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Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku

November 11, 2023

Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku is an action-adventure video game released in 2004 by Adrenium Games and published by Sega and based on the Samurai Jack animated television series on Cartoon Network, and is the second game based on the series after Samurai Jack: The Amulet of Time on the Game Boy Advance a year prior. The series' original voice actors, including Phil LaMarr, Mako Iwamatsu, Jeff Bennett, John DiMaggio, and Jennifer Hale, reprised their respective roles for the game. The game was released for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. An Xbox version of the game was planned,[4] but never released, even though it was included on the official Xbox 360 Backwards Compatibility list.[5]

Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku
US box art for PS2 version
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Dominick Meissner
Producer(s)Alex Pantelias
Designer(s)Geoff Card
Programmer(s)Dave LeCompte
Artist(s)Jason Zayas
Composer(s)
Platform(s)
Release
Genre(s)
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

It received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6] With Shadow of Aku being unreleased on the Xbox, the next licensed Samurai Jack game, Battle Through Time, was released on August 21, 2020, becoming the first Samurai Jack game available on Microsoft platforms.

Gameplay edit

The game features an original story interconnected throughout 18 levels in 4 areas (Village: 5 levels, Forest: 4 levels, Underground: 4 levels, and Aku City: 5 levels). The player takes control of Jack, the series' protagonist and main character, as he rescues villagers, battles Aku's minions, and ultimately searches for the time portal to take him back to his own time. Jack's move set contains 25 moves and combo attacks, and his weapons include three elemental swords, shurikens, and a bow and arrow. The player can also fill Jack's "Zen meter", which allows him to enter a special slow-motion attack mode called "Sakai mode", among other things. The game ends in a final battle with Jack's nemesis, Aku. Other bosses include Mad Jack and the Scotsman.

Reception edit

Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku received mixed reviews from critics. Mary Jane Irwin of IGN criticized the game for its annoying combat system, "uninteresting" story, and lack of challenge in boss battles. She also heavily criticized the game's visuals, saying, "Everything is incredibly angular and the only way to describe it is awful. It's just sad that in no way was the show's incredible presentation translated into the videogame."[16] GameSpot's Alex Navarro called it "utterly forgettable" and said, "its lack of depth, style, or technical polish essentially ruins whatever chance it ever could have had to appeal to anyone outside of the most diehard of Samurai Jack fans."[11] Both critics did, however, compliment the game on its sound.[16][11]

The Sydney Morning Herald gave it a score of two-and-a-half stars out of five and stated that "While [the game] is an enjoyable adventure for youngsters, it is also wearingly generic and disappointingly brief."[21] The Times gave it only two stars out of five and said, "The trouble is that once you have got the hang of the swordplay, throwing stars and bow and arrow, it all becomes a bit repetitive, while the problem-solving element to the game provides little challenge."[22]

References edit

  1. ^ "What's New?". Eurogamer.net. 2004-06-25. from the original on 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  2. ^ "Press release: 2004-03-23: Sega Ships Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku". Sega Retro. San Francisco. March 23, 2004. from the original on 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  3. ^ . EuroGamer.net. July 23, 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-07-23. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  4. ^ . San Francisco: Business Wire. January 27, 2004. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 2012-11-30 – via The Free Library.
  5. ^ . Support.Xbox.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-04. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  6. ^ a b . Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2017-04-16.
  7. ^ EGM Staff (May 2004). . Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 178. p. 89. Archived from the original on 2004-04-06. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  8. ^ . Game Informer. No. 133. May 2004. p. 93. Archived from the original on 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  9. ^ Bro Buzz (May 2004). . GamePro. p. 70. Archived from the original on 2004-06-03. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  10. ^ Gee, Brian (April 9, 2004). "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku Review (PS2)". GameRevolution. from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  11. ^ a b c Navarro, Alex (March 19, 2004). "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. from the original on 2021-05-16. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  12. ^ Stratton, Bryan (March 25, 2004). . GameSpy. Archived from the original on 2006-01-08. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  13. ^ Bedigian, Louis (March 28, 2004). "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku - GC - Review". GameZone. from the original on 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  14. ^ Surette, Tim (April 11, 2004). "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku - PS2 - Review". GameZone. from the original on 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  15. ^ Irwin, Mary Jane (March 23, 2004). "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku - GameCube". IGN. from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  16. ^ a b c Irwin, Mary Jane (March 23, 2004). "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku - PS2". IGN. from the original on 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  17. ^ Bowskill, Thomas (January 2, 2006). "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku (GameCube) Review". Nintendo Life. from the original on 2014-01-08. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  18. ^ "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku". Nintendo Power. Vol. 179. May 2004. p. 121 – via Internet Archive.
  19. ^ Davison, John (May 2004). . Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Archived from the original on 2004-04-15. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  20. ^ "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku". Official Xbox Magazine. May 2004. p. 84.
  21. ^ a b Hill, Jason (September 9, 2004). . The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on January 12, 2006. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  22. ^ a b c McNamara, John (August 7, 2004). "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku". The Times. from the original on 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2017-04-16.(subscription required)
  23. ^ "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. from the original on 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  24. ^ "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. from the original on 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-01-22.

