In the midst of all the game releases, there are some titles that go overlooked. In addition, during the down period time, there are some games that release to hold the gamer over until the next big (Triple-A) release. Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada is a game I would consider a title that will hold people over until the next huge release. However, does this mean the game is a bad or average game; or does it mean it is a good game? Read our review to find out if the samurai and warriors title holds up.
Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada
Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Series: Samurai Warriors
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Microsoft Windows
Release Dates: PS3, PS4, and PSVita JP Dates: November 23, 2016; PS4 and Windows NA Dates: May 23, 2017; EU Date: May 26, 2017
Genres: Hack and slash and action
Mode: Single-player
*Thank you to Koei Tecmo for providing the review code. It is always appreciated*
Intro/Story:
This is where I would post the story from the official Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada site. However, there is a huge issue with this. The story on the site covers a vast majority of the game’s plot and spoils quite a bit. Instead, I am opting for a for a smaller summary from the wiki page. The story from the wiki as follows:
Like the main series, Spirit of Sanada explores and romanticizes the Sengoku period of Japan, a period of political and military conflict involving the daimyo and their clans raising armies to fight against each other for power. While the main series features multiple viewpoints involving different factions, Spirit of Sanada focuses on one particular clan, the Sanada, who are led by Masayuki and his sons, Nobuyuki and Yukimura during the Sengoku period. The game’s timeline is roughly 54 years (from 1561 to 1615) and follows different incarnations of the main characters, who are aged up accordingly.
In my opinion, this summary is much better. It gives the player a small summary about the game’s plot and what to expect. From my experience in the game, the story takes quite a few twist and turns that I did not expect. The past Samurai Warriors games told a historically accurate narrative with some deviation here and there. In Spirit of Sanada, This game focuses on Masayuki Sanada (a series first where he is playable) and his family. There are side stories here and there that will play outside of the Sanada’s storyline, but ultimately it all plays into one narrative fleshed out.
This format delivers the story in a great manner that tells the Sanada’s timeline of 54 years. I knew somewhat of how the story plays out from past games, but to this depth, it is well done. Several hours was put into Spirit of Sanada from a developer aspect as the detail and retelling of a historical story from the Sengoku period is given the attention and treatment it needed. I have no cons with this as the game is pretty long and covers the historical period of this era.
Intro/Story Score: 5/5 – Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada’s story is a well done historical retelling of the Sanada storyline. It is detailed and provides great insight for the family behind the legends.
Gameplay:
In traditional Warriors fashion, the gameplay is more or less the same. You still get the maps where it is classic Warriors where you run taking over camps and killing the opposition’s main officers. You do this with the morale system that constantly fluctuates during the battle. However, this is not that only in the story gameplay.
The first thing that occurs where the player presses “new game” from the start menu, you are immediately thrown into the story. The story is told, then the player goes to the castle (or castle mode as it is known in the game). In the castle mode, the player has free range to explore the castle mode, or rather the main hub of the game. This serves to what the player wants to do. The player can speak to the NPCs, do various side quests, do optional tasks in the village (such as provide an item for blessing, or planting seeds a farm for crops), or go into the “battle mode”. In battle mode, the player can progress the story, go into exploration, or play free battles.
As the player progresses through Spirit of Sanada’s story, more assets are placed into Castle mode. The ability to give gifts to the main characters NPC becomes unlocked. Gifts given will eventually lead to building the affinity towards the player. As a result, the main NPCs will give the player gifts and go out with the player during the free mode, free battle, and exploration mode. As more progression occurs, more NPCs are placed, main characters are in the castle mode, more activities to do, more side quests are unlocked, and much more as the player progresses. This is a really unique take on how things place out. For as long as I remember, there used to be a menu to move onto what is next (with exception of a few games). This game breaks that mold and places something much better in place of it.
While improvements occurred, there are issues that are around since past games, one being the frame rate. This was played on a PS4 Pro and it was told in an interview the framerate would be a solid 60 FPS. However, that is not true. This is an issue in almost all Warriors games, with the exception of Hyrule Warriors (and its counterpart on an N3DS/N3DSXL). This game follows with frames dropping depending on the environment and number of enemies on the screen. Expect the frames drop from 60 to 40-50. It is still playable, but noticeable. What was surprising was the frames dropping in the castle mode. The frames would drop with not much going on.
There are also graphical glitches that were experienced, such as pop in environments, pop in enemies, and glitched NPCs. Another issue experienced is the AI, whether enemy or partner. The AI itself lacks from some previous games. Enemy AI would just run off randomly, or stand there while you attack the majority of the time. In addition to this, sometimes the main characters on the enemies’ side would attack you momentarily and just run off, or in circles. I had to spend a few minutes, ON A TIMED MISSION MIND YOU, chasing some enemy around to hit him. It is disappointing to some degree. In other AI complaints, your partner NPCs would just stand there getting hit, and they only attack if you are near them or switch into them. In the castle mode, the random NPCs running around would occasionally get stuck on random things.
