|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
           
|
GRAPHICS: C+ (8) Bushido Blade has some nice looking backgrounds, but other than that, the graphics seem to lack the polish that is necessary to place it among the greats. The fighters and the backgrounds are in low resolution, making them look pixely and unattractive. The frame-rate on the other hand, is reasonable enough for fast pace and strategy. The first person mode looks a little better. None of the characters were very well thought out and their costumes and overall appearance is unappealing at best. Designs vary from Russian samurais (?), Zorro-type swordsmen, traditional samurais, to ninjas, but I doubt you will become attached to any of them as you would in other games. The question is, then, do graphics really make a game? In this case the answer is no. Better character design is greatly needed in this game, and unfortunately, it doesn't have it.
MUSIC/SOUND: B (8.50) This game has actually no music to speak of, but I did enjoy the environmental sounds that were used as contrast to the gameplay. From forest sounds to leaves rustling under your footsteps, the sound in this game is very adequate and was done nicely. Some of the characters' speech was extremely annoying and unrealistic, and Square could've undoubtedly done better when the sounds were so good. Most of the swords make the same sound regardless of size unless they are wooden, but it is done very well. Since each attack has a different sound, you will not care if the swords have a unique sound or not. There really aren't any auditory problems in this game, it's just that normally you would expect more from a CD.
GAMEPLAY: B (8.50) There are many problems with the gameplay. Primarily, there's only 6 characters plus a hidden one. This lack of characters can make the gameplay monotonous after a while, killing any replay value this game might have, especially since each character has a number of moves limited to sword-swipes. I also hated the fact that to choose different characters, you have to manually reset the game, because after a match you just start again. You don't know how annoying that can get. I can't grade it any lower though, because despite its flaws, it is indeed one of the most unique games to come out for a while. This game has new features never before seen in a fighter, such as interactive 3D environments where you are free to run in any axis and attack from any angle. The physics in this game are also very well done and allow for some really awesome plays. There is much interactivity between the player and the environment in this game, such as when climbing walls or chopping down trees, which makes this different from your typical fighting game. Bushido Blade has no life bars or time limit, this means that one hit may or may not kill you depending on where you're hit. For example, if you're hit in the arm or leg, that limb will be handicapped and you will be at a much higher risk of losing the match, but it doesn't necessarily mean you lost. There are also one hit kills in Bushido Blade, and depending on what type of gamer you are, you may or may not like it. Regardless of the difficulty set, at times all it takes is to run around and give a stab. Sometimes the idiot AI opponent will just walk into your blade (especially in Slash Mode, which by-the-way provides you with the hidden character once through), but not often enough to label it a nuisance. Another interesting features is the first person mode, which changes things a bit and provides you with a better view of your opponent. The innovations outshine the problems in gameplay. FUN AND REPLAY VALUE: C (7.75) It is fun for a while, particularly in two-player mode. However, only to those who enjoy anything that has to do with samurais and swords will it appeal in the long run. Quite frankly though, it can get boring after a week or so for the rest of us, just don't flame me, I warned you.
WORTH BUYING: PERHAPS The real appeal to Bushido Blade is two player mode, so if you don't have a friend to play with, try renting it first. Otherwise, you may want to check it out, because the battles can be fun in two player mode. The "fun" is very limited, though, so don't rush before purchasing it. OVERALL: C+ (8) Of those who've played it, many will disagree, but I don't believe this game to be worth the attention it has received. This game, while original and fun at first, can prove to be a waste of money and boring after a short time, even for die-hard fighting game fans. With Tekken 3 already out, I can't possibly recommend Bushido Blade. To order Bushido Blade
click the button
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
