Soul of the Samurai

Soul of the Samurai, otherwise known as Ronin Blade and Shinji Daigeki Action: Rasetsu no Ken in Japan, is a part survival horror part hack and slash adventure from Konami for the PlayStation. From the start the player chooses to be either a young male ronin or a teenage girl ninja. From then on he or she travels through prerendered levels, killing enemies and fulfilling their mission. The game has a high level of difficulty.

Characters

Kotaro Hiba

Kotaro (Neso abo jbal) is a trained samurai who travels Japan, a ronin. Not much is known about his roots, other than he grew up in a dojo with a boy called Yukinosuke, training in the ways of Japanese swordsmanship. Both were apparently raised by their 'master', and Kotaro reveals his parents have already died. Yukinosuke reveals, that when growing up, they were both of equal skill, with neither ever able to clearly defeat the other in sparring contests. Kotaro left suddenly one day, after his parents died. He has a laid back attitude to life and does not sit in the traditional seiza sitting position in the dojo.

Lin

Lin is a ninja who was orphaned as a child. Both her brother, Shin and her were taken in by a ninja clan and trained in the art of ninjutsu until they were strong enough and skilled enough to carry out missions. She resents the 'kid' image Kotaro uses on her, despite her youth.

Kotaro's Path bosses

Unknown Ronin

This is the first boss in Kotaro's path. Kotaro fights this guy when he kills one of the shogunate ninjas (later revealed to be Genzo in Lin's path). Not much is known about this ronin other than that he has scars on his face, and is a host to the Soul Bug.

Muga

Muga is the high priest of the Temple. Due to his body being host to the Soul Bugs, he has been transformed into a giant and bizarre monster. Muga surprises Kotaro in the Temple, having knocked Kurenai unconscious, saying she will make a fine gift to Lord Tohjo. When asked what Lord Tohjo has to do with anything, Muga tells Kotaro that it doesn't matter because he will die soon anyway. Before their battle begins, Muga cracks his knuckles, saying that he has been praying to test his new powers. He is the second boss in Kotaro's path.

Yukinosuke

Yukinosuke is Kotaro's childhood friend. Along with Kotaro he trained under his 'master' in kenjutsu, and could not best Kotaro, although Kotaro could not beat him either. He secretly harbours a deep feeling of resentment towards this fact, and strives for a way to defeat Kotaro (though not to kill him). Some time after Kotaro left, he turned to Lord Tohjo and he gave hima soul bug, giving him more power. Despite this, the soul bug has not deformed him like other hosts, and he despises the soul bug.

Urabe

A sorcerer who is enlisted to help in the creation and spread of the soul bugs. He has is a distinct boss due to the fact he doesn't wield a weapon or fight with his hands rather he employs his supernatural powers to aid him. But after defeating him he transorms via the power of the soul bugs into a naked hunchback with an open spine that ends with a scorpion stinger and also gains the ability to breathe fire. He also has an electric left eye which may be the source of his power.

Musashi (optional boss)

The only samurai (later revealed to be a ronin if you choose to fight him) who can wield two swords at once. He challenges Kotaro Hiba to a duel of honor at Ganryu Beach. If you choose to fight him he reveals he is not like the previous bosses you have faced, rather he is a ronin who just wants to fight you and he even goes to say that the events that are happening in the fiefdom "is of no concern to my swords" . Defeating him earns you a thanks before Musashi dies, as well as obtaining his two swords which can be equipped and used. These are the only swords in the game which can be used together in battle. You must fight Musashi before fighting Yukinosuke, or he will get tired of waiting for you and leave.

A point to note: There was a real life dual wielding swordsman by the name of Miyamoto Musashi in feudal Japan, famous for his amazing sword skills, lack of defeats and great number of victories. Rumor has it he was the first Japanese swordsman to wield two blades in battle.

