Way of the Samurai 3 - Boxed - PS3

Way of the Samurai 3 follows the same principles as its predecessors, once again offering an authentic setting, an in-depth sword-fighting system and a cause-and-effect role-playing experience. This time, the game takes place during the Sengoku period and puts players in the sandals of a lone samurai. As the sole survivor of an epic battle, he enters the world of Amana, currently ruled by Shuzen Fujimori, who overthrew the former lord, Lord Sakurai. However, the Fujimori clan is not very popular in the region, so Shuzen must rule the area with an iron fist to maintain control.

The player is thrown into this conflict and must decide whether to join the Fujimori clan or the Ouka clan (formed by former members of the Sakurai clan), to protect the villagers of Takatane who simply want peace, or to leave Amana forever (which results in a complete reset of the game). The game gives the player almost total freedom to roam the eight zones of Amana while following their avatar over the shoulder. The overall story arc allows for over 20 possible endings. Which one the player gets depends on their actions and decisions throughout the game - including whether they repeatedly clash with people, making them angry and prompting them to attack the player. For this reason, the length of the game varies greatly depending on what the player does. The shortest route, for example, would be to simply go and kill both faction leaders, which can theoretically be done in less than an hour, thanks to the ability to act even during cutscenes and dialogue.

During cutscenes and also during normal gameplay, the player has three options: listen, apologise/beg or attack. Begging a merchant earns the player a free item, but also reduces the merchant's respect for the player, which can ultimately result in fewer Samurai points upon death or completion of the game. The game is divided into different scenes, with the next possible ones marked on the in-game map, making it easier for the player to follow the red thread.

The game features a realistic day and night cycle that has a major impact on the NPCs, who go about their normal lives even without the player's intervention. The player can talk to various characters, take on different jobs (only one at a time) and buy new items. There are also a few mini-games, such as chopping vegetables or filleting fish. Decisions affect relationships with the various groups and change the way they interact with the player, and there are dozens of swords, hammers and spears with which to defend himself. However, he must take into account the different quality and durability of the weapons. With these weapons, the player can perform both offensive and defensive moves, and even special actions, depending on their fighting style. There are several dozen unlockable moves that even remain available for each new game. More importantly, the player can decide whether to kill a person or fight with a blunt weapon. Killing can be bad for one's reputation, but knocking down an enemy with just a blunt attack will certainly lead to another encounter. If an opponent does not drop the right weapon, the player can go to the blacksmith and forge a new weapon from spare parts, or improve and upgrade an existing weapon, depending on their fighting style and for a fee.

Throughout the game, the player will also meet several potential companions. Some will join him in exchange for money, while others can be "wooed". In either case, the person then follows the player, giving them an additional advantage in combat and also unlocking access to mini-games and side jobs that can only be completed as a pair. The romance with the companion can even go so far that the companion decides to live with him in his house in the village of Takatane. There, the player can sleep until a certain hour to restore their health, and has access to a weapons safe as well as a cupboard to store their belongings, as they can only carry three weapons at a time and no extra clothing.