PS1 Bushido Blade 1997

[Guel Jeturk]

Developed by Lightweight and published by Square for the PS1, one-on-one armed combat, refers to the Japanese warrior code of honor bushidō.

The realistic fighting engine in Bushido Blade was seen as innovative, particularly the game's unique Body Damage System.

The bulk of the gameplay in Bushido Blade revolves around one-on-one third-person battles between two opponents. Unlike most fighting games, however no time limit or health gauge is present during combat.

Most hits will cause instant death, while traditional fighting games require many hits to deplete an opponent's health gauge. It is possible to wound an opponent without killing them.

With the game's "Body Damage System" opponents are able to physically disable each other in increments with hits from an equipped weapon, slowing their attacking and running speed, or crippling their legs, forcing them to crawl.

The game features eight weapons to choose from in many of its modes: katana, nodachi, long sword, saber, broadsword, naginata, rapier, and sledgehammer.

Many of these attacks are only available in one of three stances, switched using the shoulder buttons or axis controls depending on controller layout: high, neutral, and low.

A direct sequel, Bushido Blade 2, was released on the PlayStation a year later.

Another game with a related title and gameplay, Kengo: Master of Bushido, was also developed by Lightweight for the PS2.

 

[Klonoa7]

I never heard of Kengo until now. I’ll have to check it out. When I first played Bushido Blade I would get the game over and never understood why. Later on I learned that certain moves against your opponent that were considered dishonorable would result in a game over. It’s definitely a unique fighting game.