Way of the Samurai 2
{{Short description|2003 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|image = Way of the Samurai 2 cover.jpg
|developer = Acquire
|publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Spike}}{{vgrelease|NA / PAL|Capcom}}
|director = Tomohiro Tsuchida
|producer =
|designer = Kōjirō Endō
|programmer = Masatoshi Washimi
|artist =
|writer =
|composer = Noriyuki Asakura
|series = Way of the Samurai
|released = PlayStation 2
{{vgrelease|JP|October 9, 2003|NA|July 6, 2004{{Cite web |title=Way of the Samurai 2 ships |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/way-of-the-samurai-2-ships/1100-6102001/ |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}|PAL|July 7, 2004}}PlayStation Portable
{{vgrelease|JP|September 3, 2009}}
|genre = Action-adventure
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = PlayStation 2
PlayStation Portable
}}
{{nihongo|Way of the Samurai 2|侍道2|Samurai Dou 2}} is a PlayStation 2 (PS2) action-adventure game released in 2003. It was re-released on PlayStation Portable in 2009 in Japan only.{{cite web|url=http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2009/08/09/way_of_samurai/|title=Way of the Samurai 3 Plus Official|publisher=Andriasang.com|last=Gantayat|first=Anoop|date=2009-08-09|access-date=2010-01-17|archive-date=2011-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812025339/http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2009/08/09/way_of_samurai/|url-status=dead}}
The game is a prequel to Way of the Samurai.
Plot
The game takes place in the late Edo period. The player starts as a starving rōnin who collapsed at the gate of a famous trading island-city called Amahara. Soon thereafter, a little girl shares her riceball with the ronin, giving him (or her, depending on the player's choice) energy. A choice appears, introducing the player to the diverse life of a samurai.
=Combat=
The combat system from the original Way of the Samurai are carried over, albeit with some changes. Amongst them are the inclusion of "stance-breaker" attacks on nearly every weapon, a simplified guard/parry system, and instant kill techniques.
=Enhancements=
Dojima from the previous game also makes an appearance, though unrelated to the main plot. Here he still serves as a blacksmith to enhance the player's swords. The stats, however, are simplified:
- Attack: Attack strength, determines the amount of damage caused when an opponent is struck with the sword
- Defense: Defensive strength, determines the amount of damage suffered when the player is struck by an opponent
- Durability: Sword strength, increases the amount of tension the sword can generate before breaking.
- Quality: The number of upgrades left that can be performed.
Also, the "Appraise" feature is able to make the swords upgraded more powerful. Their effects include addition to attack, defense, durability, tension resistance, or a combination of the above. These, however, requires certain conditions to be met, such as number of kills. Some special swords are able to be appraised based on their name.
Soundtrack
The original soundtrack of the game was composed by the Japanese composer Noriyuki Asakura, it was released on May 21, 2003. It consists of 26 short songs that are played within the game.
