Bushido Blade (Game)

Bushido Blade

GAME » on March 14, 1997

PlayStation (Platform)PlayStation Network (PS3) (Platform)PlayStation Network (PSP) (Platform)

Often considered one of the most realistic weapon-based fighting games of its time, Bushido Blade puts a group of assassins in one-on-one duels where a single fatal strike can determine who lives and who dies.

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Overview

Bushido Blade is a 3D weapon-based fighting game developed by LightWeight and published by Squaresoft (Company) for the Sony PlayStation in Japan on March 14, 1997, in North America on September 30, 1997, and in Europe on February 1998.

The first game from LightWeight, Bushido Blade is a fighting game that incorporates a more "realistic" gameplay style to weapon-based combat, with a focus on stances, free-running, and a unique damage system that not only allows for quick matches (as most techniques kill the opponent in one slash), but allows certain techniques to disable specific limbs (preventing access to certain techniques). It features multiple weapons to choose from, multiple characters of differing speed, strengths, and weapon proficiencies, multiple game modes, and a unique concept of an open-world stage (where players can choose to move between different areas of the stage).

The game's story on a fictional island near the southern mountains of modern Japan (Location). The old dojo Meikyokan lies within this region, and teaches the disciplines of the Narukagami Shinto school of swordsmanship. However, a society of assassins also resides within the dojo, known as "Kage". One day, a member of Kage escapes the confines of the dojo with its secrets. Several other members of the society, under penalty of death, are sent to dispatch the defector, only catching up to them within the ruins of the surrounding Yin and Yang Labyrinth Castle. In Story Mode, the player takes on the role of the escaped assassin, fighting their comrades in duels to the death. The game story differs with each character selected, with some fighting to confront the dojo master Hanzuki, who possesses the cursed blade Yugiri.

The game received a sequel a year later, known as Bushido Blade 2 (Game). Following the studio's departure from Squaresoft, LightWeight later developed a spiritual successor with the Kengo (Franchise) series. Square Enix (Company) later digitally re-released the game as a PSone Classics (Concept) title for supported PlayStation Network (Concept) platforms in Japan on November 26, 2008.

Gameplay

Bushido Blade is a one-on-one fighting game in 3D environments. In many of the stages, the environment is able to be interacted with, such as in the bamboo forest. Others, such as the castle compound at which most of the game takes place, offer some amount of navigation into different areas of the stage, including a moat area, and a cherry blossom grove. Characters are able to run, jump, and climb in these stages.

The actual fighting in Bushido Blade is unique among the fighting game genre. There is no time limit and there are no health gauges. Most attacks, if landed on the enemy, will result in an instant death. Other attacks will wound the enemy, hampering their movement and attacks, even reducing the other character to crawling. This 'Body Damage System' allowed players to whittle each other down in a strategic manner. Blood was added to the North American release of the game.

There are eight different weapons in Bushido Blade: the katana, the nodachi, the long sword, the saber, the broadsword, the naginata, the rapier, and the sledgehammer. Each weapon has realistic weight and length; each weapon has a fixed value for power, speed, and blocking ability. The game's 'Motion Shift System' enables players to string together a chain of timed attacks. Many attacks are only available in one of three stances: low, neutral, and high. Each of the characters in the game also have a different level of strength and speed, as well as a number of special attacks. As such, all of the characters have different skill levels with each of the weapon types. Some characters have a throwable subweapon in addition to their main weapon.

Controls & Commands

The game includes three Attack buttons (Upper Body, Mid Body, and Lower Body, bound to Triangle, Circle, and Cross), a Defend button (Square), a button to trigger Free Running (L1) and two buttons to change the fighter's Stance (R1 for an upper Stance, R2 for a lower Stance).

Some techniques include:

While Free Running, players can attack using any Attack button, although the Mid Body and Lower Body Attacks have the fighter stop running after performing it. The button can also be used to climb up cliffsides and other walls.
Pressing R2 when an opponent's attack hits the character's weapon and stuns them causes the character to perform a backwards evasion.
Pressing Back, then Forward and Lower Body Attack triggers a special attack that hits an opponent on the ground.

