Way of the Samurai 4

Slightly unpolished, but a strange and enjoyable blast from Japan's (fictional) past

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"Way of the Samurai 4" is an action-adventure game set in a port town in mid-19th century Japan. The arrival of foreign settlers has caused tension, leading to the formation of three factions. As a samurai, players must navigate the town, interact with its inhabitants, and make decisions that will impact the story. With a blend of customization, exploration, and combat, the game offers a unique experience with each playthrough.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,313 reviews

story208 positive mentions

graphics46 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of open-world exploration and branching narratives, allowing players to experience multiple endings based on their choices.
Combat is engaging with a variety of sword fighting styles and customization options for weapons and character appearance.
The quirky humor and absurd scenarios add a fun and lighthearted tone to the gameplay, making it an entertaining experience.

The PC port suffers from numerous technical issues, including frequent crashes, poor controls, and a lack of graphical options.
The game can feel repetitive and grindy, especially when trying to unlock all fighting styles and weapons.
Some players find the story and character interactions to be shallow or poorly written, detracting from the overall experience.

story
980 mentions
21 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story in "Way of the Samurai 4" is characterized by its branching paths and multiple endings, allowing players to significantly influence the narrative through their choices. While the plot is often described as quirky and humorous, it can also feel shallow or disjointed at times, with some players finding it less engaging than previous entries in the series. Overall, the game offers a unique experience with a mix of serious and silly elements, encouraging replayability to explore different storylines and outcomes.
- “Way of the Samurai 4 isn't a polished AAA title, but it offers a surprisingly engaging experience with its branching storylines, open world exploration, and quirky charm.”
- “With branching storylines and multiple endings, you’ll want to replay just to see your hero in even more absurd scenarios.”
- “The story is branching, fairly deep, and at times highly engaging, with clever plot twists, likeable and complex characters to get you invested, and a lot of replayability as you wind your way through the story tree in new ways to see every mission and eventually get the true ending.”
- “The story, characters, and humor are so corny, so poor in terms of quality that it makes me want to shoot myself.”
- “The story is decent, but it never feels like any of the choices you make are actually meaningful and it's not hard to blow past the story without getting invested in any of the characters.”
- “In wots4, the story only progresses by 'events'.”
gameplay
278 mentions
27 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the reviewed titles is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and notable flaws. While players appreciate the variety of combat styles and the depth of customization, many criticize the repetitive nature of combat, technical issues, and a lack of clear tutorials, which can hinder the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the games offer a unique blend of sandbox elements and choice-driven narratives that can lead to enjoyable and varied gameplay experiences, especially for those willing to invest time in mastering the mechanics.
- “Learning to parry took long enough, but instant kills are awesome, and it takes more effort and practice to master the kill chain mechanic. It's quite giving with sword parts, so making your own swords comes quick, but making the best swords still takes real effort.”
- “The combat mechanics are just complex enough to keep things interesting and dynamic -- learning the different styles and how to best react to them is a blast, and just simple enough that you can still do well even after your third jaeger bomb.”
- “By far one of the best single player experiences I've had, you can choose your own path as a samurai, with or without faith, destroying everything in your path. The gameplay and fighting mechanics are simple yet complex at the same time, giving you satisfying results in the end with very addictive gameplay.”
- “Repetitive combat: while multiple styles exist, the core combat mechanics can feel repetitive and button-mashy.”
- “Technical issues: some players report bugs and crashes that can disrupt gameplay.”
- “The fighting mechanics are slow and frustrating.”
graphics
236 mentions
13 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely criticized for being outdated, often compared to those of PlayStation 2 or early PlayStation 3 titles, with minimal options for customization and a locked frame rate of 30fps. While some players find the visuals acceptable for gameplay, many express disappointment in the low production values and lack of polish, noting issues like graphical bugs and poor animations. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress, the gameplay and unique features can still provide an enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.
- “Ghost of Tsushima: an open-world samurai adventure with stunning visuals and a more serious story.”
- “Compared to Way of the Samurai 3, this one made improvements in graphics and overall just more everything from map size to the number of quests, and everything is so detailed and well designed.”
- “The better graphics compared to the PS3 version really shows!”