{{track listing
| all_music =Noriyuki Asakura
| title1 =This World - Land of the Chance Meeting
| title2 =Vicissitudes
| title3 =Walking About
| title4 =The Valley Between Heaven and Earth - The Shadows of Dreams
| title5 =The Valley Between Heaven and Earth - In the Lonely Night
| title6 =Reality and Illusions
| title7 =Scattering Seeds of Chivalry
| title8 =The Boundaries of Pleasure
| title9 =Vestige of the Age of Gods
| title10 =Spirit in Conflict
| title11 =A Gentle Bearing
| title12 =From the Depths of My Heart
| title13 =The Scheme
| title14 =The Sound of Utter Delusion
| title15 =A Number of Omens
| title16 =Quiet Agony
| title17 =Startling Memory
| title18 =Fragmented Thoughts
| title19 =Fresh Bonds
| title20 =After All the Worry
| title21 =The Whirlpool of Transient Life
| title22 =A Pure Soul
| title23 =Hope and No Hope, Escape and No Escape
| title24 =Pressing Forward
| title25 =Discovery
| title26 =Souls Bonded and Split
}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 63.09%{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/915115-way-of-the-samurai-2/index.html |title=Way of the Samurai 2 for PlayStation 2 |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=May 26, 2014 |archive-date=May 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527215447/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/915115-way-of-the-samurai-2/index.html |url-status=live }}
| MC = 59/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/way-of-the-samurai-2/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Way of the Samurai 2 for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=May 26, 2014}}
| Edge = 6/10{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |title=Way of the Samurai 2 |magazine=Edge |issue=138 |date=July 2004 |page=105}}
| EGM = 5.5/10{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |title=Way of the Samurai 2 |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=182 |date=August 2004 |page=104}}
| EuroG = 4/10{{cite web |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=July 29, 2004 |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_wayofthesamurai2_ps2 |title=Way of the Samurai 2 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=May 26, 2014 |archive-date=May 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527215527/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_wayofthesamurai2_ps2 |url-status=live }}
| Fam = 32/40{{cite magazine |title=侍道2 |magazine=Famitsu |volume=774 |date=October 16, 2003}}
| GI = 3.25/10{{cite magazine |last=Mason |first=Lisa |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/F30DDDC5-E6EF-4A09-B99B-B1DCBF905731.htm |title=Way of the Samurai 2 |magazine=Game Informer |issue=135 |date=July 2004 |page=116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121044220/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/F30DDDC5-E6EF-4A09-B99B-B1DCBF905731.htm |archive-date=November 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 26, 2014}}
| GamePro = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |author=Bro Buzz |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/36549.shtml |title=Way of the Samurai 2 Review for PS2 on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |date=August 2004 |page=66 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209084020/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/36549.shtml |archive-date=February 9, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 26, 2014}}
| GameRev = D+{{cite web |last=Silverman |first=Ben |date=July 9, 2004 |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/way-of-the-samurai-2 |title=Way of the Samurai 2 Review |publisher=Game Revolution |access-date=May 26, 2014}}
| GSpot = 6.3/10{{cite web |last=Kasavin |first=Greg |date=July 6, 2004 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/way-of-the-samurai-2-review/1900-6101997/ |title=Way of the Samurai 2 Review |website=GameSpot |access-date=May 26, 2014 |archive-date=June 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610052655/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/way-of-the-samurai-2-review/1900-6101997/ |url-status=live }}
| GSpy = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Steve |date=July 7, 2004 |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/way-of-the-samurai-2/528792p1.html |title=GameSpy: Way of the Samurai 2 |publisher=GameSpy |access-date=May 26, 2014}}
| IGN = 6/10{{cite web |last=Sulic |first=Ivan |date=July 1, 2004 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/02/way-of-the-samurai-2-2 |title=Way of the Samurai 2 |website=IGN |access-date=May 26, 2014}}
| OPM = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Way of the Samurai 2 |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |date=July 2004 |page=88}}
| rev1 = Maxim
| rev1Score = 4/10{{cite magazine |last=Porter |first=Alex |date=July 6, 2004 |url=http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_7880.html |title=The Way of the Samurai 2
| rev2 = The Times
| rev2Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite news |date=May 29, 2004 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/way-of-the-samurai-2-bmpbqc79lcz |title=Way of the Samurai 2 |newspaper=The Times |access-date=May 26, 2014 |archive-date=May 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528001851/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/technology/article1861803.ece |url-status=live }}{{subscription required}}
}}
Way of the Samurai 2 was met with mixed reception upon release, as GameRankings gave it a score of 63.09%, while Metacritic gave it 59 out of 100.
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.samurai2.jp/ Spike page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928003549/http://samurai2.jp/ |date=2015-09-28 }}
- [http://www.acquire.co.jp/samurai2/top.html Acquire page]
- {{moby game|id=/ps2/way-of-the-samurai-2}}
{{Way of the Samurai}}
Category:Acquire (company) games
Category:Action-adventure games
Category:PlayStation Portable games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games about samurai
Category:Video games developed in Japan
Category:Video games scored by Noriyuki Asakura