Way of the Samurai 3

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Way of the Samurai 3 is an open-world action adventure game set in late 19th century Japan. The player assumes the role of a ronin, who becomes involved in the political turmoil of the region. The game offers multiple endings, depending on the player's decisions and actions. Combat is real-time and rewards strategy and quick thinking.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 406 reviews

story32 positive mentions

graphics11 negative mentions

Engaging combat system with a variety of weapons and fighting styles.
Multiple endings and choices that significantly impact the story, providing high replayability.
Unique and quirky humor that adds charm to the gameplay experience.

Outdated graphics and technical issues, including a 30 FPS lock and occasional crashes.
Poorly explained mechanics and controls, making it difficult for new players to get into the game.
Repetitive side quests and tedious tasks that can detract from the overall enjoyment.

story
191 mentions
17 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story in "Way of the Samurai 3" is characterized by its non-linear structure and player-driven choices, allowing for multiple endings based on actions and interactions with characters. While the setting and premise are engaging, many players find the actual plot underdeveloped and the quest design tedious, often requiring specific actions to unlock different story paths. Overall, the game offers a unique storytelling experience that encourages replayability, but it may frustrate those seeking a more cohesive narrative.
- “The game progresses when you actively pursue the story and only then.”
- “The combat is fun and diverse, the story is simple but gives rise to great characters, and the atmosphere of Sengoku era Japan is palpable.”
- “WOTS3 boasts over 20 endings though, far more than any other game in the series, as well as the ability to freely kill any character at any time and the plot generally routing around that as best as possible.”
- “The story is not super deep, but it has its twists and most of the endings are satisfying, even if tragic.”
- “The storytelling is fractured and cliché, sure, but thankfully the game relies on storytelling so little that it doesn't really matter.”
- “The quests are boring and unforgiving.”
gameplay
70 mentions
33 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title is characterized by deep combat mechanics and unique features, such as a timing-based guard system and a push/pull mechanic, though many players find the mechanics poorly explained, making it challenging to grasp initially. While the game offers a mix of engaging mini-games and a rich story, it suffers from technical issues and a somewhat clumsy execution, leading to a steep learning curve. Despite these drawbacks, players appreciate the replayability and the variety of choices available, making it a rewarding experience once the mechanics are understood.
- “Great gameplay, wacky mini-games, and a good story.”
- “The gameplay is fun, and the story is great just due to how many ways you can play it.”
- “This game still holds up relatively well for its age; the mechanics are really well made, and you will be surprised by the amount of choices you can actually have in this game.”
- “A game that's a bit hard to get into, either because of technical issues or from gameplay being poorly explained.”
- “I cannot stress how bad this mechanic is - it will be a deal breaker for many players.”
- “Also, roughly 90% of your gameplay time consists of simply running from location to location in pursuit of these events.”
graphics
48 mentions
10 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, often compared to PS2-era visuals, and while they may not impress, they are considered passable and do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience. Many reviewers emphasize that despite the dated graphics, the game's mechanics, story, and replayability through multiple endings are what truly shine. Overall, while the graphics may be a drawback, they are overshadowed by the engaging gameplay and choices available to players.
- “The graphics are basically good PS2 era, and while it's locked into 30fps, it doesn't take away from the playability of the game.”
- “Graphics are dated, but I believe they are still passable to this day and shouldn't be too hard on the eyes, unless you can't play games if they aren't 8k resolution, 9000 fps.”
- “Do not let the graphics fool you.”
- “The graphics are not amazing, even for a game of that time, but it's still charming.”
- “At the time of this title's console release, some reviewers slighted it as having 'PS2 graphics' despite being an Xbox 360 title.”
- “Graphically, the game is not impressive, but the gameplay is what really makes this a great game.”
replayability
33 mentions
39 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, primarily due to its multitude of endings—ranging from 20 to 28—along with a robust combat system and customization options. Players can earn samurai points to unlock new features and carry over equipment for subsequent playthroughs, enhancing the experience. While some reviews note that many endings feel similar, the overall consensus is that the game's design encourages repeated play, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
- “There's tons of replay value here with samurai points being earned at the end of every playthrough, which are used to unlock various things.”
- “The game has a very deep combat system with a good dozen of combat styles, each with lots of skill tiers, completely over the top characters, 28 endings and an immense amount of replayability.”
- “The replayability is stellar - at the end of every game you accumulate samurai points, and unlock new settings and customization choices, which you can use for subsequent playthroughs.”
- “Infinite replay value as the game is solely aiming for replay value, but generally feels shallow and hollow.”
- “Some replayability, but most endings aren't that different from one another.”
- “The stories can be rather short; I got my first ending in about 3 hours and my second ending in 2, but the replay value keeps you coming back for more.”
music
26 mentions
