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Genji
Sony's Genji’s mythology revolves around
the Amahagane, magical stones that grant their bearer the power of
Kamui. When activated, this power allows the warrior to see through
enemy attacks and counter it with stylish, lethal force. The Heishi clan
defeated the Genji family through the use of these stones and have since
become brutal rulers of their surrounding territories.
As Yoshitsune, son of the late Genji
general in the Heishi war, your quest is to fulfill your destiny by
finishing the job your father started. Armed with your own Amahagane,
you must take down each Heishi general and fuse their Amahagane with
yours in order to overthrow the ruthless Heishi clan.
The gameplay of Genji’s control is rather easy to pick up that involves
quick melee attacks, combos and jumping attacks. A special meter charges
up as you combo your way through enemies and when you trigger Kamui,
every enemy in the area backs up, regroups, then attacks.
Time is slowed down during this period, and
if you time it correctly, you’ll slice through either a group of them or
one after the next in cinematic satisfaction - much like God of War’s
cinematic kills with a focus on timing rather than button sequences. If
the timing window is too brief, you can use that extra special meter to
slow time even further. The whole thing works well and really gives a
sharper edge to the combat.
After a few battles, Yoshitsune will run into another proud member of
the fallen Genji family, Benkei, a seven-foot tall monk who wields
monstrous clubs and spears. Playing as either character, you’ll rush
through feudal Japan owning enemy thugs, waxing bosses, and grabbing
power-ups and items in traditional third-person action game fare. Though
the template is familiar, the action keeps from being stale by the
variation of their opposed, though equally rewarding, play styles.
Yoshitsune is up-close, fast and tight, while Benkei is a far-reaching
tank with charged attacks.
Graphically, Genji contains a ton of detail that includes beautiful
ingame graphics, cinematics and awesome texture details on all the
characters. A run through pristine, lush gardens surrounding a tranquil
waterfall is so pretty, you’ll want to slow down just to check it out.
Then, when those pre-set enemy encounters crop up, the war drums will
beat and it’s time to rip through with a solid framerate and unequivocal
elegance.
Genji pleasantly sticks with the original Japanese voice-acting.
Subtitles drive the plot, a much better choice than investing in some
two-bit English voice actor losing himself in translation. The music is
authentic to the era and culture, is very well composed, and will make
your worst Tai Chi impressions have some air of legitimacy. It’s so
soothingly ambient that just leaving it on in the background will make
you want to use chopsticks on your Fruity Pebbles.
In conclusion Genji is an entertaining game from Sony Entertainment that
is filled with an epic story, beautiful graphics and a rather adept
gameplay option that will make most gamers play this title at least
twice, check it out!
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