Sure, at its core, Battle Through Time is a retelling of the TV series with some deviations, but it absolutely nails what makes Samurai Jack a modern animated masterpiece, and it was a delightful surprise to play through.
Although it may seem short, the game is packed with engaging action and enough content to justify its price. Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a must-play title for fans of the cartoons, and it should be picked up by those looking for an action game too, even if they are not familiar with one of the most famous ninjas ever to grace recent pop culture.
What’s on offer here is a version of what would only have been available, back then, from a top-flight studio; a haven for those who crave a hit of Tartakovsky; and a hack-and-slash hardly ahead of the curve but happy to polish the past.
A relic of another time, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time feels dated by today's standards of character action games but still represents a mighty fine way to replay as one of Adult Swim's most notable heroes.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time ended up being an incredibly mixed bag. Though it may have been great to play during the series’ original heyday, it doesn’t entirely hold up to modern standards. Like any blade, the combat becomes dull over time, but the graphics and systems are there to keep players slicing-and-dicing until the conclusion.
From the linear, level-based gameplay and destructive environments that hide collectibles in vases and crates, to the age of the source material (barring references to the more mature season 5), everything about Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time feels like a PS2 game, for better and for worse. The simple, throwback gameplay is fun and the fan service for such an iconic show is ample. The game becomes much harder to recommend for more casual fans of the show, as strange gameplay decisions such as forced perspective side-scrolling segments and technical difficulties occasionally bog down the experience. Overall, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a fun, though maybe forgettable, romp through one of the greatest cartoons of all time.
At its heart this is a fantastic game, but it’s hidden so deeply by the introduction and the reward system. Honestly the only thing they’d have to fix is the rewards where the reward increase would even out the enemies power progression, this would also prove incredibly useful if they actually taught players how to use abilities on enemies so that players used them to their advantage.
As a diehard Samurai Jack fan, this game was mostly delightful to go through. There were some moments in the game that felt very repetitive, but it was a blast going through the story, and giving a satisfying end to Jack's story compared to the gut punch that was the show's final season. Combat was incredibly satisfying, and it does have some variety with what weapons Jack can use. The boss battles were the high point of the game for me. Bringing back the original voice cast is always a plus in my book. Levels can be a little large and empty at times, and enemy variety is a little on limited side of things. The game is short, and aside from playing it on higher difficulties, there isn't much replayability. I'd strongly recommend this to Samurai Jack fans.
Damn, do I love it when expectations get exceeded. While “Samurai Jack” wasn’t one of the shows I watched the most as a kid, I did enjoy what I saw of it, and I do think it’s very compelling. The fact that the series finally received its final season in 2017, and that it ended up earning so much positive talk, was only icing on the cake. But when “Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time” was announced, I kinda just scratched my head in confusion. The sudden announcement of a new “Samurai Jack” game made me worried that it would simply be a cash-in on the show’s popularity, and when I saw the gameplay…it just seemed off. There was something about it that wasn’t grabbing me, and I didn’t have very high expectations going into it. And that’s why it’s with great happiness that I report to you guys…I liked it!
“Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time” will certainly not bring anything new to the table: it’s a simple, by-the-books action game that, at times, feels like a more kid-friendly alternative to “Ghost of Tsushima” in its combat. But, while it’s not reinventing the wheel, the one thing it is doing is providing fun, exciting action gameplay. Though I made the “Ghost of Tsushima” comparison, the game hearkens back a bit to older action games, but does so charmingly, with solid combat mechanics and variety. I also didn’t expect the game to have as much depth as it does, but damn, does it. There’s a lot of content to unlock and learn here, and it makes the game a real winner. While I didn’t think I’d care for the visual design at first, I do think it handles the move to 3D pretty decently, and I also appreciate that the game handles the source material with respect. The story is good, the writing is solid, and the overall package here is good stuff.
It’s not perfect, though: beyond that whole “it brings nothing new to the table” thing I said earlier, the game is definitely really short, and I also would’ve liked it if there was a little more variety to it, specifically in the boss fights. Very few of them are very memorable, and sometimes, it’s kinda boring just fighting bigger versions of the enemies you just fought. I would’ve liked if the bosses were a bit more interesting, instead of the repetitive boss design we got.
Other than that, though “Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time” is a pleasant surprise, and in a year like 2020, it’s kinda nice to have one of those. Even if it’s not the greatest game to release this year, it’s an enjoyable time that I recommend for “Samurai Jack” fans, as well as those looking for a solid, linear action game. With how short it is, I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to wait for a price drop, but I still suggest you play the game. If you want proof that licensed games can still be good when handled with genuine love and care, look no further than “Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time.”
Final rating: 7 out of 10 “Good”
Graphics are f**kin' foggy, lurid obnoxious... Sound FX: are annoying, loud - exhausting, and *not*
satisfying at all.
Gamplay... NEEDS work. --Go play: Ghosts of Tsushima,
or Sekiro.
Here's my review of the Samurai Jack game that combat system is not good. The combat system is not satisfying and it doesn't feel Good to fight the enemies . The characters look like they are high quality figurines so that's good .I would only recommend it if you are really desperate for a Samurai Jack video game
SummaryBecome Samurai Jack, the greatest warrior of the past, present and future. Journey through time to finally stop Aku’s evil reign in this new adventure told by the creators of Samurai Jack. Encounter your favorite characters from the show including The Scotsman, Scaramouche, Sir Rothchild and more.