OneChanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad

[jedimind7]

Anyone here pick this up? Thoughts so far? I was on the fence about getting it for a while but come Friday I will be purchasing.

[The 1 2 P]

I want to pick it up(it's only $29 or $39 new) but I'm going to wait a bit. I don't even care about the reviews because I already know exactly what type of game this is.

[Drag0nsfyre]

I picked it up last night on the way home from work. I have not checked it out though since I also picked up F.E.A.R. 2 and the Ultimate Genesis collection as well. I just ended up giving fear 2 a spin for a while online.
I'm also familiar with pretty much what to expect with the game though since I have one of the import titles on the ps2.

[Graham Mitchell]

This looked pretty cool, actually. I'm surprised it's debuting at a "budget" price. Can't wait to hear some reviews.

[The Shawn]

I was checking this out at EB last night, zombies and bikini's, how can you go wrong?

[Sudo]

It's on the way to me from Gamefly, should be here tomorrow. I can keep it for $27, and I may end up doing so if it's halfway decent.

[Ze_ro]

I'm surprised it's debuting at a "budget" price. Can't wait to hear some reviews.
You do realize this whole series has been budget priced in Japan for a long time now, right?

Don't be too surprised when the reviews are all 5's and 6's. It IS a budget title after all, it's not going to be another Bioshock or Gears of War.

--Zero

[Graham Mitchell]

You do realize this whole series has been budget priced in Japan for a long time now, right?

Don't be too surprised when the reviews are all 5's and 6's. It IS a budget title after all, it's not going to be another Bioshock or Gears of War.

--Zero
i thought the name sounded familiar but i didn't know it was a series. the preview of it in the latest game informer has an interviewer with the devloper, etc., giving the impression that this is an a-list title.

[iloveguns]

i've seen this on the store hmm looks intriguing..

[The 1 2 P]

giving the impression that this is an a-list title.

Um...definitely notLOL

[Bojay1997]

You do realize this whole series has been budget priced in Japan for a long time now, right?

Don't be too surprised when the reviews are all 5's and 6's. It IS a budget title after all, it's not going to be another Bioshock or Gears of War.

--Zero

5s and 6s would be generous for any title in the series. I have played the earlier games, but my understanding is that the 360 version is already getting poor reviews (like 1 out of 5). This should have been a $20 game, not a $40 one since that implies that it actually has some play and replay value.

[c0ldb33r]

Will I pick this up?

http://g.imagehost.org/0962/onechanbara.jpg

Yes. Yes I will. But I'll wait until it's reduced to about $20.00. I don't really think I'd want to buy it used. This ... isn't the type of game that I'd wanna buy after some other guy's been ... handling it. No thanks, I'm not ... down with that.

I went to EB Games tonight to get the new Sonic Sega collection. I showed my wife the case for Onechanbara. She made the pretty funny point that if that woman was real her bikini bottom would have to be a little bigger because those bottoms are so small you can practically see her clitoris. She now knows why I want the game :D

[fuchikoma]

Worst manual ever.

Excluding the table of contents, customer support, health warnings, EULA, and mandatory Xbox Live advert, there's a solid 2 and 1/2 pages of actual gameplay information.

Obviously this isn't Steel Battalion, but it would've been nice if they mentioned small details like how to get out of the life-draining rampage mode or that some enemies are impossible to kill until you level up.

[Ze_ro]

I expect this game will be somewhat akin to Earth Defense Force 2017: Basically a simple idea repeated over and over with some minor changes along the way to keep it somewhat interesting, but never particularly deep, and not with any particularly original or impressive storyline. However, if you can ignore that and get into it, there will be some fun to be had.

Of course, EDF is another of D3's "Simple 2000" budget series in Japan...

That said, I enjoyed EDF, and I expect I will enjoy Onechanbara too. But I certainly don't expect it to make any "game of the year" lists.

--Zero

[Joe West]

i think ill wait until it hits 20.00

[ScourDX]

Dead Rising meet Rumble Roses. I am gonna get it once the price drops.

[The 1 2 P]

I don't really think I'd want to buy it used. This ... isn't the type of game that I'd wanna buy after some other guy's been ... handling it. No thanks, I'm not ... down with that.

