Sengoku Basara X is a new 2D fighting game originally intended to be called ‘Sammy vs Capcom’. This game is being designed by the Japanese company Arc System Works, who are renowned for their Guilty Gear series and Hokuto No Ken, another 2D beat ‘em up also known as Fist of the North Star. The latest Arc System Works to be published by Capcom, Sengoku Basara X, has similar visuals to the Guilty Gear series, as though a bunch of new characters and stages have been dropped into Guilty Gear.
Keeping up with anime styled characters, the game is set in the Japanese feudal era. There are ten playable characters, most of which are samurais. The system is similar to the Capcom manga-based game, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure - there are three standard attacks, while the fourth button is used as the ‘reinforcement’ command. The ‘reinforcement system’ is similar to Marvel vs Capcom game where you can call your ‘Engun Summon’ to support you and you will see more of it in Sengoku Basara X.
Sengoku Basara X was under beta testing last July at the Capcom Plaza and judging by the videos released, it looks like it is going to be a really slick game. It is likely that it will be included in the Tougeki and Super Battle Opera – ultimate beat ‘em up tournaments held in Japan by Arcadia magazine. The game will be available in arcades, but there has been no official statement for a console release. Sony reported that they will not have any 2D games for the PS3 (regardless of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix) but it might still appear on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 due to their capitalisation on 2D games.
Basara has a lot to live up to as it will obviously be compared to Samurai Showdown (known as Samurai Spirits in Japan) and Last Blade, two classic SNK games that set down real competition against Capcom’s reign of 2D beat ‘em ups long ago. Overall I think the game looks like it will be some good, fast paced fighting fun and I cannot wait to play it. It is a shame that it will be a long time before I can do so, short of taking a flight to Tokyo.
