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00:00 [Major plays]
00:05 Welcome to Mojo Plays, and today we're looking at the best video games to feature samurai.
00:10 "Master your blade. You must first control your emotions."
00:17 Before we begin, we publish new content all week long, so be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
00:24 [Ding]
00:24 Animusha series.
00:27 "Men, our enemy lies in Honnoji Temple. Attack!"
00:32 Taking a bit of inspiration from its own resident evil, Capcom launched its demon-infested samurai hack-and-slash series with 2001's Animusha Warlords.
00:41 Set during the Sengoku period, a time of civil wars in Japan, it was a terrific leap forward for the action-adventure genre.
00:48 Since it impressed pretty much everyone, it received several sequels, all of which were of the same level of high quality.
00:55 Each brought tweaks to the formula, like Demon Siege's plot that saw the samurai hero swap time periods with a French officer played by Jean Reno.
01:04 Odd, but awesome.
01:05 Sadly, we haven't seen the series for a while now, likely due to declining sales, but Animusha remains a great piece of Capcom's legacy.
01:14 "Samanosuke, it's really you."
01:18 Shadow Tactics, Blades of the Shogun.
01:21 "Genjutsu."
01:26 Set in feudal Japan, Shadow Tactics puts you in control of a group of warriors as they attempt to take down a violent warlord.
01:33 Although the plot and main character are distinctly samurai, not all of the characters are.
01:39 Along for the ride are a couple of ninjas, an expert marksman, and a thief.
01:44 Having different character types makes for a fun, ragtag ensemble.
01:47 But more importantly, it enhances the RTS mechanics by giving you multiple bags of tricks to pull from.
01:53 Additionally, the battle maps are huge, with tons of moving parts to consider.
01:58 Toss in some well-thought-out stealth mechanics, and Shadow Tactics should delight any strategy fan.
02:04 "That was a fun adventure."
02:06 "A fine display of the thieving arts, amongst other things."
02:10 Like a dragon, Isshin.
02:12 "You'll end up hating yourself for being another person."
02:17 While most games in the Like a Dragon series, formerly known as Yakuza, are obviously quite modern,
02:23 this spinoff takes players to Japan's late Edo period in the mid-1860s.
02:27 It was a time of strife for the country, dealing with the rise of imperialism and the upcoming end of the shogunate.
02:33 Amidst that backdrop, protagonist Sakamoto sets out on a quest of vengeance against the assassin who framed him for his father's murder.
02:40 The developers did a great job recreating Kyoto during this time,
02:44 and the combat, which included hand-to-hand and pistol options in addition to a katana,
02:49 was a fresh spin on what the series had done before.
02:52 Katana Zero
02:59 Although it's not a samurai game in the traditional sense, given it's set in a cyberpunk dystopia,
03:09 Katana Zero features plenty of bloodshed and similar themes to be considered one.
03:14 It follows Subject Zero, a katana-wielding amnesiac assassin whose psychiatrist is also his handler.
03:20 On assignments, Zero has the ability to slow down time, allowing you to react to enemies before they can even act.
03:27 Which you'll need to as Zero goes down in one hit.
03:31 Every section then becomes a miniature gauntlet to prove you're capable and quick enough to make it through.
03:37 Along with the tense but satisfying gameplay and the incredible electronic soundtrack,
03:41 the story of Zero unfolds in between each mission, and it is one of surprising heartbreak.
03:47 Samurai Shodown Series
03:56 Beginning with the 1993 original, SNK's fighting series Samurai Shodown set itself apart even during the genre's initial boom.
04:11 While everyone else was fighting with their fists, these warriors wielded weapons against their foes in Feudal Japan.
04:17 Not every character on the roster is a samurai, mind you.
04:21 Some are ninjas, while others are warriors from entirely different regions.
04:25 However, its most well-known characters, including poster boy Halmeru, are samurai.
04:30 Additionally, SNK drew inspiration from real-world figures of Feudal Japan for several of its characters.