So you don't like sloppy seconds? Thats not very ron-jeremy-like of you.

[Fuyukaze]

I dont plan to get this game day one. Think I'll wait till THEY GET MY DAMN PRE-ORDER IN!! Pre-ordered it the day gamecrazy offered it and they only got the 360 version in and only 4 copies at that!

[smork]

I expect this game will be somewhat akin to Earth Defense Force 2017: Basically a simple idea repeated over and over with some minor changes along the way to keep it somewhat interesting, but never particularly deep, and not with any particularly original or impressive storyline. However, if you can ignore that and get into it, there will be some fun to be had.

Of course, EDF is another of D3's "Simple 2000" budget series in Japan...

That said, I enjoyed EDF, and I expect I will enjoy Onechanbara too. But I certainly don't expect it to make any "game of the year" lists.

--Zero

Well, I love EDF (both PS2 versions and the 360 version - got 100% complete on it!) and I loathe Onechanbara Vortex. I figured bikinis and zombies can't miss, but oh it can.

It might not be so totally horrible if the camera wasn't completely fucked. But it is, and it is.

Maybe the series got fixed when moving to the west, but I doubt it.

[Half Japanese]

I expect this game will be somewhat akin to Earth Defense Force 2017: Basically a simple idea repeated over and over with some minor changes along the way to keep it somewhat interesting, but never particularly deep, and not with any particularly original or impressive storyline. However, if you can ignore that and get into it, there will be some fun to be had.

Of course, EDF is another of D3's "Simple 2000" budget series in Japan...

That said, I enjoyed EDF, and I expect I will enjoy Onechanbara too. But I certainly don't expect it to make any "game of the year" lists.

--Zero

As someone who enjoyed EDF, I've gotta say that Onechanbara is a huge pile of crap. My roommate borrowed it from his brother in law and we played it for about 20 minutes. It's never a good sign when the loading screen minigame is mroe fun than the game itself. It's basically a $40 update to any given sub-par early 90's beat-em-up, only without the subtle charm that those games sometimes provided. This is downright awful in every conceivable way. Do yourself a favor and pick up God Hand instead...or just about anything else.

[glorfindel]

i gotta remember to pick this up. doesnt sound amazing but hell i need somthing new to do and why not play some japanese game where your in bikinis killing the undead? sounds like my dream friday night

[jcalder8]

This actually sounds.... pretty bad..... I can't wait to buy it :D I'll be picking it up the first chance I get when I see it for the $20 mark.

[darkslime]

For $20 I'm in.

I've heard from people that the wii version of the game is better. Hmmm...

[Half Japanese]

The game isn't worth $10, let alone the $20 pricepoint a lot of you are waiting for, and the fact that they think it's worth $40 is like charging BMW prices for a moped.

[c0ldb33r]

I've heard from people that the wii version of the game is better. Hmmm...
I believe it. Have you seen the box art?

This game is really made for waggle control, know what I mean? know what I mean? nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s182/c0ldb33r/monty_python_007_nudge_nudge.jpg

[heybtbm]

If you want to see women in bikinis, I can think of about 1000 possible ways to do that without paying $40. This game is still questionable at $20, let alone $40. With all the excellent games hitting in February, you really have to wonder about people buying this one right away.


Do yourself a favor and pick up God Hand instead.

Agreed 100%.

[jedimind7]

Well I was going to pick it up but the Gamestop I went to didnt have it so I purchased Dead Space instead. Gamepro and Gamespot reviews basically trashed the game. Im not expecting a triple A plus title or anything. Just some decent and mindless hack n slash fun.

[s1lence]

If you want to see women in bikinis, I can think of about 1000 possible ways to do that without paying $40. This game is still questionable at $20, let alone $40. With all the excellent games hitting in February, you really have to wonder about people buying this one right away.



Agreed 100%.


Because its based off of a quirky Japanese Anime. I got it because I didn't have the game in English, I only had the import Onechanbara Vortex.

[jupitersj]

I picked this up, the wii version, sonic collection(ps3) and ultimate shooting collection :bday:

This is one of those games that has a campy story just a few sentences in length to drive the reason for fighting with better than average voicing(nothing horrible like Resident Evil, most Sega Arcade games, etc).
The beginning is kind of dull because nothing is explained to you on gameplay mechanics...however if you do a little bit of research you can see the battle system easily trounces any dynasty warriors game.

