Way of the Samurai 2

by Capcom

Product Features

• All-new samurai types, sword positions and fighting techniques
• Upgrade and collect over 60 swords, and defeat enemies to obtain more powerful swords & master new techniques
• New one-slash kill system makes your samurai deadlier than ever
• Collect items, visit shops, talk to local or take jobs to earn money -- completely interactive game setting adds to the thrill
• Final outcome depends on player choices, for a different gaming experience each time

Product Details

• ASIN: B0001NBNHU
• Item Weight: 8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,752 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

With a multitude of new features including expanded content, new characters and enhanced fighting mechanics, Way of the Samurai 2 improves upon every facet of the original to deliver an even deeper samurai based action adventure.

Way of the Samurai 2 is set during feudal era Japan at the end of the Edo period, in the conflict-laden town of Amahara. A once peaceful town, Amahara has become the center of a tense conflict between two powerful forces at the expense of its innocent townspeople. The Amahara magistrate office, which once upheld peace and justice, has succumbed to the suppression ideology of the rising feudal government and has become an extreme tyrannical force that rules the innocent townsfolk. They are at odds with a rogue group of warriors known as the Aoto gang. Like the magistrate office, this group had long represented values of loyalty and chivalry, but the death of their former leader left them vulnerable. Several would-be successors began claiming rights to leadership and the gang soon transformed into an uncontrollable group of arrogant and violent vigilantes that terrorize the defenseless citizens of Amahara.

Way of the Samurai was marked by its open-ended gameplay and the sequel not only continues this formula but expands upon it. In Way of the Samurai 2, players take on the role of a wandering samurai who has come upon Amahara during his travels. Instead of a two day period as in the original, players will proceed in a deeper ten day adventure where they explore the town and become entwined in its turmoil. How the main character chooses to proceed through the game and which people he chooses to help or fight will determine the subsequent storyline and consequences for the people around him. Players must prove their sword-fighting skills in heated confrontations, interact with a wide spectrum of characters and explore various locales throughout the town.

Game Features:

• Realistic sword fighting action based on traditional Japanese samurai films--dodge and slash attacks from multiple enemies in thrilling battles
• Outcomes determined by the choices a player makes--how a player chooses to proceed will affect those around him, change how people react to him and lead to different scenarios and endings
• Choose to play as one of three different samurai "types"
  • Young male--a wandering samurai who has been weathered by many rough experiences
  • Fierce warrior--a true fighter adorned with animal skins and tattered clothing
  • Master--a modest and controlled swords expert
• New sword positions and fighting techniques--twin sword style, quick slash and more!
• More than 400 special moves--kick, throw and defend moves that vary depending on the weapon used
• Upgrade and collect more than 60 swords--defeat enemies to obtain more powerful swords, strengthen blades at the blacksmith and master new techniques as you advance through the game
• New one slash kill system--knock an enemy off balance with a hard attack or counter attack, then finish them off with a one slash hit; this system allows you to slash numerous enemies in a row
• More interactive setting--visit shops, talk to locals and earn money through jobs or tasks
• Purchase and find an array of collectors items throughout the game

Product Description

Way of the Samurai 2 features realistic sword fighting action based on traditional Japanese samurai films - dodge and slash attacks from multiple enemies in thrilling battles. The small town of Amahara is being terrorized by the deadly Aoto gang. Once honorable soldiers, these fighters now rule this town tyrannically, while the government looks the other way. A lone warrior arrives and steps up to defend the citizenry.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the First One, July 30, 2004

By 

Lisa Shea "medieval swordfighting enthusiast" - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Way of the Samurai 2 (Video Game)

Way of the Samurai was a great fighting game with multiple endings based on your honor. Way of the Samurai 2 adds better graphics and more paths!

You start by customizing your warrior - choosing a head, clothes, sword and ohter items. You can unlock more choices as you go, which is of course half the fun. You have a "sword safe" to store swords in from game to game. You've also got an "item box".

The plot here is that you're at a port town torn between the coming of foreigners and the traditional ways of the samurai. Think The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. The Edo period is coming to an end, and upheaval is a result.

As with the first game, you interact with characters from set choices. The way you choose to interact with characters determines your personality, from slimy dirt-bag to honorable, noble caring person.

You can turn the blood off if you want, but this is a slicing sword game. There are a variety of swords and weapons, but they all basically hack at your opponent until the blood loss kills him. Some have samurai swords, some have hammers, and so on. You can build your weapons and attacks up over time and using special combinations.

The graphics are nice in a Final Fantasy sort of way - nice character models but not so great surroundings. The environments are on the static side, and the character movements are not overly complex. Still, the game is about what you do - not about a Myst-like absorption in your gorgeous surroundings.

The map mode makes it easy to move between the 10 or so map locations, which is very nice. As time progresses, you can see what's going on in the various spots. This is very much like Groundhog Day - you go through the same days over and over again, learning who goes where at each time period so you know what to do and when.

The sound is reasonably OK - Japanese background music and general "OK" and "Hi" noises along with the dialogue. Many of the voices just don't seem to fit - a New York accent comes out of a Japanese woman's mouth. I think they could have done a better job choosing who did the voices for the characters.

