Afro Samurai
System: PlayStation 3 and Xbox360
ESRB Rating: M (for Mature)
Hack and slash games have always had a dangerous repetition of offering limited access to the landscape around the protagonist, boorish controls of the motions, and horrendous camera angels. Making gamers throw down controllers or curse up a storm is not uncommon and while Afro Samurai is no shining example of how to create an amazing game, certain aspects offer a fun weekend rental.
Dazzling viewers with intricate cell shade animation, creepy teddy bears, Japanese country settings, and spraying blood has never looked so good. Either having been an artist’s nightmare or dream come true, Afro Samurai offers gamers a stylish first person look at a dark game. Scenery comes into full play within the storyline as players are immersed in rural town settings, bright red sunsets on sea side cliffs, and dusty mountains. Afro Samurai game creator Namco Bandai deserve pats on the back for creating an intriguing and most importantly, interactive, world for gamers to guide the revenge driven samurai through.
However, as beautiful as the latest house may be, battle systems and camera angels are half of the playing strategy. While Afro Samurai offers no new revelation of change, the number of button combinations and lack of in AI in the opposing forces can prove to be really boring really quick. For gamers who pay no attention to memorization, button mashers will have a hard time executing any effect attacks against the oncoming samurais. Camera angels throughout the game prove to be challenging for as the players are constantly turning the protagonist Afro to unleash the next attack, bumping into walls, corners, and unmovable objects will cause jittery screenshots.
If players are willing to overlook the shaky game interactions, they are soon introduced to an intricate storyline of revenge, honor, and lost love. Originally created as a Japanese manga (a.k.a. comic), author Takashi Okazaki weaves together the story of a young man named Afro who witnessed the brutal slaying of his father, the Number One warrior in the land. With the haunting echoes of a deranged cowboy’s laugh in his dreams, players witness Afro’s journey of revenge to claim back his father’s legacy. However, the storyline for this game is only one interpretation. Also a successful anime series under the same name and Afro Samurai Resurrection, gamers curious for more can seek out these other additions to Afro’s tale.
Featuring actors Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Pearlman, Kelly Hu, and John DiMaggio, the ensemble of talented individuals offers compelling, life-like, and believable characters. Mixed with a hip hop tracks created by musical composer The RZA, Afro Samurai provides a fun escape for a weekend blowout in front of your PlayStation 3 or Xbox360 console. Shedding blood to hip hop has never been so fun.
Overall Score: 8 out of 10
