Sword of the Samurai

About

"Sword of the Samurai" is a role-playing, action-adventure game set in feudal Japan, where you play as a samurai striving for honor and power. Experience real-time battles, duels, and strategic decision-making, as you aim to unify the country under your rule. With customizable difficulty levels and engaging computer-controlled opponents, the game offers a challenging and immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 132 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Sword of the Samurai is a classic game that combines RPG, strategy, and action elements, providing a unique and immersive experience set in feudal Japan.
The game offers a variety of gameplay options, allowing players to engage in sword fighting, strategic battles, and political intrigue, making each playthrough feel different.
Despite its age, the game has a deep and engaging storyline with multiple paths to success, including diplomacy, betrayal, and combat, which keeps players invested.

The controls are clunky and unintuitive, often requiring players to look up manuals or guides to understand how to play effectively.
The graphics and sound are outdated, which may deter modern players who are accustomed to contemporary gaming standards.
Some gameplay mechanics can feel repetitive or simplistic, particularly in the combat sections, which may not satisfy players looking for a more refined experience.

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The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, even by 1989 standards, with many reviewers noting their EGA/VGA quality and simplistic design. Despite this, the visuals are often described as having a certain charm that does not detract from the immersive gameplay experience. Players who prioritize gameplay over graphics are likely to enjoy the game, as its solid mechanics and engaging story 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 the studio's previous title, "Pirates!" Players appreciate the immersive experience set in Japan's Sengoku period, despite some outdated mechanics and controls. While the game offers fun, cause-and-effect choices and diverse styles, new players may need to seek guidance to fully grasp the mechanics, and a notable flaw is the reliance on military conquest for resource generation.
- “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 engage in personal quests, rise through the ranks from a lowly samurai to a powerful daimyo, and ultimately unify Japan. The blend of action and strategy elements creates a unique storytelling experience that encourages creativity and ambition.
- “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.”
- “Take a quest to save a noble's daughter, storm an outlaw fortress, and single-handedly kill every bandit on the island, ending with a Mike Tyson punch-out style sword fight where only one man will walk away; you have now gained one point of fame, 99 to go till you rule all of Japan now, boy.”
- “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%
25%
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 is noted for enhancing the game's feudal Japanese themes and imagery.
- “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.”
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 significantly to the enjoyment of the game, 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.
- “The final boss fights can be tedious and annoying, but how else do you simulate a sword fight on such restrictive hardware?”
- “For my first playthrough, I thought that grinding was the only way to rank up, and ranking up usually only happens when the higher power dies.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive qualities, contributing to a compelling and replayable experience.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
- “The game's atmosphere is rich and layered, making each playthrough feel unique.”
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.”