Head empty, no thoughts, just Samurai Jack. That’s virtually been my way of the past week. The long-lasting Cartoon Network series has gotten the adaptation treatment before with numerous comic books and video games that continued following the series’ completion. A beloved animation from Genndy Tartakovsky with the critical reception to boot, the series blended aspects of retrofuturism, westerns, and, of course, Japanese samurai narratives right into a series that became a defining staple for the Toonami generation. Now, Jack gets another video game treatment with Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, a 3D hack-and-slash adventure over time that directly ties into the series’ finale from Adult Swim Games.
If you’re unfamiliar with Samurai Jackas a sequence, “Jack”, the eponymous character is really a Japanese samurai who, after nearly defeating the best evil being referred to as Aku using a magic katana able to cutting through virtually anything, is distributed forward in time by Aku to some dystopian future ruled through the tyrannical evil. During the period of the series, Jack tries to travel to their own some time and defeat Aku before he is able to dominate the planet. Although this is the review of the series as a whole, this is also a quick and simple description of Samurai Jack: Battle Over time.
More specifically, farmville serves as an untold Samurai Jack adventure that ties in to the epic series finale. Playing as Jack, you get together with trusted allies from the show to manage off against familiar enemies. Keeping the characters you take into vague so that you can experience the joy I did, Samurai Jack: Battle Over time is for the fans. Each summary of a character while you progress through nine classic worlds works as a wink to long-time fans. It goes one step farther whenever you understand that you’re playing through a few of the series’ most pivotal moments. But while the game serves up a hefty bit of nostalgia, specially in the opening scene, in the aspect ratio of the original series, which plays any time you boot up the game, it also brings level progression and combat which will push you to definitely replay each world. 
There are dozens of weapons to select from and each melee weapon type-sword, hammer, club, spear, and fist-all have different pros and cons inside a fight. In my playthrough, I trusted the default weapon, Jack’s magic sword, for that majority of the levels but used a spear for crowd control. Additionally, the range in weapons likewise helps you mold the game’s combat to your own style. But it doesn't matter how you love to play, each weapon also generates kiai at different paces as indicated in the weapon stats. While this isn’t too critical early on, the amount of damage handled moves after your kiai meter is filled is enough to really make a difference in a boss battle.
Additionally, you can also equip ranged weapons including throwable weapons, for example shuriken, guns, and a bow and arrow. Many of these have multiple variations for them and various mechanics which go into using them effectively. More specifically, a bow is the most useful ranged weapon hanging around because it is the just one that can be aimed. As the other medication is just thrown and lock onto targets, the bow can be aimed and therefore might help defeat enemies above you or a long way away. It can also be accustomed to gather collectibles which require to be hit but are not always within melee striking distance.
On top of all that, while Samurai Jack: Battle Through Timedoesn’t possess a robust weapons system in terms of choice, different enemy types respond easier to certain weapons and also the mechanics of their combat can make often it extremely difficult to make use of certain moves or weapons. Some enemies can’t be grabbed, others can’t be blocked, and still others will take benefit of an opening whenever you aim your ranged attacks. This causes you to definitely think out your plan as you undertake mobs, especially as the enemies increase in both difficulty and number. Additionally, Jack’s skill tree, which is broken into three parts spiritual, physical, and combat allows you to learn new combos and increase health, kiai generation, item drops, and a whole lot. Additionally, the skill tree, while using the two basic items Fire Skill Points and Bushido Spirit Suggests upgrade, isn’t too simple to unlock.Instead, you might also need to acquire different gems as well which are an issue around the world, making you think out that which you unlock.
While the combat is the highlight of Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time given the gametype, there are also simple platforming elements which are used both as necessary areas of the level and as optional paths that you should traverse to find loot chests that can have anything from health items and gold to weapons and rare gems. Ensuring to explore all open paths is a great way to take advantage out of the levels and making use of the feature that teaches you where to go next isn’t only a method of getting back on track when you’re lost, but additionally a method to travel down the extra pathways and find loot along the way. In addition to platforming elements, some levels also provide traps set that will make you stop and consider your progression.
All of the comes together to create gameplay that isn't only fun on the initial playthrough but pushes you to definitely come back. Since you keep all of the skills you’ve unlocked whenever you press play on an amount again, you are able to explore other available choices like increasing the difficulty or undertaking Missions. Missions, dictate which weapons you can use throughout the level and other guidelines to complete each stage. Additionally, each stage is offered a star rating similar to the difficulty and, upon completion, each one provides you with a tier system grading with S being the best. The introduction to your stage completion factors in time to pay off, items used, deaths, and so on. For all those looking to improve your speed or challenge yourself a bit more, this alone brings players back. Personally, I’ve already played via a couple of stages to obtain the S ranking that I didn’t jump on my first run.
With a comparatively short playtime-about five hours on “Jack” mode (easy) and eight to 10 on “Samurai” mode (normal)-the replayability from the game is essential. With four difficulties there is a lot to test your merit on and with copious levels of tutorials (that you could decide to turn off) you can learn the game’s mechanics relatively simple. In truth Samurai Jack: Battle Through Timeis a game title that is fulfilling the very first go-around but gets better still while you replay it.
That said, it isn’t perfect, at least around the Nintendo Switch. My largest issue was using the game’s camera angles which would switch from controllable to static and morph the game from a 3D hack and slash right into a side-scroller. Although this wasn’t a deal-breaker for me, it made it hard for my eyes to concentrate as the transitions happened and made it difficult to stay in a groove while playing. Sadly because my eyes had a hard time adjusting, I did have to take part in the game in segments, one stage at a time, with breaks among instead of sitting through it a couple of goes. That said, although this is a problem, the amount design allows for you to play the game slowly and also you don’t lose narrative quality in so doing.
The heart from the game however is how much it suits Samurai Jack fans. Whether it’s through the world the developers chose for the stages, the story elements you get to play through, or the fact that as Jack takes damage his outfit does too-for the ones from who like to look at Jack, deciding to heal or let him remain shirtless is a tough choice-it’s clear the developers poured an infinite amount of love, care, and respect into this title. While I’m always skeptical of licensed games, Adult Swim Games knocked that one out of the park. In the thirst trap towards the combat and replayability, this can be a game I can’t recommend enough. Not to mention, the way the team worked in classic animation segments in to the story made me immediately start watching the series once again.
When all is said and done, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Timeis a wonderful game. It’s humorous, nostalgic, then one I would suggest to both existing fans and brand new ones alike. While there is a great deal to be gained whenever you know the storyline, knowledge isn’t necessary and that i can easily see this title making new Jack fans from many players. By nailing virtually every element, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Timeis only the game I was looking for.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Timeis currently available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam.
