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The Spirit of the Samurai

The Spirit of the Samurai

Xbox
Released

Release Date: December 12, 2024

Singleplayer

The Spirit of the Samurai is an action adventure game set in the feudal Japan, in which we control three different characters - samurai, spirit and cat. The game was developed by Digital Mind studio.

5.6

OpenCritic

6.3

Steam

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Ratings
[1:00] The Spirit of the Samurai Gameplay Trailer - Future Games Show Gamescom 2024 Videos: 3
Screenshot Images: 18
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot

The Spirit of the Samurai is a two-dimensional action adventure game belonging to the metroidvania sub-genre. The action of this game is set in feudal Japan, and the player plays three different characters. The game was developed and published by an independent studio Digital Mind. The money for this game was raised through a crowdfunding campaign.

Plot

The Spirit of the Samurai tells a story set in a fantastic feudal version of Japan. The hero of the game is a samurai who tries to regain his body and destroy the ancient evil. In the journey the warrior is accompanied by his cat and the encountered spirit ( kodama). The game focuses on presenting the story in a strongly cinematic way (the effect is achieved, among others, by animated scenes).

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Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows December 12, 2024

PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5 November 2025

Xbox Series X/S

Xbox Series X/S November 2025

Developer: Digital Mind

Publisher: Kwalee

Age restrictions: 16+

Features

System Requirements

System Requirements for The Spirit of the Samurai Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-4440 / AMD FX-6300, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GT 730 / Radeon R7 240, 8 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-7600 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 460 / Radeon HD 7850, 8 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for The Spirit of the Samurai Video Game.

5.6

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 11% of Critics. There are 15 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Checkpoint Gaming: 5 / 10 by Tom Quirk

I want it to be known that I really wanted to like The Spirit of the Samurai. I am a massive fan of stop-motion animation, and any piece of media that utilises or seeks to evoke or pay homage to that style has earned my respect. That said, as well put-together as the cutscenes are, The Spirit of the Samurai is just not very fun as a game. From the clunky and unresponsive controls to the linear and murky levels filled with oddly placed traps and pitfalls, it can often feel like a slog to actually play. If you are a fan of stop-motion animation, then you may get something from the experience, but it is unlikely to be too satisfying for just about anyone else.

Full Review

Thumb Culture: 3 / 5

The Spirit of the Samurai has a great art style, but the story itself needs fleshing out. I had a few major issues with input lag throughout the game, which led to many pointless deaths. The combat is okay, but I found the combo system useless and the same for leveling up. I didn’t really use the bow either, as most of the time it felt like I had to be near the enemy. I really hated the checkpoints in this game and more so in the end-game area. If you die, you go all the way back, which was annoying. Especially when you have to fight across a bridge before fighting a boss. Some areas go on for too long, especially with waves of enemies. Chisai’s segments are cute but felt like they could be removed from the game and it wouldn’t change anything. The biggest thing to really tick me off was the final boss fight. I had horrendous drops in the frame rate when against him. The boss himself wasn’t hard, but frames would screw me over when attacking. The game seems a lot more on the artsy side for me compared to the actual gameplay. I find it deserves the Thumb Culture Silver Award, maybe after a couple of updates to fix the frames and controls it could be bumped to a gold.

Full Review

God is a Geek: 7 / 10 by Chris White

The Spirit of the Samurai is a gorgeous game to look at, and while it can be enjoyable to play, some of the movement and combat is stiff.

Full Review
63%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mixed (251)

STEAM
Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Visual Style: The stop-motion animation and overall art design received widespread praise, with many s describing it as stunning and unique. The aesthetic is considered a significant highlight of the game.
  • Atmosphere and Storytelling: The game effectively conveys a dark, immersive atmosphere, drawing players into its narrative rooted in Japanese mythology.
  • Character and Monster Design: s appreciated the creativity and uniqueness of the characters and enemies, contributing to the game's charm.
  • Combat Mechanics: Some players enjoyed the customization of combos and the fluidity of combat, particularly with the right analog stick for attacking.
  • Sound and Voice Acting: The audio elements, including voice acting, were noted as high quality, enhancing the overall experience.

The main cons of the game

  • Clunky Controls: Many reviews highlighted issues with responsiveness and input lag, making combat and platforming frustrating. Players often found the controls unresponsive, leading to a negative gameplay experience.
  • Platforming Issues: The platforming mechanics were criticized for being poorly executed, with unclear jump paths and foreground objects obscuring visibility, leading to frequent deaths from unseen traps.
  • Enemy AI and Combat Balance: s reported inconsistent enemy behavior, with some enemies being overly powerful or unresponsive, leading to a lack of challenge balance.
  • Bugs and Performance Issues: A significant number of players experienced technical problems, including frame drops, glitches, and game-breaking bugs, which severely impacted gameplay.
  • Linear Level Design: The game was described as lacking exploration and variety, with repetitive environments and objectives.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to s

  • Improved Combat Mechanics: Many players felt the combat needed more depth and polish, with suggestions for better hit detection and more varied enemy attacks.
  • Refined Platforming Mechanics: A clearer indication of where players can jump or grab would enhance the platforming experience, along with better camera angles to avoid obstructions.
  • More Save Points: s expressed a desire for more frequent save points or checkpoints to reduce frustration from having to replay long segments after dying.
  • Enhanced Tutorial and Guidance: A more comprehensive tutorial to explain mechanics and controls, particularly for the cat's platforming sections, was requested to help players navigate challenges more easily.
  • Expanded Gameplay Elements: Suggestions included adding more side quests, character abilities, or exploration elements to enrich the gameplay experience beyond linear combat encounters.

Summary

  • Overall, while "The Spirit of the Samurai" has a solid foundation with its artistic appeal and storytelling, many players found the gameplay mechanics lacking, leading to a mixed reception.

Summary generated on: