A great hidden gem, this one is. One of the few Psikyo games for the Saturn I was missing (the only one left now is Sol Divide, I think), this is the sequel to the arcade game Sengoku Ace (or Samurai Aces outside Japan). Being the completionist that I am, I had to play the first game before trying this one out, and it didn't disappoint. It uses the same engine from Strikers and Gunbird, but the scenario is totally different (some sort of mechanical feudal Japan), so it doesn't get repetitive even for fans of those games like me. There are a lot of pretty scenarios and original enemies (and bosses), and the gameplay is the usual, fun and accessible like Psikyo is known for (unless you try out higher difficulties, that is). Overall, it's a good shooter that you can try for free using MAME or, if you're not into that, it was also released in a compilation for the PS2 featuring both the original game and the sequel.
(Sengoku Ace)But hey, enough with Sengoku Ace, I'm here to talk about Sengoku Blade, the Saturn game! Guess what, unlike traditional Psikyo sequels, like Strikers 1945 II or Gunbird 2, what we have here is a totally different game. Instead of planes, we now control the characters themselves, and instead of being a vertical shooter, like most Psikyo shooters, it's a horizontal one!
This left me apprehensive, since I usually don't go along too well with horizontal shmups. Tried out Parodius sometime ago (while I was in that "shmup fever") and, as much as I wanted to like the game, I just wasn't able to enjoy it. Oh, but is Sengoku Blade different... First of all, this is a Psikyo game, no doubt about that. The gameplay is exactly what we could expect from them and instead of being an horizontal shmup "by the book" (ie, like all the others), it plays more like one of their vertical games but tilted to the right. Oh, and it plays like a charm with me new arcade stick (I just can't go back playing shmups with the gamepad again).
And that basically sums up the gameplay part, so I think I'll talk about the graphics instead. OMFG, isn't this game gorgeous! Seriously, I'm not kidding, this game is just downright beautiful! Easily one of the best 2D games I've ever played. I actually paused the game at times just to admire some backgrounds and enemies, specially bosses. The web obviously can't make it justice, with small images and blurry videos, but to see this game in motion is truly breathtaking, or at least it was for me who didn't know what to expect. Now that I'm creating all this hype maybe you'll be disappointed when you try it out...
Anyway, this game is ace! Great gameplay, even for horizontal shmups haters like me, and awesome graphics make this one of the best shooters I've played for the Saturn (and by now I've played a lot). Too bad that it's (once again...) a Japan-only release and it gets somewhat pricey. Not on the level of Radiant Silvergun, mind you, but somewhere between what Father K paid for Savaki and a brand new Xbox 360 game. Still, it's a great game that I recommend for every shmup fan out there.
BTW, elend, did your copy (yes, my supernatural powers are telling me that you have it xD) came with the bonus disc? If yes, what's its size in Mb? I'm just asking because I don't have it and in case it's not too heavy I was wondering if you could rip it and upload it for me. Only if it's not too much trouble, of course. :)