The difficulty comes in the variation of rhythm with successive button presses in combos while hording enemies together(I like to kite them around a bit first) to continue chaining(especially true for Aya as she is slower than Saki). Locking on with RB allows you to perform different lunges, dodges and combos too. Your blade slowly becomes covered in blood which slows down your fighting and changes the rhythm of the combos even further but you don't always have to run away and clean your blade; it can be incorporated into your combos. Blood rage can be cured with fragments from your inventory or touching a goddess statue.
Basically the first hour it feels like a slow jerky button masher where you don't have enough mobility or reach but that changes as you learn the changeups much like a fighting game and as you level up.

I don't really like scores but I'd put this around 7/10 since it is just something you can sit down and play whether you want to button mash or get more technical..though in later levels you will have to master each characters' moveset if you want to finish the quests(achievements) or beat the game on anything other than the easiest difficulty.

I don't know how much this will help but it is like a mini strat guide for those who have or plan on buying it.

http://s.guidesmovies.ign.com/guides/document/article/762/762162/onechanbara_360_d3p_guide.pdf

I'm usually a cheapass when it comes to what I pay for games as I wait for them to drop super low while still being NEW(except RPGs/shmups) but I just wanted a hack n slash that I don't own that isn't Devil May Cry. Hope this helps someone; feel free to ask me anything as most of the videos of this game on youtube don't show more than the first level/basic button mashing.

It's probably not worth $40 to most but I'd pay $20 for it if I didn't have it later in life...course I snagged it form Amazon for $36 with no tax and free shipping as usual :)

[Graham Mitchell]

The game isn't worth $10, let alone the $20 pricepoint a lot of you are waiting for, and the fact that they think it's worth $40 is like charging BMW prices for a moped.

It's really too bad. I looked forward to the concept. Cuz I'm a violent hornball.

[c0ldb33r]

DING DING DING DING DING!!! We have a winner!

Kotaku has the following story:
http://kotaku.com/5153555/bikini-samurai-minus-bikini


When Playboy reviewed Wii title Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad, it asked publisher D3 for this: Exclusive naked pics. And exclusive naked pics it got.

http://g.imagehost.org/t/0349/on2.jpg (http://g.imagehost.org/view/0349/on2) http://g.imagehost.org/t/0430/on1.jpg (http://g.imagehost.org/view/0430/on1)

Uncensored pics can be tracked down through the kotaku.com story.

[DiabolicalAdvocate]

I went to EB to pre-order SF IV a couple of days ago, and I picked this up with some store credit I had.

If you don't take it seriously, and don't go in with high expectations, there's some fun to be had if you're into hack and slash gameplay. It's not terrible, and the reviews I've seen so far are way overblown. To me, a 1 out of 5 or 2.5 out of 10 means the game is broken or unplayable, and that definitely isn't the case. It's the kind of thing you can easily pick up and play between new releases, or if you just want to kill 30 minutes here and there. And if you're into character customization, there's incentive to play in order to unlock stuff to change the outfit and appearance of the three characters.

That being said, it isn't worth $40. I was looking for something new to tide me over until SF IV and had trade-in credit, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered. $20 is more appropriate.

[Nesmaster]

Playing the waiting game as well, although part of me wants to support D3 and buy it at full price so we get more of these games here. Still patiently waiting on another EDF with online co-op! :D

[Cryomancer]

Pre-ordered both back in January. The 360 game is great fun, I don't care what anyone says. haven't played the Wii one yet since 1) i'm playing the 360 one and 2) it's a sequel anyway. Yes, they are two separate games in the same series, not ports.

I bought it because I support D3 as a company, and I REALLY support "too japanese" games coming to the USA (I also pre-ordered and bought retro game challenge, and I paid full price for EDF when it came out as well). I am legitimately surprised at how much fun i am having with the game though. I've done most of the easier quests now and cleared normal and easy, now working on hard mode.

what jupitersj said is totally true. the combo system is much more complex than it appears at first. the game doens't hold your hand on learning things either. for example there's a combo that lets you grab hearts from the "unkillable" mud zombies, and when used in berserk mode they will heal you.

basically if you go into the game remembering that it is 1) a budget title, and 2) AMAZING that it finally came over after years of bugging D3 USA, and put enough time into it to learn what you are doing, you can have a damn good time.