04:36 Like any franchise, Samurai Shodown has had its ups and downs,
04:40 but last we saw it in 2019, things were looking pretty good.
04:44 Total War Shogun 2
04:53 Focusing on various different time periods and places,
05:02 the Total War franchise has long been a haven for stellar strategy mechanics.
05:07 And its first installment in 2000 was a great samurai game.
05:12 However, when Creative Assembly chose to revisit Feudal Japan with 2011's Shogun 2,
05:17 it created not only a wonderful follow-up, but genuinely one of the strongest entries in the series.
05:23 With multiple warlords and clans vying for the seat of the shogunate, and therefore power over Japan,
05:29 players take control of one and fight to come out on top.
05:32 The developers scaled back certain overblown features of previous games,
05:36 leading Shogun 2 to be more refined and focused.
05:39 It looked great, played great, and is still one of the best strategy games in existence.
05:45 Rise of the Ronin
05:53 Team Ninja took its experience in sword combat and placed it in an open world for Rise of the Ronin.
06:03 Set during the end of the Edo period in the late 19th century,
06:06 it has players control a customizable ronin, a samurai without any loyalty,
06:11 and choose who they side with during a crucial period for the country.
06:15 It's a great deal of fun seeing how your choices take the plot in different directions.
06:19 Combat, missions, and the story are all thrilling and engaging,
06:23 and its use of the period can draw in any history buff.
06:26 Sure, its visuals are a bit lackluster, and its open world structure will feel very familiar.
06:32 But when the game hits, it hits hard.
06:35 Sekiro - Shadows Die Twice
06:42 Okay, technically Sekiro has you play as a shinobi, a type of ninja,
06:54 but there are so many samurai in the game, all basically gunning for you,
06:58 that it wouldn't feel right leaving it off.
07:00 That and the fact that, well, the game is incredible.
07:03 For those unaware, FromSoftware's journey into a fictionalized Sengoku period follows Wolf,
07:09 said shinobi, seeking vengeance against a samurai clan who cut off his arm and kidnapped his lord, Kuro.
07:15 There are many other elements of Japanese culture adapted for the game, such as Buddhist mythology,
07:21 but its themes of duty, honor, and sacrifice fit right at home in any samurai tale.
07:27 Plus, some of its most memorable combat encounters dealt with the warriors,
07:31 like the climax with Isshin the Sword Saint.
07:34 Nioh
07:41 Before Rise of the Ronin, Team Ninja showed its expertise in crafting samurai games with 2017's Nioh.
07:55 Inspired by the real-life story of William Adams, an English navigator who became a samurai,
08:00 it features a whole lot more to worry about than rival swordsmen.
08:03 Like Sekiro, it's also set during a fictionalized Sengoku period.
08:08 The time of war has resulted in the resurgence of yokai, evil Japanese spirits,
08:13 as they flourish across the country and make William's life a living hell.
08:17 With plenty of influence taken from FromSoftware's Souls-like formula, it's an exceptionally challenging game.
08:24 The deadly enemies and thrilling combat, which features nice variety in its weaponry,
08:29 are intensified by Nioh's moody atmosphere.
08:32 Ghost of Tsushima
08:40 When players think of the quintessential samurai game,
08:51 chances are Ghost of Tsushima is the first to come to mind.
08:54 Set amidst the early Mongolian invasions of Japan, it places you in the role of Jin Sakai,
09:00 an honorable man rising to the call to protect his home.
09:03 But when his fellow samurai are slaughtered, his uncle captured, and his people threatened,
09:08 Jin begins wondering how important honor really is.
09:12 Sucker Punch did a great job exploring Jin's warring ideals,
09:16 while crafting an excellent action-adventure title within a stunning open world.
09:20 Through every quest, big or small, we were filled with a desire to fight back through any means necessary.
09:26 From its exciting swordplay to its heartfelt narrative, Ghost of Tsushima is a spectacular samurai experience.
09:33 Know any other great samurai games?
09:45 Share them with us in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to Mojo Plays for more great gaming videos every day.
09:51 Thanks for watching!