We <3 Samurai

[mister_slim]

Play Magazine (http://www.playmagazine.com/) has a preview (http://www.playmagazine.com/index.php?fuseaction=SiteMain.showPreview&The_Preview_ID=83) of the upcoming Samurai Champloo (http://www.adultswim.com/shows/samuraichamploo/) game. It is being developed by Grasshopper Manufacture (http://www.grasshopper.co.jp/), purveyors of fine psychosis (http://www.gametab.com/gcn/killer.7/2499/).

Based on a side story within the context of Mugen, Jin, and Fu’s pilgrimage to find the samurai who smells of sunflowers, the action is driven by a unique BGM/combo system where the combo style changes depending on the on the type of music you select as you expand your collection of tracks by purchasing and completing tasks.
A great show that bleeds style turned to a game combining hack 'n slash with dynamic music combos? It's like they designed the game for me.

[fushi]

This sounds very lovely. Grasshopper is one of the ballsiest Japanese studios out there at the moment.

ALTHOUGH... I liked the OST of Samurai Champloo more than the anime itself. I just gave up after seven episodes or so because it felt kind of soulless.

[Dakar]

Sounds great, can't wait to see how it turns out.

Personally I loved the anime and the hip hop music and theme. Hence I cannot wait for the game.

[phantomhitman]

champloo is the greatest thing since sliced bread.......and I do not even like anime.

[Valkyrist]

Love the anime and all, but am I the only one who looked at those screenshots and was suddenly overcome w/ flashbacks of first-gen PS1 games? Hate to be the cynic here, but this just looks like *another* lame anime rip-off game.

[Racknahm]

Love the anime and all, but am I the only one who looked at those screenshots and was suddenly overcome w/ flashbacks of first-gen PS1 games? Hate to be the cynic here, but this just looks like *another* lame anime rip-off game.
You're not alone. I love the anime, but the game doesn't look very promising.

[Heretic Machine]

I couldn't get into that anime at all... Couldn't get into Wolf's Rain either, not when it was subbed and not when it was dubbed on Cartoon Network. Loved Bebop, but the makers of that series just haven't been able to capture me with anything since then.

It's a shame too, because Wolf's Rain seemed kind of cool in concept.

[Dakar]

Love the anime and all, but am I the only one who looked at those screenshots and was suddenly overcome w/ flashbacks of first-gen PS1 games? Hate to be the cynic here, but this just looks like *another* lame anime rip-off game.

Well the preview said it had "a ways to go" and only the fundamentals were in place. So I'm hoping that means the art for the most part is far from finished and fleshed out.

[Dirty Harry]

This sounds very lovely. Grasshopper is one of the ballsiest Japanese studios out there at the moment.

ALTHOUGH... I liked the OST of Samurai Champloo more than the anime itself. I just gave up after seven episodes or so because it felt kind of soulless.
i have about six ost albums from champloo, which one are you refeering to?

[Valkyrist]

All I can say is I'm STILL waiting for a good Macross game. VFX2 was rocking IMO, but never came stateside. Robotech for GC was fun (and I own it), but was the old-school macross. I want something in the Macross Plus age, sleek and cutting edge ala' Ace Combat meets Armored Core.

A good Ghost in the Shell game would be nice too, but Efren Ramirez will be president of the united states before I ever see that happen. /cry

[jakie_chon]

Once you find the track that gives you the most powerful combo you'll stick to it, and then you'll get sick of it.

[MosBen]

We Ballsack Samurai?

[nonchalance]

The show rocked, but I can't say that I'm excited about the game.

At all.

[Mason]

I couldn't get into that anime at all... Couldn't get into Wolf's Rain either, not when it was subbed and not when it was dubbed on Cartoon Network. Loved Bebop, but the makers of that series just haven't been able to capture me with anything since then.

It's a shame too, because Wolf's Rain seemed kind of cool in concept.

Agreed, Bones hasn't done well since Bebop. And I'm really surprised by Champloo fandom, as it is dull and repetitive beyond belief. A few passable action scenes, but honestly Bebop had better. Not to mention that its few lazy attempts to channel hip-hop culture are head-clutchingly cheesy.

[nonchalance]

Agreed, Bones hasn't done well since Bebop. And I'm really surprised by Champloo fandom, as it is dull and repetitive beyond belief. A few passable action scenes, but honestly Bebop had better. Not to mention that its few lazy attempts to channel hip-hop culture are head-clutchingly cheesy.

Champloo has real emotional power. If all you're interested in is action scenes, then sure, there's maybe one good fight per episode - but watched as a full series, it's true art.

