Software:Afro Samurai 2
| Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Redacted Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Versus Evil |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 4 Windows |
| Release | September 22, 2015[1] |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma is an action-adventure video game developed by Redacted Studios and published by Versus Evil. It was released for PlayStation 4 via PlayStation Network and Windows in September 2015. As the sequel to 2009's Afro Samurai, based on the manga series by Takashi Okazaki, the player controls Kuma, a swordsman who seeks revenge on the titular character.
The game received widely negative reviews from critics. Originally planned to be released in three volumes, Versus Evil pulled Revenge of Kuma from all platforms, issued refunds, and canceled the other two volumes. An Xbox One version was planned but never released, and the PlayStation 4 version is one of the few titles that are not backwards compatible with the PlayStation 5.
Gameplay
Similar to the first installment, Afro Samurai 2 is a third-person action game where the player must work through a series of areas taking down waves of enemies. Learning different moves and combos are key to getting through the game.
Plot
In Afro Samurai 2, Afro once again fights Kuma who is challenging him for his Number One headband.
Development
Afro Samurai 2 was developed by Redacted Studios and published by Versus Evil. After the release of the original Afro Samurai game in 2009, former Namco Bandai senior producer David Robinson left the company and founded Redacted Studios. Along with leaving Namco Bandai, he secured the rights to make other games in the series.[2]
Afro Samurai 2's story was written by Jim DeFelice, co-writer of American Sniper.[3] The soundtrack to the game was done by rapper RZA, who also produced two soundtrack albums of the animated series.[4] The game's still image cutscenes was done by series creator Takashi Okazaki.[5]
The game was released for the PlayStation Network and Microsoft Windows on September 22, 2015. An Xbox One version was also planned to be released on October 9,[1] but was canceled due to poor reception on the other platforms.[6]
The PlayStation 4 version is not playable on the PlayStation 5 with backwards compatibility.[7]
Reception
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Upon release, Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma received widely negative reviews from critics.
Polygon called it one of the worst games of 2015.[13] Giant Bomb called it the worst game of the year.[14] It was the second worst-reviewed game of 2015 according to aggregate review website Metacritic.[15]
Withdrawal and cancelled trilogy
In November 2015, Afro Samurai 2 was pulled from the PSN and Steam. In an interview with CGMagazine on the game's withdrawal, Versus Evil's Steve Escalante called the game "a failure" and announced the cancellation of the other two volumes and refunds for customers.[16][17] Escalante later expanded on the decision in an interview with Gamasutra, saying, "Given the game quality was not what people were expecting, it didn't sell like hot cakes, let's just put it like that."[18]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Scammell, David (September 22, 2015). "Afro Samurai 2 hits Xbox One in October, PS4/PC today". VideoGamer.com. Candy Banana. http://www.videogamer.com/xboxone/afro_samurai_2/news/afro_samurai_2_hits_xbox_one_in_october_ps4_pc_today.html.
- ↑ Lien, Tracey (June 25, 2014). "Afro Samurai 2 currently in development". Polygon. Vox Media. http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/25/5840260/afro-samurai-2.
- ↑ Hansen, Steve (September 4, 2015). "Wait, the American Sniper writer is doing Afro Samurai 2?". Destructoid. http://www.destructoid.com/wait-the-american-sniper-writer-is-doing-afro-samurai-2--309304.phtml.
- ↑ Makuch, Eddie (September 23, 2015). "Afro Samurai 2 Hits PS4/PC, With Xbox One Edition Coming Later". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. http://www.gamespot.com/articles/afro-samurai-2-hits-ps4pc-with-xbox-one-edition-co/1100-6430825/.
- ↑ Matulef, Jeffrey (September 11, 2015). "Afro Samurai 2: Episode One arrives on PS4 and PC this month". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-09-11-afro-samurai-2-episode-1-arrives-on-ps4-and-pc-this-month.
- ↑ Barnes, Ken (November 24, 2015). "Afro Samurai 2 Release Cancelled Indefinitely Due to Quality Concerns". Pure Xbox. Gamer Network. http://www.purexbox.com/news/2015/11/afro_samurai_2_release_cancelled_indefinitely_due_to_quality_concerns.
- ↑ "Backward compatibility: PlayStation®4 games playable on PlayStation®5". https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/games/ps5-backward-compatibility-games/.
- ↑ "Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma Volume One for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/afro-samurai-2-revenge-of-kuma-volume-one/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4.
- ↑ Carter, Chris (September 29, 2015). "Review: Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma Volume 1". Destructoid. http://www.destructoid.com/review-afro-samurai-2-revenge-of-kuma-volume-1-312865.phtml.
- ↑ Brown, Peter (September 25, 2015). "Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma Volume One Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/afro-samurai-2-revenge-of-kuma-volume-one-review/1900-6416258/.
- ↑ Bohn, Jason (September 26, 2015). "Review: Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma Episode One". Hardcore Gamer. http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2015/09/26/review-afro-samurai-2-revenge-of-kuma-episode-one/169109/.
- ↑ Meli, Jowi (September 21, 2015). "Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma Volume 1 Review — Unadulterated Ugliness". PlayStation LifeStyle. CraveOnline. http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/09/21/afro-samurai-2-revenge-of-kuma-review-unadulterated-ugliness/.
- ↑ Frank, Allegra (December 30, 2015). "The worst video games of 2015". Polygon. Vox Media. http://www.polygon.com/2015/12/30/10689844/the-worst-video-games-of-2015.
- ↑ "Giant Bomb's 2015 Game of the Year Awards: Day Four Text Recap". Giant Bomb. CBS Interactive. December 31, 2015. http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/giant-bombs-2015-game-of-the-year-awards-day-four-/1100-5319/.
- ↑ Dietz, Jason (December 21, 2015). "The 10 Worst Video Games of 2015". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. http://www.metacritic.com/pictures/worst-videogames-of-2015.
- ↑ "Versus Evil Explains the Disappearance of Afro Samurai 2" (in en-CA). 19 November 2015. https://www.cgmagonline.com/news/versus-evil-exafro-samurai-2/.
- ↑ Frank, Allegra (November 20, 2015). "Afro Samurai 2 pulled from retail, deemed 'a failure'". Polygon. Vox Media. http://www.polygon.com/2015/11/20/9770612/afro-samurai-2-pulled-steam-ps4-failure.
- ↑ Graft, Kris (November 23, 2015). "In-depth: The decision to un-publish Afro Samurai 2 and refund buyers". Gamasutra. UBM plc. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/260138/Indepth_The_decision_to_unpublish_Afro_Samurai_2_and_refund_buyers.php.
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