Bushido Blade
Developer	Light Weight
Publisher	JP Squaresoft NA SCEA PAL SCEE
Designer	Tetsuo Mizuno (executive producer) Shinji Hosoe (composer)
Released	JP March 14, 1997 NA September 30, 1997 PAL February 1, 1998
Genre	Fighting
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Ratings	ESRB: T (Teen) ELSPA: 18+
Platform(s)	PlayStation
Media	1 CD-ROM

Bushido Blade (ブシドーブレードー, Bushidō Burēdō^?) is a 3D fighting game developed by Light Weight and published by Squaresoft and Sony for the PlayStation. The game features one-on-one armed combat. Its name refers to the Japanese code of honor, Bushidō. Image File history File links Bushido Blade Case, North American File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... Light Weight is a developer of video games with samurai themes, such as the Bushido Blade series and the Kengo series. ... This article is about the country in East Asia. ... Square Company, Limited ) was a Japanese video game company founded in September of 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto and Hironobu Sakaguchi. ... North America North America is a continent [1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Sony Computer Entertainment, Incorporated ) (SCEI) is a Japanese video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, mostly in video game consoles and is a full subsidiary of Sony Corporation that was established on November 16, 1993 in Tokyo, Japan. ... For other uses, see PAL (disambiguation). ... Sony Computer Entertainment, Incorporated ) (SCEI) is a Japanese video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, mostly in video game consoles and is a full subsidiary of Sony Corporation that was established on November 16, 1993 in Tokyo, Japan. ... A game designer is a person who designs games. ... Tetsuo Mizuno ) is a Japanese businessman. ... Shinji Hosoe, also known as sampling masters MEGA and MEGATEN, is a Japanese composer most famous for creating the in-game music of Ridge Racer, Keyboardmania 3rd mix and many early 90s Namco arcade games. ... This article is about the country in East Asia. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... North America North America is a continent [1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... The PAL region is a video game publication territory which covers Australasia and the majority of Eurasia. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Video games are categorized into genres based on their gameplay. ... Screenshot of The King of Fighters XI (2005, SNK Playmore). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A multiplayer game is a video game in which more than one person can play the same game at the same time. ... The ESRBs logo. ... The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (or ELSPA) is an organisation set up in 1989 by British software publishers. ... In computing, a platform describes some sort of framework, either in hardware or software, which allows software to run. ... The Sony PlayStation ) is a video game console of the 32/64-bit era, first produced by Sony Computer Entertainment in the mid-1990s. ... The CD-ROM (an abbreviation for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (ROM)) is a non-volatile optical data storage medium using the same physical format as audio compact discs, readable by a computer with a CD-ROM drive. ... This article is about process of creating 3D computer graphics. ... Screenshot of The King of Fighters XI (2005, SNK Playmore). ... Light Weight is a developer of video games with samurai themes, such as the Bushido Blade series and the Kengo series. ... Square Company, Limited ) was a Japanese video game company founded in September of 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto and Hironobu Sakaguchi. ... Sony Computer Entertainment, Incorporated ) (SCEI) is a Japanese video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, mostly in video game consoles and is a full subsidiary of Sony Corporation that was established on November 16, 1993 in Tokyo, Japan. ... The Sony PlayStation ) is a video game console of the 32/64-bit era, first produced by Sony Computer Entertainment in the mid-1990s. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. ...

Upon its release, the realistic fighting system in Bushido Blade was seen as quite innovative. A direct sequel, Bushido Blade 2, was released on the PlayStation a year later. Another game with a related title and gameplay, Kengo: Master of Bushido, was also developed by Light Weight for the PlayStation 2. Bushido Blade 2 is a fighting game published by Squaresoft, released in both Japan and North America in 1998. ... In ancient Japan, a kensei (剣聖; sometimes alternatively rendered in English as Kensai, Ken Sai, Kansei, or Kenshei) was a honorary title given to a warrior of legendary skill in swordsmanship. ... PS2 redirects here. ...

Gameplay

Fighting system and environments

The bulk of the gameplay in Bushido Blade revolves around one-on-one third-person battles between two opponents. Unlike most fighting games, however, no time limit or health gauge is present during combat. In the game's "Body Damage System," opponents are able to physically disable each other in increments with hits from an equipped weapon, slowing their attacking and running speed; cripple them; or even kill them in a single strike.^[1] One of the game's most distinctive aspects is its use of the Japanese honor code of Bushidō. During the game's Story Mode, players must battle honorably by adhering to certain rules within combat. Actions such as attacking from behind prompt an automatic game over at the end of some battles.^[1] The game features eight weapons to choose from in many of its modes, including katana, nodachi, long sword, saber, broadsword, naginata, rapier, and sledgehammer. Each weapon has a realisitic weight and length, giving each one fixed power, speed, and an ability to block. A variety of attacks combinations can executed by the player using button sequences with the game's "Motion Shift System," where one swing of a weapon is followed through with another.^[1] Many of these attacks are only available in one of three stances, switched using the shoulder buttons: high, neutral, and low. The player also has a choice of one out of six playable characters. Similar to the weapons, each one has a different level of strength and speed, and a number of unique special attacks. Some characters have a subweapon that can be thrown as well. The third-person Narrative is narration in the third person. ... Health is a game play mechanism, used in various forms of role playing and video games to give a value to characters and enemies related to death and/or the defeat of the player or enemies. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. ... For other uses, see Game Over (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Katana (disambiguation). ... A nodachi ) is a large two-handed Japanese sword. ... The term arming-sword refers not so much to a sword design as the situation under which the sword was used. ... French naval officers sabre of the 19th Century From left to right: two bayonets, a short curved infantry or artillery briquet, a straight infantry officers sabre, and a carbine. ... The Longsword is a type of European sword used during the late medieval and Renaissance periods, approximately 1250 to 1550. ... A samurai wielding a naginata Naginata (なぎなた, 薙刀) is a pole weapon that was traditionally used in Japan by members of the samurai class. ... For the UK Surface-to-air missile system, see Rapier missile. ... For other uses, see Sledgehammer (disambiguation). ... Stance is a morpheme meaning stand, used in several ways: to take a position in an argument; refers to a particular standing posture, such as warrior postures in yoga. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Characters in Bushido Blade also have the ability to run, jump, and climb within the 3D environments. Because battles are not limited to small arenas, the player is encouraged to freely explore during battle. The castle compound in which most of the game takes place in acts as a large hub area of interconnected smaller areas including a cherry blossom grove, a moat, and a bridge labyrinth. Some areas, such as the bamboo thicket, allow some interaction. Washington, D.C. Tidal Basin showing cherry trees in flower Cherry tree blossoms A cherry is both a tree and its fleshy fruit, a type known as a drupe with a single hard pit enclosing the seed. ... For other uses, see Bamboo (disambiguation). ...

