Game:

Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked (2006)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 2:52:45

5 views

1

Originally recorded: July 2, 2023
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Well, that was a nice week off. I mean, I guess I was really just *off* from streaming: I spent Sunday night working my way through several demos from the Steam Next Fest, while I had to show up for jury duty on Thursday. Either way, taking a brief hiatus between the SHSLD game and my first "true" bonus game just felt right regardless. Helps to get me into the mindset that I don't necessarily *have* to finish everything left on my plate now, regardless of how much I want to. The fact that I'm starting so early in July also helps to reinforce that this is essentially "my second half" of 2023.

I'll be honest with you: I have never actually seen any of Samurai Champloo before playing this game. I was aware of its existence, but only in the sense that I'm aware of the many shows that were showcased on Toonami during the decline after it first moved from Cartoon Network proper to basically taking over Saturdays on the Adult Swim block... before eventually getting phased out. That being said, the game has made a good first impression. I may just have to catch this show on my own at some point.

The game's artstyle is a little off-putting though. I think the weirdest bit is that Fuu's models in the opening cutscene compared to the game itself are so distinct... yet bad in their own ways. Going with a more photo-realistic look wasn't a good choice, but at least it seemed to fit in with the rest of the game than the almost plasticky, anime figurine look they went for in the game itself. The weird part is that she seems to be the only one affected by this -- the other female characters I've seen so far in the game mesh way better with the rest of the game world. Oh well, who am I to question the arteur that is Goichi Suda?

Oh, that's right. While I think Dari originally nominated this game because it was an licensed title based on an anime, I put it on the bonus list myself because it was developed by Grasshopper Manufacture. That makes this the third GHM game I've played this year... which is probably some kind of record for me. For those of you wondering, I also played Travis Strike Again on my Steam Deck and the DS version of Flower, Sun and Rain on my trusty, dusty 3DS on my own. As such, this game kind of feels like a prototype for No More Heroes in a lot of ways. I've heard the same about the licensed game they made based on the Blood+ anime, One Night Kiss. I'd like to try that game as well but sadly, that one doesn't even have a fan translation -- and from what I've seen online, it's a fairly text-heavy game. I don't think I can "Game Sack" my way through it, like I did with Robbit Mon Dieu and Speed Power Gunbike.

Since the game starts off with two playable characters -- both with their own unique scenarios -- I was torn about how to approach them. However, considering the fact that their stories happen concurrently, I eventually decided to play through the game the same way I played through The Silver Case (another GHM game with a similar narrative progression). By going back and forth. Dari seemed to agree with that method before I discovered just how intertwined Mugen and Jin's stories were and since the unlockable third character's campaign is shorter than the others, I plan on tackling all three before calling it quits.

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