Is this actually already out in the U.S.?  If so, I haven't seen it ANYWHERE in Waco...and that would piss me right the fuck off! 
 
Either way, the first two...as well as Samurai Western...were pretty damn awesome.  I wouldn't expect anything less out of this one.

Well if you've ever wondered what that douche Pete Molyneux would end up with if he ever lived up to his promises, you'd get something like a Way of the Samurai game. The combat is decent, the graphics are meh, but you literally dictate every choice, not just 3 or so like in Fable. 
The franchise is this in concept, I couldn't comment on this specific entry. Maybe GB could to a QL if they're not busy doing a 2nd Quicklook on some other game that already has enough press.

The game is really similar to the original, which is a good thing. The graphics are poor, but you don't notice them I find. The sword play is deep. There are a half dozen stances each with a unique skill tree. There are hundreds of unique swords and you can forge your own using parts you pick up from jobs and enemies. The playthroughs can be as short as an hour or as long as three. If you know the series, you know it is made to be played many times in many different ways. This game has 21 endings. 
 
As mentioned above, you can do anything. Want to start the game and literally three minutes in, kill a really important character? You can. Want to buy a bunch from a merchant then turn around and kill him to get the money back? Yep. (though he's gone for the rest of that play through) Want to join both warring clans and play double agent, or kill off the leaders of both and rule the land? Yep. Want to go on an errand to find an old ladies panties? (seriously) Go for it. 'Partner' up with the town whore? Yep. Find ninja's in the night? Gain the ability to wield two samurai swords?...or better yet, wield two ninja swords in "dual ninja stance"? Its all there. 
 
The fun and longevity of this game comes from trying to get the different endings. There are so many different  decisions and branching paths, that it is actually a puzzle to see what actions (outside the obvious killing of main characters) will alter the story path. I rented it from Gamefly and will likely keep it. It seems near impossible to get in retail stores. 

Ok. I'm sold. I've always been a fan of the 2nd game and it just got better once I acquired the most powerful sword there. I'll be getting this as soon as possible next to Tekken 6.
 
 
On retrospect though, I'm not even sure why I want to buy Tekken 6. I'm not exactly a fan of the series nor fighting games in general.

I've thoroughly enjoyed the time spent playing this game through multiple times. I was a fan of the first one years back and, as mentioned above, it has kept some of those better elements. This game has tons of replay value and since you can find deals online for it lower than fifty dollars it's worth a buy to me.

this game is now on games on demand for £14.99. i looked at the screen shots and the dialogue is in japanese. i take it it is in english if you buy the game

@ryanwho said:

Well if you've ever wondered what that douche Pete Molyneux would end up with if he ever lived up to his promises, you'd get something like a Way of the Samurai game.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

It has a lot of problems...but i enjoyed the hell out of it. The week Arkham CIty came out I actually found my self taking long breaks from that game to play WOS 3....

@ryanwho said:

Well if you've ever wondered what that douche Pete Molyneux would end up with if he ever lived up to his promises, you'd get something like a Way of the Samurai game. The combat is decent, the graphics are meh, but you literally dictate every choice, not just 3 or so like in Fable. The franchise is this in concept, I couldn't comment on this specific entry. Maybe GB could to a QL if they're not busy doing a 2nd Quicklook on some other game that already has enough press.

You mean like this?

And yeah i've been interested in this for awhile, looks like Yakuza meets Tenchu, which is awesome. But I just have so many other games i've bought that i'm not playing, or have stopped playing for some reason. I'm beginning to think I have the shittest attention span ever...

Hm, I forgot about this game, but the quicklook made it look interesting but kinda weird. If I can get it cheap (and actually find it) I think I'll pick it up.

This and Armored Core V are on my radar for games to just play, and not really care about the story or anything.

edit: or maybe i'll just wait for Way of the Samurai 4.

\@BoOzak said:

@ryanwho said:

Well if you've ever wondered what that douche Pete Molyneux would end up with if he ever lived up to his promises, you'd get something like a Way of the Samurai game. The combat is decent, the graphics are meh, but you literally dictate every choice, not just 3 or so like in Fable. The franchise is this in concept, I couldn't comment on this specific entry. Maybe GB could to a QL if they're not busy doing a 2nd Quicklook on some other game that already has enough press.

You mean like this?

You realize he posted that comment over 2 years ago right?

@Unknown_Pleasures: I would'nt have posted that reply if I did ;p