[mister_slim]

Love the anime and all, but am I the only one who looked at those screenshots and was suddenly overcome w/ flashbacks of first-gen PS1 games? Hate to be the cynic here, but this just looks like *another* lame anime rip-off game.
Agreed, though I'm going to wait for a movie from the final game before I make a final decision. Killer7 looked much better in motion than in screens as well. It also depends, for me anyway, if the final aesthetic comes together properly. I really want to see how the turntables/crossfader work though.

[fushi]

Champloo has real emotional power. If all you're interested in is action scenes, then sure, there's maybe one good fight per episode - but watched as a full series, it's true art.
I'm sorry, but in my opinion emotional power was what the series lacked. It didn't have any emotional power outside of lavish stylings and the characters became less and less interesting as the series moved on (granted, I only watched seven episodes). It just didn't click with me the way I had hoped it would.

And people, get your anime studios straight!

Cowboy Bebop - Sunrise; directed by Shinichiro Watanabe
Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door - BONES, mainly; directed by Shinichiro Watanabe
Wolf's Rain - BONES
Samurai Champloo - Manglobe Inc. & Shimoigusa Champloos, who are both new studios; directed by Shinichiro Watanabe

Edit: Oh, and feast your eyes upon this (http://www.ergoproxy.com/2006test/trailer/ergoproxypv.asx). Ergo Proxy, coming in February 2006.

[nonchalance]

I'm sorry, but in my opinion emotional power was what the series lacked. It didn't have any emotional power outside of lavish stylings and the characters became less and less interesting as the series moved on (granted, I only watched seven episodes). It just didn't click with me the way I had hoped it would.

I agree that the first nine or ten episodes drag a bit. The series really comes into its own about halfway through, when Jin and Mugen get some real character development.

[Dirty Harry]

Yeah its kinda required with this show to watch it all the way, almost 30 episodes if i remeber correctly.

[AnthraxKitty]

Love the anime and all, but am I the only one who looked at those screenshots and was suddenly overcome w/ flashbacks of first-gen PS1 games? Hate to be the cynic here, but this just looks like *another* lame anime rip-off game.

You forget this is from Play, the magazine that jumps over anything slightly "different" or based on an anime. Damn near every game they make a fuss over ends up being horrible...I wouldn't be surprised if this is the same. Sad, but not surprised.

[Kelegacy]

Too bad we couldn't get some adult animation shows here in the states, created here or Europe, that aren't comedy shows. Why is adult animation seemingly limited to Asia while we only get kids cartoons and Family Guy and South Park funny shows.

[ShankTheChicken]

And people, get your anime studios straight!

Cowboy Bebop - Sunrise; directed by Shinichiro Watanabe
Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door - BONES, mainly; directed by Shinichiro Watanabe
Wolf's Rain - BONES
Samurai Champloo - Manglobe Inc. & Shimoigusa Champloos, who are both new studios; directed by Shinichiro Watanabe

Edit: Oh, and feast your eyes upon this (http://www.ergoproxy.com/2006test/trailer/ergoproxypv.asx). Ergo Proxy, coming in February 2006.

Thanks for setting the record straight on the development there. Wolf's Rain never had a seat next to Bebop for me, since Watanabe had nothing to do with it. Champloo however did feel like his work. It didn't seem as well done as Bebop but I enjoyed it all the same. Knockin' on Heaven's Door was good but never did it for me the way the series did. Just proves that you should never give a good anime series a feature length film.

Not sure what we're supposed to be looking at with Ergo Proxy though. Looks sort of like another cookie cutter action/drama. Maybe it looks better if you can understand the narration.

[Dirty Harry]

Too bad we couldn't get some adult animation shows here in the states, created here or Europe, that aren't comedy shows. Why is adult animation seemingly limited to Asia while we only get kids cartoons and Family Guy and South Park funny shows.
You should really start watching adult swim with athf, phf, sealab, squidbillies, harvey birdman, boondocks, 12 oz mouse, home movies, venture boys, robot chicken hell i can keep on going on but meh, watch adult swim fo.

[Kelegacy]

You should really start watching adult swim with athf, phf, sealab, squidbillies, harvey birdman, boondocks, 12 oz mouse, home movies, venture boys, robot chicken hell i can keep on going on but meh, watch adult swim fo.
Yes, but like I said, they are all comedies. I'd like something that takes itself a bit more seriously like a lot of popular anime. I still love my Simpsons, Family Guy, and a lot of Adult Swim, but I wish Western culture had animated series that weren't all about humor sometimes. The only ones I can think of are Batman: The Animated Series and a couple others, but those were even aimed at kids.