Spears, swords, bows and arrows remain, while new weapons include boomerangs, guns (one shot) and (gulp) cannons. Inventory skills (you can use up to five skills and carry up to four items) and asset management (laid out for you in a self explanatory control pad icon) are a must. Once you learn the system and the skill items’ characteristics, it’s pretty easy to dispatch enemies (depending on your difficulty level). Evaluation statistics come at the end of the levels, which provide feedback for adjustments and motivation for possibly repeating that level.

The graphics have a nice, hand-drawn feel, but show no noticeable improvement from previous installments. The eclectic mix in navigation ranges from free roaming to “tractor beam” movement where you can concentrate more on the offensive/defensive aspects. Ignorance of the Japanese culture might take some meaning/excitement from this title, but the overall entertainment value and challenges remain solid. It seems producers want players to concentrate the action on defeating waves of enemies, but two player face-offs and possible online play in future installments would be nice.

Samurai Warriors: Katana is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB for Mild Language and Violence.