Sword of the Samurai (2002 video game)

Sword of the Samurai
Developer(s)Lightweight[2]
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: June 27, 2002[1]
  • EU: February 14, 2003
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Sword of the Samurai, known in Japan as Kengo 2 (剣豪2),[3] is a video game developed by Lightweight for the PlayStation 2. It was published by Genki in Japan in 2002, and by Ubi Soft in Europe in 2003. A North American version was announced by Ubi Soft but it was never released.[4] Sword of the Samurai is the second game in the Kengo series and a sequel to Kengo: Master of Bushido from 2000. A sequel, Kengo 3, was released in 2004 exclusively in Japan. A fourth and final game in the series, Kengo Zero (AKA Kengo: Legend of the 9), was released in 2006.

Gameplay

The main mode of the game is called "Bushido Quest". At the beginning, the player creates a samurai and joins a dojo. The player can increase their ability points and learn new combat techniques by training at the dojo or participating in tournaments. Side missions are available that may involve protecting VIPs, rescuing kidnapped people, or carrying out assassinations.[5] After completing certain missions, there's an opportunity to fight a Kengo, a sword master, if beaten the player gains a new sword and learns new techniques.[6] The ultimate objective of the game is considered either beating all 16 Kengos or winning in the shogun's tournament.[6][5] Other modes available are "Time Attack" where the player has to fight multiple opponents at once, and "Versus" which has a two-player multiplayer option.[7]

Release

The game was announced by Crave Entertainment (publisher of the first Kengo in the West) on May 1, 2001 as Kengo: Legacy of the Blade for the Xbox. It was supposed to be released with the first batch of Xbox games.[8][9] The Xbox version was cancelled in favor of Kabuki Warriors and development was moved to the PlayStation 2. Release was scheluded for spring 2002.[10] An extended trailer was shown at the fall 2001 Tokyo Game Show.[11][12] In early 2002, the Japanese release was scheluded for April 25, 2002 but the game was eventually released on June 27, 2002.[13][1] In September 2002, an European release was announced for early 2003 and the game was renamed to Sword of the Samurai.[14][15]

The game was released in Japan on The Best budget range on July 10, 2003 and on PlayStation Network on October 15, 2014 as a PS2 Classic for the PlayStation 3.[16][17]

Reception

The game received favorable previews from IGN and Play,[28][29] GameSpy and PlayStation 2 Official Magazine – Australia were more critical.[30][31]

Consoles + compared the game to Bushido Blade and liked the atmosphere, graphics and the combat system but called the game progression boring.[18] Power Unlimited called it a fun game that is a bit slow. The create a samurai feature was noted as the best part of the game.[26] Play summarized: "Intelligent fighter that improves as the fight prolongs".[22] PlayStation 2 Official Magazine – Australia said the game has expanded the gameplay from the previous game but the combat is sluggish and the game suffers from a severe lack of polish.[25] PlayStation 2 Official Magazine – UK said the sword fighting can be "enthralling and intense" but occasionally frustrating. The overall presentation was described as "generally dire".[6] Hyper wrote: "[...] players with an abiding interest in the subject matter will discover that it’s a truly captivating and rewarding experience."[21] PlayStation World noted it as "the best Samurai duelling sim you're likely to find."[5] In a retrospective review, M! Games described the controls as complex but intuitive and fights as breathtaking after learning the combat system. The presentation was noted as dreary.[23]

Sequel

Kengo 3 (剣豪3) was released for the PlayStation 2 on September 22, 2004.[32] It was developed by Lightweight and published by Genki. It was released only in Japan. Featuring much improved graphics and a simplified fighting system from Kengo 2. Aggregate review website GameStats assigned Kengo 3 an average score of 7.9 out of 10 based on three magazine reviews.[33] Kengo 3 was the last game in the series developed by Lightweight. Kengo Zero (2006) was developed by Genki.

The game was released in Japan on The Best budget range on November 3, 2005 and on PlayStation Network on November 18, 2015 as a PS2 Classic for the PlayStation 3.[34][35]

