Genji: Dawn of the Samurai

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28 Sep 2005, 05:44 PM
Rocca

Genji: Dawn of the Samurai

Summed up pretty quickly, Genji is a Onimusha clone with great art but really average gameplay. It utilizes a Kamui system, where you can press L1 and slow down time, giving you a clear opening to counterattack your foes.

Been playing this for the past 3 hours, it's not great, but it's not bad either. MarkRyan summed it up pretty well a while ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkRyan

The art in this game is fantastic. Just gorgeous stuff. Unfortunately, the combat is pretty shallow but I'm still having fun with it. The game is short I hear, which is good because it could easily get repetitive if it dragged on too long.

Gritty screenshots:

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen003.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen005.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen011.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen003.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen001.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...6001002193.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...6001000115.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9112018828.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9112012390.jpg

http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9112023452.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen016.jpg

http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9112024171.jpg
28 Sep 2005, 06:15 PM
Jeremy

I did a preview with the demo, and should be getting the full game for review this weekend. I rather enjoyed the demo, but yeah, the gameplay is pretty hollow. The cinemas are great, but it's jarring to have them go from CG right into the game engine's visuals. Maybe the full game allows for some additional moves to be learned or something.
28 Sep 2005, 06:17 PM
Rocca

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Maybe the full game allows for some additional moves to be learned or something.

So far, no, it's all about weak and heavy slashing and Kamui, and that's about it. The game kind of robs your excitement about collecting new magic orbs (Amahagane) since the 1st and 2nd orbs you collect give you new skills with Kamui. Every following one does absolutely nothing and is nothing but a key item in your inventory.
28 Sep 2005, 06:37 PM
bbobb

I've played a bit so far. It seems ok. I'm about to read Tale of the Heike which is the story this game is based on for a class soon, and I'm curious to see how much they altered.
28 Sep 2005, 07:00 PM
NeoZeedeater

I enjoyed the demo but I will probably wait for a price drop since there's a lot of stuff I want more this season. The game reminded me more of Blood Will Tell than Onimusha. It seems better than BWT though.
28 Sep 2005, 07:39 PM
EightBit

Yeah, the demo was kicken, but hearing how shallow it remains throughout its short playtrhough time put me off from buying it. For sure when it's cheap. It'll be interesting to see how the PS3 one turns out. Better combat, and prettier and whatnot.

Wasn't this made by ex-Capcom people?
28 Sep 2005, 07:42 PM
Rocca

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

I enjoyed the demo but I will probably wait for a price drop since there's a lot of stuff I want more this season. The game reminded me more of Blood Will Tell than Onimusha. It seems better than BWT though.

I haven't had the chance to play BWT yet? What were your impressions of the game? Did the combat get boring after a while? The idea of adding limbs seemed interesting but I never had a chance to even rent a copy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EightBit

Yeah, the demo was kicken, but hearing how shallow it remains throughout its short playtrhough time put me off from buying it. For sure when it's cheap. It'll be interesting to see how the PS3 one turns out. Better combat, and prettier and whatnot.

Wasn't this made by ex-Capcom people?

Possibly, it was developed by Game Republic if that says anything. Other than that, I haven't heard of anything relating it to ex-Capcom staff. It'd explain a little in the gameplay.
28 Sep 2005, 08:10 PM
Timber

I just got home and saw that I got the demo in the mail today. Whatever happened to getting a demo before the game is released?

I'll give it a shot at some point.
28 Sep 2005, 08:50 PM
animegirl

I played the demo and thought it was pretty good. The music was way better than I expected. I might pick it up used down the road.
28 Sep 2005, 10:08 PM
MarkRyan

Quote:

Originally Posted by EightBit

Wasn't this made by ex-Capcom people?

Yeah, ex-Onimusha dude, I think, Okamoto.
28 Sep 2005, 10:44 PM
kingoffighters

I have not played this, so I cannot comment on the gameplay.

But I hate Metrosexual male character designs.
28 Sep 2005, 10:48 PM
Jeremy

The game moves so fast, you won't have time to be bothered by them. Also, that giant swinging weapon thingy shown in the first screens rules in the demo. There's something oddly enjoyable about wiping out a room full of enemies in one swing.
28 Sep 2005, 11:00 PM
Ex Ranza

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingoffighters

But I hate Metrosexual male character designs.

Sigh. And it seems like every game from Japan these days has designs like that. It makes me sad.

Genji seems interesting, though. I hear that it really has very little to do with the novel it's based on. Supposedly, the novel (the first novel ever written, apparently) is more about how pretty a man Yoshitsune is than anything else. I believe there's very little swordplay in the book, if any.
28 Sep 2005, 11:04 PM
sethsez

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex Ranza

...it seems like every game from Japan these days has designs like that...

...the novel (the first novel ever written, apparently) is more about how pretty a man Yoshitsune is than anything else...

Emphasis added. ^____^
28 Sep 2005, 11:09 PM
animegirl

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingoffighters

But I hate Metrosexual male character designs.

I love it. Keep it coming Japan!
28 Sep 2005, 11:29 PM
Rocca

Quote:

Originally Posted by animegirl

I love it. Keep it coming Japan!

Now why did I know that you would say that?

I put in another hour of Genji tonight, and I'll call it my last. The boss battles range from near impossible to pathetically easy, all because of the Kamui system. You really have to guess which bosses are immune to the magic and which aren't. Some are, but just aren't at certain moments, making you waste most of your magic trying to figure it out.