The Groundhog Day analogy really fits here. After a few playings you get to know the various characters rather well, knowing what their motivations are and how they react in different situations. You go to a location and say to yourself "OK in a few minutes XXXX will come walking around the corner ..." and sure enough, they do. It gets to be a very "comfortable" game to play - you know what's going to happen and you have to choose how to react.

While in some games you complain about the AI being the same, in this case it makes sense. You're replaying the same time sequence, over and over, and experimenting with different reactions. It's fun to see how your different choices affect your world.

We easily spent many weeks on the original Way of the Samurai, and this new version is even more immersive. If you're a fan of fun plots and sword slashing, definitely give this one a try!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Decisions, Decisions..., July 9, 2004

By 

evergreen "Jerome G.V." (Cerritos, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Way of the Samurai 2 (Video Game)

Of all the choices you need to make in Way of the Samurai 2, the easiest would undoubtedly be whether or not you should buy the game at all. And in case you haven't inferred by the rating I've given it, the answer is YES!

As a masterless samurai in feudal Japan, you find yourself collapsing before the town gates of conflict-ridden Amahara. Brought to by an amiable young girl, you discover the troubles of the little town: two malevolent forces are trying to take control of it, and another still is plotting in the shadows. Caught in the middle are a bunch of well-to-do people who call Amahara home. It's up to you to decide whose side you will lead to victory... if you even stay at all.

The gameplay is simple at heart. You traverse the town of Amahara and make choices that decide the fate of its inhabitants. As you make these choices, you will come to rely on your handy weapon(s), whatever it may be, to cut down various opponents who stand in your way between peace in the town or its fiery downfall.

Way of the Samurai 2 presents a larger, more non-linear game than its predecessor. The sizeable Amahara is presented on a map for you to select areas on, as opposed to the previous town, in which you merely travelled across various parts by foot. With the inclusion of this bigger playground, a greater combination of events is achieved and, thus, a greater number of choices. The two day 'time limit' of the last game has more than quadrupled to a whopping ten days, each of which has been divided into five sections, making each ripe with possiblity.

The fighting is much improved as well. The most notable addition is the Instant Kill. Depending upon whether the enemy uses a vertical or horizontal strike, you can catch the opposition off-balance and inflict a single, fatal blow. This aids in the offing of the numerous underlings you will face. One cannot forget all the new weapons at your disposal. From Musashi's good ol' double sword technique to spears, your ronin's repertoire of weaponry is more varied than before.

The create-a-character feature still exists; though not exploiting the Eye-Toy, like Tony Hawk Underground, which allowed you to map your own face onto a character, it still gives enough room for you to make your own distinctive assassin (should you choose that path). Added in this installment is the ability to buy accessories to further express your own style. Feel like slaughtering thugs wearing a giant Bunny Head? Be my guest! Want to wear an eyepatch to give yourself that "ARRRRRRRRRR I'm a pirate!" feel? Sure! My only gripe about this feature is that for some reason, you can only wear one thing at a time, even if they belong on different parts of the body. So if you want to pair up your Eyeglasses with Shoulderpads, you're out of luck. Maybe next time...

The story itself is immersive enough despite not being the next Metal Gear Solid. You really feel the gravity of your choices in every event that they trigger like when... eh... you should find out for yourself, lest I spoil the fun to be had.

Be warned: this is a niche game. There is a reason why gamerankings.com has a 66% or so average on this from professional critics. But please take my word on this; Way of the Samurai 2 is a much more accesible game than, say, Harvest Moon. If I could sum this up for most people, I'll go ahead and say this: "Grand Theft Samurai." Sure, this undermines this game's own flair and design, but it makes it that much easier to convey the message of its astounding nonlinearity.

If you passed up the first game, I don't blame you. It was short, limited in its paths, and the graphics were blah.
But with Way of the Samurai 2, all its shortcomings have been remedied and now there IS no doubt: YOU MUST GET THIS GAME. I never rave in my reviews, but I'm making an exception for this. Missing this game is missing an experience.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Way of the Samurai 2, "not as good as the first"..., January 16, 2005

By 

Samurai Bokudo - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Way of the Samurai 2 (Video Game)

Being a big fan of the first I bought Way of the Samurai 2 with high hopes for a game with lots of good swordplay in it and for the most part my hopes were fulfilled. There are even more character designs which makes the game even more enjoyable and there are many, many more swords to choose from (Not to mention some of the "Special Swords" from the first game.) However, this game isn't as flawless as the original. The vibrant landscapes are nice but nowhere near as great as the ones from the first. The characters are terrible; looking like they were all put together last minute and the terrible voice acting makes you hate them even more. The story... is a big upset, it's very straight forward, flimsy and sketchy without too many twists. Another thing that's pretty lame is that you can't actually join a faction... you can just do missions for them and from what I can see that doesn't really make you a member of that faction. I like that there are now shops instead of just the one simple resturant and it's kinda cool that the game is ten days instead of two but that only makes the game a little longer really. Infact the whole day system in Way of the Samurai 2 is very puzzling. Somedays nothing happens at all which short of leaves you hanging and wondering if you messed up on a mission or something. I will agree that the swordplay is absoulutely brillant and the fun factor is out through the roof but a game can't just rely and these two elements, a game has to consist on many. If you were a fan of the first one you will like this one, no doubt but some of the game elements may lead to a slight disapointment.