Lord Tohjo

Lord Tohjo is the ruler of the village's fiefdom. He has contacted Urabe and enlisted his help to create 'Soul Bugs' for him. He is a master is Sojutsu (Japanese spear art) and possibly Jukendo. Tohjo has unnatual power, and can heal himself using magic. After defeating him he too is revealed to have a soul bug which causes him to sprout arms which are electric in nature as well as deform himself in a way, the latter infected form can only be fought by Lin as Kotaro's path ends here.

Lin's Path bosses

Castle Head Guard

Lin finds Hanzo, a fellow Shogunate Ninja, dying from a wound inflicted by the Castle Head Guard. The guard then finds the two, and begins the battle with Lin. He is not alone in this boss battle as he calls upon his subordinates to come at you from every direction. He can be easily separated out among the other swordsmen as he is the only one wearing a blue outfit. He doesn't have any unblockable attacks.

Undead Genzo

In Kotaro's path, he is revealed to be killed by the Unknown Ronin. This fact is unknown to Lin who is happy to see her friend alive. But after he pulls his basket hat he is shown to be an undead who is bent on destroying Lin. He is one of the four Ninjas of the Shogunate.

Karasu

A beautiful ninja who is the head of the Ravens (a group of ninjas). She is known for her skill in the art of ninjitsu as well as for her trademark battle dance. Defeating her engages you in another boss battle where she is shown to be a soul bug host, which of course allows her access to more powers. After her final defeat she reveals Lin's brother Shin is with Lord Tohjo. According to her "It will be a tearful reunion". Her name means "Crow" in Japanese.

The Three Wolverines

These are three Wolverine Ninjas (Named so because of their claw-like weapons) who are much more powerful than their normal counterparts. They are summoned to attack Lin by Oda, after her attempt to kill Lord Tohjo fails. Both Oda and Lord Tohjo then escape, leaving the three Wolverines to finish Lin. They attack very effectively as a team and even have teleport abilities. However, unlike many bosses, the Three Wolverines do not possess an unblockable attack.

Shin

Lin's elder brother appears also as a boss. True to Karasu's words it is a "Tearful Reunion" as Lin finds herself one on one with her brother. Very skilled fellow who has a good arsenl of fancy moves. He is infected with the soul bug which causes him to fight against his little sister. He has an ability which allows him to send the shuriken he threw back like a boomerang.

Two Soul Worms

After killing the infected villagers Lin fights two huge worms who look like some amalgamation of the dead bodies. These Soul Worms are very easy to defeat compared to many of the game's other bosses.

Infected Lord Tohjo

After meeting his apparent death by the hands of Kotaro Hiba. Tohjo reveals he too is infected with the soul bug and sprouts six arms while he exudes an unholy aura , He also has in each of his arms a weapon that corresponds to an earlier boss that you have faced . It is then up to Lin to send him back to Hell.

Ryu Oda

Ryu Oda is a "military scholar" according to Kotaro Hiba and is also the main villain behind the soul bugs and the plan of conquering feudal Japan. He remains behind the scenes only appearing every now and then to some of the soul bug hosts as in the case of Yukinosuke and Urabe.He can be fought only by choosing Lin's path.

Infected Ryu Oda

Ryu oda shows to the reunited Lin and Kotaro that he is not only infected with the soul bugs but has also become the nest for them. After revealing his plans he mutates into a hideous multi-faced monster. This is the only boss that can be fought with both Lin and Kotaro.

After defeating Ryu Oda and saving feudal Japan and the world fron the soul bugs, both Lin and Kotaro perform their final duties to their fallen friend and brother respectively, and in the end decide to stay and fight alongside each other.

Combat

The combat system is quite detailed, and will take a while to get used to. However, when mastered, it is incredibly easy for Lin and Kotaro to dispatch multiple enemies quickly from different directions, while simultaneously avoiding the enemies thrusts and swipes. There is a single attack button, but when combined with different directional buttons pressed in different combinations and held down for various intervals. There are different attack speeds which correlate to the weight of the equipped weapon, and this is displayed on the swords 'check' window. Also diplayed is the sword's length and sharpness, and a brief description of the blade.

External links

*moby game|id=/soul-of-the-samurai|name="Soul of the Samurai"