Kengo Legend Of The 9
February 26, 2009 by Xbox Reviews
Filed under Video Games
In feudal Japan, it was kill or be killed for the samurai! Kengo: Legend of the 9 lets you battle as one of nine famous samurai warriors, each with his/her own storyline, attack techniques and upgradeable attributes (health, stamina, attack power and defense). Four modes of play offer a range of gameplay options, including the storyline advancing Main Mode; Mission Mode which challenges players to complete 10 missions within a specific time frame; Combat Mode that features two-player, head-to-head battles; and Xbox Live Leaderboard where players compete for new equipment and the best ranking against other Xbox Live gamers by pitting AI profiles against each other. Collect and use Spirit Spheres to upgrade your samurai’s attributes including health, stamina, attack power and defense. Earn experience points in battle to unlock new attacks. Three difficulty levels – Easy, Medium or Difficult. Gorgeous high definition, next generation graphics employ light scattering, normal mapping and atmospheric subtleties. Follow your ranking on Xbox Live and become the best in the world. ESRB Rated M for Mature
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Not Bad but Not that great either
Not Bad but Not that great either. Looks like a great game but would have been better if it had free roaming instead of automaticaly fighthing everytime just to get the story done,Altough online was fun fighthing one on one.
4 Stars Very subtle, strategic fighting game.
I’ll admit, when I first put this game in, I was sorely disappointed and frustrated beyond belief. I’ll also admit that I didn’t even glance at the book before I played, so I didn’t know that your health gauge regenerates if you stand still with a full stamina bar. I didn’t know you could lock onto a nearby samurai, instead of running around in circles hacking wildly, trying to stay alive. So… I’ll admit when I first put this game in after months of anticipation, I hated it. Then I read the book, thinking “No one in there right mind would release a game this broken”, and while I tried the game the way it was meant to be played, I noticed a fairly deep and strategic fighter. This game is by no means meant for everyone.It’s a very niche title. You really need to be a fan of Samurai and be sick of “Button Mashing” fighters to enjoy this. Those that enjoyed the first American “kengo” release, will miss the training sessions from “Master of bushido”, but if you do not try to play this like Onimusha you may enjoy it. I would definitely rent it first, even with the low price tag.
1 Star Hrm… yeah….
Kengo Legend of the 9….
For those of you who arent too keen on reading though a whole review to see the overall feel of the game here you go: Its a simple game, rent it, and IF you love it buy it…IF you love it…If you cant find it to rent…dont bother, really dont bother. Even if your very tempted.
Ive played the 1st Kengo years ago when the PS2 was just entering the gaming world. Ah the primitive days of “next gen” Bouncer, Kengo, Twisted Metal Black ect ect. The days of simple, pretty, and moneywasting games. At a quick play through the game one thing is clear- graphics aside this one was obviously meant to be on the ps2.
The Battle system is configurable yet the moves are still simple 123 combos that you interchange. And actually fighting is a dull few moments usually ending in alot of enemies yelping to death. The Majority of them just crowd around you gawking untill theyre quick demise. The controls are slower than wanted and very simple , vert slash, hor slash, scoot slowly, or attempt to grind your sword up to the enemy. The swordgrinding was a good idea but poorly played out. swordgrinding is just push, pull, break away, or try to shove and attack. The “boss” battles are just some slightly more agressive enemies with fancy clothes. One nice feature that it has is a instakill/major damage movement you can take out any enemy with(including a boss..or even yourself).
There are some features that make this game unique compared to the usuall samurai/fighting/hackn slash genre
#1 feature is that you gain experience!!! cool right!? no they ruined it with the fact that whatever experience you dont use is thrown away after each fight. and like it would matter the only thing you can use xp is for “secret” moves that are just simple strikes for your 123 combos. OH WOW I unlocked the Tiger’s Fang Wave technique! oh wait its just a diagonal slash…. Ive found that after 2 or 3 battles worth of xp (usually 2 or 3 new “techniques”) I have enough moves to do what I need.
#2 You play as real famous samurai from the past. This is one of the major things that got me interested in even playing this game. How many samurai games out there blow their horn about loving samurai, yet they dont even have a real one in them? thumbs up for that feature.
#3 Fighting mutiple enemies- a feature I think really makes or breaks a fighting game for me. so many times I play through soul calibur or ( insert fighting game here) Im siiting there stuck chopping up one loser when I could be doing it to 7 at once!
One “feature” about this game I really didnt like was that during the main “story” mode your stuck fighting a bunch of 1 hit kill nobodies who every now and then do get in a lucky shot, and then going straight up against a boss might or might not be able to instakill you. Sucky thing is when they do….bam you have to reload and start the WHOLE fight over. And man seriously, its like re chopping firewood-pointless and boring.
Other than that-
Graphics-are slightly better than ps2
Sound- well its japanese music and japanese voice so depends on the person.
Control- yikes someone was sloppy when they pulled this one together. workable yet very lacking
Replay- yup theres alot of that- different modes, lots of usless moves to get and more characters to use them.
Fun factor- hrmm its ok.. bit dull most of the time.
4 Stars Samurai sword fighting simulator
Pros
- Fans of the original Kengo, a very niche game, will like this game.
- This is not a traditional hack and slash game like Onimusha, Ninja Gaiden, or Way of the Samurai. It is a really more like a fencing simulator. So if you rush in hacking and slashing in combat mode the CPU will kill you over and over. The game will be rather frustrating to play until you have learned how to control your sword clashes, evade, and then counter.
- As you play your character through the main mission the system keeps track of your fighting mannerisms- even the negative ones- like tendencies to hack wildly and missing your opponent most of the time. Then you can take your AI and pit it against others on the Xbox Live National Leaderboard to see the outcome. I think this is rather innovative. Also by being able to watch your AI fight, it gives you a chance to reflect on your fighting style vs others.
- The graphics are definitely better than previous generations of the Kengo games. Shadows are soft, there is light blooming, and costumes are bump mapped.
Cons
- Buggy. It has frozen several times after completing a mission making it impossible to save your progress. So you are left with having to repeat the level.
- Like the previous generation of Kengo games, it is repetitive- but then so is real kendo or iaido practice. As I said this is really more of a simulator than a “game”.
- The dojo skill building mode from the previous Kengo games is lost. Skills are now built by progressing through the main storyline.
- The camera is much worse than previous Kengo games.
One will always try to compare this game with Bushido Blade. If you played the original BB before playing any of the Kengo games, chances are you will never be sated. It all depends on what you are looking for. Kengo’s sword fighting mechanics and sheer number of waza are much more extensive than BB. As someone who practices Kendo, I find BB just too dumbed down to be interesting. Kengo gave me a far more realistic and interesting fighting experience than any of the BB series games ever did.