Sword of the Samurai

About

Sword of the Samurai is a single player role playing game with a historical theme. It was developed by MicroProse Software and was released on October 17, 2014. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Sword of the Samurai" is a PC game that transports players to feudal Japan. As a samurai, you must navigate political intrigue, engage in epic battles, and strive to become the ultimate warrior. Your choices and combat skills will determine your rise or fall in the world of the samurai.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 136 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Sword of the Samurai is a classic game that combines RPG, strategy, and action elements, providing a deep and immersive experience in feudal Japan.
The game offers a variety of gameplay options, allowing players to choose between honorable and dishonorable paths to achieve their goals, which adds to its replayability.
Despite its age, the game is still considered fun and engaging, with many players expressing nostalgia and appreciation for its unique mechanics and storytelling.

The controls are clunky and not intuitive, making it difficult for new players to learn how to play without external resources or guides.
The graphics and sound are outdated, which may deter modern players who are accustomed to contemporary game design and aesthetics.
Some players find the game frustrating due to its lack of clear instructions and the steep learning curve associated with its mechanics.

graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
63%
14%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, even by 1989 standards, with many users noting their EGA/VGA quality and simplistic design. Despite this, the visuals are often described as having a certain charm that complements the immersive gameplay and storytelling, making it appealing to those who prioritize experience over aesthetics. Overall, while the graphics may deter some players, many agree that the game's solid mechanics and engaging narrative more than compensate for its visual shortcomings.
- “Despite old graphics and rudimentary sound, it somehow manages to immerse you in its fascinating world, as you anxiously think of your next move.”
- “The ancient graphics hardly distract from the incredibly solid mechanics, especially since retro pixel style is all the rage these days.”
- “Graphics aside - this game stands as a hallmark of design in computer gaming history.”
- “The graphics are very dated.”
- “Some of the actual artwork is alright, but even by 1989 standards, this is not a great looking game.”
- “Despite the obviously outdated mechanics, controls, and graphics, it still gives you an immersive experience in the Sengoku period in Japan.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
60%
15%
The gameplay is praised for its depth and variety, reminiscent of classic titles like 'Pirates!' and 'Mount & Blade', offering a mix of top-down action, strategy, and dueling mechanics. While some players noted outdated controls and graphics, the immersive experience set in Japan's Sengoku period and the engaging cause-and-effect choices keep the gameplay fresh and enjoyable. However, a notable flaw is the limited honorable methods for increasing rice income, which can hinder military recruitment.
- “This game is amazing, with super deep gameplay and lots of variety.”
- “Gameplay is good and has enough variety to not become too repetitive since every game stage adds certain flavor.”
- “In any case, I highly suggest this game to everyone, especially those who value gameplay and immersion in a title.”
- “Despite the obviously outdated mechanics, controls, and graphics, it still gives you an immersive experience in the Sengoku period in Japan.”
- “The controls were an issue at first, as all of these styles of gameplay require different button inputs.”
- “The one major gameplay flaw I've found is there's not really any honorable way to increase your rice income except for military conquest of foreign lands, but you need rice income to recruit soldiers to participate in campaigns.”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The game's story is set in 16th century Japan during a tumultuous period of civil war, allowing players to craft their own narratives through a variety of missions, including stealth, diplomacy, and combat. While the graphics and music may feel dated, the immersive gameplay offers endless possibilities for players to rise from a lowly samurai to a powerful daimyo, engaging in quests that range from assassination to strategic conquests. Overall, the story is both ambitious and flexible, encouraging players to explore their own paths to power and honor.
- “The possibilities are truly endless, and the story can get as challenging as you want it to become.”
- “It's a period of violent civil war and chaotic sociopolitical shifts, so there's plenty of room for you to carve out an interesting story all your own.”
- “You start out as a lowly samurai doing jobs for your daimyo until you're promoted to daimyo yourself, at which point it becomes more of a strategy game where you have to birth heirs and slowly start conquering every province of Japan until you can claim yourself emperor in one giant RTS battle.”
- “I can't exactly say it's aged particularly well (just look at that color palette!), but it's an interesting concept—perhaps akin to what we now call 'immersive sims.' You're basically let loose in 16th century Japan and have almost total freedom to create whatever kind of story you want.”
- “Sometimes you'll be stealing into your lord's mansion in the dead of night to stab your way to a promotion when a tripped alarm turns your stealth mission into a chaotic mess.”
- “You start out as a lowly samurai doing jobs for your daimyo (fighting in top-down Zelda-style battles, battling in one-on-one sword duels, and even going on assassination missions) until you're promoted to daimyo yourself, at which point it becomes more of a strategy game where you have to birth heirs (or face game over with your death) and slowly start conquering every province of Japan until you can claim yourself emperor in one giant RTS battle.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, with users highlighting its engaging atmosphere and deep yet accessible design. Many find the experience entertaining and consistently enjoyable, contributing to its strong replay value. Overall, it is considered a highly replayable title that remains interesting and fun across multiple playthroughs.
- “A great game that has endless replayability with a deep but outwardly simple design.”
- “But the experience is very entertaining, and there is a lot of replay value.”
- “It's replayable, it's interesting, and it's also really fun.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its retro charm and effective use of traditional Japanese instruments like the shamisen, while others criticize it for being outdated and cheesy. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's feudal Japan theme, enhancing the cultural atmosphere.
- “The ukiyo-e styled artwork and shamisen MIDI music is so good it's bad retro.”
- “The game itself is steeped in Japanese imagery and music, and bows low to feudal Japan's system of honor and caste.”
- “Good soundtrack.”
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during gameplay.”
- “While the game incorporates traditional Japanese elements, the soundtrack doesn't do enough to enhance the overall experience.”
- “The background music is often too subtle, making it easy to forget it's even there, which detracts from the immersion.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, with players finding the writing to be genuinely hilarious and filled with surprising moments based on their choices. Overall, the comedic elements contribute positively to the gaming experience, despite some players wishing for a graphical overhaul.
- “There are also surprises depending on your choices; the writing is quite hilarious as well.”
- “Lol, it's rather funny, but I still love the game and feel it deserves a full-fledged remake with a brand new GUI and some halfway decent graphics.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly during final boss fights, which can feel frustrating. Many initially believe that grinding is the primary method for leveling up, as progression often relies on defeating more powerful enemies.
- “For my first playthrough, I thought that grinding was the only way to rank up, and ranking up usually only happens when the higher-level enemies are defeated.”
- “The final boss fights can be tedious and annoying, but how else do you simulate a sword fight on such restrictive hardware?”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive qualities, contributing to a compelling and replayable experience.
- “Extremely atmospheric and replayable.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been optimized for modern systems, allowing players to enjoy it directly on Windows with improved sound directions, enhancing the overall experience compared to its original DOS version.
- “I played it originally on DOS and then DOSBox; this version allows play straight from Windows with optimized sound directions.”