2004 · Light Weight · Fighting

Kengo 3

PlayStation exclusive

The Japan-exclusive third installment in Genki's samurai-based fighting game series.

Released: 22 September 2004
Platforms: PlayStation 2
Genres: Fighting
Developers: Light Weight
Publishers: Genki
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Third person
Themes: Action

About

Sword of the Samurai, known in Japan as Kengo 2 (剣豪2), is a video game developed by Lightweight for the PlayStation 2. It was published by Genki in Japan in 2002, and by Ubi Soft in Europe in 2003. A North American version was announced by Ubi Soft but it was never released. Sword of the Samurai is the second game in the Kengo series and a sequel to Kengo: Master of Bushido from 2000.

A sequel, Kengo 3, was released in 2004 exclusively in Japan. A fourth and final game in the series, Kengo Zero (AKA Kengo: Legend of the 9), was released in 2006.

Keywords

martial arts

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The main mode of the game is called "Bushido Quest". At the beginning, the player creates a samurai and joins a dojo. The player can increase their ability points and learn new combat techniques by training at the dojo or participating in tournaments. Side missions are available that may involve protecting VIPs, rescuing kidnapped people, or carrying out assassinations.

After completing certain missions, there's an opportunity to fight a Kengo, a sword master, if beaten the player gains a new sword and learns new techniques. The ultimate objective of the game is considered either beating all 16 Kengos or winning in the shogun's tournament. Other modes available are "Time Attack" where the player has to fight multiple opponents at once, and "Versus" which has a two-player multiplayer option.

Reception

The game received favorable previews from IGN and Play, GameSpy and PlayStation 2 Official Magazine – Australia were more critical.

Consoles + compared the game to Bushido Blade and liked the atmosphere, graphics and the combat system but called the game progression boring. Power Unlimited called it a fun game that is a bit slow. The create a samurai feature was noted as the best part of the game. Play summarized: "Intelligent fighter that improves as the fight prolongs".