Afro Samurai (PS3, Xbox 360)

[Frenzy]

Afro Samurai

What do you get if you coolheid of ninjas and samurai blends in the coolheid of Samuel L. Jackson? Correct: Afro Samurai. Namco Bandai shows the gladiator with the attitude of the comic and anime series switch to the game world. Afro Samurai is a fun game that you want to find there, the style, humor and the presence of Jackson before. Furthermore, in previous game sessions that cutting in Afro Samurai addictive. The question is whether that addiction factor throughout the game remains.



The game tells the story of the dark gladiator Afro Samurai. As a child Afro witnessed the murder of his father by Justice, the carrier of the 'Number One head band. In the world of Afro Samurai, the bearer of the Number One can only be challenged by the wearer of the Number Two. To revenge on Justice to be taken should therefore first Afro beat. On his path, he is opposed by The Empty Seven, a group of old monks that little good with him plan.

The story is not too exciting, if you do not know Afro Samurai. Do you know the anime well, then you recognize many elements and provides the story, especially at the points where the story in the game just a little different than the anime, automatically added. The way the story is told is very stylish out. In that respect, especially the level where Afro always looking to be the Japanese lady Okiku a joy to play. Do you know the series does not, this is a boring level with a low rate. First look at the series before you play the game is definitely recommended. Several fights, including the duel with Kuma, will be much more significance.

Hilarity

It is obviously not required to be familiar with the world of Afro Samurai, but without prior knowledge you will not really understand some things. Anyone who is, for example, Ninja Ninja, the Afro-like figure to be out of time and gives an opinion and juicy one-liners through your speakers Schaltwerk? Ninja Ninja is not really a character, but a kind of alter ego of Afro Samurai, the humorous side of Afro consumption. And he does with verve, witness statements as "that ******* Mount! Uhh ... wait that came out wrong ..." Occasionally Ninja Ninja talk directly to the player - "You saw that too, right?" - Which can provide some amusement.

[Frenzy]

Gameplay

Ninja Ninja is not just for comic relief, he occasionally also evidence as Afro as lost, and he is African in the beginning of the game around in the controls. The control of Afro Samurai is easy to learn. Afro has the standard fast or hard klapjes and he can jump, kick and block. Soon you will learn different combos you can do with the buttons for quick and heavy attacks, which occasionally spectacular and very bloody effects.

Enemies cut in half

In this latter Afro Samurai is really interesting as you learn to deal with the special concentrated mode of Afro. By pressing the left trigger slows the picture and everything is black and white, and with a line to the place where Afro can target his opponent must cut in half. By default, this action always enemies directly to kill. Facing stronger enemies and bosses is a single blow not sufficient, but because you slice these attacks together can lace you can in this way effectively off. The row paste special attack is also spectacular.

This is directly the strongest point of Afro Samurai said. The chop is delicious and the control you have to slash in half of your enemy is super. If you know a little too ambitious, you can sometimes four enemies simultaneously weghakken, which involves a large massacre. Soon you learn that your enemies who are trying to avoid slice still affected. If you hordes of enemies in succession cut in half simply by using special attacks, what a wonderful feeling of satisfaction benefits.

Easy

However, special attacks also a downside. Although they are great and look spectacular, they make Afro Samurai a lot easier. If you beat once by you is even simple to the most difficult foes to submit. Another trick to learn is' Parry ', which allows you to the head of an enemy to jump and move in a deadly manner. The focus of attacks and counters of Afro Samurai a very powerful fighter. Result, the standard enemies soon no longer challenging, and just annoying in the way of walking on the path to a boss battle that is worthwhile.

Lack of control

The somewhat repetitive gameplay is occasionally interrupted by boss battles. These range from 'right, right aan' sword-fight, to fight where you have to do something special to win. At this point turn Afro Samurai the shelf quite wrong. There are boss battles against which it is not clear what to do to beat the boss. So I came upon one of the bosses a chance after hours that I could hit balls in half. The game gives no indication, however, and tells the player how to bounce back and smack a ball in half works. Die in a battle with a boss is not so bad, until you feel a chance to win. If you do not understand what to do and nothing seems to have effect, save automatically to despondency.

So is a little platform for the elements in the game. Afro Samurai is predominantly an action game, but has a number of Afro-ninja tricks, such as running on walls and jump up between two walls. I can often not the obvious movements to perform. With a platform specific part I was working far too long, because I repeatedly fell. Not because I did not know what I had to do, but because I do not got Afro exactly what to do what I had in my head. There you are not happy.

Camera

It had a lot gescheeld lining as the camera would be quite a bit. Often the action, however, a very illogical angle picture. The camera angle can be adjusted with the rechterthumbstick, but that is easier said than done. The rechterthumbstick it's like right and left are reversed with respect to the camera control, allowing you initially often the wrong way about. The camera provides a moderate lack of oversight by enemies simply by touching picture. Moreover slap you sometimes miss in a final eindbaas because the camera again in an impossible place and you just is not good overview.

[Frenzy]

Image and sound

The weaknesses in the gameplay despite remains extremely good with your sword to an ultimate carnage to focus. Coincidence or not: Afro Samurai, a week after the Wii game MadWorld, we passed more blood than ever saw coming. Namco Bandai also a farthing in the bag. MadWorld as violent as this game is just, but also in Afro Samurai gutst the blood on the screen. Understandable, because that is the comic and anime series is no different.

True to the roots

The game is clearly visible on the comic and anime based, and you see not only the story and the characters. The style is the same, and there are elements in the comic background of the series telling. If the image is frequently divided into several pieces, as you often see in comics. It gives the game its own identity, while the authors remain true to the roots of the franchise.

The individual style is effortlessly supported by the excellent soundtrack, which for the most part provided by RSA, or Robert F. Diggs, once leader of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan was. The hip-hop style fits perfectly with the game and over the many festivals slaughter even more exhilarating. If variety is hiphop occasionally for typical old-Japanese tunes, which the samurai life a little hold.

Convincing voice-acting

How well the sountrack is, the show is really stolen by the voice-acting in the game. As I said Ninja Ninja plays an important role, with its juicy one-liners, although it is unfortunate that after a few hours all but one have heard, so the humor is a bit from. The other votes that have been spoken by the same actors in the anime have done, are very convincing.

[Frenzy]

Conclusion

Although Afro Samurai offers a lot of fun at the heels of enemies in half, dominated the feeling that this game is a missed opportunity for Atari and Namco Bandai. Afro Samurai is a license that is suitable for a great game. This comes partly from it, because the cut is perfect and as I said it's addictive. The style is well developed and remains true to that in the comic and the anime. Unfortunately there is not too much to the game, the camera problems are the foundation of many other frustrations. The platform elements provide mainly for irritation and lack of control is the boss fights is not always clear exactly what you should do. Moreover, Afro Samurai is not too long, and no herspeelwaarde know. Much longer than an hour or seven, eight, you do not have to do and then there is little reason to touch the game. Thus sliding Afro Samurai from a potentially very good game, to no more than a nice snack.

Plus Points

• Graphic style
• Comedy
• Soundtrack and voice-acting
• Enemies + pieces slice

Downsides

• Brakke angles
• Lack of control in the gameplay
• Documents between boss fights repetitive and easily