SENGOKU BLADES
Sengoku Blades features key historical figures from the Sengoku-era, transcended into beautifully crafted Japanese-styled characters. They include Oda Nobunaga, Miyamoto Musashi, Takeda Shingen, and many more generals. The game is filled with in-depth strategies and mechanics from having to know how to select the right weapons, skills, and characters to defeat each stage.
Another unique feature of Sengoku Blades is the feudal town system. Players will get to manage their Sengoku-styled town and get to interact with their favorite characters inside each town. The more interaction there is, the stronger the bond between their favorite character will become. The game is open for pre-registration with free items to be given out during launch next month.
A great hidden gem, this one is. One of the few Psikyo games for the Saturn I was missing (the only one left now is Sol Divide, I think), this is the sequel to the arcade game Sengoku Ace (or Samurai Aces outside Japan). Being the completionist that I am, I had to play the first game before trying this one out, and it didn't disappoint. It uses the same engine from Strikers and Gunbird, but the scenario is totally different (some sort of mechanical feudal Japan), so it doesn't get repetitive even for fans of those games like me. There are a lot of pretty scenarios and original enemies (and bosses), and the gameplay is the usual, fun and accessible like Psikyo is known for (unless you try out higher difficulties, that is). Overall, it's a good shooter that you can try for free using MAME or, if you're not into that, it was also released in a compilation for the PS2 featuring both the original game and the sequel.
But hey, enough with Sengoku Ace, I'm here to talk about Sengoku Blade, the Saturn game! Guess what, unlike traditional Psikyo sequels, like Strikers 1945 II or Gunbird 2, what we have here is a totally different game. Instead of planes, we now control the characters themselves, and instead of being a vertical shooter, like most Psikyo shooters, it's a horizontal one!
This left me apprehensive, since I usually don't go along too well with horizontal shmups. Tried out Parodius sometime ago (while I was in that "shmup fever") and, as much as I wanted to like the game, I just wasn't able to enjoy it. Oh, but is Sengoku Blade different... First of all, this is a Psikyo game, no doubt about that. The gameplay is exactly what we could expect from them and instead of being an horizontal shmup "by the book" (ie, like all the others), it plays more like one of their vertical games but tilted to the right. Oh, and it plays like a charm with me new arcade stick (I just can't go back playing shmups with the gamepad again).
And that basically sums up the gameplay part, so I think I'll talk about the graphics instead. OMFG, isn't this game gorgeous! Seriously, I'm not kidding, this game is just downright beautiful! Easily one of the best 2D games I've ever played. I actually paused the game at times just to admire some backgrounds and enemies, specially bosses. The web obviously can't make it justice, with small images and blurry videos, but to see this game in motion is truly breathtaking, or at least it was for me who didn't know what to expect. Now that I'm creating all this hype maybe you'll be disappointed when you try it out
Anyway, this game is ace! Great gameplay, even for horizontal shmups haters like me, and awesome graphics make this one of the best shooters I've played for the Saturn (and by now I've played a lot). Too bad that it's (once again...) a Japan-only release and it gets somewhat pricey. Not on the level of Radiant Silvergun, mind you, but somewhere between what Father K paid for Savaki and a brand new Xbox 360 game. Still, it's a great game that I recommend for every shmup fan out there.
BTW, elend, did your copy (yes, my supernatural powers are telling me that you have it xD) came with the bonus disc? If yes, what's its size in Mb? I'm just asking because I don't have it and in case it's not too heavy I was wondering if you could rip it and upload it for me. Only if it's not too much trouble, of course
Sengoku Blade is horizontal-scrolling shoot 'em up. The player may choose from five playable characters at the start and may unlocked two more. The game takes place in an imaginative and futuristic version of feudal Japan featuring ninjas and steam-powered machinery. The Saturn version provides an option to choose a difficulty level between 1 and 7, configure controls, and set the amount of lives between 1 and 4. Items include a power-up to increase weapon power level, bombs, and bonus coins to increase score. Holding down the standard shot button can provide a more powerful shot. If the player touches an enemy ship, their weapon power level will drop by one. The player will lose a life if they get hit by an enemy bullet. If all lives are lost, continues are provided. Once the game is beaten once, a second round will begin without the ability to use continues. Score
rankings and other options can be saved to the system's memory.
City Building
Sengoku Blades is set during the Sengoku era and you will be able to build your own Sengoku town! You will be able to see your Sengoku warriors roaming around your town and for every time you interact with them, you will be able to unlock new buildings and features. Of course to build your town, you will require resources which are farmed automatically by your warriors and citizens in your city.
Warrior Battle Challenges
While the game features cute female samurai warriors, players will also be able to pit them off against other players in the PvP mode. Players will need to set up a team of 5 strategically to play with the advantages between classes.
Raid “Kokujo” Bosses
You will not only be able to play the story mode or the PvP mode, there’s also a raid that can support up to 10 other players in real-time! During the battle, you will need to coordinate with your teammates to take down the powerful “Kokujo” dark leaders!
Craftable Weapons
Like many RPG games out there, you will also be able to craft your own weapons! Weapons are a very important part of tool to equip your characters with to boost their stats. With the crafting system, you will be able to customize your weapons and equip from katanas, javelins, axes, long bows and many more weapons. By focusing on one type of weapon, your warrior will be able to acquire a new skill that comes along with the weapon of choice when it is mastered!
Warrior Limit Evolution
For every warrior that you attain, you will be able to make them even stronger through the Limit Evolution Ceremony. You will need to gather the different materials needed for the ceremony to commence for your warrior to evolve. Different materials needed for the Limit Evolution Ceremony will be different depending on the warrior you’d like to evolve. So gather and collect as many as you can to be prepared!
Battle System
The battle system is simple that comes with features such as auto-battle, auto-skill and also a speed-mode. You can also fight the battle yourselves manually or trigger it to be at semi-auto mode. When fighting against strong bosses, you will need to strategize your fights and time your skills correctly to trigger the most effective damage-dealing combo.
Magic Box Asia who operates the popular Dragon Ace recently announces its latest mobile game, Sengoku Blades to be up on stores very soon. Sengoku Blades is developed by the up-and-coming Japanese studio Oratta Inc. and it will be launching in 10 Southeast Asia countries.
The game is a turn-based strategy mobile RPG which is Free-to-Play. It features key historical figures from the Sengoku-era such as Oda Nobunaga, Miyamoto Musashi and more, turning them into cute and beautiful Japanese-styled characters. Players will need to form their most strategic weapons, skills and characters combination to bring down the enemies.
Sengoku Blades
The game also features a unique feudal town system which means you can manage your own Sengoku-styled town. You can also interact with the characters in town thus building up bonds with your favorite characters.
