Way of the Samurai
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| Way of the Samurai | |
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| Developer(s) | Acquire |
| Publisher(s) | Bam! Entertainment |
| Picture format | 480i, 480p (SDTV) |
| Release date(s) | May 05, 2002 (North America) |
| Genre(s) | Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player (main game), Two player (unlockable vs. mode) |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: M (Mature) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Media | 1 CD |
| Input | Controller |
- For the samurai code of conduct, see Bushido.
Way of the Samurai is a PlayStation 2 action-adventure game released in 2002. Set in 19th Century Japan, the player takes on the role of a ronin who wanders into a remote village and becomes involved in a conflict between rival clans. A notable feature of the game is the Choose Your Own Adventure style branching storyline, which allows minor decisions by the player to radically alter the course of the story.
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[edit] Plot Synopsis
The story of Way of the Samurai takes place in 1878, after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the start of Japan's Meiji Period, a time when the Samurai who were once at the top of Japanese society are all but outlawed. The game begins with the player, taking the role of a wandering ronin by the name of Kenji, arriving in a fictional outpost called Rokkotsu Pass.
Rokkotsu Pass is a sparsely populated village, whose main attractions include a railway crossing, a small restaurant, and an iron foundry. Three separate factions are competing for control of the Pass, each with their own agenda. The first is the new centralized government, whose army has been sweeping through the country securing power from the local warlords. The government army is well funded and equipped with modern weaponry, including firearms and canons, making them formidable opponents for the former samurai lords.
The second faction is the Kurou family, who previously held sway in Rokkotsu Pass and continue to exert their influence on the people through extortion and intimidation. Lead by Tesshin Kurou, the family is resisting the government's attempt to take control of the pass, however the samurai can not compete with the modern army. In an attempt to secure funds, the Kurou intend to sell the iron foundry to the government.
This decision by the Kurou puts them in direct opposition to the Akadama clan, whose leader, Kitcho, is the illegitimate son of Tesshin Kurou. The Akadama wish to expel the government forces from the pass, and plan to sabotage the Kurou family's attempt to sell the foundry.
Caught in the middle of this power struggle are the village peasants, who are likely to be oppressed regardless of who is in control.
[edit] Branching Plotlines
Although the story in Way of the Samurai follows the basic framework provided above, the actual events that the player participates in depend greatly on the decisions made while playing. Immediately upon entering Rokkotsu Pass, the player is confronted by a group of samurai attempting to kidnap a young girl. The player has the choice of helping the girl, joining the abductors, or ignoring the situation altogether. Each of these decisions will lead the player down a different path, resulting in a vastly different view of the main plot points.
The players decisions will also have a direct result on Kenji's allegiance within the storyline. The player may choose to join either the Kurou family or the Akadama clan, to support and protect the innocent villagers, or to take no side and observe the events as an outsider with minimal direct involvement. The player may also choose to help one faction and then switch allegiance later in the game.
As a result of these branching storylines, Way of the Samurai has seven different endings; the particular ending obtained by the player is based on which faction Kenji (the main character) has allied himself with and the actions taken during the course of the game. Or not joining a faction at all and fighting alongside Dojima the swordsmith.
[edit] Gameplay
Aside from the player's direct involvement in choosing the plot, gameplay in Way of the Samurai focuses heavily on combat. As can be expected from a game set in this specific time period, fighting is done entirely with various samurai swords available in the game. Way of the Samurai features over 40 different types of swords, however the player begins with access to only one. By defeating enemies, the player can then take the fallen character's sword to add to his or her own inventory. The player may only carry a maximum of three swords at a time. Once per game, the player may leave one additional sword with the swordsmith, Dojima, and have it delivered to his or her sword collection.
[edit] Combat
The player will often have the choice of whether or not to engage in combat with a specific NPC, however once combat is engaged the player is likely to be forced into fighting several opponents at once. Kenji has a basic set of moves that are available with all weapons, consisting of a regular attack, a strong attack, a block, and a kick. There are numerous variations and combinations of the basic moves available depending on the particular sword equipped at the time. By defeating opponents or collecting special items Kenji can also unlock special attacks and combinations specific to each weapon. There are also several different fighting stances, depending on the particular sword equipped, each of which comes with its own fighting style.
[edit] Sword Enhancement
Each of the swords available in the game has several attributes which influence it's effectiveness in battle. These attributes can be enhanced using special items found in the game, or by visiting the in game swordsmith.
