Collection essentials #347: Bushido Blade (PS1)

The fighting game genre was well established by 1997, for both 2D and 3D fighting games. You ought to know the typical formula: one-on-one, both players have a health bar that gradually depletes with hits, there are a variety of attack buttons, special moves can be done with specific directional and button inputs. Well, this game tried to be very different and went for a more realistic approach, which is a really neat and refreshing change of pace from the norm.

“Bushido” refers to a moral code followed by Japanese samurai. This is a weapon combat game that may appear to us Americans at first to be a feudal Japan sort of thing, but it actually takes place in modern times and uses some European weapons too. Rather than having a series of playable characters each with a set weapon and set of  moves, Bushido Blade has you pick a character and then one of the game’s weapons for them to use. Both characters and weapons have their own unique parameters, and some combinations work better than others. The game’s stages are often pretty big, and a player who feels like playing keep-away can find quite a bit to explore. The real notable and defining thing about Bushido Blade, though, is that since it goes for realism, most fights end in just one to two hits. I mean, think about it, how many times do you think YOU could get stabbed or slashed with a sword and keep on fighting?? If a hit doesn’t kill the opponent, it can still injure them and hamper them for the rest of the (brief) battle. 

I don’t have too much more to say about Bushido Blade, I didn’t grow up with it or anything. But I have had some fun multiplayer Bushido Blade sessions with friends in adulthood. A unique and fun multiplayer game in my book is almost always enough to get an “essential” label. I haven’t played anything else quite like it and I wish someone would make a modern iteration with vastly-improved graphics and features!