14 DAY TRIAL // After almost a year since the original launch of the game in Japan for the PlayStation 3, Way of the Samurai 3 will be coming to America. The publishers of the US version of the game, UFO and Agetec, are putting together something special for those who will preorder the title. Along with GameStop, the eager ones will have access to a special bonus disc with exclusive digital content, entitled "The Art and Strategy of the Warring States," which will come in a separate package from the game and will be composed of a digital art book and a strategy guide.
Both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 versions will have the bonus disc available, but only in-store customers will get it if they buy from GameStop. Still, if you're willing to put in the extra effort and pre-order the game, you will be able to get the Way of the Samurai 3 along with its bonus disc on the day it's released, October 13.
The game is an action title, with the story taking place in the legendary Sengoku Jidai, or Warring States era, in Japan. The period began around the middle of the 15th century and ended roughly in the beginning of the 17th century and was marked by conflict and turmoil, with savage battles and endless war. Way of the Samurai 3 follows the story of one of the many lands that were hit by the conflict, Amana, ruled by the Fujimori Shuzen daimyo, or feudal lord.
Fujimori Shuzen had overthrown the former ruler of the land, Lord Sakurai, and rose to power. The Fujimori clan is a new presence in the area and to establish its dominion it forces heavy taxes on the peasants to establish and found a powerful army. There are three factions in the game, the Fujimori clan, Ouka clan, and Takatane villagers. The Ouka clan are the remnants of the old Sakurai ruling and seek to dethrone Shuzen and take back what they believe to be rightfully theirs, while the villagers of Takatane are simply caught in the middle and try to have a peaceful existence. As for the gameplay itself, the protagonist of the game, a nameless samurai, will charge through the game in classic action-game style. He will be able to collect broken weapon parts from his enemies and with the help of the smith forge his own customized weapons. There are approximately 200 original components and more than 750 moves to use with the new weapons.