Just give Samurai Jack a chance...
During the time when Cartoon Network had GOOD cartoons coming on television there was one cartoon that really caught my attention and I believe it was Samurai Jack! The cartoon series was basically about a samurai warrior named Jack who was trying to destroy an evil shape shifting wise cracking wizard named Aku only to be tricked into a time portal and flung into future! Samurai Jack wishes to return to the past by finding another time portal that will send him back through time. But that won't be easy! Aku has taken over the future and his evil minions have spread just about everywhere! It's up to Samurai Jack to undo the future while he searches for the time portal home! Well, that pretty much sums up what the cartoon was about! Now it's time to review the game.
Game play: Basically you're controlling Jack through different environments slaying evil robot after robot, collecting relics, and rescuing the natives that have been imprisoned by Aku's minions. The controls are pretty simple to master if you remember playing Star Fox Adventures except your killing robots this time around! During your quest you will learn some new combos by finding ancient scrolls. Their alright but this is a hack slash game! If you collect enough relics though you can increase your health, power, and zen which you use for the combos! You can also use your bow and arrows to shoot your foes. Ninja stars are optional because really you'll be using the blade most of the game. And plus later on you get upgrades on your blade for example the fire blade. Fighting enemies in this game is kind of like fighting enemies in Zelda but in this game baddies are mostly made of tin foil! If you want a challenge then switch to hard mode but I found it still easy...
Graphics: Samurai Jack Shadows Of Aku was developed by Sega and given the license to be even a game by Nintendo. On a visual scale in my opinion the graphics I thought looked nice. I liked the colorful artwork of the cell shading in the environments as well as the cinematic when Jack is interacting with the natives. I thought they should have added more cut scenes like that throughout the game but there still fun to watch. My only gripe is that they needed more worlds but still the graphics are decent. Avoid the PS2 version at all costs if want a pleasant experience in the graphics department.
Value: Does Samurai Jack Shadows Of Aku have value? Well... hmmm... I don't really see this game a lot on the shelves at GameStop so I guess it has potential. But many reviewers from various game sights gave it mediocre ratings. This game was pretty straight forward from start to finish I admit but it does grow on me because I was a fan of Samurai Jack back when it used to come on. When you do beat this game be warned! Lack of replay value! But it's still fun to play over again at least to me it was. Heck, why not let your little cousin or nephew play it! After all, this game was geared toward the younger audience and the fans.
Overall: Samurai Jack Shadows Of Aku is a good but not great game. I'm being pretty fair here! The game is short and lacks replay value but the graphics I thought were good and the game play is decent to that of Star Fox Adventures. This game needed more meat to it but it still managed to deliver to me. Just in small amounts... Would I recommend the game to you? Well, why not? It should be an under priced game by now at $7.99 used. If you see it then just give Samurai Jack a chance. You might be glad you did! Or not...
Uh... Link will win! This review was brought to you by Wolflink001.