[Ikari Warrior]

Put about 5 hours in this weekend, and it's pretty fun, in that mindless B-grade Japanese game style like EDF. The best way I can describe it is Bulletwitch meets Dynasty Warriors.

[Drag0nsfyre]

I finished story mode today on normal. (360 version) I had fun with it and I enjoyed it. I already knew what to expect having played the imports. I knew it would have quirky camera issues (which can be frustrating at times) among other minor issues.
I agree with cryo and others that have enjoyed it. :) It has a kind of addictive quality too. I mean I'd play for a few hours going through some levels go watch some tv or what not and then I'd want to go and want to go back and continue playing on. I'm now working on some quest achievements that I'm close to completing and also thinking about giving it another run through on Hard. Bloodbath central too! holy crap It's pretty funny slicing the big guys in half though. :D

I actually enjoyed the movie too. LOL picked it up for $5 shipped new on ebay.It was a nice campy B-flick. The hot japanese actresses also helped it out a bit ;) :p

[Sudo]

I've played through the first 11 or so levels the past couple days, and even though I'm aware it's not a very good game, I still like it for some reason. The graphics aren't very good, and the camera can be annoying, but it's a fun hack and slash game that doesn't take itself too seriously. I'm enjoying it a lot more than Golden Axe: Beast Rider, at any rate.

[walrusmonger]

I picked this up today along with Prinny on PSP. I have the PS2 version and I didn't remember if I liked it or not, but I am enjoying the 360 version. The biggest problem is the camera, but I really like how there is free DLC for the game already.

People are saying it's a $20 buy, but in reality the $40 price point is really the "budget" price point- last generation it was $60 limited edition, $50 standard new, $40 first party ps2, $30 budget, $20 gh/pc/ph.

Now we have $90/$80/$70 for LE, $60 new, $50 wii/first party select, $40 budget, $30 gh/ph.

[Deadman]

I want as many people as possible to buy this game - GO BUY IT NOW! That way when Gamestop gets overrun with trade-ins, I can grab it for like $7, which based on what I've seen is about all it's worth. I can 't imagine getting more than a couple hours out of this, so under $10 is the price point for me.

The X-Play review made this game look terrible!

[Oobgarm]

I'm enjoying it a lot more than Golden Axe: Beast Rider, at any rate.

That's not saying a lot, honestly. Beast Rider was awful.


The X-Play review made this game look terrible!

One can dress up shit as much as they want, but in the end, it's still shit.

[Bojay1997]

I picked this up today along with Prinny on PSP. I have the PS2 version and I didn't remember if I liked it or not, but I am enjoying the 360 version. The biggest problem is the camera, but I really like how there is free DLC for the game already.

People are saying it's a $20 buy, but in reality the $40 price point is really the "budget" price point- last generation it was $60 limited edition, $50 standard new, $40 first party ps2, $30 budget, $20 gh/pc/ph.

Now we have $90/$80/$70 for LE, $60 new, $50 wii/first party select, $40 budget, $30 gh/ph.

No, $20 is still the budget price. $40 is a pseudo discount price that publishers created to make you think you're getting a deal. I would say well over 3/4 of my 360 collection was purchased new at $20. Heck, I just picked up Tomb Raider Underworld for $15 at Target yesterday and that game is like what, three months old? A game like this with very limited appeal to a small niche of gamers and widely available at Best Buy is going to be $20 soon enough. No need to overpay for it.

[We Are Ninja]

Put about 5 hours in this weekend, and it's pretty fun, in that mindless B-grade Japanese game style like EDF. The best way I can describe it is Bulletwitch meets Dynasty Warriors.

Sold. I actually enjoyed Bullet Witch and played it through to the end... :-P

[MarioMania]

a year later it's still $20...This look's like a PS2 game

I won't pay more then $5 for this game..yeah I bumped a year old thread, see what new people thinks

[Icarus Moonsight]

I got both the Wii and 360 versions off Amazon for ~$20 shipped. Price was right, and these looked fun, in small sporadic doses. Had to add something to bring it up for Saver Shipping, but there's always something out there.