External links edit

November 11, 2023
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Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku is an action adventure video game released in 2004 by Adrenium Games and published by Sega and based on the Samurai Jack animated television series on Cartoon Network and is the second game based on the series after Samurai Jack The Amulet of Time on the Game Boy Advance a year prior The series original voice actors including Phil LaMarr Mako Iwamatsu Jeff Bennett John DiMaggio and Jennifer Hale reprised their respective roles for the game The game was released for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube An Xbox version of the game was planned 4 but never released even though it was included on the official Xbox 360 Backwards Compatibility list 5 Samurai Jack The Shadow of AkuUS box art for PS2 versionDeveloper s Adrenium GamesPublisher s SegaDirector s Dominick MeissnerProducer s Alex PanteliasDesigner s Geoff CardProgrammer s Dave LeCompteArtist s Jason ZayasComposer s James L Venable Paul DinletirPlatform s PlayStation 2 GameCubeReleaseNA March 23 2004 2 PAL June 25 2004 GCN 1 PAL August 6 2004 PS2 3 Genre s Action adventure Science fantasy PlatformerMode s Single player multiplayerIt received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic 6 With Shadow of Aku being unreleased on the Xbox the next licensed Samurai Jack game Battle Through Time was released on August 21 2020 becoming the first Samurai Jack game available on Microsoft platforms Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Reception 3 References 4 External linksGameplay editThe game features an original story interconnected throughout 18 levels in 4 areas Village 5 levels Forest 4 levels Underground 4 levels and Aku City 5 levels The player takes control of Jack the series protagonist and main character as he rescues villagers battles Aku s minions and ultimately searches for the time portal to take him back to his own time Jack s move set contains 25 moves and combo attacks and his weapons include three elemental swords shurikens and a bow and arrow The player can also fill Jack s Zen meter which allows him to enter a special slow motion attack mode called Sakai mode among other things The game ends in a final battle with Jack s nemesis Aku Other bosses include Mad Jack and the Scotsman Reception editReceptionAggregate scoreAggregatorScoreGCPS2Metacritic59 100 23 59 100 24 Review scoresPublicationScoreGCPS2Electronic Gaming Monthly7 10 7 N AGame Informer6 10 8 N AGameProN A nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 9 GameRevolutionN AD 10 GameSpotN A5 2 10 11 GameSpy nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 12 N AGameZone7 10 13 6 10 14 IGN5 2 10 15 5 2 10 16 Nintendo Life6 10 17 N ANintendo Power3 8 5 18 N AOfficial U S PlayStation MagazineN A nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 19 Official Xbox Magazine US N AN AThe Sydney Morning HeraldN A nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 21 The Times nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 22 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 22 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku received mixed reviews from critics Mary Jane Irwin of IGN criticized the game for its annoying combat system uninteresting story and lack of challenge in boss battles She also heavily criticized the game s visuals saying Everything is incredibly angular and the only way to describe it is awful It s just sad that in no way was the show s incredible presentation translated into the videogame 16 GameSpot s Alex Navarro called it utterly forgettable and said its lack of depth style or technical polish essentially ruins whatever chance it ever could have had to appeal to anyone outside of the most diehard of Samurai Jack fans 11 Both critics did however compliment the game on its sound 16 11 The Sydney Morning Herald gave it a score of two and a half stars out of five and stated that While the game is an enjoyable adventure for youngsters it is also wearingly generic and disappointingly brief 21 The Times gave it only two stars out of five and said The trouble is that once you have got the hang of the swordplay throwing stars and bow and arrow it all becomes a bit repetitive