Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku (GameCube)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 2.5 stars OK
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 5.2 (2.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Alex Navarro
• Reviewed on: 03/19/2004
• Released on: 03/24/2004
• Originally published on GameSpot: Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku (GameCube) Review

Since its debut on the Cartoon Network in 2001, Genndy Tartakovsky's quirky animated action series Samurai Jack has developed a sizable following. The show follows the wacky-yet-action-packed misadventures of a samurai named Jack, who, while on a quest to defeat an evil wizard named Aku, is transported thousands of years into the future, where the aforementioned evil wizard has taken full control of the world. The show is best known for its unique visual style and offbeat sense of humor--neither of which, sadly, are to be found in Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku, Sega and Adrenium's action game based on the series. Shadow of Aku is a thoroughly generic combination of beat-'em-up and platforming gameplay that draws upon only the most rudimentary elements of both genres and does nothing particularly interesting with either of them. Both exceedingly trite and exceedingly brief, Shadow of Aku is pure mediocrity from beginning to end.

Shadow of Aku's storyline has Jack on the hunt for a time portal, which he intends to use to travel back in time to stop Aku from ever ascending into power. Along the way, he comes across a number of different helpless villages and towns that have been terrorized by Aku, and he offers his services, rescuing imprisoned citizens and ridding the world of Aku's evil robot army. The basic storyline has all the makings of one of the TV show's episodes, including appearances from familiar characters, such as the Scotsman and Jack's evil counterpart, Mad Jack. Unfortunately, the actual story itself is highly underplayed, and outside of a few cutscenes here and there, it never really goes anywhere interesting or amusing. Additionally, the payoff at the end of the game--though somewhat reminiscent of a typical ending from one of the episodes of the show--is exceptionally unsatisfying, even though it'll take you only about five hours of play time to actually get there (perhaps a bit longer if you attempt to get 100 percent on every level).

As mentioned, Shadow of Aku is basically a cross between a beat-'em-up and a platformer. During combat, you'll have weak and strong sword slash buttons available to you, and the slashes can be strung together into some rather basic combos. Jack can also use projectile weapons, such as throwing stars and a bow and arrow, and he can also learn new, specialized attacks as he collects various scrolls strewn throughout each world. Some of these attacks are actually cool, but they're ridiculously simple to perform. Ridiculously simple pretty much describes the game's combat on the whole, really, as there is next to no challenge to it at all. None of the game's enemies are difficult in the slightest (even on the hardest difficulty), and to get past them you need only a single finger with which to button-mash. Some literally require only a press of the block button to redirect their projectile attacks back at them, which of course destroys them with one shot. The only real challenging enemy you'll ever face in the game is Aku himself, and after a few tries, he's basically a breeze as well.

Jack's abilities and health can also be upgraded as you progress through the game. In each of the game's worlds there is a hub level, where you can purchase more strength for your attacks, a higher health meter, or a higher level of Zen energy. Zen energy essentially gives you special abilities, such as the ability to slow down time or to power uniquely powered-up swords you acquire as the game progresses. In order to purchase these items and acquire new swords, you'll need to collect artifacts that are located all over every level, and you'll need to free imprisoned citizens. Every level has a certain number of each, with your ultimate goal of course being to get every single artifact and citizen, in order to fully complete the game. Again, however, the payoff for doing so is not especially meaningful, and given the relative brevity of the game, it certainly isn't much of a challenge to attempt.

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