The digital delights of Sony’s scrumptious PlayStation Network service know no bounds. Aside from letting punters compete in online gaming, stream films, browse the Internet and more, its premier attraction rests in the copious supply of downloadable games ripe for the picking. From PSN exclusives to PSOne Classics, minis and plain old add-on content, Sony’s online space is chock full of goodies battling it out for your hard-earned digital dollars.
Welcome back to another installment of Inside PlayStation Network, where every Monday – Friday we’ll pluck a PSN release—be it new or old—and put it in the spotlight for a thorough dissection. Fancy getting a new PSN game but don’t know what one to plump for? Perhaps this feature will help. Didn’t realize that a game was available in your region until now? We’ve got you covered. Or, perhaps you were musing over what those lucky Japanese folk were tucking into over in the Land of the Rising Sun? You can be sure our coverage will extend to those rare regional exclusives as much as those firmly embedded on the public consciousness.
Today, we shine the spotlight on the cult classic brawler, Bushido Blade.
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Developer: Light Weight
Region(s) available: Japan
Players: 1-2
Released back in 1997, Light Weight’s acclaimed hack-n-slash proved quite an eye-opener for fighting fans, who couldn’t quite get their head around the notion that stabbing someone in the face could kill their character outright. But that’s exactly what Bushido Blade is all about – strategic, meticulously-timed cuts designed to put your foe down in one bloody strike. Players control six stylish samurai warriors, each one able to wield one of eight quintessentially classic Japanese weapons – katana, naginata, broadsword, war hammer, short sword, nodachi and saber.
Combatants have three rudimentary attack stances – high, middle and low. Each weapon, meanwhile, is best employed in a specific manner in order to maximise its effectiveness. For example, the nimble Katana is better suited to slicing ‘n dicing an opponent’s midsection, while the meaty hammer is an ideal choice for smashing in skulls. You’re not completely helpless though; blows can be parried, countered and evaded, though some immaculate timing is required on your part in order to pull off any fancy defensive manoeuvres. Needless to say, this brutal template carried a marmite-like aura – you either love it, or hate it.
It’s not all about going in for a clean kill, though. You can adopt a more methodical approach if you wish, hacking away at limbs in an effort to incapacitate your victim in various manners. Fancy having your enemy limping his way through a fight? Go for the legs. Alternatively, perhaps you’d like to see how they’d fight with one arm? Yep, you can do that too. In story mode, you’ll also see the result of any damage you’ve incurred by way of your fighter being covered head-to-toe in bloody bandages. Combat is strictly a weapon-based affair, though, so don’t expect proximity encounters to give you the chance to go hands-on with your opponent – grappling here is a big no-no.
Bushido Blade’s battle grounds also put an interesting spin on traditional console-based punch-ups. Unlike most fighters, the stages here expand as you become embroiled in battle, perpetuating beyond the bog-standard arena or underground parking lot. You might find yourself duking it out with a foe in a garden, for example, before taking the fight across a wooden bridge and into a neighbouring village. An impressive feat for a mid-90s brawler, made even more appealing by the lack of any substantial load times. Outside of the standard hack n’ slash affair, there’s also a couple of extra game modes thrown in for good measure. These include a surprisingly well-crafted first-person clash, plus the ability to implement a spring or winter theme to each backdrop.
Tune in again same time tomorrow as we have another butcher’s Inside PlayStation Network.