Retro Game Club - Feb 01-14. Let's Play 'Bushido Blade'.

[loathsomeleopard]

So, I got nominated by @MagicalDrop to pick the next monthly Retro Game Club game. Such a responsibility, such a strong temptation to suggest that everyone play Cauldron II... but no.

 

I'm going to pick Bushido Blade for the PS1. Why that game?

 

* It's pretty easy to emulate (though I know exactly where my OG copy is)

* It was amazingly innovative for its time -- an open world 1 on 1 fighter with no health bar, body damage, the potential to finish a match with the opening move AND a code of honour. A little something for everyone.

* The fighting system is very deep, but it's not impossible to learn in terms of inputs or anything like that. But there's a lot to explore.

* I can pick it up and play it for short bursts, which (selfishly) is going to be important for me this month, because I'm super busy. You probably are too.

 

It's also one where you can make your own challenges to beat, whether that's just completion with the fewest continues (entirely doable, but a real challenge to get as close to that 1CC as possible), or completion without losing use of a limb, or finishing out the slash mode to unlock the secret character... plenty to have fun with.

[MagicalDrop]

Cheers for this @loathsomeleopard

 

We decided 2 weeks would be enough before switching games so please could you amend the dates in the title to run to 14th? 

 

As luck would have it I have Bushido Blade on my RG351V, never played it and barely heard of it but happy to give it a try. Are we playing Story Mode? 

[fat flatulent git]

Never played it but there are plenty of copies on Amazon Japan for under two quid delivered so I’ve got one on the way.

 

Are the sequels also included?

[loathsomeleopard]

35 minutes ago, MagicalDrop said:

Cheers for this @loathsomeleopard

 

We decided 2 weeks would be enough before switching games so please could you amend the dates in the title to run to 14th? 

 

As luck would have it I have Bushido Blade on my RG351V, never played it and barely heard of it but happy to give it a try. Are we playing Story Mode? 

Done -- Sorry, I took a guess on the timing and guessed wrong.

 

Story mode is the main mode, but there's also the slash mode, which is a 100-enemy gauntlet (though about 80% of the enemies are idiots, but it's still quite a stiff challenge. If you've never played it it's at least worth looking up the manual (and maybe a FAQ or two) as it doesn't do much hand holding when you're first starting out.

[loathsomeleopard]

3 minutes ago, fat flatulent git said:

Never played it but there are plenty of copies on Amazon Japan for under two quid delivered so I’ve got one on the way.

 

Are the sequels also included?

If you like. I have a woefully underplayed copy of BB2 that I should have another crack at.

[MagicalDrop]

You're not kidding, no health bar, no score, no clue 😬 First game lasted 5 seconds. This could be a tough one...

[Qazimod]

Amazing.

 

I jumped in on one of the browser emulators out there and dusted the first encounter in story mode without any issues. "This'll be fine", I thought.

 

Then the next encounter ended me in one hit.  

[Qazimod]

Also would it be worth having previous games/weeks/nominees in the OP of each thread going forward? Maybe in spoilers in case the list ends up getting long?

 

E.g.

 

Week 1: Jan 14-31 - Metal Slug (selected by @MagicalDrop)

[acidbearboy]

Bushido Blade is a PS1 era classic for me, but I haven’t really played it in a long time. I don’t remember playing the sequel, but I don’t think it reviewed too well? The slash mode was always a good one for games night to see who could get the best score. 

[fat flatulent git]

Finally arrived.  Will have a play at the weekend.

[LaveDisco]

Fantastic choice. Loved this game. So much fun to play against others. Very accessible but with huge depth (that we could see, but not mine). 

[Yasawas]

I’m looking forward to giving this a go later having never played it but heard a fair bit of positivity. I can’t see how you can make a satisfying game from the premise, which is exciting in itself.

[Anne Summers]

I would definitely have joined in if you'd chosen Cauldron 2. 

 

Bushido Blade though - I will just talk about my memories of playing it back in the day. Which are brilliant. It was a great game to play while stoned in our student house, because (for some reason) we found running away to be absolutely hilarious. Probably just because we were used to playing A LOT of fighting games in those days, but hadn't played one before where you could literally run around the arena while your opponent chased you. I think calling it "open world" is a bit much though ("open arena" maybe). 

[megamixer]

I remember having this on PS1 years ago and never really getting anywhere with it. I was one of those who bought that game and had no pre-requisite knowledge of how you were supposed to play the game and what made it unique. I think I played it a bit and quickly dumped it out of impatience when I kept getting killed in an instant and being left mouthing, "buh?" at the screen.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people had a similar experience and it hurt the game's success. It certainly an acquired, experimental taste (and totally not the sort of game you'd think was made by Squaresoft).

[MagicalDrop]

^ that's definitely my experience from this round of Retro Game Club, I think I'll sit this one out and carry on working through the Slugs. 

