Way of the Samurai 4 (侍道4, Samurai Dou 4) is a video game developed by Acquire and published by Spike for the PlayStation 3.[3] It was released in Japan on March 3, 2011.[3]
| Way of the Samurai 4 | |
|---|---|
 UK cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Acquire |
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Director(s) | Keisuke Kanayama |
| Designer(s) | Tetsushi Saito |
| Programmer(s) | Hiroshi Marumoto |
| Composer(s) | Noriyuki Asakura |
| Series | Way of the Samurai |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 3 Microsoft Windows |
| Release | PlayStation 3Windows
|
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
An English version was announced on January 19, 2012 by Rising Star Games. The release of the game in Europe was on October 5, 2012.[4] On April 4, 2012, XSEED Games published the game for the U.S. as a downloadable title on PlayStation Network with a release date of August 21, 2012.[5] The game was initially PlayStation 3 only, however the game was later released for Microsoft Windows by Ghostlight on July 23, 2015.[6]
Plot edit
The game is set in a fictional port town called Amihama during the last days of the Shogunate. Players can create their own samurai[7] and choose to align themselves with one of three factions: the pro-government forces, the anti-government rebels seeking to repel foreigners, or the British Navy stationed in the city to negotiate a peace treaty. When the negotiations between the Magistrate of Amihama and the British goes wrong after a Prajna attack at the meeting point, the Tokugawa Shogunate sends one of their Tairō to quash the revolt.
The main story takes place over the span of five days. The character's decisions and actions will shape their path, and ultimately, their fate.
Gameplay edit
- Endings, Events, and Customization
- Acquire promised that 4 would be much longer than previous games, and there are 10 endings. The game also features flexible events and cutscenes such as deciding whether you want to explore a cave or just turn around and walk away.[8] Events are easier to follow, compared to previous games. There are more customization options than in the last game, allowing to choose features such as face, hair, clothing, footwear and accessories.
- Health and Energy
- An energy meter is added in this installment. It regenerates life points (which are set at 1000) if the player is stationary or moving away in combat, and depletes when your samurai fights, nightcrawls, or is regenerating health. Food and sleep regenerate the energy meter. There are straw blankets in set locations outside (or in) the dojo, inns around Amihama where you pay to sleep in, and any bed you can stand on can be used to sleep and recharge energy.
- Combat
- There is a wide variety of fighting styles and skills that a player can master. Swords can now be switched to any stance; and skills, once learned, are bound to the player, not the swords. Players then can assign learned skills to their own "school" of fighting style.
- The "push and pull" mechanics in the first and third games are kept. A new special mode is introduced, in which the samurai enters slow motion for a limited duration and can slash enemies repeatedly, then he sheathes the sword and all dead enemies fall down at the same time.
- The sword "heat" mechanics was removed and replaced by "durability points", which will drop gradually with use, and eventually weapons will break. This forces players to visit the blacksmith regularly for repairs, unless their weapons are "unbreakable".
- Sword Enhancement/Creation
- Players can go to the blacksmith and choose to enhance their weapon's attributes (attack, defense, durability), repair it, or appraise it. Player can also ask Dojima to melt a sword and then use the metal to recast another sword.
- The custom sword-making system introduced in Way of the Samurai 3 returns. In addition to normal parts like blade, hilt and grip, players can also add a charm that will give a special effect. Beside swords and spears, pistols and muskets have been added as weapons. Muskets are primarily used by British soldiers.
New features edit
- Proof of Life
- Player's actions will affect the game world in the next replay. For example, if players killed a lot of town people in the last game, there will be more guards to hunt them down.[9] There are many foreigners in the game; but unlike the previous game, at the beginning the protagonist will not be able to understand what they say (the texts will appear as "?????"). Players can convince the Shogunate to open a school to teach foreign languages, and later the player will be able talk to foreigners.[9]
- Night Crawling
- There is a minigame called "Yobai" in which a samurai can romance a NPC by sneaking into their home at night, avoiding or knocking out family members, and pulling out the right futon to find them.[10] Even then, they will offer playful resistance, and player must try to throw them into bed. A turtle head will guide the samurai to their target. The player can practice "night crawling" with most male and female characters in the game, as long as the requirements are fulfilled.
