Software:Samurai Western

From HandWiki
Short description: 2005 video game
Not to be confused with Western (genre) § Martial arts Western (Wuxia Western).
Samurai Western
North American box art by Kenneth Rocafort
Developer(s)Acquire
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Toshihide Hatanaka
Producer(s)Koshi Nakanishi
Designer(s)Tomonori Kawanishi
Programmer(s)Masatoshi Washimi
Artist(s)Akiyoshi Kakinuma
Composer(s)Noriyuki Asakura
SeriesWay of the Samurai
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: 1 January 2005
  • NA: 7 June 2005
  • EU: 30 June 2005
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Samurai Western is an action-adventure video game, made by Acquire games company, released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. The player assumes the role of a samurai named Gojiro Kiryu, who travels to the Wild West in search of his brother, Rando.

Gameplay

Samurai Western does away with the adventure elements present in the main Way of the Samurai games, and instead is focused entirely on action. The game is divided into stages, with the goal of each being to defeat the dozens of enemies that appear within. The game can be played alone, or simultaneously with a second player. The game has multiple difficulty levels, ranging from Normal to Insane.

In a single-player game, the player takes control of Gojiro the samurai and utilizes various types of swords to defeat enemies. There are dozens of swords available in the game, which allow you to fight with five different sword styles. The basic maneuvers of each sword are similar, consisting of a quick combo, powerful charge move and aerial attack, but each sword style offers unique abilities. In addition to the abilities given by each style, Gojiro also has the innate ability to dodge bullets, and even uses his sword to deflect them. By defeating enemies Gojiro can fill a meter which, when full, allows him to enter Master Mode. Once activated, Master Mode greatly increases Gojiro's abilities, allowing him to dispatch enemies in a single blow.

In a two-player game, the second player controls Ralph the gunman. Ralph is unable to deflect bullets (though he is also able to dodge and roll) or engage in melee combat in the same manner as Gojiro, but is instead equipped with a gun that allows long-range attacks. He also has the ability to perform punches that instantly floor an enemy and deal a small amount of damage. Two additional guns can be unlocked for Ralph through beating the game, increasing his usefulness as a backup player.

Plot

The game takes place in America in the 1800s, in the area known as the Wild West. Gojiro Kiryu, a samurai, has arrived from Japan to find and kill his brother, Rando, who came to the United States some time before. Upon his arrival, he finds the region under the tyrannical rule of a local Tycoon named Goldberg, whose hired thugs have left the nearby settlements virtual ghost towns. Although initially uninterested in these happenings, Gojiro is nonetheless drawn into conflict with Goldberg's forces as his warrior's code demands that he do the right thing and help the people being hurt by the tycoon. After learning of a connection between Goldberg and his missing brother, a final confrontation lingers.

Development

Kenneth Rocafort drew the cover for a video game before he got into comics at Top Cow comics.[1]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic58/100[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge6/10[3]
EGM5.33/10[4]
Game Informer6/10[5]
GameProStarStar[6]
GameSpot5.3/10[7]
GameSpyStarStarStar[8]
GameTrailers7.2/10[9]
GameZone6.5/10[10]
IGN6/10[11]
OPM (US)StarStarStar[12]

Samurai Western received "mixed" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Arrant, Chris (10 September 2008). "Talking to Artist Kenneth Rocafort". http://www.newsarama.com/986-talking-to-artist-kenneth-rocafort.html. Retrieved 1 May 2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Samurai Western for PlayStation 2 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/samurai-western/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved 25 May 2014. 
  3. ↑ Edge staff (March 2005). "Samurai Western". Edge (147): 90. 
  4. ↑ EGM staff (July 2005). "Samurai Western". Electronic Gaming Monthly (193): 113. 
  5. ↑ "Samurai Western". Game Informer (147): 120. July 2005. 
  6. ↑ Funky Zealot (26 April 2005). "Samurai Western Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on 27 April 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050427193720/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/44708.shtml. Retrieved 25 May 2014. 
  7. ↑ Masimilla, Bethany (10 June 2005). "Samurai Western Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/samurai-western-review/1900-6127358/. Retrieved 25 May 2014. 
  8. ↑ Leeper, Justin (10 June 2005). "GameSpy: Samurai Western". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 7 November 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051107180757/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/samurai-western/624433p1.html. Retrieved 25 May 2014. 
  9. ↑ "Samurai Western Review". GameTrailers. 6 June 2005. Archived from the original on 20 April 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070420022416/http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=1473. Retrieved 18 April 2016. 
  10. ↑ Valentino, Nick (14 June 2005). "Samurai Western - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090125224258/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r25972.htm. Retrieved 25 May 2014. 
  11. ↑ Lewis, Ed (7 June 2005). "Samurai Western". http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/06/08/samurai-western. Retrieved 25 May 2014. 
  12. ↑ "Samurai Western". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. July 2005. http://www.1up.com/reviews/samurai-western_5. Retrieved 25 May 2014. 
  • Official website (Acquire)
  • Official website (Atlus)
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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