Genji: Dawn of the Samurai
Genji is based on a torrid romance novel. It’s true! The 11th century Japanese classic Tale of Genji details one man’s quest to bed and wed as many noble women as he can find. For better or worse, the game’s storyline takes things in an entirely different direction. The result is refreshing and surprising addition to the action genre, and features among other things some of the coolest sword fights I’ve seen brought to life in a game.
Immediate comparisons to the Onimusha series definitely aren’t out of line upon first glance at Genji. Famed former Capcom designer Yoshiki Okamoto established Game Republic, and influence can certainly be left. The background environments throughout Genji are dazzling, filled with drifting cherry blossoms and classic Japanese architecture. The two playable characters also exhibit some impressive detail, thanks largely to how much both weapon and armor changes affect the way they look. But it’s the combat itself that is the real stunner. In what often looks like movie choreographed stunt scenes, the horses and their foes twist and turn through an elaborated dance of weapon play. Also taking a nod from the silver screen, a button press launches your character into Kamui, a mode where time is slowed and each of your strikes becomes devastating present moves, allowing for some remarkable takedowns of multiple foes at once.