Bushido Blade

What's the point, you might ask, in a fighting game where you can be dead in seconds, penalised for behaving badly, or, for that matter where you can just run away and hide? Run away and hide? In a fighting game? Um, like hello? Isn't that just totally game over?

But this is Bushido Blade from Squaresoft; and this is fighting re-invented. 'Bushido' is a Japanese word referring to the moral code and sense of honour developed among the Samurai and apparently first used in the civil war in Japan in the 16th century. Influenced by the national tradition of Zen and Confucianism, the Bushido code demanded kindness, honesty and loyalty; as well as the more familiar slash and burn qualities. Bushido Blade reflects this in the way that your behaviour during a fight will affect later stages of the game. There are rules, and if you break them, your success could be in jeopardy.

The game features a huge 3D environment in which the action takes place; and you can literally run anywhere within it whilst pursuing your foes, or hide and wait to ambush an opponent. The environment is fully interactive: you can fight in bamboo forests (where the trees get in your way), or chase an opponent knee-deep in a river. You can also choose to play in standard second person, or the POV (first person) view which gives you an even more authentic experience.

Besides the 2 player mode (split-screen or via a link cable) there is also Slash mode, where you are given a mission of defeating 100 armed ninjas in succession; and the innovative and fascinating Story mode which weaves a complete storyline into your numerous battles. You fight as a deserter from the secret assassin group known as Kage, the aim being to survive until you can find an escape route concealed somewhere in the confines of a ruined castle tower . . .

Bushido Blade takes a completely new approach to combat, with a selection of weapons for each character and various 'stances' both affecting the range of attack moves available. New special moves become available depending on which stance your character assumes. The system of simply taking a hit whilst blocking an opponent is gone too. Instead, Bushido Blade makes you actively work at your defence - by parrying your opponent's blade you can actually turn defensive moves into successful counter attacks.

Bushido Blade takes the fighting genre onto a higher plane. Now, you could sit down honourably and meditate on this whilst communing with the elements. Chances are though, someone will creep up behind you with a large sword. Eat your heart out Confucius . . .before someone else does.

Source:

From uk.playstation.com

Bushido Blade Story

"The Meikyokan dojo of the Narukagami Shinto school is really a secret society of assassins called "Kage." Everyone who knew that secret was sworn to secrecy and not allowed to leave the compound. But one person broke the code of silence and escaped into the ruins of a deserted castle in search of the only way out, through the castle tower"

And so begins the story of Bushido Blade, set in the Meikyokan, a comprehensive fencing school where you, the gameplayer, have come to learn a 500-year old art of fighting, only to discover that you are amongst a group of evil assassins from which you must escape in order to save your life.

This first ever sword fighting simulation is unlike any other fighting game. Bushido Blade offers a new style of fighting that takes you out of the ring, away from the timelimits and strength bars, and into a vast 3D playing field where you are free to roam and battle at your own risk. With the choice of six fighters and a selection of some of the most deadliest weapons you ever saw, Bushido Blade uniquely utilizes varying levels of strength and style in which one deadly strike could mean the difference between death and victory.

Source:

www.square-enix-usa.com

"ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL AND EXTRAORDINARY FIGHTING GAMES EVER."

-PSX MAGAZINE

"Bushido" is the soul of Japan - an ancient honor code deeply followed by samurai warriors for centuries.

Plunge into real world battles across vast 3D environments that you can run, slice and tear through.

Sword matches become unbelievably real where one critical blow is the mean difference between death and victory.

"Nothing less tan amazing." -GameFan * 1 & 2 player combat * 6 awesome fighting modes * 6 skilled warriors * 8 ancient swords and weapons * Plus unique sub-weapons * Countless special moves

Source:

Back of Jewel Case - PlayStation (US)