Sword of the Samurai - PS2

This latest martial arts title from the developer of the super slash 'em up series Bushido Blade pits players in a quest to fight for the right to take on authentic legendary grand master sword fighters.

Sporting the rather obscure tagline 'The Samurai is the Man Amongst Men', Sword of the Samurai delivers a respectful and serious take on your average fighting game. The main body of the game involves taking part in heroic battles to the death whilst undertaking numerous missions, such as assassinations, defences, rescues, and tournaments.

With accompanying lingo such as 'A true Samurai knows not fear in battle, only the brilliance of the moon in calm water', it's clear from the outset that this is more of a thinking man's beat 'em up, leaning more towards the Karate Kid/Mr Miyagi school of self defence. To become a true Samurai, players must embrace their blood-soaked path, master the deadly sword craft, conquer legions of adversaries, and uncover the secrets of history's most exalted Samurai.

Throughout the game players get to customise their own fighter, before going on to train with historically accurate Samurai Masters. Along the way a total of 30 legendary Samurai must be defeated - all wielding authentic weapons and fighting styles - including such luminaries as Miyamoto Musashi and Yagyu Jubei.

Featuring single opponents, one-stroke kills, a plethora of fighting combos, and combat against multiple adversaries, Sword of the Samurai is the ideal game for all Katana-wielding martial arts fanatics as well as those who prefer the more spiritual aspects of combat. more