Additional details on Samurai 2 revealed

Additional details on Acquire's Samurai 2 have been revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu magazine. Samurai 2 takes place on a fictional island--named Amahara--in Japan during the Edo period. Based on a historical island in the Nagasaki prefecture, Amahara has exclusive privileges to make contact with the outside world in a time when foreign influences were taboo. Amahara is full of foreigners and merchandise that is rare to the rest of Japan, but the island also has its own problems involving crime and politics.

Players choose from one of three main characters: a youth, a wild warrior, or a sword master. The main character has no background story or personality, and it is up to the player to choose what path to follow. For example, one of the first vital events in the game occurs when a small girl offers food to the starving character. Afterward, the girl walks off and bumps into trouble with a group of thugs who are part of a notorious gang on the island. Although saving the girl will lead the player to a scenario, it is up to the player to decide whether to help her out or to ditch her and walk off to find something different.

Samurai 2 focuses attention on presenting the daily lives of the people in the Edo period. The streets of the game are filled with civilians, merchants, foreigners, and others character who sometimes talk to the player. Like in the previous title, players can purchase new swords and acquire additional fighting stances. Samurai 2 will have more swords and stances than before, and their attack motions and special effects have been improved. In addition to weapons, there are now shops in Samurai 2, where players can buy a variety of items. Players can accept a number of jobs throughout the game as well, such as finding a missing person, avenging the death of a client, and assassinating.

Samurai 2 is scheduled for the PlayStation 2 in October in Japan and is currently 60 percent complete.