Afro Samurai

by Namco

Product Features

• Follow the exploits of the original series, with all new material and background for fans to enjoy
• Strikingly beautiful art style and texturing, with smooth balletic moves for amazing visuals and action
• Hip-hop inspired soundtrack created by RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan actually affects the enemy AI's movements
• Star-studded cast includes Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Pearlman and Kelly Hu in their series roles
• Without pre-rendered enemies, attack scenes are unending in their possible combinations

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0014G26WO
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches ; 2.4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: January 27, 2009
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,805 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #78 in Video Games > PlayStation 3 > Adventure
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: PLAYSTATION 3

Amazon.com Product Description

The only thing better than watching stylized samurai battles with Samuel L. Jackson's voice booming in your ear is controlling the character as it all happens. And now you can, with Afro Samurai for the PlayStation 3. Based on the popular anime series, Afro Samurai will finally let gamers control their favorite samurai as he violently slashes through an eclectic lineup of assassins, ninjas, and robotic thugs.

The voice acting is done by Samuel L. Jackson, who brings along his usual flair. View larger.

The Focus maneuver lets you low down time and perform precision hits.View larger.

The Story Unfolds
Set in a futuristic, yet feudal Japan, this story follows a samurai named Afro after his hair. Afro has set out to try and avenge his father's murder by a man named Justice. Justice murdered Afro's father to claim the 'Number One' headband, giving himself the chance to rule the world

Afro Samurai is based on the popular and stylistic anime of the same name. View larger.

with powers akin to a god. The only one allowed to challenge Number One is the person with the 'Number Two' headband, but unfortunately for Afro, the current owner of the headband, anybody and everybody can, and does, challenge Number Two. But never fear, as this new title includes brand new material and background for fans of the series and newcomers alike to enjoy.

Loads of Stylized Action
Afro Samurai brings gamers a balanced experienced, with stylistic combat and acrobatic platforming combined with the ability to dynamically slice and dismember enemies in unending ways. While gamers can hack and slash their way through many foes by combining heavy and light attacks with just two buttons, accomplished players will master moves like the Deep Throat Killer, where they pierce their opponent's neck and rip everything loose in a crimson splash.

Players will also need to learn the Focus maneuver with its bullet-time effect. This allows the user to slow down time and designate a specific strike zone, which with the right timing and skill can allow Afro to cleave an enemy in two or slice a limb completely off. And since characters are not pre-rendered you don't just get a canned scene when you cut through your enemy, giving you endless ways and means to cut your enemies down to size. This ethos is applied game-wide, as Afro is allowed to interact with anything and everything in his environment to help him on his journey.

Star-Studded Supporting Cast
Samuel L. Jackson reprises his role as both Afro and Ninja in the game, and the same striking art style that made the anime series so popular provides the unique look and feel across beautifully animated open environments. And for those of you who are wondering, developers Namco Bandai let Jackson ad-lib a lot, so be prepared for his branded vulgarity and the M rating it helps the game earn.

Meanwhile, Ron Pearlman and Kelly Hu continue on in their roles as Justice and Okiku, while RZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame has created all new tracks for the hip-hop inspired soundtrack. And thanks to an innovative gameplay system, the enemy AI and tone of the game are affected by the beat of the musical score, for a truly immersing experience.

With its visual stunning graphics, and fluid and graceful movements, Afro Samurai will provide hours of entertaining, balletic action. Add to this ground-breaking elements like health that is represented by the blood on your clothes, or your enemies', and you have a game that simply can not be passed up.

Slice and dice your enemies in a glorious number of different ways.