- Torture
- Once arrested for doing bad deeds, the player's character will be sent to the torture room, to play some hellish minigames with the three beautiful Kinugawa sisters.[11] The tortures include riding a flaming wooden horse, being tied to a water wheel, and being pelted by huge stones. If the samurai survives the torture, the sisters will be impressed, and he can then practice "night crawling" with them.
- Minigames
- Beside various jobs that the samurai can get from different sources, players can earn money by going fishing, working as an assassin, delivering love letters, or by flirting with foreign women.[12] The samurai can also play poker at the casino, and hanafuda at the gambling parlor.
- Dojo
- Players can open their own dojo, take on apprentices, and fend off challengers. The reputation of the dojo depends on the number of apprentices, and their quality. The player can tell any of the apprentices to "follow me", and they will fight alongside him.
- Crossroads Killing
- When connected to PSN, character data will be automatically uploaded and transferred into other players' game worlds, where he would appear as a wandering samurai (NPC), and players can defeat him to obtain the custom sword that another player created.[13][14] This is called online tsujigiri.
Characters edit
- Protagonist - he main character is a nameless rōnin who just came into the town of Amihama.
Foreigners edit
- Laura Rita - The daughter of a millionaire from a British ducal family (her parents have already passed away). Visited Japan as a Goodwill Ambassador for the conclusion of trade between Japan and the UK. Although she is still a young girl, she has no prejudice against Japan people and has the core strength to treat everyone kindly. What I don't like is violence and ghosts. He also has a sweet tooth and always keeps chocolates on his consulate desk.Become the de facto heroine of the foreign power route and the hidden route.
- Count Jet Jenkins - 24 years old, blood type B. Commonly known as JJ. A young count dressed in a flashy tailcoat. As Deputy Envoy to the United Kingdom, he assists Laura. He is a thrill-loving actor who hates boredom and enjoys gambling. His left arm is a prosthetic hand, but this is due to the fact that he lost a bet and cut it off himself.In his spare time, he plays at the casino in the port, but he is skilled with a pistol and has a top-notch sword skill. Apart from the main character, he is the only character who uses a handgun in battle. When you kill your opponent, play Russian roulette with a pistol and shoot yourself in the head before shooting your opponent.
- Melinda de Cameron - She is a female knight who serves as the captain of the Royal Marines and serves as Laura's bodyguard. He has a female knighthood "Patzkin Corps" under his control. Dressed in golden armor, he is feared as a "demon captain" due to his strictness towards himself and others, but once he takes off his armor, he pays attention to his beauty and has not given up his admiration for men.In battle, he wields a British-style greatsword with ease, and has an ironclad defense with the effect of his special ability "Fudoshin", which prevents his defenses from being destroyed. She is the only one of the main characters who can be killed at any time without affecting Root, and if she dies, a character called the New Captain will appear in her place.
Magistrates edit
- Hikaru Kotobuki - Magistrate of the Amihama.He is a hot-blooded man who is hot-tempered, and for better or worse, he has a straight personality. Although he is a little idle, he is a good person at heart. As soon as it unfolds, it will break away from Kinugawa. His hobby is caving.It uses a compound school that can use both the middle and upper stances, and among them, the "Biguban", which accumulates qi and then releases it all at once to blow away the surroundings, has powerful and unmatched performance.
- Shigeru Moro - Hikaru Kotobuki's friend and manager of the customs.He is unserious and always looks sleepy, but deep down in his heart he is always thinking about the future of the country. He has a sense of crisis about the current old shogunate, and strives to incorporate advanced foreign culture and technology, but because of this, he is regarded as an enemy by the Shogunate forces.He is a master of physical skills and a "handless" user who can go toe-to-toe with opponents with swords. Also, although he doesn't have many opportunities to show off, he has a high level of sword power.In addition, it is said that he is married from the mouth of the person himself.
