Shin Samurai Jazz

About

Shin Samurai Jazz is a single player hack and slash game. It was developed by Blaze Epic and was released on March 16, 2015. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Shin Samurai Jazz" is a platform-adventure game that combines film noir and samurai cinema with 8-bit graphics and an electro-jazz soundtrack. It features chuunori-inspired platforming and combat mechanics, allowing for aerial combos and enemy juggling. The game offers complex puzzles and varied level designs for players to overcome. Explore and free an 8-bit city from its pixelated nightmare in this unique and exciting adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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59%

Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews

music6 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features a unique concept of a jazz samurai, blending retro aesthetics with a distinct atmosphere that some players find enjoyable.
The soundtrack is praised for its quality, enhancing the overall experience and evoking a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games.
For players who appreciate challenging gameplay and retro-style mechanics, Shin Samurai Jazz offers a rewarding experience once the controls are mastered.

The controls are often described as stiff and unresponsive, leading to frustration during gameplay, especially in platforming sections.
Many players criticize the game's low visual quality and lack of modern graphical options, making it feel outdated and poorly executed.
The level design and mechanics can be confusing and unfair, with some players reporting bugs and unclear instructions that hinder progress.

music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The music in "Shin Samurai Jazz" is widely praised for its engaging jazz-inspired soundtrack, which evokes a noir atmosphere reminiscent of classic titles and blends well with the game's aesthetic. While some players feel the music enhances the experience, others note that it cannot fully compensate for the game's lack of depth in gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “I also love the music and it is worthy of the title, Shin Samurai Jazz.”
- “The world of Shin Samurai Jazz is a noir pulp novel steeped in jazz age chic, with a rather Moby-esque low-key electrojazz soundtrack that anchors one in tones of rainy streets at night, distant music and laughter, secrets and mysteries.”
- “Great music, great feel on the game since it reminds me of the older games you used to play 30 years ago.”
- “In a world where the same soundtrack plays over and over again, and flying enemies shoot fireballs at you for simply walking into a building, the repetitive music becomes grating.”
- “The world of Shin Samurai Jazz is a noir pulp novel steeped in jazz age chic, with a rather Moby-esque low-key electro-jazz soundtrack that fails to elevate the gameplay experience.”
- “Worth $0.25 for the music and art, but the gameplay leaves something to be desired.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay of "Shin Samurai Jazz" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the shift to a platformer style that reduces perspective issues and enhances clarity, while others criticize it for bugs and a lack of depth. Although the game maintains a stylish aesthetic and a strong soundtrack, many feel that the gameplay mechanics are either frustrating or unengaging, leading to a less satisfying experience overall.
- “I really liked the gameplay, ambiance, and just general feel of Shin Samurai Jazz, so I was pretty excited to play the sequel.”
- “Ironically enough, this switch in gameplay mechanics actually works for the better when compared to its predecessor: you won't accidentally access some areas by mistake and there aren't that many issues caused by perspective, as you only go right, left, and jump.”
- “Liked the game; I play this when I'm feeling sad or anxious. The chill atmosphere combined with the active gameplay kind of reboots my mood, so it works for me so far.”
- “The big letdown here is that Shin Samurai Jazz is not a side-scrolling beat-em-up like the previous game, but a Meat Boy style platformer with some beat-em-up mechanics.”
- “Rather, it's the fact that, sometimes, it feels like there are either bugs regarding jumping mechanics or something that wasn't explained to begin with.”
- “Game looks stylish but gameplay is boring and animations are horrible.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style reminiscent of decades-old designs, which may appeal to fans of classic 8-bit aesthetics but lacks modern resolution options and customization. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel, others find the overall visual presentation and menu design lacking in quality and refinement.
- “Blaze Epic's games share a few common qualities; they're all finesse-driven platformers with a decidedly retro graphics style.”
- “If you like Mega Man, 8-bit graphics, and enjoy figuring things out for yourself, this is your game!”
- “Shin Samurai Jazz has the same music and similar art style, but totally different gameplay mechanics.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- “The menu is hellish, and the graphics leave much to be desired.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its chill yet engaging vibe, effectively uplifting players' moods during gameplay. Reviewers appreciate the unique blend of jazz elements and varied combat styles, which create a compelling and immersive experience reminiscent of the first game. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a perfect fit for the game's themes, enhancing its appeal within the Blaze Epic series.
- “Liked the game; I play this when I'm feeling sad or anxious. The chill atmosphere combined with the active gameplay kind of reboots my mood, so it works for me so far.”
- “I love how this guy is a jazz samurai. Not only is it really unique (have you ever heard of a jazz samurai?), but the atmosphere is just so perfect; everything fits right into it.”
- “The atmosphere drips, and the mixture of goons and yokai encountered, with their markedly different combat styles, keep the fights interesting and particularly varied.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's story has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the additional narrative elements compared to its predecessor, while others found it lacking depth and coherence. Many expressed a desire for a more engaging plot that could better explain the game's bizarre elements, and the ending left some feeling confused. Overall, the story seems to be a point of contention, with some players finding it an improvement, but still not fully satisfying.
- “I liked the achievements for fewer deaths, having bosses at points other than just the end of the game, and a little more story to explain some of the weirdness.”
- “I expected it to be like 'you are actually dead', or 'the crazy demon magic in the air has been affecting you'... the story is still good, better than the first (no spoilers), but the ending is just weird.”
- “Hardly a success story; gamers just weren't all that interested in the game.”
- “I liked the achievements for fewer deaths, having bosses at points other than just the end of the game, and a little more 'story' to explain some of the weirdness.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report issues with stability, citing buggy controls and frustrating enemy respawn mechanics as significant drawbacks. An update is deemed necessary to address these concerns.
- “It needs an update; the controls are buggy, and I don't understand why the enemies respawn when they are outside. It's frustrating.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of retro-style games that are perceived as low-effort cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.
- “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”