KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story
- February 19, 2020
- ACQUIRE Corp.
- 10h median play time
I remember my first encounter with the Way of the Samurai series.
Get on Steam"KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story" is an action-adventure game set in a fantastical feudal Japan. As a ronin, players must navigate a complex political landscape, building relationships with various factions while completing missions and engaging in thrilling swordfights. With a day-night cycle and multiple endings, each playthrough offers a unique experience.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The combat mechanics are fun and reminiscent of the Way of the Samurai series, providing a satisfying experience.
- The game features quirky humor and engaging character interactions that fans of the series will appreciate.
- The dungeon crawling aspect is addictive, with a variety of swords to collect and upgrade, making for an enjoyable grind.
- The game suffers from a lack of depth compared to previous Way of the Samurai titles, with limited exploration and a repetitive dungeon structure.
- There are significant control issues, including input delays and awkward mechanics that can hinder gameplay.
- The save system is frustrating, with only one save slot and problematic autosave features that can lead to lost progress.
- story33 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The story in the game is characterized by its goofy humor and over-the-top characters, following a simple plot involving a ronin helping a blacksmith with his debts. While some players appreciate the absurdity and character interactions, many feel the narrative is lacking depth and is overshadowed by repetitive gameplay, with limited branching storylines compared to previous entries in the "Way of the Samurai" series. Overall, the story is seen as a light, humorous backdrop rather than a central focus, leaving players wanting a more fleshed-out narrative experience.
“A lot of staples are still present in the game such as the micro-story that you have a number of influences over, the bizarre humor, and the over-the-top characters.”
“The storyline is funny, and watching the residents of the pass randomly fight each other is amusing to me (I saw two people bump into each other leading to a brawl that killed 4 people).”
“It does have a story, but it is very short.”
“The story doesn't seem to be explained all that well, either.”
“The game winds up feeling very repetitive with the lack of the branching storyline you get in other entries.”
“I like how the devs gave this game the name 'A Way of Samurai Story' because it had ties to Way of Samurai in all but story.”
- gameplay31 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is reminiscent of Diablo 3, focusing on one-on-one combat with a satisfying combat system and a core loop centered around dungeon exploration and risk-reward mechanics. While the game features enjoyable mechanics and a smooth experience, it suffers from issues like clunky controls, outdated graphics, and a lack of depth in certain areas, leading to a mixed reception. Overall, players appreciate the fun combat and unique features, but note that the gameplay can feel repetitive and frustrating at times.
“If you're looking for a dungeon crawler with satisfying combat mechanics and exploring hundreds of swords and movesets, you might enjoy this game.”
“In the end, the core gameplay loop is to go into dungeons and see how far you can get before choosing to either play it safe and leave earlier or risk death for nicer rewards.”
“Short answer: fun game, it seems slow at the start because it uses the first few dungeon attempts to ease you into the gameplay loop, but it does open up and give you a lot to do.”
“The main gameplay loop is completely messed up for someone who is an ARPG, Elder Scrolls, or Fallout enjoyer.”
“The fighting feels clunky because of the fixed camera and stereoscopic gameplay, yet the combos still follow the left+x style.”
“The graphics are a bit outdated, the game is still pretty buggy, it can be utterly frustrating, it's quite repetitive, the mechanics are barely explained, and the 'cutscenes' are so barebones I would have preferred they didn't include them at all and just made it regular game dialogue.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reminiscent of earlier titles like Way of the Samurai 3, with a PS2 aesthetic that some reviewers feel has been slightly improved to a PS3 level. While the oversaturated colors and limited detail can make character models appear blob-like, the visuals are deemed acceptable for a hack-and-slash game, though they lack the polish expected from modern titles. Overall, the graphics are functional but not impressive, leaving room for hope for future improvements in potential sequels or reboots.
“The graphics are better than I thought, honestly.”
“The games always had graphics like PS2, but this seems like a PS3.”
“The graphics are... there, nothing to write home about but it's not going to make you want to rip out your eyes--if you've played older Way of the Samurai entries, it's actually pretty much like a shaped-up 2's graphics.”
“Due to the stereoscopic visuals and the massively oversaturated color usage, it's very hard to see any detail to the character or enemies... so it just looks like fighting one blob after another...”
“The graphics are a bit outdated, the game is still pretty buggy, it can be utterly frustrating, it's quite repetitive, the mechanics are barely explained, and the 'cutscenes' are so barebones I would've preferred they didn't include them at all and just made it regular game dialogue.”
