Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 690 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time Game Cover
A great adaptation of the Samurai Jack cartoon, full of hack and slash action, cool weapons and a beautiful art style. Featuring an original story, even fans of the show never saw.
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"Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time" is a hack-and-slash action game that follows the story of Samurai Jack's final battle against his arch-nemesis, Aku. Players will travel through different time periods, battling various enemies and bosses using a variety of weapons and skills. The game features a dynamic combat system, multiple game modes, and a cast of iconic characters from the animated series.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 690 reviews
story41 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • The game captures the essence of the Samurai Jack series with great visuals and original voice acting.
  • Combat is engaging and offers a variety of weapons and skills, making battles feel dynamic and fun.
  • The nostalgic factor is strong, providing a satisfying experience for fans of the show.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 5-7 hours, which may not justify the full price.
  • Combat can feel clunky at times, with issues like hit detection and enemy stun-locking leading to frustrating moments.
  • The story lacks depth and can feel like a retread of existing material from the series, offering little new content.
  • story180 mentions

    The story of the game is generally viewed as simplistic and cliche, serving primarily as a nostalgic vehicle for fans of the Samurai Jack series rather than offering a deep narrative. While it effectively ties into the show's lore and features familiar characters and settings, many players found it repetitive and lacking in substance, with some expressing disappointment over its brevity and execution. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of the series, but newcomers may find the story less engaging without prior knowledge of the show.

    • “Overall, the character, story, and voice acting are amazing and sadly, I can't keep this game in my library.”
    • “The game features engaging gameplay and a well-written story that stays true to the spirit of the TV show.”
    • “The story itself is a mixed bag: it's clearly for fans only (the start makes no sense without watching season 5) but it's great seeing how faithful the representations of some of the rogue's gallery come across in 3D, feeling like natural extensions of their cartoon counterparts.”
    • “The most uninspired treatment of the show's mesmerizing art direction, inconsequential characters (who should be of consequence), and barely any attempt at story.”
    • “Just a boring, simple hack and slash, just blowing through the story.”
    • “What I got was an overpriced fan-made game with clunky combat and a non-existing story.”
  • gameplay136 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic connection to the Samurai Jack series and solid combat mechanics, while others criticize it for being simplistic, repetitive, and plagued by mechanical issues. Many players noted that while the visuals and story are appealing, the gameplay often feels clunky and lacks depth, making it less engaging for those seeking a more challenging experience. Overall, it seems to cater primarily to fans of the show, offering a fun but flawed hack-and-slash experience.

    • “The gameplay is amazing, and the art is beautiful.”
    • “The gameplay feels great — deceptively simple, but with a lot going on.”
    • “Fantastic combat gameplay with a variety of weapons, different environments with beautiful animation style.”
    • “Gameplay feels like a very mediocre PS2 era brawler and there's nothing here that compels me to mash buttons any further.”
    • “The gameplay, to me at least, got extremely repetitive very early on.”
    • “All the 'difficulty' comes from the horrible gameplay mechanics and not from the difficulty of the combat.”
  • graphics98 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising the art style as a faithful and beautiful representation of the original Samurai Jack cartoon. While some players wished for a more cel-shaded or cartoonish aesthetic, the overall visual presentation, including vibrant environments and character designs, has been highlighted as a strong point. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics can sometimes appear inconsistent or lacking polish, particularly in certain areas.

    • “The art style and audio side of things is immaculate.”
    • “The graphics are very nice and I didn't encounter any bugs or glitches.”
    • “With excellent cartoony graphics (pretty faithful to the cartoon it is based on), it shows a lot of soul, and appeals for old time fans and newcomers too.”
    • “Only wish they went for a cel-shaded look with the graphics.”
    • “Overall, I was a little disappointed in this game's story and visuals.”
    • “Graphics are quite bare bones; maybe there are more visually interesting areas later in the game, but starting off in a dusty brown mine isn't a great choice.”
  • music28 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic quality and ability to capture the spirit of the original series, while others criticize it for being bland, repetitive, and lacking iconic tracks like the theme song. Many players express disappointment over the absence of music from the show and suggest that the soundtrack could have been more impactful. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience for some, it falls short for others, leading to an average reception.

    • “This is definitely a game that's a love song to the fans, and otherwise it's just a fun but short hack n'slash.”
    • “Very true to original material with returning voice acting and great music.”
    • “The art is simplistic yet has a sense of nostalgia making past watchers of Samurai Jack remember those fond memories, the soundtrack with bosses and in their stages sets the tone perfectly in every scenario.”
    • “The only disappointing thing about this game is that it doesn't play the theme song after it plays the intro monologue.”
    • “The soundtrack was bland and generic, barely one or two tracks from the show.”
    • “One other small complaint I have is the background music is very repetitive and isn’t very interesting; I was hoping for something a little more samurai-y, but the music isn’t very relevant considering there is a lot of fighting going on at most times during the game.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the secrets, challenges, and collectibles that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find it somewhat linear and short, leading to limited replay value. Many enjoy the nostalgia and easter eggs, but some feel that after a few runs, the game may not hold their interest for long. Ultimately, replayability is present but varies significantly among players, with some considering it highly replayable and others viewing it as a one-time experience.