- “The graphics are horribly ugly in the same way TES IV: Oblivion's are.”
- “There are absolutely no graphics settings other than resolution, and it seems like the developers changed the textures from PS3-level graphics to something that belongs more on a PS2.”
- “The story is mediocre, the characters are silly and bidimensional, the graphics belong in PlayStation 2... but it is fun!”
humor
186 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Way of the Samurai 4" is characterized by its whimsical charm and a blend of lighthearted, often absurd elements, reminiscent of classic Japanese comedy. While many players appreciate the quirky characters, ridiculous dialogue, and playful side quests, some find the humor to be corny or overly reliant on crude and sexual themes, which may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the game embraces a comedic tone that encourages players to not take it too seriously, making it a fun experience for those who enjoy Japanese-style humor.
- “Whimsical charm: the game embraces a unique blend of historical setting and lighthearted humor, making for a memorable experience.”
- “There are a lot of enjoyable characters and sometimes hilarious dialogues, and seeing the way Japanese game devs imagine Europeans is just pure gold.”
- “The character customization in this game opens up a ton of hilarious possibilities, and having your goofy idiot character show up in cutscenes acting serious is part of what I genuinely enjoyed.”
- “While Way of the Samurai 3 was a more or less historical sandbox, Way of the Samurai 4 adds very... Japanese... elements (read: shamelessly ridiculous and not funny at all) to the game at every nook and cranny.”
replayability
170 mentions
47 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game offers exceptional replayability, featuring branching paths and multiple endings that significantly alter the narrative based on player choices. Each playthrough can be completed in a short time, yet the variety of routes, character interactions, and combat styles encourage players to return for different experiences. Overall, it is designed with replay value in mind, making it a highly recommended choice for those who enjoy exploring diverse storylines and gameplay options.
- “One aspect that makes this game stand out is the fact that you will face various choices and branching paths that lead to one of the 10 possible endings of the game, giving this title a good amount of replayability.”
- “The replay value in this title puts quite a number of triple-A titles to shame, with how many choices you can make and how many endings there are to find; you can easily find a day or two's worth of content in here.”
- “The story is branching, fairly deep, and at times highly engaging, with clever plot twists, likeable and complex characters to get you invested, and a lot of replayability as you wind your way through the story tree in new ways to see every mission and eventually get the true ending.”
- “Each playthrough is over rather quickly, but the replayability comes from having character stat and item persistence between each playthrough as well as simply doing different things and acquiring different endings (including the incredibly elusive 'golden path' ending) in a game with a fairly large amount of choice and consequence.”
- “The replay value in this title puts quite a number of triple-A titles to shame, with how many choices you can make and how many endings there are to find. You can easily find a day or two's worth of content in here.”
- “Expect this game to be short because it is known for its brevity; it doesn't have an epic story or anything, but it relies on replay value. Just because you finished the game doesn't mean you're actually finished.”
grinding
80 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players finding it tedious and overly repetitive, especially when trying to obtain the best weapons or upgrades. Achieving full completion can require upwards of 120-140 hours of grinding, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and can make the gameplay feel monotonous. While some players appreciate the depth and customization options, the excessive grind often overshadows the fun elements of the game.
- “However, the gameplay loop has aged quite a bit and feels too grindy.”
- “If you want all achievements, or all movesets, or all weapons etc., you will need to grind excessively, though you're already 'grinding' anyway with different playthroughs.”
- “For a game with so many different endings and possibilities in the story, they thought it was necessary to throw tedious grind into a game that really didn't even need it to begin with, boosting what might be 20-30 hours of content into 50-100 hours of all grind.”
music
72 mentions
25 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting issues such as tracks not looping, audio cutting out during gameplay and cutscenes, and overall sound balancing problems. While some praise the soundtrack for its ability to create a compelling atmosphere, others find it repetitive and forgettable, suggesting that modding options may be necessary to enhance the experience. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance but suffers from significant technical flaws.
- “The characters, story, and music are all perfect to create the phenomenal atmosphere this game does effortlessly.”
- “Soundtrack is awesome!”
- “I think a lot of the sound design is good, with solid sound effects and a pretty excellent spaghetti western/samurai soundtrack that would make Morricone proud.”
- “The music also likes to cut out, and your character warps sometimes because the game can't keep up.”
- “Music also just ends and doesn't loop, making some long fights really awkward.”
