Second Samurai
| Second Samurai | |
|---|---|
 Mega Drive cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Vivid Image |
| Publisher(s) | Psygnosis |
| Designer(s) | Raffaele Cecco |
| Composer(s) | Brian Marshall (Amiga) Matt Furniss (Mega Drive) |
| Platform(s) | Mega Drive, Amiga |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Action, Platform, Strategy |
| Mode(s) | 2-player cooperative |
Second Samurai is a video game released for the Amiga in 1993. It is the sequel to the 1991 game First Samurai. A Mega Drive version was later released in 1994 which features different graphics, sound and level design to the Amiga version.
Gameplay
The game includes prehistoric and futuristic levels as well as feudal Japan as in First Samurai. Contact with enemies or falling off the screen (lives are not lost automatically) subtracts one point from the life bar. In the Mega Drive/Genesis version of the game, the Demon King from the first game taunts the player on a black screen when they lose a life with sayings such as "Give up mortal!" and "Going Down!" until the last life is lost.
Development
Following the success of First Samurai, Mev Dinc was interested in developing 'a sequel to end all sequels'. The concept of having 2 samurai to choose from was established early on. Psygnosis put forward an appealing offer for both the Amiga and Sega Mega Drive versions, to which Vivid Image gladly agreed.
Development for the game was going smoothly, and plans were even in place to release a Mega-CD version alongside the Mega Drive. In 1993 however, Sony acquired Psygnosis as part of their ramp-up for the PlayStation and mandated that existing console projects be cancelled. Vivid Image was able to negotiate a settlement, allowing the release of the Mega Drive version, and a full payout. The Mega-CD version was never released.[1]
Reception
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Aktueller Software Markt | AMI: 10/12[2] SMD: 9/12[3] |
| Amiga Action | AMI: 87%[4] |
| Amiga Computing | AMI: 91%[5] |
| Amiga Format | AMI: 91%[6] |
| Amiga Power | AMI: 90%[7] |
| Amiga User International | AMI: 85%[8] |
| Computer and Video Games | AMI: 89/100[9] |
| Hyper | SMD: 57/100[10] |
| Mega Fun | SMD: 40%[11] |
| Video Games (DE) | SMD: 58%[12] |
References
- ^ Dinc, Mev (2021). Life Is A Game. Publishing Push. pp. 156–161. ISBN 9781914078590.
- ^ "Sei dabei, Samurai". Aktueller Software Markt. March 1994. p. 26. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "Konsolen-Corner". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). February 1995. pp. 30–32. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Archer, John (Christmas 1993). "Second Samurai". Amiga Action. No. 52. pp. 46–47. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Maddock, Jonathan (February 1994). "Second Samurai". Amiga Computing. No. 70. p. 140. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Bradley, Stephen (December 1993). "Second Samurai". Amiga Format. No. 53. pp. 60–61. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Nash, Jonathan (December 1993). "Second Samurai". Amiga Power. No. 32. pp. 40–41. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "Second Samurai". Amiga User International. Vol. 8, no. 4. May 1994. p. 77. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Tipping, Amanda (December 1993). "Second Samurai". Computer and Video Games. No. 145. p. 38. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Hopkinson, Russell (January 1995). "Second Samurai". Hyper. No. 14. p. 78. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Gotz (December 1994). "Second Samurai". Mega Fun. p. 124. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "Second Samurai". Video Games. December 1994. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
External links
- Second Samurai at Lemon Amiga
- Second Samurai at Amiga Hall of Light
- Second Samurai for the Mega Drive at GameFAQs