to weapon and fighting style selection.
The available weapons in the game are:
- Katana
- Long sword
- Nodachi
- Broad sword
- Naginata (Narukagami school only)
- Spear (named "Yari" - Shainto school only)
- M16 rifle
- Revolver
[edit] Trivia
- There is a special feature in the game where the player can change the game to be in black and white, mimicking many of the famous samurai films made by Akira Kurosawa in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Isohachi's uniform mimicks that of the Imperial Army of Japan, which makes Isohachi a war veteran of World War II.
- Sumanagashi, being an American, was supposed to speak in broken Japanese in the original Japanese release of the game. In the western release of the game, despite Sumanagashi still retaining his broken Japanese according to the script, the meaning was lost due to all of the characters having been dubbed into English.
