Genji: Dawn Of The Samurai (PS2)

The armour-clad clashes have great sound effects.

Herald rating * * * *

The first thing you notice about samurai role-player Genji is the great sound. When armour-clad samurai collide in frenzied battle the sound-effects are as good as a big-budget movie, and an indication of Genji's pedigree.

The samurai genre has been well exploited so I was sceptical whether Genji could deliver anything new. By and large it doesn't, but the game fits together so well and is so beautifully presented that patient sword-slashing adventure fans will love it.

I say patient because the story takes its time to develop. The action merges with story cutaways that advance the plot.

Some will find this slow-paced, but if you skip through the cutaways you'll miss the game's best features - the slick visuals and audio.

Cherry blossom floats on the breeze as we're treated to animations of ancient Japan with traditional instruments playing. The style is reminiscent of The Last Samurai, but Genji has an element of fantasy more akin to House of Flying Daggers.

The hero is young Yoshitsune, a gifted swordsman who must lead the Genji clan in battle against the murderous Heishi clan, which has wrested control of Japan. He posesses a powerful stone, the only one the Heishi warriors have yet to get their hands on.

Genji has shades of the search for the ring in Tolkien's epic, except stone-bearer Yoshitsune is far braver than ring-wearing Frodo. He slashes his way through legions of Heishi and faces some formidable foes.

When you use the power of the "mind's eye" the scene slows, there's a loud rushing noise, and you perform an expert kill in slow motion. It's a device often used, but one that looks so good here that you'll forgive the developers using it.

Young male gaming enthusiasts will want to own this role-player from the creator of Street Fighter. Others should rent for the weekend.

*13+, $90