[megasdkirby]

I got the Wii version a few months back...never opened it. LOL

I plan on getting the Xbox 360 version, since I read it's the prequel to the Wii version. It's less than $20 with free shipping on Amazon, so I might go for that and Left 4 Dead GOTY.

I just hope I enjoy both games...specially Left 4 Dead, since I'm not a fan of FPS like games (but I did enjoy Land of the Dead for the original Xbox, so maybe I will enjoy it...)

[Cryomancer]

I still love the 360 game. Still haven't mastered the cool combo, either. But damnit, I got kinda close to killing a blood mist zombie.

[The 1 2 P]

This game fell off my radar once it was no longer carried in Best Buy or any other local stores. The last price I saw it for was $30 and that was way too much to spend on it, especially from the reviews I read about it. I'll pick it up eventually though.

[Gamingking]

Got it for Christmas, It's a awesome game, I really enjoy it.

[deltoidsteep]

Just grabbed the wii one for 15 bucks new. Still cant find the 360 one for less than 25 used : \

[heybtbm]

Just grabbed the wii one for 15 bucks new. Still cant find the 360 one for less than 25 used : \

It was just $11 on Amazon (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253911) (new). Keep an eye out.

[deltoidsteep]

It was just $11 on Amazon (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253911) (new). Keep an eye out.

Yeah, amazon.com. which won't ship to us up in canada. amazon.ca has a pretty awful selection for the most part. at least in my experience..

[PC-ENGINE HELL]

I picked it up the Wii release back in Feb for 10 bucks for my son at a Wal Mart about 30 mins from me. He seemed to enjoy it quite a bit all things considered.

[Nesmaster]

Just bought this for 20 bucks.

[The 1 2 P]

Best Buy has it for $15 on their website. I've been thinking about picking it up but I'm waiting for when theres something else I want so that I can order more than one thing at a time.

[megasdkirby]

Amazon had both versions for $10 a little while back, or very close to $10. I picked both up.'

I really enjoyed it, even if it was, no IS, insanely repetitive. I finished Easy and Normal difficulties, have Aya and Saki (however it is spelled) at level 50+ (Annna is still at a pitiful 20+ something in level, because I consider her a worthless character, only good to achieve certain achievements, like the one which requires to reach VIOLENT combo over and over again).

I continue playing the game because of the achievements. I want to max out their (all the characters) stats and be able to finish BERZERK mode.

Overall, it's a game that gets better as the characters are "leveled up". Though if one is after certain achievements, be warned, as some of them are very hard to get, specially those that deal with "cool combos".

I only tested the Wii version, but it's the continuation to the Xbox 360 version. Same type of gameplay, but I really can't stand the Wiimote to attack. Still pretty much the same, at least the few minutes I played.

[Cryomancer]

BERZERK mode is really easy, by the way. The mode before it is a lot harder. BEZERK is wasy and fun after finally getting through the second "hardest" mode.

Cool combos are indeed difficult to master. Don't bother trying to do so until you've maxed out Aya's combo stat either, you'll need it.

Easiest way to max stats is survival mode or any stage with the Reiko clones. They drop stat increases fairly often and usually come as a pack.

[megasdkirby]

Easiest way to max stats is survival mode or any stage with the Reiko clones. They drop stat increases fairly often and usually come as a pack.

Damn survival mode...does it ever end? I reached 2-7 and only got one of the three level achievements (for reaching level 16). I thought I would get the other two, but I did not. I guess this means I have to play survival mode at least 2 more times to get those levels to finally reach the achievement. ARGH...

[Cryomancer]

You have to do the survival missions one at a time, I believe. So after you get to the first goal, quit and play again. It actually does have a last stage, but it then loops from the beginnning again from there.

Honestly I found survival mode to be one of the easiest missions, plus it's a good way to boost stats / item hunt.

[goatdan]

I'm amazed that this game seems to have got the respect that it has, and it isn't much -- I mean, I had to pick it up because the descriptions stated it was a beat-em-up, and practically any beat-em-up games that are released I buy and play through because I love the simple play of the genre. So this sounding like it would be a simple game didn't scare me away. It sounded like Ninja Turtle gameplay with bikini chicks. Could care less about the chicks, but simple awesome beat-em-up gameplay? I'm always ready for that!

