samurai_jazz

About

"Samurai_jazz" is an action-adventure game with elements of film-noir and samurai-drama, featuring sword-fighting, supernatural encounters, and puzzle-solving. Players explore an enigmatic city and interact with its citizens while battling enemies and engaging in detective work. The game boasts 8-bit graphics, an electro-jazz soundtrack, and Xbox 360 controller support.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 85 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Charming retro graphics and enjoyable jazz soundtrack create a unique atmosphere.
Simple yet engaging gameplay mechanics that require strategic thinking and timing.
Affordable price point makes it a good value for a fun, albeit short, gaming experience.

Frustrating controls and combat mechanics can lead to frequent, unfair deaths.
The story is vague and lacks depth, making it hard to engage with the narrative.
Repetitive enemy encounters and limited variety can make gameplay feel stale over time.

gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The gameplay of "samurai_jazz" is described as simple and enjoyable, featuring solid mechanics and a charming 2.5D style. However, some players find the jump and climb mechanics to be less fluid, requiring precise timing, which can lead to a trial-and-error experience reminiscent of older platformers. Overall, while the combat mechanics are fun and the graphics appealing, the gameplay can be challenging and may not fully meet modern expectations.
- “Great game with solid mechanics and controls, and I like the 2.5D style.”
- “But the graphics are charming and the gameplay is challenging but fun.”
- “The gameplay works in that the buttons do what they say.”
- “The jump and climb mechanic isn't very fluid and requires you to spend a second up against the location before it can trigger.”
- “The real problem, though, is the gameplay.”
- “Leading to a 'die 10 times to get the timing just right' type of gameplay.”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The game's story is largely criticized for being vague, incoherent, and poorly written, with players struggling to understand its narrative despite the presence of NPCs and dialogue. While it attempts to guide players through five chapters with fetch quests, many find the plot lacking depth and clarity, leading to a sense of frustration rather than engagement. Overall, the story seems to serve as a minimal framework for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative experience.
- “The story helps you get through it with the help of NPC characters.”
- “You'll go through five story chapters, where you try to get to the next city section.”
- “Story is written in these pieces of dialogue that you can read from different NPCs.”
- “The game's story is also lacking.”
- “The 'story' culminates in an ending that has me thinking that this entire game was a troll.”
- “The game pegs itself as a hack 'n slash noir, and I do love the idea of a noir samurai, but the story is entirely incomprehensible.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
33%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised for its enjoyable and relaxing jazz soundtrack, which complements the charming retro art style and enhances the atmospheric vibe. Reviewers appreciate how the jazzy tunes set the tone for the game, creating a unique blend of film noir and samurai themes, although some express a desire for an 8-bit style music option as well. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The music is relaxing jazz that sets the tone of this game's world well.”
- “First of all, the game is indeed charming thanks to an audiovisual retro shape and colors that match the jazzy soundtrack.”
- “The noir theme mixed with samurai antics and jazz music in the background really sets the tone for a chill session of gaming... however, this game is everything but chill and is pretty hard.”
- “Music is relaxing jazz that sets the tone of this game's world well.”
- “The game starts out strong with an 8-bit film noir meets samurai art style and jazzy soundtrack that work well together to create an atmospheric vibe few games manage to pull off.”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
52%
14%
The game's graphics are praised for their charming old-school 8-bit style, effectively blending film noir and samurai aesthetics. Reviewers highlight the atmospheric art and jazzy soundtrack, which together create a unique vibe reminiscent of classic NES-era games. Overall, the retro visuals contribute to a challenging yet enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “But the atmosphere is dank in retro 8-bit style graphics, actually evoking the old film noir style as well as old 70's and 80's Hong Kong action flicks and samurai movies.”
- “Old school pixel graphics with this unique mix of film noir and samurai flick.”
- “The atmosphere is dank in retro 8-bit style graphics, actually evoking the old film noir style as well as old 70's and 80s Hong Kong action flicks and samurai movies.”
- “If you like Game Boy Color graphics, extreme difficulty, film noir, and dry humor, please do buy this game!”
- “The game starts out strong with an 8-bit film noir meets samurai art style and jazzy soundtrack that work well together to create an atmospheric vibe few games manage to pull off.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, characterized by its retro 8-bit graphics that evoke a film noir aesthetic combined with influences from 70s and 80s Hong Kong action and samurai films. The jazzy soundtrack complements this unique vibe, creating an immersive experience that few games achieve. Overall, players appreciate the strong atmospheric elements that enhance the gameplay, despite some narrative expectations not being fully met.
- “But the atmosphere is dank in retro 8-bit style graphics, actually evoking the old film noir style as well as old 70's and 80's Hong Kong action flicks and samurai movies.”
- “The game starts out strong with an 8-bit film noir meets samurai art style and jazzy soundtrack that work well together to create an atmospheric vibe few games manage to pull off.”
- “Fun game with good atmosphere that's more challenging than it looks.”
- “But the atmosphere is dank in retro 8-bit style graphics, actually evoking the old film noir style as well as old 70's and 80s Hong Kong action flicks and samurai movies.”
- “Given the film noir atmosphere, I expected to learn why this samurai decided to kill himself through the course of the game.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players find that while "samurai_jazz" starts strong with engaging combat and appealing visuals, the experience becomes repetitive and tedious due to weak puzzles and underdeveloped enemies, particularly after the halfway mark.
- “The grinding becomes monotonous quickly, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “After a while, the repetitive tasks feel more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the gameplay.”
- “What started as an interesting challenge turned into a tedious grind that drained my enthusiasm.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its dry humor, which complements its film noir aesthetic and challenging gameplay, appealing particularly to fans of Game Boy Color graphics.
- “If you like GBC graphics, extreme difficulty, film noir, and dry humor, please do buy this game!”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Users highlight that "Samurai Jazz" offers strong replay value, making it an engaging experience that encourages players to return for multiple playthroughs.
- “Replay value is something that Samurai Jazz has going for it.”