Kengo: Master of Bushido : Web Wombat: Games

For an anime/manga freak, samurai flicks are terra firma. From the fun, gory thrill-ride of Ninja Scroll to the slower, more emotional and, ultimately, more rewarding Rurouni Kenshin series, they are the staple of our diet.

Indeed, it is considered standard otaku practice to watch at least 4 episodes of the above before viewing any new historical anime, so as to be able to compare the two experiences while they are still fresh in the mind.

Kengo takes place just after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, in the late 1800's, during the Meiji Restoration era.

For those not up to date on their samurai history, this was the time when most samurai were either out of a job or dead. The bloody wars that had marked the Tokugawa administration were over, and the samurai were not needed.

The warriors who somehow survived the final, bloody days of the regime disappeared, becoming ronin (wandering samurai), or simply vanished from the face of the Earth. But, despite all of this, some still persisted in learning the way of the sword, for reasons only known to them.

This is where you come in. As one of 3 youths, each with differing abilities and strengths, you must choose a dojo to study at and learn the ways of the master swordsman, if you wish to succeed.

Each dojo teaches different techniques, some favoring all-out attack, whilst others prefer speed and agility to strength. After going through the basic tutorials, you can either continue to test yourself in the dojo, or train yourself using a variety of techniques.

Wise man say: He who scowls hardest, wins ladies

These techniques range from Zen meditation to standing under a roaring waterfall. If you withstand the physical harshness of these tests, then your statistics will increase.

The system used to train yourself is somewhere in the middle between Knockout Kings, Digimon and Tekken.

You use a combination of timing, button presses and sword skills to succeed, and your stats go up according to how well you do.

For instance, to increase agility, you go to the Bamboo Grove, where you must cut down as many bamboo poles as you can in the time allocated. Anybody who has seen the infamous bamboo forest fight in Ninja Scroll will feel instantly at home.

On a related topic, you've just got to see the Zen meditation training program. Basically, you have to meditate for 30 seconds without falling asleep. To achieve this, you have to keep your samurai balanced (think Tony Hawk grinding and you're on the right track). If you fall asleep, then your master beats you over the head with a 4x2 bamboo plank. Yow! That's gotta hurt...

Ah, but it's the fighting that you'll be wanting to hear about, isn't it? OK, calm down, calm down, all in good time…

Once you succeed in mastering the techniques of your chosen dojo, you can go out and challenge other dojos, in order to ascertain who is the better swordsman. Typical fighting fare, yes? But, unlike, say, Tekken, the fighting is slow, methodical, and definitely not of the button-bashing persuasion.

The flesh-eating bacterial waterfall was soothing

You must take your time and watch your opponent carefully. When he makes a mistake, you must be there to force open the gap in his defense and strike.

The control system takes a little getting used to, but once you get your mind around the idea that you cannot rush combat, it becomes second nature to execute stunning combos that leave your enemy dead and bleeding on the ground.

When training in the dojo, you use the traditional wooden swords, instead of your beloved katana. But, as you defeat the various dojos, you will gain their unique blades, which allow you to learn that dojo's secret technique.

These techniques can only be used when your Ki (life force) is fully charged. You gain Ki by landing attacks on your opponent, successfully parrying and performing "Ki-Ai".

Ki-Ai is a special technique, performed by shouting in a particular way, used to gain control of a situation by stunning your opponent with the sheer force behind the shout.

When you use the Ki-Ai, your Ki goes up rapidly, and makes your opponent pause for a split second. You can then exploit this tiny weakness and use your special technique to crush him like a bug.

Graphically, Kengo ranges from good, to excellent, and back to average. The animations are smooth and life-like, and they look totally authentic, as do the arenas.

Hey, why we fight... Wanna play mahjong instead?

Particularly good are the Shinto Shrine and In Front of House levels, with dynamic lighting and environment mapping used to their full effect.

Unfortunately, the swordsmen look slightly pixellated, but it's only noticeable if you are looking for it, like I was, in the first place. Also, all the textures are sharp and without defect, which is always a plus.

However, all of this would be wasted effort if Kengo did not have an authentic atmosphere to draw you in. I am pleased to say that Kengo succeeds in that department as well.

From the intro, which tells the tale of the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, to the simple phrases used by the various dojo occupants, it all feels right.

No cheesy, 2-bit American voice-overs here, folks (circa-1970s Godzilla, anyone?).

It's all in Japanese, which makes it that much more satisfying for otakus and the like that have invested the time they could have used re-watching Fist of the North Star in learning Japanese.

For others, it simply makes the experience all the more authentic.

Anime freaks unite! We have a new champion, and its name is Kengo! However, that said, it is not everyone's cup of tea.

Those looking for a quick bash between meals should stick with Virtua Fighter, Tekken and it's ilk, because this is a game that requires both dedication and a love for the subject matter.

And, while being a samurai warrior is something that, I think, most people find appealing, this is a definitely a case of "try before you buy".

Game: Kengo: Master of Bushido
System: PS2
Players: 1-2
Memory Card: Yes
Developer: Crave Games

Rating: 80%

(Ratings Key/Explantion)

Kengo: Master of Bushido is on the shelves now.

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