Samurai Warriors: Katana review

Use your remote to get a slice of the action

12DOVE Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Imaginative bosses

  • +

    Decent Wii controls

  • +

    On-rails gameplay

Cons

  • -

    Repetitive gameplay

  • -

    Wrists turning to jelly

  • -

    Weak graphics

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Jan 15, 2008

Samurai Warriors Katana is finally here, and after several so-so earlier titles, it pretty much has the ‘remote as sword’ field to itself.

In Campaign mode this is basically Time Crisis with a sword. This is a very good thing. Relentlessly on-rails fighting can get boring, but Katana mixes up the missions in imaginative ways- you’ll have to creep through forests filled with archers, spotting them before they can shoot you in the back, hide behind fences and shoot onrushing cavalry, or simply hack away at ninjas. It works well, although there are only so many variations before missions begin repeating patterns.

More info

GenreAction
DescriptionChop haters up real good with your Wiimote in this first person Samurai slasher. Be sure you've got some tiger balm ready for your wrist.
Franchise nameSamurai Warriors
UK franchise nameSamurai Warriors
Platform"Wii"
US censor rating"Teen"
UK censor rating""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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News Editor, PC Gamer

Richard is an experienced games journalist with over 15 years of experience. Currently the News Editor at PC Gamer, he has also written for Edge Magazine, Ars Technica, Eurogamer, 12DOVE, Gamespot, the Guardian, IGN, the New Statesman, Polygon, and Vice. He was also the editor of Kotaku UK once upon a time. He also wrote the Brief History of Video Games, a full history of the medium.