Samurai Aces

{{Infobox video game

|title = Sengoku Ace

|image = Samurai Ace.png

|caption = Japanese arcade flyer

|developer = Psikyo (Arcade)
APXSoft (Mobile)

|publisher = Banpresto (Arcade)
Taito, 505 Games (PS2)
Noritong (Mobile)

|series = Sengoku Ace

|released = April 22, 1993 (Arcade)
December 2, 2004 (PS2)
February 15, 2018 (Switch)
May 20, 2020 (Windows)
July 27, 2022 (PS4 & XONE)

|genre = Scrolling shooter

|modes = Up to 2 players (co-op)

|platforms = Arcade, PlayStation 2, Mobile, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

|designer = Shinsuke Nakamura

|programmer = Shinsuke Nakamura
Hiroshi Yamada
Shiori Saito

|arcade system = Psikyo 1st Generation

|artist = Hirofumi Nakamura

|composer = Masaki Izutani

}}

Sengoku Ace ({{nihongo|Sengoku Ace|戦国エース|Sengoku Ēsu}}), fully titled Sengoku Ace: Tengai Episode I and also known as Samurai Aces in the English version, is a vertically scrolling shooter released in the arcades by Psikyo in 1993. The first game by Psikyo, Sengoku Ace was designed by Shinsuke Nakamura, the creator of Aero Fighters (Sonic Wings) and the company's founder.

Gameplay

Samurai Aces is a pseudo military-to-fantasy-themed vertically scrolling shoot 'em up game.

Plot

The science fantasy story of Sengoku Ace resolves around the six Feudal Japan (Sengoku period) characters sent on a mission to stop an evil cult and rescue the Shogun's kidnapped daughter, princess Tsukihime (Moon Princess), before she can be used as a sacrifice to resurrect their demon god. The game features 21 endings, different for various characters and two-player pairings.[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/arcade/b/sa.htm Samurai Aces endings] at Video Game Museum.

=Characters=

Flush (Flash) / Ayin / Aine (閃光のアイン) - a 25-year-old, one-eyed, blonde samurai flying a J7W, who is looking for his sister Asuka. He is voiced by Hisao Egawa.
Gen / Gennai (からくり屋源内) - a 77-year-old scientist with a small robot assistant named Ranmaru, who flies a small, agile "Super Fighter" plane that resembles an X-wing starfighter from Star Wars. He is voiced by Daisuke Gōri.
Jane Hayate (はやてのジェーン) - a 21-year-old blonde and blue-eyed beautiful female ninja who flies a glider. She is voiced by Hiroko Emori.
Kenno (Kenno Maru) / Kenoumaru / Ohmaru (犬王丸) - a "super genius dog" flying a high-tech YF-23 aircraft (according to some of his team play endings, really a young man sealed in a dog form).
Miko / Koyori (Koyori Togashi) (富樫こより) - a 17-year-old miko with a fascination for money, who flies a biplane. In Sengoku Ace, Koyori is still young and tomboyish. She is also voiced by Hiroko Emori.
Tengai (Tengai Kano) (ターボ坊主天外) - a 50-year-old Japanese Buddhist wandering monk who flies a bizarre bird-like plane. He is also voiced by Daisuke Gōri.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = (NS) 71/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/samurai-aces/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch|title=Samurai Aces for Switch Reviews|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=February 15, 2018|access-date=2025-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316164053/https://www.metacritic.com/game/samurai-aces/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch|archive-date=2025-03-16|url-status=live}}

| NLife = (NS) 8/10{{cite web|last=Frear|first=Dave|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/samurai_aces|title=Review: Samurai Aces (Switch eShop)|work=Nintendo Life|publisher=Nlife Media|date=March 5, 2018|access-date=2025-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306171210/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/samurai_aces|archive-date=2018-03-06|url-status=live}}

}}

In Japan, Game Machine listed Samurai Aces on their June 1, 1993 issue as being the fourth most-popular arcade game for the previous two weeks.{{cite magazine|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19930601p.pdf|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine={{ill|Game Machine|lt=Game Machine|ja|ゲームマシン}}|issue=450|publisher={{ill|Amusement Press, Inc.|lt=Amusement Press, Inc.|ja|アミューズメント通信社}}|date=June 1, 1993|page=25|language=ja|access-date=2025-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131223735/https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19930601p.pdf|archive-date=2020-01-31|url-status=live}} On Nintendo Switch, it garnered "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.

