Sengoku 3

Side-scrolling beat 'em ups are the bread and butter of the video game industry. Not only are they some of the earliest incarnations of engaging gameplay, but they also serve a palette of accessible mechanics for anyone to dive in and enjoy themselves. This concept doesn't come in any more of a purer form than Sengoku 3.

With the other 2 members of the Sengoku franchise receiving praise for its classic arcade style and immersive visuals, the third seemingly wouldn't need to change much. It's rare to see a foray outside the more traditional style of gameplay. We would expect that Sengoku 3 follows the path of its ancestors in every respect.

Back to the Roots

Having said that, Sengoku 3 seeks to harness the acclaim of its predecessors. It's worth noting that the second incarnation took a bit more of an abstract approach to gameplay. It featured transformation capabilities and a narrative that was a little more in-depth. Those have been omitted in this game in favor of focusing on the traditional mechanics.

That means that Sengoku 3 does come off as a generic arcade game of the genre. However, it's refined well enough so that it creates an enjoyable experience for the player. The 4-playable characters provide profound engagement with their sword-swinging combat abilities and flashy animations. There's nothing inherently wrong with the gameplay. However, the general tone of the game is where it falls short.

Each level of Sengoku 3 makes you feel like you are going through the motions. The saving grace of gameplay is the beautiful 16-bit visuals you'll discover on each level, but is it enough to make the game memorable? You could argue that yes, just about. Considering there's nothing overtly frustrating about combat, and players can glide fluidly through the game, it does take on that vise of a pure beat 'em up game.

If it's the kind of arcade nostalgia you seek - Sengoku 3 is worth a playthrough. It's not going to blow your mind, but the whole experience resonates with a classic beat 'em up that can stand against the best of them. It's fine-tuned, polished, and aesthetically pleasing - it only lacks that excitement that a sprinkle of innovative gameplay brings.

Didn't Need To Sharpen The Sword

Sengoku 3 doesn't strike anyone as the game of the year - nor does it really feel like it intended to. What was an offer was a mechanically tuned beat 'em up to rank among the competition. It has flair - it's accessible and visually intriguing. What it lacks is the genre creativity that games such as Double Dragon brought to the table.

Pros:

• Classic beat 'em up well-refined gameplay
• Character and environment visuals are beautiful
• Level design is well-though-out

Cons:

• Generic mechanics make the game a bit bland
• The gameplay feels like going through the motions
• The narrative doesn't feel aligned with the game