- Afro Samurai Box Cover - GameStop
Based on a popular manga and animated series of the same name, Afro Samurai had the potential to be a big hit. Besides the anime tie-in, the game also features the voice of Samuel L. Jackson as the main character and the musical stylings of RZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame.
Besides all of those credentials, the game also took the unique approach of having the enemy AI attack and move in rhythm to the music, in an attempt to create a very cinematic and stylized feeling game.
Unfortunately all of these bells and whistles failed to impress most of the industry’s top critics.
Positive Reviews
Although scores were not off the charts, Afro Samurai did manage to gain a few positive reviews from the likes of Game Informer and The Official Xbox Magazines.
Game Informer gave the game a score of 7.75 out of 10 and generally lauded the combat as being a lot of fun. However, the magazine said the game suffered from control issues and that its platforming elements were lackluster.
“Even as combat generally shines, the frequent devolutions into platforming don’t hold up to scrutiny,” said Game Informer reviewer Matt Miller. “Falling during simple leaps is far too easy, and the movement controls feel too stiff to provide a sense of freedom and agility that befits the character.”
The Official Xbox Magazine agreed with Game Informer on most points, but also praised the game’s soundtrack and criticized the bad camera. OXM gave the game a score of 7.5 out of 10.
Online gaming outlet GameSpot gave the game a score of 7 out of 10, citing the game’s “inconsistent pacing” as a drawback, but lauded its art style and soundtrack.
Negative Reviews
Other online gaming outlets were not as kind to the game. IGN and 1UP.com both scored the game low, stating the lack of options for game customization and a confusing story as drawbacks.
“If you take the plunge and buy this game, there will be times when you'll be playing, having a blast, and think that I'm full of crap,” said IGN reviewer Greg Miller. “Falling through the air while brawling with Afro Droid while rocking out to some fat beats is an amazing experience, but when you couple that with a piss-poor camera, terrible platforming sections, and cheap/mentally challenged bosses, the end product suffers.”
1UP.com’s reviewer Justin Haywald was particularly troubled by the confusing story, saying, “[the game is] a mashup of characters and situations that makes little sense. Afro fans may want to check it out for the game's altered ending, but everyone else would be better served just checking out the DVD.”
Average Review Scores
Overall, Afro Samurai garnered an average score of 64 percent on the Xbox 360 and 63 percent on the PS3 according to Metacritic.com. These scores are described as being “mixed or average.”
Game Details
- Title: Afro Samurai
- Publisher: Surge, a division of Namco-Bandai
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3
- Retail Price: $59.99
- ESRB Rating: M
Nicole Tanner - Nicole Tanner is a freelance journalist, fiction writer and avid gamer. She's worked in the videogame industry, both as a reporter and ...