Tokugawa Shogunate edit
- Onsen Kinugawa - Daimyo and Tairo in the Shogunnate.He comes from Edo to exterminate the Shangyi Shishi. A ruthless person who enjoys torture and execution (mainly boiled in a kettle) under the pretext of "restoring the prestige of the shogunate". In addition to his own guard, the Maringumi, he leads the secret group Kurayami no Uten, as well as a Kagemusha who looks just like himself.He uses a special school that allows him to use three stances: a side stance, a middle stance, and a one-handed stance, and boasts tremendous sword prowess.It is the root of all evil in this work and the final boss in the hidden route that is the true ending.
- Mayu Kinugawa - Daughter of the Onsen Kinugawa
- Chika Kinugawa
- Yuri Kinugawa
Disciples of Prajna edit
- Reddo Akagi - Leader of the Disciples of Prajna.
- Jinrai Kogure - Swordsman and a close friend of Akagi, the leader of the Prajna. He serves as Akagi's right-hand man. Kogure may inspired that Japanese samurai Izo Okada.Izo was a Japanese samurai of the Tosa Domain and Assassination.also called Assasin Izo. Moro called to Kogure Assasin Kogure.
- Akemi
Downloadable content edit
A Shinsengumi costume DLC pack was offered for free from March 24 to April 27, 2011. After that, it was priced $6. Players need to apply a patch before using any downloadable content.[15]
Hijikata Toshizō and Kondō Isami are among the downloadable Shinsengumi characters.
Dona Dona from the original Way of the Samurai and a grown-up version of the character Sayo from Way of the Samurai 2 are also available for download. Sayo will appear in the road and offer rice balls.
Reception edit
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PC) 72/100[16] (PS3) 58/100[17] |
Upon the release the game received mixed reviews, with PlayStation 3 version scoring 58 out of 100 on review aggregator site Metacritic.[17] Many critics praised the story, customisation options, various non-combat activities and multiple endings,[18][19][20] however, the gameplay, bugs and technical issues were criticised.[18][19][20][21]
PC port received mixed to positive reviews, scoring 72 out of 100 on Metacritic.[16]
Plus version edit
On January 26, 2012, Way of the Samurai 4 was repackaged, bundled with all DLCs, and re-released as "Way of the Samurai 4 Plus" (at half price). Sakamoto Ryōma is available as playable character in this version.[22]
References edit
- ^ "Way of the Samurai 4 Pushed Back". 2011-01-13. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Rising Star Games announces 2012 release schedule
- ^ a b "First Look: Way of the Samurai 4". 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Two New PlayStation 3 Exclusives Confirmed for Europe
- ^ "Way of the Samurai 4 Coming Exclusively to PS3". 4 April 2012.
- ^ "Way of the Samurai 4 is out today". Gamasutra. 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
- ^ Your First Look At Way of the Samurai 4
- ^ Way of the Samurai 4: PS3 Exclusive
- ^ a b Your Actions In Way Of The Samurai 4 Affect Your Next Life
- ^ Way Of The Samurai 4′s Stealth Scenes Have A, Well, Different Goal
- ^ Way Of The Samurai 4′s Mini-Games Are Truly Torturous
- ^ Ways To Make A Living In Way Of The Samurai 4
- ^ How To Create Your Own Sword (Or Steal Another Player’s) In Way Of The Samurai 4
- ^ Barge Into Another Person’s Game And Kill Them In Way Of The Samurai 4
- ^ Way Of The Samurai 4 DLC Starts Off Free, A Month Later It’s Paid DLC
- ^ a b "Way of the Samurai 4". Metacritic.
- ^ a b "Way of the Samurai 4". Metacritic.
- ^ a b "Review: Way of the Samurai 4 - Hardcore Gamer". 24 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Way of the Samurai 4 review". 22 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Review: Way of the Samurai 4". 18 September 2012.
- ^ "Review: Way of the Samurai 4 (PC) - Digitally Downloaded". www.digitallydownloaded.net. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
- ^ Way Of The Samurai 4 Finds Path Back To Retail With "Plus" Edition
External links edit
- Famitsu special website(Japanese)