Game Review: Afro Samurai

Ross Edwards - Knight Ridder/Tribune

Laced with profanity, over-the-top violence and obscene gestures, "Afro Samurai" is about as far from family friendly as console video games get.

Released late last month for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, "Afro Samurai" follows the tale -- originally written as a Japanese manga and later reproduced as an anime miniseries -- of a swordsman who seeks to avenge the murder of his father.

Afro, the main character voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, can only complete his revenge by first obtaining a mystical accessory known as the No. 2 headband. Upon doing so, he earns the right to challenge Justice -- the owner of the No. 1 headband who beheaded Afro's father in front of him when he was a child.

Parents should be extremely cautious when deciding whether or not this game is acceptable, even for older children. "Afro Samurai" pushes the limits of its Mature rating as the main character decapitates enemies and faces off with scantily clad female assassins in a sea of spurting blood and gore.

Players earn achievements for acts such as slicing off opponents' limbs, and enemies will often utter expletives of the four-letter variety as their severed parts crumple to the ground.

Throw in a handful of crude sexual references and a foul-mouthed sidekick, and it becomes clear this title is meant for adults only.

Even among players who can stomach the graphic violence, many will likely be put off by the repetitive nature of the game. Afro runs from room to room mercilessly cutting his way through countless bad guys to advance the story.

Despite its many shortcomings and mature content, however, "Afro Samurai" does just enough right to set it apart from the rest of the bargain-bin titles in the hack-and-slash genre.

From its deftly cel-shaded animation to the swagger of a soundtrack directed by The RZA -- of Wu Tang Clan fame -- the atmosphere in "Afro Samurai" oozes with confidence. Quality voice acting by Jackson and others keeps the dialogue from becoming stale, and the action is spiced up with acrobatic platforming elements similar to those in the "Prince of Persia" franchise.

The combat system is refreshingly complex for a hack-and-slash title. As Afro levels up, he learns new skills such as combos and dodges that can be used in battle. He can also enter focus mode, a slow-motion effect that allows him to slice through large groups of enemies without breaking a sweat.

When Afro is in focus mode, the game's presentation changes to black and white. Much like a similar scene from the movie Kill Bill: Volume 1, the game uses this concept as another opportunity to show just how violent it can be, as enemies literally fall to pieces at super-slow speed.

There's a certain niche of gamers and anime fans who will find "Afro Samurai" alluring for its super-slick style and action-driven combat. Everyone else is likely to either despise it from the outset for its mature nature, or tire of it quickly due to its limited replay value.

One thing's for certain: Anyone looking for a kid-friendly title should keep looking. Most parents will agree "Afro Samurai" is simply not acceptable for children.

Final score: 7 out of 10.

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Copyright 2009 by Knight Ridder/Tribune