Namco-Bandai Editor Day - Afro Samurai
One unique title that we got to see in at the Namco-Bandai event was the quirky and elegantly violent title Afro Samurai. The game is based on the manga and anime series of the same name that was released last year with Samuel L. Jackson voicing the main character, Afro. Mr Jackson will also be lending his voice to the game, but that's not the only thing worth noting about the title. While the build we saw was still somewhat early in the overall development cycle, there were plenty of items to draw one's attention.
The first was the overall look of the graphics in the game. All the characters had a bright and vibrant cell-shaded look to them while the whole environment seemed to be passed through a filter that caused everything to seem more textured and grainy. This stunning visual style was then contrasted with the elegant violence that are the battles in the game. Afro moves with graceful acrobatics onto enemies and delivers gruesome killing blows to their necks, eyes, and other limbs. The visuals are also furthered by the comic book cinematics that happen throughout the game as enemies rush towards Afro or Afro goes into a murderous rampage. In what seems like an effort to not detract from the visuals, Afro has no 'health bar' but instead all colors on screen will slowly turn to black and white as he becomes more damaged. Once Afro begins to attack and hit his opponents, energy and color will restore to the world.
Along with the visuals, the game boasts to have a musically inspired combat system. With a musical score by RZA and CJ Chuy Gomez, the game keeps to it hip-hop roots. Apparently with the music playing in the background, the enemy AI and the pace of the battle while change in time to the tone and beat of the song, giving combat a rhythmic and hypnotic feel. I didn't get to test this out for myself, since the game was only being demoed to us, but the gameplay trailers did definitely have some choreography going on between the action on screen and the sound playing alongside the game.
With the all-star talent, graphics, music, and violence all married together, I can definitely see the potential that Namco-Bandai has in this title. This game is one of the first entirely U.S. Namco-Bandai in-house developed games and them seem very adamant in trying to make a game that not only lives up to its manga heritage, but also shows that they can create something truly unique outside of their Japanese studios. I, for one, wish to see them deliver on their dream.
PixelPoet
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 16 April 2008
· Comments (2)
Other stuff like this: afro samurai, namco bandai, playstation 3, xbox 360
I haven't read the article(yet) but heard when they first announced it, got the dvd's
i cant wait(oh yeah i can metal gear)should
be really good. Who apart from Afro who's the best black anime character?(have you notice most are cool & collected just like me lol) Wander how the story will play out in relation to the anime???
Hip Hop? I don't remember any of that in the anime..
Eyes & necks aren't limbs, btw. :)