Product Description

He who possesses the #1 Headband, will rule the world! Afro Samurai is the cutting edge game that delivers a new kind of cinematic game experience, a living episode that offers addictive, immersive and compelling gameplay that's literally dripping in style. Join Afro in his epic hunt for revenge to avenge the murder of his father by the current owner of the #1 Headband. Afro Samurai blends traditional Japanese culture, funky technology and hip hop to create a brutally fresh interactive experience. The hit, animated TV series now comes to life!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Flawed, but still a bloody good time., December 14, 2009

By 

Cryostatic (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Afro Samurai (Video Game)

I picked this title up at the same time that I bought my PS3. It was cheap, and I mildly enjoyed the series on SPIKE, so I figured I'd give it a shot, not expecting much. I was very impressed with what I got.

My initial impression of the game was that it was a button masher. The game starts off by throwing hordes of enemies at you, that you must hack and slash your way through. The simplest way to do this is by mashing buttons. Each attack button will initiate a combo sequence. There is no timing or skill involved in pulling off a combo, just hammer the button and it happens.

I soon discovered, however, that the game employs numerous methods of forcing you to play with a skilled hand. Apart from that, you can build up and use "focus", which functions as a sort of "bullet time" in which the game slows down, and you can aim and charge an attack at a specific part of the enemy's body. A well placed strike can and will dismember your opponent. You can also parry attacks, which can open the enemy's defenses.

Not all of the trash mobs are so easy to drop with button mashing, either. Some will go to great lengths to avoid your attacks, making Focus almost necessary, and even then, if you don't manage to trick them or catch them unawares, they can still manage to evade.

Some of the boss fights are incredibly difficult, and will require you to abandon your button-mashing tendancies altogether. While battling Kuma, for example, charging in will only get you slaughtered. Even parrying and counterattacking will only get you so far. I found myself actually having to use focus just to get myself into a position where attacking was possible, and even then, after a dozen attempts to figure the guy out, I just barely managed to succeed.

As far as aspects not directly related to gameplay, the visuals are stunning, the music is excellent. An odd combination of mild, soothing stuff and energetic battle music. And, of course, Ninja Ninja's always around to insult you with as much crassness and profanity as he can muster. Speaking of Ninja Ninja, he occasionaly shows to up engage you in a game of Body-part Poker. Enter the swarm of enemies and try to dismember specific parts to make a hand, and receive a reward for your suceess. It may be a bit morbid, but it helps train you to properly use focus, and breaks the monotony a bit when going through large levels.

For all it's good, the game is not without it's flaws. The camera could definitely use some work, and the platforming, while not bad enough to get frustrating, is still a bit tricky in some areas, sometimes due to the camera's perspective. The game does a HORRIBLE job of explaining some of the things you can do. I was stuck on a certain boss for nearly an hour, as I wasn't sure how to properly perform the "bullet slicing" move that's briefly mentioned in the manual. In game, there wasn't any indication that you could do so to begin with. Also, I'm not sure if it's due to the faster load times on the slim, or if it's just a bug in the game, but during loading screens, there are sometimes scripted scenes that will take place, and they frequently get cut off due to the level loading before the speech finishes.

All in all, I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the series. Just be sure not to play it around anyone you'd consider to be "polite company". Ninja Ninja tends to blurt out some fairly offensive and sexist stuff from time to time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very entertaining, April 10, 2009

By 

Quentin Johnson "Tippee" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Afro Samurai (Video Game)

The game play might not be the best with the constant button mashing but this games story is really funny and interesting especially with Samuel L Jackson's commentary. Absolutely hilarious.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Neutral, March 6, 2009

By 

J. Yee "InFamous VS. [PROTOTYPE] I got both...." (Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Afro Samurai (Video Game)

Story Line - movie like, "I will avenge my father's death" while trying
earn the little piece of a white cloth to wrap around my Afro

Soundtrack - PLUS
VOICE OVER - PLUS, but also can get annoying Samuel Jackson's funny but
not all the time.
Graphics - I rather Watch the Anime
Camera Angle - OMG this what I hate about this game. it jus sucks

2115|RSVYMLXER00CB;2115|RTGA0K4R58YJR;2115|R1DKCXWLSHZF1O;