Hey gang, Valkor here. Recently, I’ve been playing a lot of Dragon Quest XI, which is an awesome RPG, but it’s longer than I had expected. Thankfully, the latest game from Adult Swim and developer Soleil has fallen on my lap to review, giving me some breathing room from my extensive RPG adventure titled Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time. And if you’re looking for something fast-paced and fun, all in a familiar setting, then this is the game for you.
In Battle Through Time, we find Samurai Jack racing through different periods, hoping to find Ashi and defeating Aku once and for all. While the series ended in 2017, the game attempts to squeak out one more adventure for our time-traveling samurai. If you’re familiar with the series, then you’ll be very familiar with the areas that Jack has to tread, and meeting familiar faces along the way. Not only that, but the original voice actors are back to reprise their roles (save for Mako–the original voice of Aku, who passed away in 2006). But it all combines to form a refreshing new adventure for Jack to traverse.
Battle Through Time will pit your 2D/3D platforming skills through nine levels of play, with increasing difficulty. Gameplay is like that of titles such as Devil May Cry or God of War in that the more energy you collect, the more combos you can pull off. It’s not as extreme as the aforementioned games, but it doesn’t distract from the fun. You’ll find multiple weapons throughout the game that'll help you throughout your journey such as swords, spears, guns, ninja stars and throwing knives. You can even throw hands if you like. You can also purchase weapons, accessories, and health items from Da Samurai, who is always at the right spot just when you need him most. Or other characters such as Rothchild The Scotsman, or one of his daughters will slip you a helpful item here and there. Make no mistake, you’ll need anything and everything you can get your hands on, because Aku’s forces are many and brutal! And let’s not forget the boss battles; some are huge and others will test your reflexes. But they all follow a pattern, which is key to taking them out!
What I learned while playing Battle Through Time is to not be greedy. By this, I mean just because something looks tempting and out of reach, sometimes it’s best to just leave it there. And if you feel the need to snag that item, or check out unexplored areas, you can always replay levels once you’ve completed it to get a better score, earn some extra cash, or collect spirit energy to improve your skills. And speaking of score, let’s see how well Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time fares in the TOV Breakdown.
The Good:
From the moment I started playing Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time until the sweet, sweet ending, I enjoyed every moment about this game. The story fits well alongside the series that it makes for a perfect extension. The graphics gorgeous as they capture the look of the show to perfection, from the look of characters, to the backdrops and everything in between. The gameplay is so smooth that you’ll be slicing, dicing, and dodging your way through baddies with ease. The combo moves aren’t too complex to pull off and I enjoy executing them more so than I do than say in DMC (to me, it just seems like those moves are just for show). The levels are well designed and provide unique challenges, though they’re not too difficult to figure out. Finally, the music and the voice acting completes this amazing title. I went into Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time with some hesitation. But once I started, it was non-stop enjoyment from beginning to end!
The Bad:
The game could be a little longer.
The Ugly:
N/A
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is available now on the Nintendo Switch, STEAM, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. And this is one title that’s worth picking up, especially if you’re a fan of the series. And even if you’re not, it’s still worth picking up as the game is so much fun with a great story, perfect controls, and gorgeous graphics that combine to form one entertaining experience. I highly recommend it. And out of TOV 5 stars, I’m giving Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time 4.5 stars.