- “Crashes were an immediate problem from the title screen, followed by horrid audio issues with sound effects either not playing or playing at the wrong volumes, and music not playing at all, playing extremely quietly, or only playing once and then stopping when it should be looping.”
stability
44 mentions
5 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The game is widely reported to be plagued by significant stability issues, including frequent crashes, glitches, and performance problems such as frame drops and freezes. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these bugs, many express frustration with the constant technical difficulties that hinder gameplay. Overall, the stability of the game is a major concern, with users recommending caution before purchasing.
- “Runs great.”
- “Runs great.”
- “I loaded the game, got to the main menu, selected new game, and nothing loads—just a black screen. I tried some troubleshooting and nothing worked, so I of course refunded it thinking it was a bad port.”
- “Game contains crashes that prevent you from even playing this game. I spent the total playtime attempting to work around glitches that the game knowingly addresses and discusses, but none of the solutions can assist in letting it run properly.”
- “As entertaining as it could be to play through, I'm not willing to sit around and wait for the constantly freezing dialogue scenes to unglitch themselves, anywhere from 2 to 5 minute freezes that can happen multiple times per scene.”
optimization
32 mentions
25 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
31 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting decent performance and smooth gameplay on certain setups, particularly when using compatibility modes. However, many users report frequent crashes, bugs, and poor controls, indicating that the PC port is not fully optimized and still suffers from issues present in the original PS3 version. Overall, while there have been improvements, significant optimization problems remain, leading to a lack of recommendation until further patches are released.
- “Could run the game flawlessly on Windows 10 by activating compatibility mode with Windows 7 and disabling fullscreen optimizations.”
- “It's a proper port of a PS3, decent optimization too.”
- “Since my initial review, they have added keyboard/mouse optimization which has improved it significantly.”
- “I also cannot forgive the dev for forfeiting a sequel because the sales and review of this PC port are not good due to poor optimization and bugs.”
- “- Not optimized for PC, clumsy controls.”
- “Voice stuttering, 4-year-old graphics, awkward actions... not to mention the game was already in a pretty bad shape when released via PlayStation 3 years ago.”
emotional
16 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game elicits a wide range of emotional responses, from tear-jerking moments to dark and dreary endings, showcasing its ability to blend humor with serious themes. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and touching stories, others find it less impactful, favoring replayability and lighthearted gameplay over emotional investment. Overall, it offers a mix of heartfelt narratives and varied endings that can leave a lasting emotional impression on players.
- “This game was one of the few that made me cry emotionally; it hurt me to see them die, so I swore to go to those responsible and destroy them.”
- “About a dozen wildly different endings, some are amazing, some are lackluster, one in particular is actually a tear-jerking heartfelt masterpiece, and a few others are just plain dark and dreary.”
- “If you enjoy anime like Gintama, you will love this; a funny game that can have very serious scenes drawing out strong emotional responses without making it seem out of place at all.”
atmosphere
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and calming qualities, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and engaging characters. While some note that the graphics feel outdated, fans of samurai themes appreciate the overall ambiance, especially with the shift towards a more upbeat tone in this installment.
- “The characters, story, and music are all perfect to create the phenomenal atmosphere this game does effortlessly.”
- “The game’s atmosphere is unique and calm.”
- “Ever since I was in middle school, I've always enjoyed this series, and I'm glad that they switched up the tone for this one, going for something less grim and more upbeat. Though I'm not very far in, the color, music, and all-around atmosphere is more fun.”
character development
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is notably uneven, with some players praising the depth achieved in the best ending, while others criticize the reliance on stereotypes and subpar character design. Overall, the character designs are seen as lacking compared to previous titles, leading to a mixed reception regarding the characters' growth and narrative engagement.
- “But in the best ending, you get a lot of character development.”
- “The character design and settings are the real stars here; everything else could have used an update from the previous games.”
- “Either way, they still stand up to scrutiny right now, and the character design for J.J. is impressive.”
- “Characters: definition of stereotypes across the board, and some of the worst character design I can imagine at times.”
- “I've seen better story and character development in hentai games.”
- “The character designs weren't as good as in some of the other games, either.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, suggesting that the developers are prioritizing profit over quality in a declining franchise.
- “It is clear that Acquire was looking for a quick cash grab from a dying series.”