Karoshi MSX Community

which is based of Stan Sakai´s cult comicbooks  by the same name.  :) 

whole name of the game is

SAMURAI WARRIOR the battles of Usagi Yojimbo


http://www.cpczone.net/index.php?game=2017
(sadly it is hard to find amstrad screenshots)

http://www.lemon64.com/?game_id=2767
(many shots)

http://www.usagiyojimbo.com/collectibles/coolcollectibles/videogame/videogame_gallery.html
(good spectrum shots here!)


Game is situated in 16th century Japan, and you need to rescue young prince or something, everyone are cartoony looking animals. (Of course, as this is based to comic book!)

Main point of this game is, that it is NOT just another sword-man game, you have to show RESPECT to other ones, even to nasty ones, or you are soon in trouble (read: dead) and you can raise your karma by giving money to poor peasants. Of course you can play bloodthirsty bastard who kills everyone in your way, but you don´t live very long that way, as when you need to eat, do you really think someone still stays around to make food for you when YOU enter restaurant...?

You just can´t walk around sword in your hand! How many fighting games there are where IT IS NOT A MUST TO HOLD A WEAPON IN YOUR HANDS ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!???????


This is THE ONLY ONE martial arts game I know which has things like respect and honor (yojimbo makes suicide if his karma drops to zero, URGGHhhhh!) every other game is just that "kill everyone in sight to prove how macho bullshit you are". (thought in Exploding Fist and International Karate fighters greeted each other before fight, but that´s it)

There are lots of different characters and you can also choose your route.

This is one of those "play it now!" games which are hard to leave... it´s just SO GOOOOD!!!

well, I must say game starts to get boring after some plays when you learn where and who enemies are, but I meant that the idea of game is very good. :)   if someone would write such type game, choosing and placing of enemies should be random to prevent boredom. Also maybe more than just one map would be good. :)

I saw that game in speccy magazines years ago... never knew it was based on a comic!.  :-[

Viejo: I guess you mean Microhobby. I read the article too and there was no mention to the fact that the game was based upon a comic character. Anyway, I think that it got some good remarks, but not so passionate as MaSaXi's review!  ;)

 :) well, it seems like my review was partly based to old memories, as I really liked commiedore original in good old days...  ;)

After first plays on emulator I wrote my "review" here as game still felt good. But after some days I tried it again, and found out it got boring as I knew already hiding places etc.  :(

I am not as passianate anymore about Usagi (the game I mean, comics are still Good!), but I still want to see Usagi´s idea used in some well made MSX fighting game.  nnchks:) 

Hopefully someone checks Usagi and makes more long-lasting game for MSX! ;D