This was a rough week so I apologize for how late I am getting this out. I'm not really happy with the outcome of this video because we forgot to record a segment that was in the script, so the video doesn't really sync up. But lesson learned, Always record! There is also a small mistake, tell me if you can spot it.

Like always, continue scrolling to read our "Why It's Awesome" article. So without further Adieu:

DishWasher Dead Samurai Review "Why It Sucks"



Review Haiku:

Nit-picking aside,
Dishwasher Dead Samurai:
Silly Name, Great Game

"Why It's Awesome"

If there is one word I would use to describe Dishwasher Dead Samurai, it is "deep." On the surface, this is just a button masher, and you can get an awful lot of enjoyment out of it if you treat it that way, but that is just scratching the surface. If you take the care to pay attention to just what buttons you are mashing, you'll be rewarded with spectacular, visually stunning combos. This is important, since as soon as you land your first hit a combo meter shows up to grade you on the number of hits and kills you can string together, assigning a score once you go too long between beatings. It provides an excellent motivator to keep the intensity up. Five different weapons cater to a variety of play styles, ranging from the ponderous but bone crunching chainsaw to the whirling, spastic kama blades. Each is upgradeable, but upgrades are more about expanding your repertoire of moves and the length of your combos than increasing damage. Each star you tick off on a weapon breaths new life into it, letting you streak back and forth through enemies or air juggle them like never before. The enemies have a fair amount of variety, and typically require their own special tactics to defeat them quickly, from a simple grab and slam to a sequence of well timed dashing slices.

The controls are slick and polished, with the incredibly addictive teleport and simple but effective combo sequences combining into a gameplay experience that almost reads your mind. The number of times a jump or a dodge or a slide puts you just where you need to be and a combo does just what you want it to is uncanny. Secret rooms are frequent, prompting you to make frequent use of the sword shift to search walls and ceilings. The arcade mode distills the game into its essence, assigning you a number of kills and a limited complement of weapons, plus the occasional altered play mode like "only airborne damage" or "constant health drain" to keep you on your toes. The story mode has not one but two co-op modes, one casting player two in the role of a guitar familiar that zaps enemies with each chord, and the other a more typical duplicate of player one that can hack an slash along with him. Interestingly, both are unlocked by finding amulets in game, a further reason to investigate those levels thoroughly.

Graphically, the game has a unique style that permeates everything. The environments and characters are grim and stylized, with darkness and gore dripping from your every action. Layered on top of that are lighting and particle effects that accompany special actions, making the later stages a flurry of explosions and bolts of lightning. The icing on the cake is the execution system, which gives a different "messy execution" to each enemy. During these, the camera slows down and dims all but you and your hapless victim as you creatively dispatch them.

It all combines into an XBLA game that plays like a full title and should really be treated as one. Many an hour can be spent learning the nuances of each weapon and the best tactics against each enemy. The score system adds a Tony Hawk-style drive to continually out do yourself, and ranked modes let you match your talents against other players all over the world. This game has raised the bar for XBLA titles. Truly well done.