- Sharpness: Attack strength, increases/decreases the amount of damage caused when an opponent is struck with the sword
- Flexibility: Defensive strength, increases/decreases the amount of damage suffered when the player is struck by an opponent
- Durability: Sword strength, increases the amount of heat the sword can generate before breaking (heat is generated by striking or blocking, and displayed using an on-screen meter)
- Life: Increases/decreases the total number of the players hit points
[edit] Characters
- Kenji (Player): Very little is known about the protagonist, aside from the fact that he is a samurai. Due to the nature of the game, Kenji's motivations are entirely decided by the individual player; he can be a selfless hero, shameless villain, or indifferent spectator. It should be noted that the player has the option of changing Kenji's name at the start of the game, as well as altering his appearance using various head and body models unlocked during repeated playing. One of the available models is actually that of a female samurai.
- Tesshin Kurou: The patriarch of the Kurou family, Tesshin comes from a long line of samurai and is one of the most formidable swordsmen in the game. He has a famous sword named Dai-Kuronama.
- Kitcho: Head of the Akadama Clan, a group of samurai who have recently arrived in the pass with the intention of resisting the Meiji government and bringing the samurai class back into prominence. Kitcho is the son of Tesshin Kurou through a previous marriage, and at least equal to his father in terms of swordsmanship.
- Madame Murasaki Kouru: The wife of Tesshin Kurou, Murasaki is widely respected in Rokkotsu Pass, and is the first to discover the truth behind the Meiji government's interest in purchasing the iron foundry. She is in a secret relationship with Inokashira the police officer.
- Chelsea: A Westerner, Chelsea is a prominent member of the Akadama clan as well as being romantically involved with Kitcho.
- Karibe: Another primary member of the Akadama clan, Karibe feels that the clan should strike out against the Kurou, which leads to tension between himself and Kitcho.
- Hachiro Tsubohachi: A Kurou family enforcer, he is one of the first people Kenji encounters when arriving at the pass. He is easily distinguished by the tattoos on his body.
- Soichiro Shiretoko: A Kurou family's adviser who is trusted by Tesshin to do important tasks. Although he seems to prefer delegating tasks to lower level members of the Kurou, he is a formidable opponent when forced to draw his sword.
- Hyuga: A ninja who appears to work with the Akadama Clan, Hyuga is actually, a government spy sent to manipulate the residents of Rokkotsu Pass. He is responsible for the animosity between the Kurou and Akadama Clans, making it easier for the Meiji Government to dominate the the events in the pass.
- Kintaro Kurou: The infant son of Tesshin Kurou & Madame Murasaki and brother of Kitcho.
- Josuei Tamagawa: Commander of the Meiji Government army, Tamagawa manipulates the various characters in an attempt to secure control of Rokkotsu Pass, as well as putting an end to the reign of the samurai class.
- Inokashira: A police officer in Rokkotsu Pass, he is both arrogant and corrupt, using gun as his weapon of choice. He is discovered to be in a secret relationship with Madame Murasaki.
- Jose: A giant lackey employed by Inokashira, whose preferred weapon is a large bludgeon.
- Gunji Dojima: The town swordsmith, the player may enlist his services to enhance the attributes of any of the swords collected during the game. Dojima also participates in several of the plotlines, as he feels that the weak and poor are victimized by those around them and chooses to defend the villagers in the pass.
- Suzu: One of the first people encountered by Kenji, Suzu is a young girl who runs Amaguri, a restaurant in the station. She lost her parents during the war, and was saved and raised by Kurikichi.
- Kurikichi: Owner of the small restaurant named Amaguri in the Rokkotsu Pass station. Kurikichi saved and raised Suzu when she was still a child and treats her as if she was his own daughter.
- Don Donatelouse (Donnatellos): A foreigner who wishes to be a samurai, Don is either an ally or an enemy depending on the path taken by the player. Notable for his large afro, he is often referred to by the villagers as "Dona Dona" and has taken the role of protector for Suzu and Kurikichi.
- Enzan Toyoko: Another ronin wandering around Rokkotsu Pass, Toyoko will sometimes provide Kenji, and the player, with useful information.
[edit] See also
[edit] Trivia
- Many of the ideas in this game seem to stem from the Akira Kurosawa film Yojimbo. In that film, a wandering samurai enters a small town caught in the middle of a war between 2 gangs, aligns himself with both gangs, and ultimately plays one side against the other to free the town from the gang's oppression. Aside from the similarities of the wandering samurai and a town caught between rival gangs, to get the "best" ending in Way of the Samurai, the protagonist will align himself with both gangs, play both sides, but instead of turning them against each other, he will unite them against the government forces still ultimately free the townspeople from oppression.
