Bushido Blade 1 & 2 Review

[Sakaki]

Bushido Blade 1

Storyline - 10/20
Sound - 18/20
Gameplay - 20/20
Replay Value - 20/20
Graphics - 15/20

Different from the last two, I am reviewing two games at once, but only because there are pretty well no differences is gameplay between the two, other than the fact part two is simply greater than it's predecessor.


That being said, on with the review!

If you are playing for story line, you will be disappointed, as there isn't much of one to the game. I didn't give it a low rating just to be evil. The story changes with each character, as you'll learn in both games, each character you play as, you unlock another character for beating the game with said character. The only difference you get playing a different character, is a different opening and ending, plus a different character unlocked. You will fight the same enemies and the same boss. But trust me, it doesn't get old quick, and it's even better if you have a friend, but only for part two. The first games multiplayer is about as fun as watching paint dry, sadly.

On to the combat aspect of Bushido Blade 1:

You fight with swords, clearly, hence 'Bushido', art of the sword, for those lacking in knowledge of swordplay. No matter what, you're going to die in one hit, but so will your opponent, so this is actually pretty realistic, you get stabbed in the chest with a sword once in real life, you can count on dying. I hate to disappoint, but you'll see no limbs being hacked off here. The most that happens when you get smacked in the arm is you lose the ability to use that arm, for things such as throwing dirt in your opponents eyes, or swinging a broadsword effectively. In Bushido Blade 1 you only get single wield, meaning you can't have two weapons at a time. You do however get to choose the weapon you want, but be careful. If you choose the character Tatsumi and choose the Broadsword, he won't swing it as fast as another character of higher physical attributes (Bigger muscles). (I am terribly sorry, I only remember two character names from these games, but I remember the gameplay perfectly)

Honor!:

If you end a fight quickly in Bushido Blade, you will end the game and have to start over, as that is also a code of Bushido, apparently. You must make the fight last a good five minutes or you will not advance to the next enemy, which I found pretty annoying at times, but also pretty cool. Example: You make it to the boss, yay! He's just sitting there...and yes..he does just sit there. You run up, swing, kill him...well, congratulations...you just beat the game, but you get no cinematic ending and unlock no characters. Too bad, time to run through that again.

Over all a great game, worth playing a few times, but you'll get bored with it after about two weeks, unlike part two.

Bushido Blade 2 Rating
Storyline - 14/20
Sound - 18/20
Gameplay - 20/20
Replay Value - 20/20
Graphics - 17/20
Bushido Blade 2:

Ah yes, my personal favorite of the games, you get a dual wield option here with Tatsumi and Highway-Man, and I believe one or two other characters depending on chosen sword (Actually, you might in the first one too, I've not played it in so long I honestly don't remember). There is more story to this game than there was the last, promise.

Combat:

It's simply sexy. I have no other words to describe this. You still die in one hit, and you still get cheap moves. Such as R2 + down on digi pad + square button = throw a knife into your enemy, or your secondary sword, if it hits, it will kill him. If it misses, you can pick it up and be cheap again.

Sword fights will last a good while if you want them too, I had a couple fights with a friend that lasted ten minutes..they were really good fights. The only way to block is to swing at the exact moment your opponent does, not too hard, but you have to hope you hit the right attack, or you'll be dead, or you both will, as you may hit him as he hits you. (I forgot to mention this works the same way in part 1) Simply put, the combat system is a bit faster than it was in the first, and a bit better.

The honor bit was taken out of this game, which isn't a big loss, at all. So if you want too, you can rush through everything except the enemies boss, because he can dodge for awhile. One of the teams boss will teleport around until he runs out of energy, then you can take his head and win. (Not literally, no dismemberment here either, Squaresoft isn't that graphic) As with part one, if you get hit in the arm or leg, you lose the ability to use that arm for anything, or you lose the ability to move quick, and you'll be moving around by kneeling on the ground.

Overall these are two of the greatest sword fighting games EVER made, and there will probably never be anything that will ever come close to being better with sword fighting.

If you can find a copy anywhere of either, or both, buy them! Do not hesitate, you'll like them, I promise. They are both a PS1 game, so if you have a PS2 you can still play, or if you have your PS1 still you're set then too.

These games weren't very popular, at least that I know of, so you may have never heard of them.

Hope the review was helpful to you.

[Yoherz]

What console and how old is it? Is it still available? *Rep +*

[Sakaki]

It's on the PS1, I said that at the end of the review . You should still be able to get a copy at a game store or eBay, whatever works for you.

[Pacman]

seems an interesting game. *checks out at gamespot* -> 8.9!!! *gives rep*