In July of 2003, Yoshiki Okamoto, of Street Fighter and Resident Evil fame, created a new company that eventually came to be known as Game Republic. After two years it has at last released its first project, aptly named Genji: Dawn of the Samurai. With superb visuals, a uniquely composed soundtrack, and enjoyable, fast-paced gameplay, Genji proves to be a successful debut title for the emerging development studio.
"...the game’s combat, though a bit simple in mechanics, is fun and exciting."
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Set in feudal Japan, Genji contains an interesting plot that is a suitable backdrop for the game. A ruthless and tyrannical army called the Heishi has invaded and taken control of the city of Kyoto, ruling the province with brutal oppression using the enormous power of mysterious shining jewels called Amahagane. Seeking to collect more of these powerful objects, the Heishi eventually cross the path of a highly skilled samurai named Yoshitsune, who is forced to flee from his home. This young warrior is soon led to discover the Tamayoribito clan, whose sole purpose is to overthrow the Heishi. Aided by an Amahagane of his own, Yoshitsune joins the Tamayoribito’s cause in time, and sets out to defeat the Heishi.
Genji’s core gameplay consists mainly of killing numerous groups of monsters, collecting items and essences of Amahagane (which will increase character stats), and defeating an array of unusual and magnificently designed bosses. The controls are intuitive and easy to learn, and the game’s combat, though a bit simple in mechanics, is fun and exciting. Many attacks will be made with the basic slash, but there are some more powerful attacks that can be executed by pressing the triangle button, and you can perform quite a few combos to use on the various monsters as well.
"...as the game reaches its peak height and tension, it suddenly ends, leaving you wanting more."
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The most important feature, however, is the ability to perform a skill with your Amahagane called Kamui. With this technique, you essentially slow down time, effectively disposing of adversaries by pressing the square button at the precise moments when enemies launch their attacks. Though it usually makes killing monsters much easier, it becomes more difficult to accomplish with stronger enemies. Kamui could have been taken much further, such as by having players press more buttons in succession while fighting in the mode, but in the end it adds a very interesting element to Genji’s gameplay.
Early on in the game, Yoshitsune will encounter a massive warrior monk named Benkei, who wields a large, pillar-like weapon that can wipe out groups of enemies at a time. Benkei will soon join you, but the two characters will never be fighting together at the same time. Instead, the game lets you switch between the two individuals at certain times, making for vastly different overall experiences. While Yoshitsune is quick and speedy, Benkei is lumbering but extremely strong. At some points in the game, you will be required to play as a certain character, whether it is to get to an item chest, or to get past a heavy door. It’s also worth mentioning that Yoshitsune and Benkei level up independently from each other, so if you use one of them in excess, you might encounter some difficulties later on in the game because the other is weak.
"Genji’s graphics are clean and crisp, and the environments and character models are very well designed."
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It’s a pity that Genji contains such a short adventure; as the game reaches its peak height and tension, it suddenly ends, leaving you wanting more. Including around an hour’s worth of cutscenes, the game can be finished in less than seven hours. However, once you finish the game on normal mode, different features are unlocked, including a harder game difficulty and a mode in which you can replay the game with your levels and items from previous saved games. These different options let you hone your skills even further and unlock more hidden features in the game.
As noted earlier, Genji’s graphics are excellent. They are clean and crisp, and the environments and character models are very well designed. Furthermore, deserving special mention are the game’s cutscenes, which are extremely fluid and detailed. Though the in-game camera isn’t controllable, and the game has a few slowdown issues at times, the scenery and backdrops of Genji are superb, and everything flows smoothly for the most part.
Genji’s sound is very good as well. The sound effects are clear, and the voice acting is suitable for each character. Interestingly enough, the dialogue is not spoken in English, but is left in Japanese with subtitles included. On the other hand, Genji’s music is beautiful yet subtly powerful, with moving orchestrated pieces infused with Japanese themes that fit the game wonderfully. Basically stated, Genji’s soundtrack is a highly commendable achievement.
With all said, Genji: Dawn of the Samurai is a notable action title, combining enjoyable gameplay, elegant visuals, and a resonating soundtrack together. It is a perfect weekend rental, quite possibly more than that, and you owe it to yourself to experience the game for both its entertaining action and sheer beauty.
