Graphics
Visually, Kabuki Warriors isn't all that spectacular and I'll admit to you right now that the game looks more or less like the original Bushido Blade for PlayStation. From time to time you may see that the animation is stiff and forced with the special attacks being little more than twists and turns of your character attacking in different ways. Ah, if you're looking for small details in the characters, then don't bother because much like actual Kabuki, all of the character faces are painted on and do not move! The locations that you fight in are typically the same, so without really noticing what the backgrounds have to offer in terms of scenery, you may find it to be a little more repetitive than you are willing to stand.
Sound
Audio wise, you have little more than some sort of attempt to be traditional with a lack of music and overall soundtrack to accompany the game. Where you'll hear most of the music is with the different menu selections and you really won't find too much to go along with your fights unless you play a CD in the stereo. The sound effects also tend to drag on with the most prominent of them all being the stomping of feet on a wooden floor and some sort of scream being played every time you do something in either the game or the menu. When you place these two things together, you'll find that there really isn't much here to offer and there can be some serious muting going on.
Gameplay
Control is a little strange in this game, simply because you have the four buttons to work with and then the analog stick. Because the XBox controller is heavy and large, you may have to work with the game a little bit in order to get the desired effect that you're looking for. Attacks and otherwise are simple to pull off with enough practice, and if you're a veteran of games such as Bushido Blade and Kengo, then you shouldn't have a problem working with this title. Something that does come up as a challenge though is getting the defensive rolls and otherwise to work correctly, and you'll have to practice your timing to get them down!
Bottom Line:
Kabuki Warriors is for the Samurai at heart that really don't need too much to go along with the overall feel of the game. While there really isn't much to offer you in terms of audio and visuals, there are some pretty cool concepts here that have to be realized in order to enjoy the game. Even though this isn't a fast paced game and you may find it to be a little more dragging than your usual fighting game, the different objectives that you complete in your fights are something that is fairly new and innovative. For anyone else looking for a top notch fighting game, you best look elsewhere, because this is for hardcore fans only!