Samurai Riot (2017)

I personally love a good side-scrolling beat ‘em up game but Samurai Riot: Definitive Edition is just not one of them. While the different schools and branching paths are some cool ideas the actual gameplay and technical issues left me feeling disappointed. There are a lot of other recently released titles in this genre that are just flat out better so you are better off spending your money on those.

With the side-scrolling beat ’em up genre currently going through somewhat of a revival, it’s a shame that Samurai Riot: Definitive Edition disappoints. It’s unique in the space and genuinely does have some good ideas. But when it comes to the gameplay, it just can’t compete with the likes of Streets of Rage 4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: Shredder’s Revenge. If you really like the game’s setting and art style it might be worth taking a gamble thanks to its budget price, but chances are you’ll find it overly repetitive, as well as a bit dull and frustrating.

Samurai Riot is a promising game. Apart from some frustrating bugs and crashes, the game introduces exciting gameplay and a great replay value. If you are into beat ‘em-up games, you might want to check it out on the Steam sale!

Samurai Riot is a decent 2D action arcade game, it just needs some refinement. It looks good, it (mostly) plays well, and it satisfies the old arcade beat-'em-up desire. If the developers fix a couple annoying glitches, it'll be a solid options for genre fans.

Samurai Riot: Definitive Edition is a fun arcade-like title with a lot of replay value. The combat is fun and fast-paced, this in conjunction with the major differences between the characters lends itself well to a fun and energetic title. The story may be poor and the branching choices while a bold choice falls flat, the game still remains to be a wholly fun experience.