Genji: Dawn of the Samurai
The North American cover
Developer(s)Game Republic
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Director(s)Takashi Shono
Producer(s)Yoshiki Okamoto
Artist(s)Keita Amemiya
Writer(s)Toshiya Shibano
Composer(s)Yasuharu Takanashi
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • AS: June 28, 2005
  • JP: June 30, 2005
  • KOR: September 15, 2005
  • NA: September 20, 2005
  • EU: October 21, 2005
Genre(s)Action-adventure, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player

Genji (ゲンジ, Genji) (released as Genji: Dawn of the Samurai in the US) is a 2005 PlayStation 2 game, developed by Game Republic and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is loosely based on The Tale of the Heike. A sequel, Genji: Days of the Blade, was released for PlayStation 3.

Plot

The story follows the adventures of Minamoto Yoshitsune as he descends from his mountain retreat and eventually embraces a quest to defeat the Taira clan, thereby avenging his father. Early in his journey, he meets the Tamayoribito clan, led by Kiichi Hogen and his daughter Minazuru, who are the guardians of the Amahagane (天鋼) – stones of power that allow select individuals to release magical powers known as kamui (神威).

Gameplay

Gameplay is third-person combat, similar to what is found in the Dynasty Warriors series (produced by Koei) and Shinobi (produced by Sega). The player controls Yoshitsune or Benkei, and both characters are equipped with two basic attacks: Normal and Special. Yoshitsune is an archetypical fast and agile warrior, making up in speed what he lacks in strength. He is able to jump on small platforms (which, if jumped on by Benkei, would collapse). He wields two swords, and can double jump, and can use his sword to hang on ledges. Benkei is the more powerful but slower character, with greater range than Yoshitsune. He uses a large war club,[1] which can also be used to destroy certain structures and heavy doors in the game. Players can improve their characters by collecting experience and leveling up or by using Essences of Amahagane.[citation needed] Yoshitsune and Benkei both have a number of kamui bars under their health bar, proportional to their amount of Amahagane collected. While in battle, the character's kamui bar stores power for the player to release devastating attacks.[citation needed]

Reception

The game received "average" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[2] In Japan, Famitsu gave it all four eights, for a total of 32 out of 40.[6]

References

  1. ^ Benkei uses his super human strength to pulverize his enemies with a giant war club that is taller and heavier than most full-grown men, Genji: Dawn of Samurai Users Manual.
  2. ^ a b "Genji: Dawn of the Samurai for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  3. ^ Edge staff (September 2005). "Genji". Edge. No. 153. p. 92.
  4. ^ EGM staff (November 2005). "Genji: Dawn of the Samurai". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 197. p. 145.
  5. ^ Reed, Kristan (November 7, 2005). "Genji: Dawn of the Samurai". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Khalid-S (June 22, 2005). "this week Famitsu Reviews". NeoGAF. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  7. ^ Miller, Matt (October 2005). "Genji: Dawn of the Samurai". Game Informer. No. 150. p. 134. Archived from the original on May 24, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  8. ^ The Man in Black (September 21, 2005). "Genji: Dawn of the Samurai Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on January 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  9. ^ Reilly, Mike (October 12, 2005). "Genji: Dawn of the Samurai Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  10. ^ Mueller, Greg (September 19, 2005). "Genji: Dawn of the Samurai Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  11. ^ Padilla, Raymond M. (September 21, 2005). "GameSpy: Genji: Dawn of the Samurai". GameSpy. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  12. ^ Bedigian, Louis (September 18, 2005). "Genji: Dawn of the Samurai - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  13. ^ Sulic, Ivan (September 16, 2005). "Genji: Dawn of the Samurai". IGN. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  14. ^ "Genji: Dawn of the Samurai". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. November 2005. p. 117.
  15. ^ Edwards, Greg (September 20, 2005). "Genji: Dawn Of The Samurai". Maxim. Archived from the original on October 24, 2005. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  16. ^ Hill, Jason (November 3, 2005). "Traditional and structured". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2015.

External links

Game Republic
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