Sword of the Samurai

Sword of the Samurai is a video game in the strategy genre developed by MPS Labs and published by MicroProse Software, Inc. originally released in 1989. It is currently playable on DOS.

Sword of the Samurai is a rare undiscovered gem for many gamers. It is very strange that the game has not obtained 'Hall of Fame' status in computer magazines, because it is the best game ever made about the life of a samurai in ancient Japan.

Starting as a lowly samurai, your task is to climb the social ladder to become Shogun. Some of the game's best features are: exciting duels (designed by Sid Meier), many branching options (later used to great effect in Darklands), and an authentic medieval Japan setting, with beautiful woodcut graphics and atmospheric Japanese music. The game is a masterful blend of action, strategy and adventure. Just as in medieval Europe, you have a fiefdom and a number of men under your command. The difference, however, is that here you must attend to the Japanese concepts of honor, which is quantified and of paramount importance in the game. If you attempt to assassinate a rival and fail, for example, your honor will drop precipitously, causing your men to abandon you or your girlfriend to leave you. If you lose enough honor, you will have no choice but to commit seppuku (ritual suicide).

With an authentically Japanese premise, solid gameplay based on real samurai culture and gorgeous graphics, Sword of Samurai belongs in every strategy gamer's collection. Definitely not to be missed.

Sword of the Samurai is available at a reduced price on the following websites and is no longer abandonware.