The problem is, where in TMNT you face all Foot Clan soldiers, at least they are different. I played through three levels and the zombies all do the same thing. The bosses were easy. I couldn't stand it, and got rid of it as quickly as I could.

There are SO many better games to be had for a fraction of the cost of this game.

[megasdkirby]

There are SO many better games to be had for a fraction of the cost of this game.

It gets better as you continue playing. The early rounds, those on normal and easy, are dead easy. But later rounds do provide a fair enough challenge, specially on difficulty hard and onward.

I'm not trying to say the game is excellent, but it isn't bad either. It has it's share of problems, for me the worst being repetitiveness and lack on intelligent AI (I mean come on, the zombies are dead stupid LOL). But for the right price, it's not so bad.

I can't see the game sell for $40 or more, though. $10-$15 seems right, however.

[c0ldb33r]

There are SO many better games to be had for a fraction of the cost of this game.
Yeah come on though... boobs and bikini. Come on!

[goatdan]

It gets better as you continue playing. The early rounds, those on normal and easy, are dead easy. But later rounds do provide a fair enough challenge, specially on difficulty hard and onward.

I was on normal, and I took to just hitting the A button and not even looking at the screen after a little while. When that continued to work with no issues, I was totally fine with selling the game. For $15, you can get this pile or you can get TMNT Turtles in Time Re-Shelled and a footlong sub at Subway. Why anyone would choose this is beyond me -- and I am *very* forgiving of beat 'em ups. Heck, Golden Axe Beast Rider is WAY better than this for the same or cheaper too...

The bikini's are nice, but you can use the internet to get real babes for free if that is what you are after. God, I just couldn't find anything redeeming about this game.

[Gamingking]

Yeah come on though... boobs and bikini. Come on!

He stated he could care less about chicks...

[c0ldb33r]

He stated he could care less about chicks...
Then I just don't get it.

[megasdkirby]

All I know is that Saki scares the shit out of me.

[Cryomancer]

(I mean come on, the zombies are dead stupid LOL)

What a concept, dumb zombies!

But yeah goatdan, the game isn't super deep, but it IS deeper than it appears. Did you put stats into the combo meter at all when you played? Your range of attacks, number of combos, etc become quite more varied. All the characters play quite differently from each other. D3 probably should have included their little guide PDF to all the moves and stuff as the manual for the game, as the game itself rarely tells you about any of it (although everytime you die, a hint is added to the options menu if I recall).

Dunno man, I like it. It has the same thing going for it that L4D does, where you are mostly trying to decide the risk/reward ratio of trying something, wondering if you have enough items/skill to push through to your objective. Stay put, and fight extra zombies for items or run straight for the end? Go into beszerk so you can use your mudmen hearts instead of your heal items? Go to the statue to clean up so you don't? When should you use your protection necklace? I'm not saying it's the most brilliant game ever made, but it has lots of little choices like that and a pretty satisfying combat system once you get it down (and I even still haven't mastered it!). If I could even fully figure out the cool combos, I'd have an entire extra type of gameplay open, aka hunting down the upgrade items. Once you can take out the blood mist zombies, they take you to little arenas you have to clear out and you get rewarded with an item that enhances the effect of something, or makes the cool combo timing easier, etc.

Really, there is more to the game that one notices with a simple glance.

[Dire 51]

I just picked this up for the 360, and am not regretting it so far. It's my new "guilty pleasure."

[Viper187]

I picked this one up because I loved the other D3 games like Matt Hazard and Dark Sector, and I enjoyed it. Starting off, I thought I'd never get the cool combos and stuff, but I managed to get 1000/1000 on it. I almost wish I had a real internet connection so I could get the DLC. For the record, EDF was awesome too. Took me like 170 hours to get 100% on though, and I'm really starting to hate spiders. ;)

[Cryomancer]

Fuckin spiders! Also, fuckin green fences!

I really want EDF to be my first 1000 game, but I just don't put enough time and effort into gathering up enough health to last through the 15~ or so Inferno levels I have left.

Matt Hazard and Dark Sector are also indeed very cool games. D3 is my favorite modern publisher, mostly due to their 360 releases.