Kenseiden (Sega Master, 1988)

Product Specs

Description

Kenseiden is a samurai game set in ancient Japan. Players control Hayato, a swordsman who begins the game with a simple sword and can gain new attack methods after defeating each of the five tough-to-beat warlock bosses. He can acquire more power during training rounds, and he'll be required throughout the game's 16 levels to go left and right, into buildings, and up and down staircases. Conceptually, the game is solid, but it fails to deliver. Control is frustrating, jumps are more like hops, attacks are lacking in power, movement is sluggish, the music is terrible, and the main character looks more like a buccaneer than a samurai. On a more positive note, the enemies are varied and the detailed backgrounds create the proper mood.