    • “Level locations are filled with secrets, which adds replay value.”
    • “It's a well-crafted game that stays true to the source material and offers plenty of challenge and replay value.”
    • “It has good combat, good graphics, a good story, a lot of easter eggs and references, it brings back a lot of nostalgia and it's replayable!”
    • “Linear gameplay, with a little replayability given by the possibility to replay the levels and get stuff for unlock bonus, combo, skills, etc. [spoiler](you can't unlock all in the first run because too much material is needed for upgrade, maybe you can do it if you farm it, but it's boring and unnecessary)[/spoiler] The combo system is not bad at all and the game overall is good, works fine without a problem.”
    • “- not a ton in terms of replayability, this is the kind of game you'll probably play once (or twice if you want to unlock the collectibles secret) and then put it down for a few years before playing again.”
    • “I'm not sure if it can justify the price tag because I feel like I am more than halfway through after 3 hours, and I don't think there's gonna be a lot of replayability on this one unless you're going for full collectible achievements or something, at least in my opinion.”
  • optimization9 mentions

    Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly even at high graphical settings, with great performance and combat mechanics. However, some users noted occasional dips in performance and a lack of originality in gameplay ideas. Despite these issues, the game's solid optimization contributes positively to the overall experience.

    • “The overall performance is indestructibly good.”
    • “The graphics aren't the most impressive thing in the world, but the game runs smoothly and looks pretty good on the highest graphical settings.”
    • “Great optimization.”
    • “So one attack you don't see coming will kill you and set you back and down like 2 performance grades.”
    • “A striking art style, well-executed combat mechanics, and a challenging level of difficulty make this one an easy recommendation, but with the caveat that it’s a little light on original ideas and that performance can often dip to sub-par levels.”
    • “Not a lot of new gameplay ideas; performance could be better.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized for being tedious and frustrating, as players must repeatedly grind for money to afford upgrades and items, which can feel clunky and unbalanced. While the game may appeal to those who enjoy grinding and simple platformers, many reviewers find the experience to be overly demanding and time-consuming, particularly due to the slow item pickup mechanics and the high durability of enemies. Overall, it seems that unless you're a dedicated fan of the genre, the grinding may detract from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Buying stuff takes money, which requires more grinding, and you use money to buy upgrades or small 'charms' that can help you out too, but they're so expensive that you have to grind back up after buying one.”
    • “Later though, almost every enemy becomes a damn bullet (sword?) sponge and it feels tedious to take them down.”
    • “You have to walk over every item that drops to pick it up, making time between combat very tedious and annoying.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as inconsistent; while some find the story to be very funny, others feel that the gameplay, particularly the combat mechanics, detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to a frustrating experience that undermines the comedic elements.

    • “The story is funny.”
    • “Very, very funny.”
    • “It's amusing to see how anyone who plays more than one difficulty for more than one minute can easily tell the difference.”
    • “Very unfunny and unenjoyable way to play the chaos mod of the original PS2 arcade Samurai Jack game.”
    • “The combat style in this game is trash, and they even made an upgrade for parry (give it to me at the start, dude). Fighting in this game is not funny; even with parries and dashes, the combat is still trash.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting its enchanting art style and level design that effectively captures the essence of the original Samurai Jack cartoons. The combination of top-tier graphics, engaging locations, and the return of original voice actors contributes to a captivating experience that resonates well with fans and newcomers alike.

    • “Overall, I enjoyed this game greatly for the graphics, level design, story, and often for the atmosphere.”
    • “Art, style, and atmosphere are top tier, and this 2D to 3D adaptation is on par with Risk of Rain 2 and potentially Darkest Dungeon 2. I give it a solid 10.”
    • “Excellent atmosphere true to the cartoons, the return of the original voice actors, and a fun and engaging battle system.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The game is praised for its genuine dedication to the Samurai Jack series, avoiding corporate tactics like microtransactions or gimmicky elements, which contributes to a more authentic experience. However, some users still perceive it as a cash grab.

    • “There's no corporate BS either, like microtransactions or pulling punches, or anything that would feel gimmicky or inauthentic.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players into spending money to enjoy the game.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without requiring additional purchases.”
    • “It's a cash grab.”
    • “This game isn't a quick cash grab yet it is made with love and dedication to the Samurai Jack series.”
    • “There's no corporate BS either like microtransactions, or pulling punches or anything that would feel gimmicky or inauthentic.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Users report significant stability issues, particularly with game launch failures and prolonged customer support response times. While some players enjoyed the gameplay and graphics without encountering bugs or glitches, the initial launch problems overshadowed their experience. Overall, the game's stability appears inconsistent, with some players facing frustrating technical difficulties.

    • “Having problems launching the game; black screen after the company logos. After following the troubleshooting steps and asking on the forums, I sent customer support an email request for help. Despite claiming they'll answer in 1-2 business days, it took them half a month to send me a copy-paste reply that shows they've not read what I said. It's been over another half a month since I answered that, reiterating that I already did the troubleshooting, without any response.”
    • “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly impossible to progress. I've lost hours of gameplay due to these stability issues, and it's incredibly frustrating.”
    • “I was excited to play, but the constant freezing and lagging ruined the experience. I expected better stability from a game of this caliber.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is noted for its adherence to the original art style, though some users find the designs to be somewhat cartoony. Overall, the characters maintain a recognizable aesthetic that resonates with fans.

    • “The character designs are a tad bit cartoony, but I feel like they stuck with the original art style close enough.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

Buy Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time

Play time

8hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
5-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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