“The graphics are... there, nothing to write home about but it's not going to make you want to rip out your eyes--if you've played older Way of the Samurai entries, it's actually pretty much like a shaped-up version of 2's graphics.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while many enjoy the process of unlocking and strengthening swords, reminiscent of the main series, others feel that late-game dungeon runs become tedious due to unchallenging enemies and minimal rewards. The game offers a unique blend of mechanics that diverges from traditional action RPGs, leading to a grind-heavy experience that some players appreciate for its depth, while others find it repetitive.
“In addition, late game dungeon runs get to be fairly tedious.”
“Monsters get tankier but they seldom drop anything worth the extra effort, so often you are running by them to get to the next floor to avoid having to fight two dozen tedious HP walls.”
“The named boss will always drop the same sword of a modest range of stats; you have to build your own game-winning sword through farming and grind.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's music has been praised for its authentic Japanese sound, with a standout soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While it features a variety of musical styles, the voice acting and sound design are also noted as strong points, contributing to a vibrant audio atmosphere. Overall, players appreciate the high-quality audio performance, which runs smoothly at 60 fps.
“I love the pure Japanese music of this game.”
“But the moment-to-moment gameplay is great, the voice acting (while in typical WOTS manner rather sparse) is good, as is the sound design as a whole, and honestly, this soundtrack really is a bop!”
“Great soundtrack, by the way.”
“As I'm not a fan of rock music, which I consider psychotic music.”
“From the get-go, sound is labeled as 'music'; the game starts off in Japanese even though I bought it in the States.”
“This doesn't mean it only has Japanese music.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its entertaining and absurd moments, such as chaotic brawls among residents and the amusing interactions between rival factions. Players appreciate the Japanese comedic style woven into the storyline, which enhances the overall fun and engaging experience. The blend of humor with gameplay elements, like shopkeepers getting involved in fights, adds a unique charm to the game.
“The storyline is funny, and watching the residents of the pass randomly fight each other is amusing to me (I saw two people bump into each other leading to a brawl that killed 4 people).”
“(Hilariously, the factions will set up shops next to each other near the blacksmith, and even the shopkeepers can't keep out of the action) and you'll be standing on the side, counting your profits.”
“It's a hack-and-slash roguelike spin-off that keeps a surprising amount of things from the mainline series, including wacky humor and rivaling factions.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game exhibits notable stability issues on PC, including bugs, audio glitches, and AI inconsistencies, which can lead to frustration. While these problems impact the experience, they are not deemed severe enough to overshadow the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Definitely a little buggy on PC, with audio clicks and pops here and there. The AI sometimes completely ignores you, which can be frustrating.”
“The game is still pretty buggy, which can be utterly frustrating. The mechanics are barely explained, and the cutscenes are so barebones that I would have preferred regular game dialogue instead.”
“The graphics are a bit outdated, and the overall experience is marred by bugs and repetitive gameplay.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game performs well, running at 60fps with good overall optimization, though players are advised to use a controller for the best experience. Additionally, the frequent autosave feature provides a safety net in case of any issues.
“Runs at 60fps and the overall performance is good. A controller is heavily recommended, though. The game autosaves after every interaction, so if you ever encounter any issues, you can safely close the game.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers criticize Spike Chunsoft for poor advertising strategies, suggesting that they missed opportunities to promote the game effectively on platforms like Steam without incurring costs. This has led to a negative perception of the game's monetization approach.
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“I was disappointed to see so many features locked behind paywalls; it really detracts from the overall experience.”
“The in-game purchases are not only expensive but also necessary to progress, which feels unfair to players who don't want to spend more.”
Critic Reviews
Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story GBAtemp review
You don't need to love Way of the Samurai to love Katana Kami, it stands out on its own merits, and it does so brilliantly. Through its addicting gameplay loop to its humour, refined combos, and great range of weapons, you find yourself losing hour upon hour. It is great fun, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anybody wanting a bit of randomly generated dungeon crawling action.
82%Katana Kami: A Way Of The Samurai Story PS4 Review
Katana Kami: A Way Of The Samurai Story attempts to bring back a beloved PS2 franchise with a new twist. However, its lackluster execution and heavy repetitiveness leaves very little excitement in its wake. Fans might find some appeal here, but only consider this game if you're looking for a repetitive and simplistic dungeon crawler.
50%Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story Review
I remember my first encounter with the Way of the Samurai series.
70%
