Samurai Jack Xbox Review: For those who like punishing combat
I was a tween when the Samurai Jack cartoon first aired on TV. It fascinated me with its unique animation style, dramatic scenes, and lengthy battle sequences. The show’s first four seasons ran on Cartoon Network from 2001 through 2003 and told the tale of the titular Samurai Jack, who was out to destroy the evil demon, Aku. However, the demon opened a portal and sent the Samurai into the future where Aku’s evil power flourished. Throughout the series, Jack sought to make it back to the past so he could put an end to the evil demon. Along the way, he met many different people and engaged with several different cultures.
The fourth season ended without concluding Jack’s story. But then in 2017, Adult Swim picked up the show and gave fans some proper closure within the fifth and final season. Now, three years later, Adult Swim Games has released Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, an adventure-fighting game that revisits many of the show’s iconic locations and allows players to take part in Jack’s quest to destroy the evil Aku.
Demon slayer
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time
Pros
- Stays true to the show
- Beautiful art direction
- Plenty of weapon types
- Challenging combat
Cons
- Very repetitive
- Plot is confusing for newcomers
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time What I like
Source: Windows Central
Plays like the show Dramatic cutscenes and battles
Category | Game |
---|---|
Title | Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time |
Developer | Adult Swim Games |
Publisher | Adult Swim Games |
Genre | Action, Fighting, Adventure, Platformer |
Play Time | 8 – 10 hours |
Players | 1 Player |
Launch Price | $40 |
Even the battle sequences remind me of the cartoon. There are situations where you’re set upon by a massive horde of Drone Beetles, and Jack slices through them like butter. But then when the number of enemies whittles down, the fighting becomes more challenging, and Jack can no longer destroy them with one swing. I love how the game recreates those intense battles scenes and really makes it a challenge to defeat the bosses.
Source: Windows Central
Brutally difficult combat For those who like a challenge
You have to think a little more critically when you attack so as not to waste a powerful, rare tool on a common enemy.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is not for the casual player. The game offers four different difficulty levels (one of which must be unlocked), and they are all rather difficult. The difficulty massively increases as you make your way to the ninth and final level. You will likely die several times throughout Jack’s journey. Fortunately, you can replay levels to earn experience points, acquire specific weapons, find hidden items, and unlock new powers in Jack’s skill tree.
Jack has access to two types of weapons: ranged weapons and close combat weapons. Ranged weapons consist of things like bows and arrows, guns, throwing knives, and shuriken, while his close combat weapons consist of things like hammers, spears, fists, and swords. The sheer number of possible tools helps provide different ways of defeating your enemies and keeps things interesting.
Source: Windows Central
While on that subject, upon completing a level, a menu pops up showing your performance stats. They include how long it took you to beat the level, how many enemies you defeated along the way, how many items you used, how many times you relied on continues, and finally, your high score for beating that level. If you’re the competitive, completionist type, you’ll get plenty of replay value out of running through each of the nine levels multiple times on your quest to get perfect scores.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time What I don’t like
Source: Windows Central
Repetitive gameplay Non-stop fighting
Running from one fight scene to the next for hours upon end gets old real quick.
Granted, Samurai Jack has always been about epic battles and over-the-top enemies. However, running from one fight scene to the next for hours upon end gets old real quick. I would have liked the game better if it had split up the fighting sequences with more puzzles or more places to explore. While there are some secrets to uncover, Jack is kept on a narrow path. It doesn’t allow for much exploration and moves from one horde-infested room to the next in each level. If that’s your kind of thing, bully for you. I just found it a bit boring.
Boss fights are a welcome change to the regular onslaught. Each one has its own fighting style and is best defeated using different tactics. However, you also square off against Aku’s faithful servant, Demongo, in every level. The battle is basically the same every time and just feels like a cheap throw-in. The third time I faced Demongo, I was bored to tears and couldn’t wait for the battle to be over. Encountering him just got worse after that.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time Should you buy it?
If you love testing your fighting skills and enjoy punishing combat, then Samurai Jack’s latest adventure will be right up your alley. The game starts off easily enough but then steeply increases in difficulty as you progress through each level. The fighting does get very repetitive. But, since Jack employs many different weapons and can widen his abilities using a skill tree, you can take on foes using completely different tactics as you progress further into the story. Still, due to the overall difficulty level, this game is best meant for more intense players.
Demon slayer
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time
Defeat Aku’s hordes
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a hack and slash adventure with a few platforming elements. If you like taking on punishingly difficult hordes of enemies and proving your fighting prowess, you’ll enjoy this game.
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