Modes

In addition to the game's single player Story Mode, Bushido Blade contains a two-player Versus Mode and a Link Mode that supports a PlayStation link cable. Other single player options include a Practice Mode and a POV mode, the latter of which switches the third-person gameplay to a first-person perspective. Finally, the game's Slash Mode pits the player's katana-wielding character against a long string of 100 enemies, one after the other. Completing this mode on hard settings without dying grants the player access to an unlockable character in the Practice and Versus Modes.^[2] First-person narrative is a literary technique in which the story is narrated by one character, who explicitly refers to him or herself in the first person, that is, I. the narrator is a fool putting his nose into the storytelling exercise. ...

Plot

Setting and story

Bushido Blade takes place during an unknown period on an island near the southern mountains of Japan. A fictional, five century year-old dojo known as Meikyokan lies within this region, and teaches the disciplines of the master Narukagami Shinto. A society of assassins known as Kage also resides within the dojo. One day, a Kage escapes the confines of the dojo with its secrets. Several other members of the society, under penalty of death, are sent to dispatch the defector, only catching up to him (or her) within the ruins of the surrounding Yin and Yang Labyrinth Castle. The player takes on the role of the escaped assassin, fighting his or her way back to the dojo by killing comrades one by one. The game's story differs with each character selected. Every character has two endings depending on how the game is completed.^[2] A dojo ) is a Japanese term which literally means place of the Way. Initially, Dojo were adjunct to temples. ... Assassin and Assassins redirect here. ...

Characters

• Red Shadow (Bushido)
• Tatsumi (Bushido)
• Mikado (Bushido)
• Black Lotus (Bushido)
• Utsuemi
• Kannuki
• Katze
• Sazanka
• Hokkyoku Tsubame
• Hanzaki
• Kindachi
• Hongou Takeru

Mikado is a fictional character in the video game Bushido Blade She is voiced by Michiyo Yanagisawa // Age: 22 Gender: Female Origin: Kyoto, Japan Best Suited Weapon: Naginata Sub Weapon: Aikuchi Mikado, sometimes referred to as The Gate For The Gods Descendant was originally a Shrine maiden, before at some... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Bushido Blade (video game). ...

Audio

The score for Bushido Blade was created by Namco and Arika composer Shinji Hosoe with contributions by Ayako Saso and Takayuki Aihara. It was released with the soundtrack for Square's Driving Emotion Type-S, also composed by the trio, on a two-disc set in 2001. Unlike many other Square soundtracks of the era which were released by DigiCube, the music, copyrighted by Hosoe, was published by his own Super Sweep Records company.^[3] The Bushido Blade disc contains 23 tracks. This article is about Namco, a Japanese leisure company and game developer. ... Arika is a video game developer. ... Shinji Hosoe, also known as sampling masters MEGA and MEGATEN, is a Japanese composer most famous for creating the in-game music of Ridge Racer, Keyboardmania 3rd mix and many early 90s Namco arcade games. ... Driving Emotion Type-S ) is a racing game developed by Escape and published by Squaresoft for the Playstation 2. ... See also: 2001 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2001 Record labels established in 2001 // January 1 Comeback of Guns N Roses in House of Blues Hum disbands. ... DigiCube Co. ...

Much of the music utilizes the flute and violin, as well as a traditional Japanese instrument, the shamisen.^[3] Bushido Blade also uses voice acting from seiyūs such as Chikao Ōtsuka, Makio Inoue, and Hidekatsu Shibata. â™  This article is about the family of musical instruments. ... For the Anne Rice novel, see Violin (novel). ... One of the characteristics of traditional Japanese music is a sparse rhythm, and it does not have regular chords. ... Kitagawa Utamaro, Flowers of Edo: Young Womans Narrative Chanting to the Samisen, ca. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Voice Animage, a magazine about all things about seiyÅ«. For the retail company named Seiyu, see Seiyu Group. ... Chikao Ohtsuka Chikao Ohtsuka (大塚 周夫 ÅŒtsuka Chikao, born July 5, 1929) is a veteran seiyÅ«. He is the father of Akio Ohtsuka, another seiyÅ«. Ohtsuka, as of 2006, is currently represented by Aoni Production. ... Inoue Makio (井上 真樹夫) is a seiyuu whose birthday is November 30. ... Hidekatsu Shibata , born March 25, 1937 in Tokyo) is a veteran Japanese voice actor (seiyÅ«) who is affiliated with Aoni Production. ...

Reception

In Japan, Bushido Blade was the 25th best selling game of 1997, selling nearly 388,000 copies.^[4] For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official Bushido Blade site at Square Enix
• Bushido Blade at US.PlayStation.com
• Bushido Blade at Insomnia