Crouch Step

One of the more versatile moves is the "Crouch Step", a forward crouching dash (performed by pressing Forward and R2) that can be cancelled into multiple techniques:

Depending on the weapon, certain Upper Body and Lower Body attacks can be used to perform unique attacks. Pressing Mid Body Attack, however, causes the character to throw their currently-possessed sub-weapon (provided they are carrying one and their left arm is not injured). A standard Crouch Step can pick up sub-weapons on the ground.
Pressing R1 performs a Jump (Concept), which is useful for closing distances quicker. During a Jump, pressing either Attack button can perform a slash attack (with the button chosen determining which stance to land with, Upper Body for High Stance, Mid Body for Normal Stance, Lower Body for Low Stance).
Pressing R2 causes the character to throw dirt or gravel at their opponent, temporarily stunning them.

Game Modes

Story Mode - Standard one-player Arcade mode. As they battle through each of their opponents, players must take care to adhere to the game's code of "bushido" in order to reach all four boss battles, in that they cannot attack their opponent while they are on the ground, while their back is turned, or before they are fully prepared, and they cannot blind their opponent using dirty tricks.
VS. Mode - Standard player-vs-player Versus mode.
Slash Mode - A survival mode where players must defeat 100 opponents. Also known as "Chanbara Mode".
Training Mode - A one-player practice mode. Also known as "Practice Mode."
POV Mode / Link Mode - Unique player-vs-CPU (POV Mode) or linked player-vs-player (Link Mode) mode played in the first-person perspective, with altered directional controls (such that Forward is mapped to Up) and an indicator showing the fighter's stance and animation. Also known as "On View Mode".

Characters

The game contains six playable characters by default, organized from high speed to high strength:

Red Shadow (Character) is a former KGB agent from Russia (Location) who joined Kage as a kunoichi under Utsusemi's guidance. Her story involves her finding out about Utsusemi's plan to confront Hanzaki, and fearing the worst, defects to confront Hanzaki before her mentor can. Her sub-weapon is a Shuriken (throwing star), and she has special commands for the Long Sword and Saber.
Tatsumi (Character) is a high school student from Hiroshima (Location) who accidentally finds out of Kage's existence. His story puts his novice swordsmanship to the test as, rather than join them, he attempts to escape the compound. He has no sub-weapon, although he can still pick up and use those dropped by his opponent, and he has special commands for the Saber and Sledgehammer.
Mikado (Character) is a former shrine maiden from Kyoto (Location) who, despite her affiliation with Kage, is also kind-hearted mentor to children in the dojo. In her story, she defects after sensing a disturbance within the dojo. Her sub-weapon is a Aikuchi (sheathed short sword), and she has special commands for both the Naginata and Nodachi.
Black Lotus is an Irishman who, strictly following the code of bushido, became a loyal member of Kage for 10 years. His story involves him questioning his loyalty due to his master Hanzaki also deviating from the code, and defecting to confront him. His sub-weapon is a Tanken (short sword), and he has special commands for both the Katana and Rapier.
Utsusemi (Character) is an older assassin from Shimane, who trained with Hanzaki and later became a mentor for other students. His story involves him knowing of Hanzaki's treachery from the cursed blade Yugiri, and defecting to confront him. His sub-weapon is a Kozuka (throwing knife), and he has special commands for both the Katana and Nodachi.
Kannuki (Character) is a powerful, yet righteous assassin from the Ryukyu Islands. His story involves involves a fellow member of Kage slaughtering his old village, with him defecting to find out who did it and get revenge. His sub-weapon is a Tessen (iron fan), and he has special commands for both the Broadsword and Sledgehammer.

There are also boss characters who are encountered in Story Mode, some of which are only fought against with certain characters in the bonus path:

Katze (Character) is a German killer hired by Hanzaki to eliminate the defector. He is the first sub-boss and, rather than melee weaponry, he fights by shooting from his revolver. He can be unlocked for VS. Mode by completing Slash Mode.
Sazanka (Character) is a high-ranking member of Kage. He is the second sub-boss and fights with the dual-bladed naginata "Hakubi".
Tsubame is a high-ranking member of Kage. She is the third sub-boss and fights with the straight sword "Ryusei".
Hanzaki (Character) is the dojo master of the Narukagami Shinto school. He is the game's final boss, and fights with the cursed katana "Yugiri".
Hongo (Character) is one of the three secret final bosses, and a dojo buster who fights with a long sword.
Kindachi (Character) is one of the three secret final bosses, and a mysteriously armor-clad samurai warrior who fights with a nodachi.

The third secret final boss is unique to Kannuki, in that it is a rematch with Black Lotus.

Weapons

Most of the techniques in this game are dependent on the weapon chosen, with some characters having special techniques for certain weapons:

Katana
Rapier
Naginata
Sledgehammer
Nodachi
Long Sword
Saber
Broadsword

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