while the problem solving element to the game provides little challenge 22 References edit What s New Eurogamer net 2004 06 25 Archived from the original on 2023 03 31 Retrieved 2023 05 06 Press release 2004 03 23 Sega Ships Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku Sega Retro San Francisco March 23 2004 Archived from the original on 2023 05 06 Retrieved 2023 05 06 2004 Release Dates EuroGamer net July 23 2004 Archived from the original on 2004 07 23 Retrieved 2023 05 06 SEGA Partners with Cartoon Network and Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment to Publish Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku for PlayStation 2 Xbox and Nintendo GameCube San Francisco Business Wire January 27 2004 Archived from the original on March 5 2016 Retrieved 2012 11 30 via The Free Library Play Original Xbox Games on an Xbox 360 Console Support Xbox com Archived from the original on 2018 09 04 Retrieved 2021 12 12 a b Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku xbx 2004 Reviews Metacritic CBS Interactive Archived from the original on 2008 09 13 Retrieved 2017 04 16 EGM Staff May 2004 Samurai Jack the Shadow of Aku Electronic Gaming Monthly No 178 p 89 Archived from the original on 2004 04 06 Retrieved 2014 01 14 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku Game Informer No 133 May 2004 p 93 Archived from the original on 2008 04 02 Retrieved 2014 01 14 Bro Buzz May 2004 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku Review for PlayStation 2 on GamePro com GamePro p 70 Archived from the original on 2004 06 03 Retrieved 2014 01 15 Gee Brian April 9 2004 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku Review PS2 GameRevolution Archived from the original on October 1 2015 Retrieved 2014 01 14 a b c Navarro Alex March 19 2004 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku Review GameSpot CBS Interactive Archived from the original on 2021 05 16 Retrieved 2013 01 21 Stratton Bryan March 25 2004 GameSpy Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku GameSpy Archived from the original on 2006 01 08 Retrieved 2014 01 14 Bedigian Louis March 28 2004 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku GC Review GameZone Archived from the original on 2008 02 08 Retrieved 2014 01 14 Surette Tim April 11 2004 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku PS2 Review GameZone Archived from the original on 2008 02 26 Retrieved 2014 01 14 Irwin Mary Jane March 23 2004 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku GameCube IGN Archived from the original on June 2 2016 Retrieved 2013 01 21 a b c Irwin Mary Jane March 23 2004 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku PS2 IGN Archived from the original on 2016 04 28 Retrieved 2013 01 21 Bowskill Thomas January 2 2006 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku GameCube Review Nintendo Life Archived from the original on 2014 01 08 Retrieved 2014 01 14 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku Nintendo Power Vol 179 May 2004 p 121 via Internet Archive Davison John May 2004 Samurai Jack the Shadow of Aku Official U S PlayStation Magazine Archived from the original on 2004 04 15 Retrieved 2014 01 15 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku Official Xbox Magazine May 2004 p 84 a b Hill Jason September 9 2004 Disappointingly Brief The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on January 12 2006 Retrieved 2014 01 15 a b c McNamara John August 7 2004 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku The Times Archived from the original on 2022 08 21 Retrieved 2017 04 16 subscription required Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku for GameCube Reviews Metacritic CBS Interactive Archived from the original on 2013 04 27 Retrieved 2013 01 22 Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku for PlayStation 2 Reviews Metacritic CBS Interactive Archived from the original on 2013 05 13 Retrieved 2013 01 22 External links editSamurai Jack The Shadow of Aku at MobyGames Portals nbsp Cartoon Network nbsp Video games Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Samurai Jack The Shadow of Aku amp oldid 1184228471, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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