Legacy

The original and arranged soundtrack for the game (GCD-1) was released by Shinseisha on January 22, 1994.{{cite web|url=http://vgmdb.net/album/770 |title=GCD-1: Sengoku Ace |publisher=Vgmdb.net |accessdate=2013-09-11}} The game's manga adaptation titled Sengoku Ace - Ataru Kadiba (戦国エース - かぢばあたる) ({{ISBN|4-88199-140-X}}) was published by Shinseisha in the Gamest Comics series on December 25, 1994.{{cite web |url=http://www.arcade-gear.com/Games/Sengoku_Ace/Sengoku_Ace.htm |title=www.jap-sai.com - Sengoku Ace |publisher=Arcade-gear.com |accessdate=2013-12-20 |archive-date=2014-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202193528/http://www.arcade-gear.com/Games/Sengoku_Ace/Sengoku_Ace.htm |url-status=dead}}

In December 2004, the game was released for the PlayStation 2 as part of the Psikyo Shooting Collection Vol. 2: Sengoku Ace & Sengoku Blade by Taito and 505 Games. It was also re-released one year later as a budget-range title. In 2018, it was also released for the Nintendo Switch. In 2022, the original arcade version was included as part of the Sega Astro City Mini V, a vertically-oriented variant of the Sega Astro City mini console.{{cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/12/segas-astro-city-mini-is-getting-a-tate-version-packed-with-shmup-goodness|title=Sega's Astro City Mini Is Getting A 'TATE' Version Packed With Shmup Goodness|work=Nintendo Life|publisher=Nlife Media|date=December 17, 2021|access-date=2021-12-17}}

Sengoku Ace was followed by two sequels, Sengoku Blade: Sengoku Ace Episode II in 1996 and Sengoku Cannon: Sengoku Ace Episode III in 2004. The Sengoku series characters, along with the ones from Psikyo's Gunbird series, later joined up with several Capcom characters (especially from the Street Fighter fame) in the crossover game Taisen Net Gimmick: Capcom & Psikyo All Stars,{{cite web |url=http://www.gpara.com/tobira/wp/netgimmick/index.htm |title=今週の壁紙『対戦ネットギミックカプコン＆彩京オールスターズ』／ゲーム情報ポータル：ジーパラドットコム |publisher=Gpara.com |date=2012-09-14 |accessdate=2013-09-11 |archive-date=2013-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221014003/http://www.gpara.com/tobira/wp/netgimmick/index.htm |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://segahub.org/index.php?topic=100.0 |title=[DC] Capcom vs Psikyo All-Stars (Mahjong) JAP DRASTIC |publisher=Segahub.org |date=2001-07-02 |accessdate=2013-09-11}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKUNHf6jPxQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/rKUNHf6jPxQ |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Dreamcast (Jap.) - Taisen Net Gimmick Capcom & Psikyo All Stars Mahjong |date=11 October 2009 |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=2013-09-11}}{{cbignore}} released for the Dreamcast in 2001.

References

Sources

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212232/http://www.x-nauts.com/psikyo/product/ace/charactor.html Official website (characters page)]

External links

[https://ec.nintendo.com/JP/ja/titles/70010000006026 Official website (Nintendo)] {{in lang|ja}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20071009233250/http://www.x-nauts.com/psikyo/product/ace/index.html Official website (Psikyo)] (Internet Archive) {{in lang|ja}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070206142100/http://www.taito.co.jp/d3/cp/sengoku/ Official website (Taito)] (Internet Archive) {{in lang|ja}}
[http://hg101.kontek.net/sengokuace/sengokuace.htm Hardcore Gaming 101: Sengoku Ace]

Category:1993 video games

Category:505 Games games

Category:Android (operating system) games

Category:Arcade video games

Category:Banpresto games

Category:City Connection franchises

Category:Cooperative video games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Nintendo Switch games

Category:PlayStation 4 games

Category:Psikyo games

Category:Science fantasy video games