- Publisher: SCEA
- Release Date: Nov 14, 2006
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The gameplay in Genji isn’t superb but it’s fairly satisfying. It isn’t the most memorable game available, but you will have fun for the 10 hours or so that the game lasts.
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Many people won’t bother getting far enough into the game to appreciate the visuals, but if you give it a chance there’s a good game here. The camera problems unfortunately keep it from being great, but it’s a welcome diversion from the FPS and sports titles that have flooded the PS3 launch.
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A good showcase of the PS3’s graphical ability but the controls felt too rushed and made very little use of the new features of the SIXAXIS controller.
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Although flawed and derivative, Genji: Days of the Blade still manages to offer a bit of enjoyment for those willing to seek it out.
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Even though it is a beautiful game, the actual gameplay is somewhat hampered by repetitive combat, a difficult camera, and lack of exploration.
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Next-gen looks that plays like a last-gen title.
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Despite all the flaws in Genji, it is still a rather enjoyable game. The environments and characters look amazing, but looks don’t necessarily translate into a great action title.
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Graphically, it's almost there but the gameplay felt like something I'd seen from multiple PS2 games in the past.
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It’s twice as beautiful as the PS2 version and twice as long with twice as many characters, too. Sadly, its near-perfect presentation tanks because of awful camera angles and poor controller mechanics, both choppy and unsuitable for an action game like this.
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While this action adventure game flexes a bit of the PlayStation 3's graphical muscle with its mythical Japanese scenery, its rather shallow, derivative gameplay makes it difficult to recommend.
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At times, you'll be fighting enemies who are off-screen behind the camera - or worse again, trying to clear jumps and obstacles you can't even see.
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Play MagazineGenji is best played, and possibly enjoyed with patience, in chunks. [Jan. 2007, p.72]
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PSM MagazineIt's still fun in bursts, but there's very little here that hasn't already been done on the PS2. [Jan. 2007, p.84]
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PSM3 Magazine UKIt's slick and it's fast, and when the fighting flows you can almost forget about the flaws. But really, it's just another game where you run from one area to another, clearing room after room of enemies and, graphics apart, it never truly surprises or impresses. [Jan 2007, p.78]
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Genji looks great, and bodes well for what PS3 will be able to do, but as a game it feels like a technical demo.
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Pure Magazine UKLooks beautiful but plays like a prawn cracker riding a motorbike. [Mar 2007, p.61]
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Playstation Official Magazine UKBoss battles are fun, but overall it feels like hard work. [Apr 2007, p.110]
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AceGamezIf only the developers had fixed that camera. If only they had thought harder about the puzzles. But they didn't and that leaves Genji as a disappointing experience overall.
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Beneath the gleaming surface lies an old heart that’s just about had it. Days of the Blade gets half the formula right. Sadly, it’s the wrong half. In the end, fans of the original should take a look, but anyone looking for a true next-generation action title will need to wait.
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All the beautiful graphics in the world can’t save a game as badly designed as Genji. Unless you’re looking for nothing more than a pretty face, stay well away from this mediocre-at-best effort.
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When stacked against some of the PS3's other launch titles, Genji certainly looks impressive, but it almost feels more like a polished tech demo than a robust hack-and-slasher.
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This lack of ambition keeps Genji from achieving any enduring success...it'll suffice for launch-time thrills, but likely won't linger long in your mind.
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The visceral experience is everything we would want from a 1080p title but this does not truly make up for the lack of innovation in the way the game plays out. There is much of been there-done that feel to the game.
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As it is, Genji is undercooked. It's not terrible, but it's not good enough to rise above the baggage of ridicule hanging over its shoulder.
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A launch title in every sense of the phrase and you should steer clear of it. You might want to rent it just to see how it looks and impress your non-techie friends but other than that there’s no reason to put down $59.99 for this clunker. [JPN Import]
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The lack of camera control is a travesty, especially since the right analog stick’s defensive dodges are redundant with the Sixaxis controller’s tilting functions.
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Games Master UKNot a total abomination, but certainly one of the weaker PS3 launch titles. Avoid. [Apr 2007, p.64]
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The combat gets repetitive too fast and there just isn’t enough here to really immerse the player into the game. The biggest problem with this game is that you have seen it before a million times and on most occasions it was done bigger and better.
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There is definitely a lot of potential behind the series, but Genji is far too broken to be enjoyable. The gameplay lacks flow and fluidity, and begs for Devil May Cry-like speed. Moreover the combat is clunky and just isn't fun.
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Little more than an illusion; it looks pretty, but you can't peek at what's beyond the view you're given, and that view will happily allow someone to stick a katana in your eyeball.
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Genji: Days of the Blade may have passed for a launch-title on the Playstation 2 in terms of gameplay, but on the Playstation 3 it is bland, repetitive and asinine.
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Electronic Gaming MonthlyFinally, the vague puzzles and unhelpful map also had me questioning whether this was next-gen. [Jan. 2007, p.78]
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Edge MagazineIt's certainly got strong production in its favour, but needs better direction - what's been gained in grunt and intensity has been lost in terms of poise and refinement, resulting in an uncomfortable middle ground between truly outrageous action and the disciplined choreography of the original. [Jan 2007, p.74]
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A hack and slash game should have been a decent choice for a newly launched console, but this one is made nearly unplayable by its frustrating camera system and shallow gameplay.
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A solid hack 'n' slash adventure let down by poor level design and a bad camera system.
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Stunning visuals, a lush soundtrack and interesting, semi-historical storyline get lost in a lackluster game experience riddled with annoying camera angles, repetitive hack-and-slash action, confusing missions and load times that should never be seen on a next-generation gaming system.
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As much as we're sometimes awestruck by Genji's eye candy, we're more frequently struck dumb by how unwieldy the camera is. Isn't this the next generation? Wasn't the irritation of being attacked from off-screen and being unable to control your perspective distinctly last-gen?
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It has some really nice HD visuals and a keen sense of style, but some fairly typical current-gen gameplay and game design annoyances to go along with them. It's overall a very average launch game.
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Official U.S. Playstation MagazineAs a PS2 game, Days of the Blade might have been good. But this is next-gen country, where the expectations are high. [Jan. 2007, p.74]
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While pretty as a picture, Genji has only managed to strike my wallet for massive damage. My advice is to switch away from buying Genji, and get your giant crab with some garlic butter instead.
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Despite the fact it looks rather pretty, Genji: Days of the Blade is a poor effort that does just about everything worse than its predecessor.
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Fabulous graphics can only do so much damage limitation in the face of so many fundamental design flaws.
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Make no mistake about it: It truly feels as though the camera in this game hates you and wants you to die. Enemies attack from off-camera. Players can't see what's around the corner. And God forbid there's an important jump that needs to be made.
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A beautiful but deeply flawed game whose mediocrity is all the more frustrating when you consider that gameplay could have been vastly improved with a few simple fixes. With a controllable camera or targeting system, the game would easily transition hateful to average.
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Play UKThe worst thing about Genji: Days of hte Blade is that it doesn't just feel like a dated Playstation 3 game, it feels like a dated PS2 game also. [Issue 148, p.64]
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games(TM)An archaic combat engine, pitiful level design, a crushingly dull and unnecessary story and level of galling frustration that reaches and often surpasses even Stuntman for sheer annoyance all add up to the one PS3 launch game nobody should consider for even a second. [Feb 2007, p.122]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 18 out of 41
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Mixed: 12 out of 41
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Negative: 11 out of 41
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Jan 12, 2022
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Feb 5, 2021
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Jun 22, 2020