March 30^th, 2006 (1:33pm) - Namco Bandai Games America Inc. has announced that Samurai Champlo: Sidetracked for the PlayStation 2 has gone gold.

Drawing heavily from the brash, over-the-top aesthetics of the popular anime series currently airing on the Cartoon Network, Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked offers gamers a never-before-seen combination of hack-and-slash gameplay and tongue-in-cheek humor set to sterling hip-hop beats. The game is scheduled to be in retail stores April 11th.

Gamers can breathe life into a "lost episode" as one of three playable characters – Mugen, a reckless samurai with break-dancing fighting style, calculated Jin who abides by the decorum of Bushido and a mysterious new character exclusive to the video game. Stranded in the northern land of Ezo (current day Hokkaido) in search of the samurai who smells of sunflowers, the player must face foreign mercenaries, master swordsmen, diabolical assassins, mythical beasts and gangster monkeys.

The core of the game’s unique combat system lies in the innovative integration of music and linked attacks. The players can choose an array of combos based on the different hip-hop grooves that they can swap at will. Music tracks become collectible, opening an extensive assortment of linked attacks that can be implemented tactically during combat.

The hard-edged, hip-hop, pulse-pounding blend of wry humor, hardcore samurai action and lush animation of "Samurai Champloo" can also be seen in the multi-episodic series on DVD from Geneon Entertainment.