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How Metascores Are Calculated
47
Alone in the Dark
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
Samurai Champloo steps out of the hack-and-slash action genre and offers a new way to swing a finely-honed samurai blade. Set in Japan with hip hop feel from the hit TV series by the same name, this title allows gamers to breathe life to a "lost episode" as one of three playable characters – Mugen, a reckless samurai with break-dancing fighting style, calculated Jin who abides by the decorum of Bushido, and a mysterious new character exclusive to the video game. Stranded in northern land of Ezo (current day Hokkaido) in search of the samurai who smells of sunflowers, the player must face foreign mercenaries, master swordsmen, diabolical assassins, mythical beasts, and gangster monkeys. The core of the game's unique combat system lies in the innovative integration of music and linked attacks. The players can choose an array of combos based on the different hip hop grooves that they can swap at will. Music tracks become collectible, opening an extensive assortment of linked attacks that can be implemented tactically during combat. [Bandai]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 88
GameBrink
Samurai Champloo is just a rocking game with fun gameplay, amazing style, great story and presentation, and awesome music. [JPN Import]
 84
BonusStage
The three wildly different takes on the main story should take around 15 or so hours to complete (including the cut scenes) and the ton of music tracks, weapons and items make for quite a bit of collecting.
80
Gaming Horizon
Samurai Champloo is a game that’s definitely more flash than substance, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a shallow game.
80
Play Magazine
Samurai Champloo is by no means perfect--the repetition bug nibbles away now and again and the characters lack subtle animation nuances such as walking--but for what it is, and more over what its fans expect, it smells pretty damn sweet. [Apr 2006, p.47]
76
GameSpot
The gameplay can get rather tiresome after a while, but Samurai Champloo's goofy sense of humor and stylish touches make it more than just your average button-masher.
75
GameZone
The unique fighting styles of Jin and Mugen, combined with quick combos and awesome effects, create an experience that's as fun and exciting to play as it is to watch.
75
GamerNode
The game, while sometimes bordering on repetitious fighting sequences, holds together as an entertaining and fresh game in the world of copy cat titles.
75
Worth Playing
If you're a fan, rejoice and get this game, flaws and all.
73
Gamer's Hell
As a whole, Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked is a surprisingly well done button masher which should be even more appealing to anime fans.
73
netjak
This is one of those games that while beatable on a weekend rental, is solid enough that the excess of strangeness means you'll probably have an enjoyable time with it, and crack a smile while playing through at least once.
72
IGN
Provides an overall fun experience simply because of its reasonably fun combat system and its totally whacked out sense of humor.
70
1UP
Sure, it does have some taxing level-design problems, but its presentation and sheer wackiness and randomness saves it from being just another statistic.
70
GamerFeed
Grasshopper Manufacture, best known for its work on the underappreciated "Killer 7," has done a great job capturing the essence of the show while incorporating its own signature elements, and the result is an entertaining hack and slash adventure that serves up plenty of action that's been marinated in tasty Samurai Champloo shenanigans.
70
GamePro
A good game with a few bugs. If you're a fan of the anime series then you'll probably fall instantly in love with Sidetracked.
70
AceGamez
It's too bad Fuu isn't playable, other than a wacky mini-game where she gets to speed-eat, but then again, you'd probably just be doing a different mini-game where she gets kidnapped anyway.
68
Game Informer
Fans of the series will appreciate the games faithfulness to the show, but to everyone else, Sidetracked will just feel like an uglier version of countless games you've played before. [May 2006, p.101]
67
Gaming Age
Sidetracked is a hard sell due to it just being so weird. Strange gameplay styles and psychedelia combine to make a game that is at once compelling and borderline offensive in its ways.
60
Cheat Code Central
When you finally realize that most of your moves are going to be accessed by only two buttons with the occasional button-pushing mini games, it's likely to be game-over for most players.
60
PSM Magazine
The lack of any camera control can be frustrating at times, leaving you with a less than optimal view of the action. [May 2006, p.78]
60
Edge Magazine
Were it not for its creative direction's admirable job of filling in its patchy mechanics' gaps it would be entirely skippable. With those gaps filled it's a charming, if flawed, achievement. [June 2006, p.96]
50
Games Radar
Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked does a lot that's interesting - for a little while, anyway - but we get the impression that this is the product of too much thought and not enough work.
50
Deeko
The title is certainly not technically impressive, nor is it even that impressive gameplay wise - its greatest strength lies in its style which isn't even as strong as it is in the series.
45
Digital Entertainment News
Sidetracked is a perfect example of a great idea that didn’t get the proper work to make it shine. With a little more effort, the game could have gone from mediocre to must own.
40
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
What's not so impressive is that actual combat is pretty sucky. The combos themselves are simplistic. [Jun 2006, p.94]
40
Game Chronicles
Halfway in between something that was rushed out the door to capitalize on the popularity of the series and a game that actually had some crafting. It’s worth the look for some mindless fun, but the price of admission is a bit high.
40
G4 TV
From the thin level design to the promising but ultimately limited combo system, Sidetracked seems more like a proof of concept than a final product. It does break out into some very cool moves once in a while, but most of them can be had for free, simply by tuning into "Adult Swim."
Johnny D. gave it a6: Jay K. gave it a10: |
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