Samurai Riot

by Mikhail Jun 8, 2022 | 1 Votes | 85 Played | 0 Reviews

10 rate

Genres:

Fighting , Action , Arcade

Graphics:

Labels:

Fantasy Setting , Beat Em Up

Platforms:

Publishers:

Wako Factory Samurai Riot is a 2D beat’em up arcade game where you beat up rebels and even monsters in feudal Japan. Fight hordes of enemies as either Sukane or Tsurumaru, and decide how the story goes. The game has eight different endings, and where you will end up depends on your choices. Play Now Similar Games

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Summary Plotline Gameplay Community Graphics/Sound Conclusion

Summary

Arcade beat’em ups were a massive thing back in the day. You had kung fu and martial arts-inspired titles, and who could forget about the top-rated River City franchise? Many of these games made it to consoles, although many were limited to gaming machines in arcades. Though they are not as big as they were back then, today’s beat’em ups are infused with various gameplay mechanics from other genres, delivering a fresh experience.

Samurai Riot is one of these beat’em ups. This 2D sidescrolling action arcade game by Wako Factory. As its name suggests, the game puts you in the middle of feudal Japan with fantasy elements, making you fight hordes of enemies ranging from humans to creatures in Japan’s rich legends and folklore. Though it follows the gameplay loop of its peers, it sets itself apart thanks to its multi-ended story and characters with different skills and “schools” of martial arts.

With that said, would it be something you’d want to have on your Nintendo Switch? Let’s check out what it has to offer:

Plotline

Feudal Japan is always a fascinating setting, especially when paired with traditional Japanese monsters in their legends and folklore. This is the case in Samurai Riot. You’ll play as either of two characters, Sukane or Tsurumaru, who serve one master. As fellow vassals, you’ll cooperate and fight together, taking out hordes of enemies in an attempt to quell a peasant uprising instigated by your master’s rival.

Unlike its peers, Samurai Riot sets itself apart by having eight different endings. These are decided by your choices at the end of fateful encounters. These choices are essentially moral dilemmas, and the paths you choose to traverse will determine the ending. However, you will notice that in repeated runs, the overall narrative barely changed, and the same can be said about how you trod through them. Regardless, it’s worth investing time in multiple playthroughs to see how your chosen story paths end. Oh, and minor spoilers: you could actually become the “villain” in this game if you prefer.

Gameplay

Samurai Riot is a traditional beat’em up sidescrolling 2D action arcade game. If you have played games like Streets of Rage or the more recent River City Girls, then you will discover Samurai Riot isn’t that far off. However, unlike its peers, the actual combat feels more like a fighting game; the characters have different movesets and even special abilities, setting itself apart from traditional brawlers. Regardless, it is highly comparable to its peers; you’ll enter a level, engage in combat against hordes of enemies and face off against a boss. A playthrough takes an hour or two, but thanks to the difference between the two characters and many possible endings, the replayability is relatively high.

Samurai Riot lets you play between two characters, namely, Tsurumaru and Sukane. Tsurumaru looks like your textbook samurai/Japanese sword-wielding retainer. He fights enemies with a tachi, slashing and cutting through swathes of enemies while meticulously blocking incoming attacks. Meanwhile, Sukane fulfills the role of a kunoichi, or ninja, for their master. She effortlessly performs backflips to dodge enemy attacks, and her techniques involve bombs and her pet kitsune/fox.

One of the telling features of Samurai Riot is the difference between these two characters and the possible schools or styles they may have. For example, Sukane can be a ninja of different schools, like the Camelia, Frog, Dragonfly, or Phoenix. Each school has varying buffs and skills which adhere to a particular playstyle. In the case of Tsurumaru, he’s more of a traditional samurai, but unlike Sukane, he can effectively block enemy attacks, making him a better option for singleplayer runs.

Combat in Samurai Riot feels dated, which is part of its appeal. Sukane can punch, kick, perform jumping attacks, use her fox to chain down enemies, and use bombs to rain down on her adversaries. Meanwhile, Tsurumaru is content with playing the role of a traditional samurai, slashing opponents with his tachi. Enemies range from spear-wielding and goofy-looking peasants to literal ogres and spider-ladies. Their attack patterns progressively evolve as you progress, becoming more complex and making you think twice before mindlessly button mashing.

Community

Samurai Riot doesn’t have online co-op capabilities, but you can play with another player in a single system. Couch co-op is fun with a friend, especially since Sukane and Tsurumaru can actually work and fight together.

Graphics/Sound

In terms of presentation, Samurai Riot is gorgeous. The game runs on a stable 60 FPS on the Switch, giving you a smooth experience even in areas with multiple opponents. The game also has stellar voice acting; Sukane’s voice stands out. The art style looks great, and fits the feudal/fantasy Japan theme. However, there are rather wacky additions like peasants wearing boots and goggles.

Conclusion

Overall, Samurai Riot is one of those must-play games if you’re a fan of its genre. If you’re someone absolutely loved games like Streets of Rage and River City Ransom, then its combat elements will undoubtedly appeal to you. It’s a relatively short experience with multiple endings, which, in turn, makes it something you’d want to have repeat playthroughs of to see where you’ll end up with.

New Game Added: Samurai Riot

by Mikhail Jun 8, 2022

Samurai Riot is a 2D beat’em up arcade game where you beat up rebels and even monsters in feudal Japan. Fight hordes of enemies as either Sukane or Tsurumaru, and decide how the story goes. The game has eight different endings, and where you will end up depends on your choices.