The Spirit of the Samurai

Release Date: December 12, 2024

Action, platformers, metroidvania, crowdfunding, indie games, 2.5D, side-scroll, Japanese mythology, samurai, action adventure, singleplayer

5.6

OpenCritic

64%

Steam

Rate It!

The Spirit of the Samurai is an action adventure game set in the feudal Japan, in which we control three different characters - samurai, spirit and cat. The game was developed by Digital Mind studio.

Plot
Mechanics
Game modes
Technical aspects

The Spirit of the Samurai is a two-dimensional action adventure game belonging to the metroidvania sub-genre. The action of this game is set in feudal Japan, and the player plays three different characters. The game was developed and published by an independent studio Digital Mind. The money for this game was raised through a crowdfunding campaign.

Plot

The Spirit of the Samurai tells a story set in a fantastic feudal version of Japan. The hero of the game is a samurai who tries to regain his body and destroy the ancient evil. In the journey the warrior is accompanied by his cat and the encountered spirit ( kodama). The game focuses on presenting the story in a strongly cinematic way (the effect is achieved, among others, by animated scenes).

Mechanics

In The Spirit of the Samurai the action is observed from the side ( side-scrolling). During the game the player controls three different characters: samurai, ghost and cat.

The game was created in the metroidvania convention - the gameplay is about exploring non-linear levels (it is a series of different locations combined into one map), fighting enemies and discovering the story prepared by the developers. As we progress, we acquire new equipment, develop characters and unlock new abilities (in the case of the spirit, we also have access to supernatural powers), which often allow us to enter previously unavailable places.

In the game you can find an arcade combat system that allows you to combine attacks into dangerous combos. We can also use special abilities. An advanced AI system also plays a key role - the developers made sure that every enemy behaves and fights a little differently.

Game modes

The Spirit of the Samurai offers only single player mode. The core of the game is a feature campaign.

Technical aspects

The Spirit of the Samurai game has a very good graphic design. Although the action takes place in 2D, the graphics are fully 3D. Both the locations created by the developers, as well as the character models, make an excellent impression and are well animated (which should not come as a surprise - Digital Mind is a studio that has been involved in 3D animation in the past). The game is full of charming atmosphere.

Videos and Screens

[1:00] The Spirit of the Samurai The Spirit of the Samurai Gameplay Trailer - Future Games Show Gamescom 2024

[1:11] The Spirit of the Samurai trailer #2

5.6

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 11% of Critics. There are 15 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

TheGamer: 3 / 5 by James Kennedy

And that’s the crux of The Spirit of the Samurai: it is a gorgeous game, with an excellent sense of atmosphere, and decidedly troubled gameplay.

Full Review

AltChar: 50 / 100 by Asmir Kovacevic

The Spirit of the Samurai is a game full of great ideas that, unfortunately, fail to shine due to poor execution. The game is held back by terribly unresponsive controls, poorly implemented enemy AI, and developer promises that fall far short of expectations. These shortcomings, among others, ultimately make it difficult for me to recommend this game.

Full Review

Try Hard Guides: 10 / 10 by Erik Hodges

The Spirit of the Samurai is the most incredible Metroidvania title I have ever played, featuring amazing stop-motion animation, fantastic storytelling with horror elements, and fun combat—all coming together to create a game you’ll easily love as much as I do.

Full Review

64%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mixed (225)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Visual Style: The stop-motion animation and overall art design received widespread praise, with many users describing it as stunning and unique. The aesthetic is considered a significant highlight of the game.
Atmosphere and Storytelling: The game effectively conveys a dark, immersive atmosphere, drawing players into its narrative rooted in Japanese mythology.
Character and Monster Design: Users appreciated the creativity and uniqueness of the characters and enemies, contributing to the game's charm.
Combat Mechanics: Some players enjoyed the customization of combos and the fluidity of combat, particularly with the right analog stick for attacking.
Sound and Voice Acting: The audio elements, including voice acting, were noted as high quality, enhancing the overall experience.

The main cons of the game

Clunky Controls: Many reviews highlighted issues with responsiveness and input lag, making combat and platforming frustrating. Players often found the controls unresponsive, leading to a negative gameplay experience.
Platforming Issues: The platforming mechanics were criticized for being poorly executed, with unclear jump paths and foreground objects obscuring visibility, leading to frequent deaths from unseen traps.
Enemy AI and Combat Balance: Users reported inconsistent enemy behavior, with some enemies being overly powerful or unresponsive, leading to a lack of challenge balance.
Bugs and Performance Issues: A significant number of players experienced technical problems, including frame drops, glitches, and game-breaking bugs, which severely impacted gameplay.
Linear Level Design: The game was described as lacking exploration and variety, with repetitive environments and objectives.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Improved Combat Mechanics: Many players felt the combat needed more depth and polish, with suggestions for better hit detection and more varied enemy attacks.
Refined Platforming Mechanics: A clearer indication of where players can jump or grab would enhance the platforming experience, along with better camera angles to avoid obstructions.
More Save Points: Users expressed a desire for more frequent save points or checkpoints to reduce frustration from having to replay long segments after dying.
Enhanced Tutorial and Guidance: A more comprehensive tutorial to explain mechanics and controls, particularly for the cat's platforming sections, was requested to help players navigate challenges more easily.
Expanded Gameplay Elements: Suggestions included adding more side quests, character abilities, or exploration elements to enrich the gameplay experience beyond linear combat encounters.

Summary

Overall, while "The Spirit of the Samurai" has a solid foundation with its artistic appeal and storytelling, many players found the gameplay mechanics lacking, leading to a mixed reception.

Summary generated on: January 6, 2025