38 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its fitting blend of traditional Japanese instruments and modern elements, effectively setting the tone for both action and exploration. However, some players have noted issues such as repetitive tracks, occasional bugs with looping, and a limited soundtrack that can become monotonous after extended play. Overall, while the music enhances the atmosphere, it falls short of the high standards set by previous entries in the series.
- “The music and sound is fantastic.”
- “From relaxing calm themes to upbeat and fast combat music mixing traditional Japanese instruments with modern.”
- “People play this lovely game; it's definitely worth your time, the music is on point and the atmosphere is even better.”
- “Music is fitting for the game, but cuts out in combat frequently (due to fading out the instant no enemies are around).”
- “Only issue I had with this port is the music sometimes stops looping, which is kinda annoying. Someone uploaded a band-aid fix where they made all tracks longer, so you can find that by looking it up.”
- “The music has always been a strong point in the WOTS series, but it's just plain bad in WOTS3.”
grinding
25 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, often requiring players to engage in long, monotonous tasks to progress or achieve completion. Many reviewers noted that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, with frustrating controls and a lack of rewarding gameplay experiences. While some found the game addictive and fun despite its grindy nature, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding can feel pointless and detracts from the overall experience.
- “Seems like you will end up doing these long, tedious quests for hours and hours in order to get money, which sounds like torture to me given how unfun it is to run around areas in this game with the terrible camera and janky controls.”
- “The grinding is pointless, the music is annoying, the characters are bland, the combat ranges from 'I breathed on you, now you're dead.' to 'I am the master of all, you cannot defeat me!'”
- “Doing the jobs to earn money gets pretty tedious and tiresome especially with the 30 fps lock and searching for hidden items.”
humor
22 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and self-aware style, blending silly ragdoll physics and wonky animations with both serious and absurd writing. Players appreciate the unique interactions, funny dialogues, and customizable character outfits that contribute to a lighthearted experience, despite some clumsy gameplay elements. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with engaging combat and emotional depth, appealing to a niche audience that enjoys its offbeat take on Japanese history.
- “The wots series has a ton of quirky humor, and unlike RPGs that tell you every action or choice matters, in these games, they really do.”
- “While the gameplay can be a tad clumsy at times, the silly ragdoll physics and wonky animations will have you chuckling.”
- “The combat is thoroughly satisfying, the dialogue, though often ridiculous, tends to be hilarious, and sometimes surprisingly deep.”
stability
10 mentions
10 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting various bugs, glitches, and occasional crashes that detract from the overall experience. While some players have managed to enjoy the game without significant issues, others have encountered frustrating problems such as camera glitches, audio errors, and unresponsive controls. Overall, the game appears to be plagued by stability issues, impacting its enjoyment for a portion of the player base.
- “I thought I would try out the game, and I have to say I am enjoying it so far with no glitches or problems to speak of.”
- “Fun but buggy and choppy.”
- “Buggy mess of a game.”
- “This game is a piece of buggy, clunky, and directionless piece of shit.”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the games reviewed varies significantly; "Way of the Samurai 2" is praised for its touching story, humor, and replayability, while another game is noted for its serious anti-war narrative that evokes sadness. However, the latter also includes elements that some players found inappropriate, leading to mixed feelings about the overall emotional impact.
- “For me, the most touching story goes to Way of the Samurai 2.”
- “Instead, I got a completely serious anti-war game, with a touching and sometimes really sad story.”
- “Funny, emotional, multiple endings, a ton of replayability and customization, 10/10. Hopefully, we someday get the 5th release.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive depiction of Sengoku-era Japan, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that includes shamisen and Japanese drill music. Players appreciate the palpable setting, which complements the fun and diverse combat, as well as the engaging characters and story. Overall, the atmosphere significantly contributes to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “The combat is fun and diverse, the story is simple but gives rise to great characters, and the atmosphere of Sengoku era Japan is palpable.”
- “People play this lovely game; it's definitely worth your time. The music is on point and the atmosphere is even better.”
- “A plethora of endings, broken enemies, and an impeccable atmosphere to bump some shamisen and Japanese drill to.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich setting, the atmosphere falls flat and lacks any real depth.”
- “The game's atmosphere is overshadowed by repetitive environments and dull sound design.”
optimization
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report needing to adjust settings and run compatibility modes to get it functioning on Windows 10, others find it well-optimized and rate it positively. However, performance issues persist for some users, indicating that optimization may vary significantly across different setups.
- “Too early to give a score but I think 8/10 is about right since it's very well optimized.”
- “It has a lot of flaws and is hard to get running on Windows 10. I had to run compatibility mode for Windows 7 and disable fullscreen optimizations just to get it to work. Even then, I had to change the resolution through the configuration file because trying to do it in-game crashed every time.”
- “I see some are having performance issues.”