There's a boss fight against a rotating gold house (don't ask) that has a pattern of not taking any damage for 2 minutes, then leaving an open window of damage for 20 seconds. 2 minutes again, 20 seconds, repeat.

So it looks pretty good, and the battles with common enemies are fun, but everything else is pretty wack. This goes right up there with Bujingai, another hack n slash Jap action game that has a lot of style and an effeminate main character that is just, boring.
28 Sep 2005, 11:46 PM
AaronChance

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocca

I haven't had the chance to play BWT yet? What were your impressions of the game? Did the combat get boring after a while? The idea of adding limbs seemed interesting but I never had a chance to even rent a copy.

Don't even bother with BWT unless you hate yourself. You can find a review of it on a site I will not mention.
28 Sep 2005, 11:49 PM
Rocca

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ammadeau

Don't even bother with BWT unless you hate yourself. You can find a review of it on a site I will not mention.

Ha, it'd be best to leave that work uncredited. Thanks for the warning.
29 Sep 2005, 12:28 AM
MarkRyan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocca

You really have to guess which bosses are immune to the magic and which aren't. Some are, but just aren't at certain moments, making you waste most of your magic trying to figure it out.

The only boss I remember not being affected by Kamui right away is the shrine you speak of. On the shrine boss, destroy the four pillars, move to the center of the arena, trigger Kamui, counter the beams and--if you're close enough--you'll hit the shrine with your counters. You can take it out in one or two rounds.
29 Sep 2005, 12:32 AM
Ex Ranza

Quote:

Originally Posted by sethsez

Emphasis added. ^____^

Yeah, point taken. The effeminate style does seem to be a lot more prevalent in games and anime during the past few years, though. Of course, the 80's games I like so much often had Rambo-esque bodybuilder types as the main characters, so I guess I shouldn't talk.
29 Sep 2005, 01:11 AM
Rocca

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkRyan

The only boss I remember not being affected by Kamui right away is the shrine you speak of. On the shrine boss, destroy the four pillars, move to the center of the arena, trigger Kamui, counter the beams and--if you're close enough--you'll hit the shrine with your counters. You can take it out in one or two rounds.

I did before writing that post, I just found it very annoying. Thanks, though.
29 Sep 2005, 11:42 AM
TobalRox

The original Onimusha was very short too... I beat it in less than 4 1/2 hours, so it doesn't surprise me, esp. with the limited combat. I also got the demo in the mail, but I haven't had time to try it yet.
29 Sep 2005, 12:23 PM
bbobb

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex Ranza

Sigh. And it seems like every game from Japan these days has designs like that. It makes me sad.

Genji seems interesting, though. I hear that it really has very little to do with the novel it's based on. Supposedly, the novel (the first novel ever written, apparently) is more about how pretty a man Yoshitsune is than anything else. I believe there's very little swordplay in the book, if any.

The book Tale of Genji is about a man named Genji and there is no swordplay, just his relationships with women. That is the first novel ever written.

This game is not based on that story... despite what some idiots may say (including the moronic PR guys at Sony). This game is based upon a later novel called Tale of the Heike, which is about the Minamoto clan fighting against the Heike clan in the 12th Cen, and it's main characters are Yoshitsune and Benkei. If you don't believe me look up a plot summary of both books and you'll see.
29 Sep 2005, 02:35 PM
AaronChance

Genji was Yoshi's alias I believe, hence the confusing title of the game.
29 Sep 2005, 03:19 PM
bbobb

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ammadeau

Genji was Yoshi's alias I believe, hence the confusing title of the game.

You are correct. Also Genji is sometimes a term used when referring to the Minamoto clan as well.
29 Sep 2005, 07:41 PM
Ex Ranza

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbobb

The book Tale of Genji is about a man named Genji and there is no swordplay, just his relationships with women. That is the first novel ever written.

This game is not based on that story... despite what some idiots may say (including the moronic PR guys at Sony). This game is based upon a later novel called Tale of the Heike, which is about the Minamoto clan fighting against the Heike clan in the 12th Cen, and it's main characters are Yoshitsune and Benkei. If you don't believe me look up a plot summary of both books and you'll see.

.. I believe you. Thanks.
29 Sep 2005, 07:48 PM
Yoshi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ammadeau

Genji was Yoshi's alias I believe, hence the confusing title of the game.

My cover is blown!
29 Sep 2005, 09:49 PM
NeoZeedeater

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocca

I haven't had the chance to play BWT yet? What were your impressions of the game? Did the combat get boring after a while?

For me it was worth a rental. It isn't bad by any means. It's just that so many other action games are similar but superior. It doesn't stand out unless you're a big fan of the license.
29 Sep 2005, 09:56 PM
EightBit

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbobb

The book Tale of Genji is about a man named Genji and there is no swordplay, just his relationships with women. That is the first novel ever written.

This game is not based on that story... despite what some idiots may say (including the moronic PR guys at Sony). This game is based upon a later novel called Tale of the Heike, which is about the Minamoto clan fighting against the Heike clan in the 12th Cen, and it's main characters are Yoshitsune and Benkei. If you don't believe me look up a plot summary of both books and you'll see.

It's also detailed in the begining of the strategy guide. Pretty nice guide to boot.
01 Oct 2005, 12:46 PM
Space Pirate Roberts

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingoffighters

But I hate Metrosexual male character designs.

Tell me about it. I don't think I've ever been more pissed off (over something in a game, at least) than when Capcom had to go and girlie-up Dante in DMC3. Why the fuck did they think they needed to change him at all, they got it exactly right the first time.

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