 

This is as much down to me as the game, I've never enjoyed fighting games really and I find the lack of any conventional player indicators such as a health bar quite off putting. Well that and the instant deaths I had from my first few tries. 

[Barnard]

I think I'm going to have to read an instruction booklet. The training mode is giving me nothing. 🤪

[Kramer]

I'm in.

 

I have played a few rounds relatively recently - still holds up as a unique fighting game.

 

Had it when it came out and remember completing the story mode a number of times, but never managing to beat 100 opponents in the other mode.

[loathsomeleopard]

I finally got a little play time for this (better late than never), taking Red Shadow through with the katana. 
 

I do I love this game, because while it’s hard, it’s fair and there is a learning curve. Took me 16 continues to finish (I did at least once 1CC it back in the day) it but I did get better as I went. 
 

Except the final battle, where we both took out each other’s legs, and ended up flopping around in the floor like fish. Bushido dignity indeed. 
 

One tip for new players - don’t strike as soon as the level is loaded if your opponent is still talking. That breaks the Bushido code and you won’t be allowed to get through to the final boss. 

[fat flatulent git]

I had my first ever playthrough of this today.  Didn't know what to expect.

 

I like the aesthetic of this.  The opening video made me think of Tekken characters with Tenchu backgrounds.  A bit quaint nowadays, but pleasing enough.

 

Started with story mode.  I was surprised to see there was no health bar, and that certain hits were instant death.  I did quite well until the last guy.  It certainly astounded me when I was suddenly fighting a guy with a gun, on a helicopter landing pad.  I hadn't been following the story.  He was tough, but eventually he just backed into a corner and kept somersaulting against the wall, apparently unaware that I was approaching.  I'd lost the previous half dozen or so attempts when I couldn't get to him before he shot me.

 

After that I tried chambara mode, which I presume is the 100 opponent mode previous posters are mentioning.  That was great fun, although there are a few bugs in the AI.  Some enemies were studying the wall as I attacked them, rather than paying me any attention.  But that all adds to the charm.

 

I can't see myself sinking too many more hours into this, but it's something I might play while I'm waiting for the current gen game I want to play to download its latest update or whatever.  I've got the sequel on an Anbernic handheld, so I'll take a look at it, and I may even pick up the PS2 game.

[loathsomeleopard]

The guy with the gun is not the final boss - if the game ends there for you you’ve broken the Bushido code along the way. 

[SeanR]

Leg leg, immobilise, run, run, hole cave, legs legs, dodge, low block, legs legs, end sequence 

 

many questions? Nope 

[fat flatulent git]

2 hours ago, loathsomeleopard said:

The guy with the gun is not the final boss - if the game ends there for you you’ve broken the Bushido code along the way. 

Yes, I’ve since read this thread and realized that a bit of chivalry / Bushido is required.

 

But on my first play through, I always go with the John Creese school of thought.  Strike first, strike hard, no mercy, win and all costs.

 

Tomorrow I’ll have a little more restraint.

[fat flatulent git]

Good article on these at handcoregaming101.

 

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bushido-blade/

[fat flatulent git]

I know the feeling @loathsomeleopardof the game you select for Retro Club being far less popular than the previous month’s and seeing the previous game still being discussed into your game’s time.  In my case it was also a PS1 fighter - Tobal No 1.

 

Anyway, I’ve ordered the sequel.  Is there a PS2 sequel too?  I thought there was but hardcoregaming101 make no mention of it.

[loathsomeleopard]

We must have very similar tastes - I’m a big Tobal No 1 fan as well. No official PS2 sequel to speak of. 

[fat flatulent git]

I love both Tobal games.  Have working copies and sealed copies of both, along with soundtracks, but the Retro Club thread quickly died and I was the only one playing.

 

Still, I’ve enjoyed Bushido Blade so far and have gone down an Amazon rabbit hole of also picking up similar games that Amazon recommended.

[acidbearboy]

I did manage one fairly short session on this but my CRT is playing up and I haven’t had chance to use the main tv. It felt clunky in both gameplay and presentation. I have the Japanese version, so maybe the story gives you some more information that I’m missing out on, but it seemed weird that several fights were in the same location until the story progresses and you automatically run to the well. Are you supposed to explore or just fight? I finished the game with the man in black leather, who then killed himself (I assume I didn’t follow the rules). Will try and get another session in this week and maybe download an English language version. 

[fat flatulent git]

Perhaps time soon to nominate the next chooser.

 

I’m out, by the way - all my suggestions were used up when this club originally happened - but I’ll have a go at other people’s suggestions if I can.

[loathsomeleopard]

Indeed. I’m going to nominate @Anne Summersfor the next pick. 

[Anne Summers]

34 minutes ago, loathsomeleopard said:

Indeed. I’m going to nominate @Anne Summersfor the next pick. 

I wouldn't, I will pick Cauldron 2 - or some obscure 80s DOS RPG ...