References

  1. ^ a b "剣豪2". Kengo 2 (in Japanese). Genki. Archived from the original on 22 July 2004. Retrieved 5 August 2025. 発売日: 2002年6月27日
  2. ^ a b c Romendil (12 February 2003). "Tests - Sword Of The Samurai". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on 18 February 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Game packaging (Japanese version)". Kengo 2 (in Japanese). Genki. 2003. 剣豪2 - Kengo 2
  4. ^ "Kengo II: Legacy of the Blade (PS2)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d Best, Timothy C. (April 2003). "Review - Sword of the Samurai". PlayStation World. No. 10. Next Publishing Pty Ltd. p. 78. ISSN 1329-7694.
  6. ^ a b c d Parkin, Simon (May 2003). "Review - Sword of the Samurai". PlayStation 2 Official Magazine – UK. No. 33. Future plc. p. 96.
  7. ^ a b Luibl, Jörg (24 January 2003). "Test zu "Sword of the Samurai"". 4Players (in German). Archived from the original on 7 May 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  8. ^ Satterfield, Shane (1 May 2001). "First look: Kengo: Legacy of the Blade for the Xbox". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 1 May 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Crave Announces Kengo for Xbox". IGN. Ziff Davis. 1 May 2001. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  10. ^ Ahmed, Shahed (27 September 2001). "Kengo returns to the PS2?". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 5 October 2003. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  11. ^ Lopez, Miguel (13 October 2001). "TGS 2001 Fall: Kengo 2 impressions". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 18 November 2003. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  12. ^ Smith, David (12 October 2001). "TGS 2001: Kengo II Impressions". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 7 April 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  13. ^ "元気、PS2『湾岸ミッドナイト』＆『剣豪2』店頭予約キャンペーンを実施". Dengeki Online (in Japanese). KADOKAWA Game Linkage. 14 February 2002. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Kengo II Announced In Europe". IGN. Ziff Davis. 17 September 2002. Archived from the original on 7 April 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  15. ^ Bramwell, Tom (16 September 2002). "Lightweight Samurai slices PS2". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  16. ^ "「PlayStation 2 the Best」 シリーズ発売のご案内" (PDF). Sony Interactive Entertainment (in Japanese). 5 June 2003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025. タイトル: 剣豪2, 発売日: ７月 １０日
  17. ^ "剣豪2". PlayStation (in Japanese). Sony Computer Entertainment. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2025. 配信日 - 2014年10月15日
  18. ^ a b Cony; Kael (March 2003). "Test - Sword of the Samurai". Consoles + (in French). No. 134. EMAP Alpha. pp. 124–125. ISSN 1162-8669.
  19. ^ "プレイステーション2 - 剣豪2". Famitsu. Vol. 915. June 30, 2006. p. 92.
  20. ^ Puyo (10 March 2003). "Test: Sword of the Samurai". Gamekult (in French). Reworld Media. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  21. ^ a b Robinson, Brett (May 2003). "Reviews - Sword of the Samurai". Hyper. No. 115. nextmedia. p. 80. ISSN 1320-7458.
  22. ^ a b "Playlist". Play. No. 118. Highbury Entertainment. 2004. p. 100. ISSN 1358-9474. Game title: Sword of the Samurai, Issue: 99, Score: 80%, We Say...: Intelligent fighter that improves as the fight prolongs
  23. ^ a b Ehrle, Oliver (17 November 2021). "Sword of the Samurai – im Klassik-Test (PS2)". M! Games (in German). Cybermedia Verlagsgesellschaft mbH. Archived from the original on 4 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  24. ^ Laborde, Rodolfo (March 2003). "Final Test - Sword of the Samurai". Next Level (in Spanish). No. 44. Editorial Powerplay. p. 44. ISSN 1514-0466.
  25. ^ a b O'Connor, Anthony (March 2003). "Reviews - Sword of the Samurai". PlayStation 2 Official Magazine – Australia. No. 12. Derwent Howard Publishing. p. 72.
  26. ^ a b Boris (April 2003). "Review - Sword of the Samurai". Power Unlimited (in Dutch). Vol. 11, no. 4. VNU Media. p. 71. ISSN 0929-760X.
  27. ^ "обзор - Sword of the Samurai". Strana Igr (in Russian). No. #05 (134). Gameland. March 2003. p. 74. ISSN 1609-1035.
  28. ^ Smith, David (9 July 2002). "Preview - Kengo II". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 7 April 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  29. ^ "Wired Up - Sword of the Samurai". Play. No. 98. Paragon Publishing. 2003. p. 82. ISSN 1358-9474.
  30. ^ Satterfield, Shane (9 October 2002). "Previews - Kengo 2: Bushido Master (PS2)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 28 June 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  31. ^ Toose, Dan (January 2003). "Monitor - Hands-On - Sword of the Samurai". PlayStation 2 Official Magazine – Australia. No. 10. Derwent Howard Publishing. p. 36.
  32. ^ "剣豪３". Kengo 3. Genki. Archived from the original on 31 December 2004. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  33. ^ "Kengo 3 - Reviews". GameStats. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 26 January 2005. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  34. ^ "『鉄拳5』、『みんGOL4』など多彩なジャンルがそろう「PS2theBest」11月ラインナップ". Dengeki Online (in Japanese). KADOKAWA Game Linkage. 6 October 2005. Archived from the original on 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  35. ^ "剣豪3". PlayStation (in Japanese). Sony Computer Entertainment. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2025. 配信日 - 2015年11月18日
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