So I'm looking for a good samurai game?

Pretty much. Oh, but we needn't worry about missing out on any of dat sweet Hatsune Miku action... >=/ It's all the more tragic because Yakuza 5 even has its own story centred on Haruka aspiring to be a Japanese pop-idol or whatever, and her story's gameplay is basically a musical rhythm game in itself.

Kessen 3 or Samurai Warriors, Kessen 3 is probably the best console non-turn based strategy game ever made.

please stop reminding me that we will never get yakuza 5

sob

I still think the Onimusha series is fantastic. All three of the main games are perfectly solid in their own right, though the second is probably the best with its branching story paths and characters.

They've aged as well if not better than classic Resident Evil games I find. They have mechanics that might have fallen out of light in gaming (tank controls); but they're still well crafted and fun to play if you can get passed their age.

Bushido Blade 2 and Way of the Samurai 3/4 get high recommendations from me. None of them are perfect, but they're all very unique.

@artelinarose: Time to start learning Japanese, I guess ;_;

@sooty: I've wanted to play this game for so long. I've played all Yakuza games (except 5) to date and love Samurai movies... Import and read translations I guess?

Rockstar need to make an open world samurai game in the vein of Red Dead.

Ain't a damn thing wrong with Hatsune Miku. And as for Yakuza 5 well...just import it. I'll be importing Project Diva F 2 and Yakuza 5 both in the spring.

That is your best shot. You also could read Miyamoto Musashi first since you can find a lot of story related stuff in there as well. Youtube has also a really good translation playlist for the cutscenes as well.

Thanks, I'll give that a look.

For years (since I started watching Kurasawa 12-13 years ago) I've wanted a gritty, realistic Samurai game...

I need to check out the Way of the Samurai games...

Ha. After looking at some screenshots, I realized I did play Way of the Samura 1 or 2 back in the day. I had totally forgotten. I should replay them, though.

@gaminghooligan:

Yes Sengoku Basara is an anime. i dont like it or the games. I do however love samurai Warriors 2, if you don't want a structured gameplay then the open nature of Samurai Warriors 2 empire is the other choice. Can even create your own warrior in Empire with looks and what fighting style (based off the main characters).

For Metal Gear rising play the demo and you will understand how much of an awesome Cyborg Samurai you will feel.

Like other said Way of the Samurai and Bushido Blade.

@fakekisser: I'm in the same boat, but a samurai game (and a good one at that) is rare. The last couple of years I've really grown to appreciate Kurosawas work that does not feature samurai or similar. His early noir like movies are also brilliant, like Stray Dog.

@fetchfox: Not exactly sure what noir is, but Ikiru and High and Low are two of Kurosawa's best, imo.

@akyho: wow lol that opener pretty much told me that show isn't for me. The way you described Samurai Warriors empire has me extremely interested as I'm a sucker for character creation.

@farmer: I love Mifune in roles that are not samurai, especially "High and Low". "Noir" was just me abbreviating the term Film Noir, which in french literary means "black film". It's the film genre with femme fatales (charming, beautiful and deadly women), stark contrast between light and dark and a plot that often centers around a private detective. Humphrey Bogart has starred in some, most known perhaps is "The Maltese Falcon". But if you want to see something that oozes Noir, go watch "Double Indemnity". I won't say anything about it, just watch it and enjoy.

Metal Gear Rising is samurai esque in nature.

Way of the Samurai 2 is, in my opinion, a lot better than 3. It...felt better, somehow? Also the story and endings were so much better than 3

Bushido Blade and Onimusha.

As a person that has played WotS 1, 3, and 4, I'm still waiting for them to make an awesome game. They have many interesting ideas, but the games aren't -that- much fun. Better visuals and tighter gameplay would do the series a whole lotta good.

As much as I appreciate Sengoku Basara, having played the third one, I just can't recommend it as much as the Samurai Warriors series. In comparison, the Sengoku Baara maps are smaller and more linear, and the scenario on each map is the exact same for every character, with the only real variation being which final stage you get.

I agree with this so much. That game is amazing and a huge step up over the first two games. I'm still bummed that Koei didn't produce a Kessen title for the current (almost previous?) generation.

@killerfridge: I second this. Way of the Samurai 2 just seemed more open and the story was just generally more compelling. Although Way of the Samurai 3 was still pretty fun and worth playing, gotta love being able to draw your sword at any time.