Once again, a deal breaker? Not at all, but it would be nice if these issues were addressed before release, or even post release with a patch. With the history of past Warrior games, this will most likely not happen. That is a shame too for a game being of this caliber with issues like this will most likely never get patched. It may also go the typical Warriors route and charge for every piece of DLC that will come in the future. Time will tell with this, but history tells us that if the player wants DLC, they must be willing to drop upward to 50-100 dollars for possibly all the DLC. I hope this game does not get plagued with this as well.
Gameplay Score: 3/5 – While the gameplay itself is jam packed and fun in Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada, the issues in the game have plagued the franchise for many previous entries in the Warrior franchise in general. You would think by now some of these issues would finally be addressed and fixed, however, it seems not likely at this rate.
Audio/Video:
Audio:
In terms of audio, as I state in every review, the music and sound are one of the first things I seek out. It can literally make the game that much better, or contribute to the dislike of the game in a major way. I am happy to report that I enjoyed both the sound and music of the game.
In terms of sound, you have the old Warriors sound of weapons, horses, and others from past games. In addition, the voicework of the game is spot on. It is a JPN voice over with English dubs. Normally I have an issue with this, but the voice work is well done so I have zero complaints.
The Music itself is fantastic and varied depending on level and location. Below is a sample:
Audio Score: 5/5 – For a Warriors game, despite other issues that occur Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada nails it in the audio department.
Visual:
Visually, this game is more diverse than most Warriors games. You have a variety of environments with very little repetition. While you are not aiming to take down nearly endless enemies, you can take in the environment and like it. The detail to the characters including NPCs are well done and polished up for Spirit of Sanada. A negative issue in Spirit of Sanada that was experienced was the graphical glitches. These glitches do devalue the visuals of the game, as it takes that beauty of everything, and focuses it on this glitch of a broken AI melting through a crate in castle town and looking ugly. Besides that, I like what I saw.
Visual Score: 4/5 – Spirit of Sanada is beautiful and I wish I could compare it to the Vita version. That version will not release in the US, however. Finally, some of the graphical/visual glitches detract from the beauty.
Fun Factor:
Is this game fun? It depends on the player, however, I believe it is. As playing the game, put about 50-60 hours into the game. It was a very enjoyable experience. Nothing really felt wearing as I played. The game varies the missions so the remains engaged. As of this writing, I am most likely still playing the game just because I simply had fun. The Warriors games always had me engaged in some way, but this one, in my opinion, is probably the most fun I had in that type of game for a while.
Fun Factor Score: 5/5 – Spirit of Sanada is a fun game and I enjoyed (and probably still am enjoying) it.
Replay Value:
As all Warriors games, this one is no exception to the replay value. There are a few different endings. In addition, there are optional missions, having to 100% missions, exploration of areas, and much more. This game is not short on content. Fans of the Warriors franchise will be satisfied with the content of Spirit of Sanada. However, if you are not a Warriors fan, you may find yourself doing a few extra things and eventually call it quits. The time spent on Spirit of Sanada was enjoyable.
Replay Value Score: 5/5 – Spirit of Sanada has a ton of content waiting to found and explored. Any fan of the franchise will enjoy this.
Conclusion/Score Wrap-Up:
Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada is enjoyable. The player learns the Legend of the Sanada clan. It is a title that any Warriors fan should pick up. As stated, between huge triple-A releases some titles come out to hold us over. Spirit of Sanada does this as well as holds its own to some extent. This game is added to list of titles to hold gamers over until the next triple-A release. Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada does the job well despite issues that has been plaguing the franchise since its inception. Hopefully, this game sets the foundation for future Warriors titles in which all aspects can improve. A franchise that started off as a hack and slash game has evolved so much. I appreciate that it did as it made it that much more fun.
Until next time, Mgs2master2 out!
Score Wrap-Up:
Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada
Intro/Story Score: 5/5 – Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada’s story is a well done historical retelling of the Sanada storyline. It is detailed and provides great insight for the family behind the legends.
Gameplay Score: 3/5 – While the gameplay itself is jam packed and fun in Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada, the issues in the game have plagued the franchise for many previous entries in the Warrior franchise in general. You would think by now some of these issues would finally be addressed and fixed, however, it seems not likely at this rate.
Audio Score: 5/5 – For a Warriors game, despite other issues that occur Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada nails it in the audio department.
Visual Score: 4/5 – Spirit of Sanada is beautiful and I wish I could compare it to the Vita version. That version will not release in the US, however. Finally, some of the graphical/visual glitches detract from the beauty.
Fun Factor Score: 5/5 – Spirit of Sanada is a fun game and I enjoyed (and probably still am enjoying) it.
Replay Value Score: 5/5 – Spirit of Sanada has a ton of content waiting to found and explored. Any fan of the franchise will enjoy this.
Final Score: 9/10
As always, leave feedback on the review if there are issues to you. I would like to continue to improve my craft on writing posts.
*Once again, special thanks to Koei Tecmo for providing a review code for the PS4 version of the game.*