User Review : Dishwasher: Dead Samurai

Ups

• Frantic Action{Reminicent of Shinobi

Downs

• Gameplay can get samey{Backgrounds are a bit bland

Turns out washing pots and pans can be quite dangerous

We’ve all had those shoddy jobs to earn us a menial amount just so you can and buy your next game or go out of the weekend, you know the sort long hours where you’re subjected to the company of a three toothed hag who resent you using her life’s work for your petty cash. Alas I was no different, and ended up spending a long summer in a popular fast food chain, relegated to washing the pans rather than serving bargain buckets or cooking with special ingredients.

It is with certain sympathy then that I play Dishwasher Dead Samurai, Ska Studios offering to the Microsoft Arcade. How often is it that the lowly worker sticks it to the man? The answer not often, so when the opportunity arrives, especially wielding dual meat clavers then it is the duty of all gamers to pick up the pad!

Graphically the game is superb, carving itself a niche in ‘alternative’ visuals, muted black and white shades contrast heavily to the vivid blood splatters, and fire effects. It’s certainly different, reminding the gamer of Tim Burton films, or Brandon Lee in the Crow. Dark, brooding, but at the same time awesomely evocative The dishwasher has a hand drawn stylised charm to its visuals. Enemies are distinctive and range from FBI Agents through to rocket propelled Cyborgs.

It isn’t all clean dishes and rinseaid though, as some of the graphics are distinctly bland. Backgrounds themselves are dull, only being bettered by the rain and weather effects that overlay the action. There are other drawbacks too, namely the comic book cut scenes that link the various levels. While the attempt to match the style of the in game action is mirrored in the comic book scenes, they seem dull almost blurry making it difficult for the gamer to follow the storyline, however nonsensical it may be.

The gameplay offers the gamer on the face of it an old school style 2D scrolling beat – em – up, in a similar way to Shinobi or The First Samurai on the Amiga, with basic controls of jump, weak attack and strong attack. It is only when the gamer progresses and unlocks additional weapons, namely the Shift Blade that the way you approach the game differs. By gaining access to the shift blade the gamer can teleport to a desired location on the screen with a flick of the right analogue stick. This becomes an essential game mechanic allowing the gamer to dodge and perform more elaborate attacks. In addition to this early weapon there are also different combinations such as chainsaws and machine guns, which add variety to the game.

The Dishwasher though does become repetitive after a while, the later stages especially sees the number of enemies ramp up making the game increasingly more difficult. The gamer is also left with the feeling of being underwhelmed by the game, mainly due to the lack luster Bosses that occupy the game. Its not so much their attack patterns which makes them bad, but more that they seem extremely small, especially when you compare it to the likes of Capcom’s Super Turrican 2. It leaves the gamer cold and somewhat undoes the hard work that is done in the main parts of the game.

The story mode isn’t, however the only offering, and Ska studios has been keen to add replay value with an arcade mode or Dish Challenge mode, the latter almost like a 2D horde mode which sees wave upon wave of enemies confronting the gamer.

The Dishwasher is a good game, graphically compelling and with a charm unlike many marketplace games. The gameplay will not be for some, but for the age old gamers who relish a blast through old school gaming with a new twist; or new gamers who wonder why such games became popular in the first place, then the dishwasher has more than enough to answer its critics.

- Chris ‘Guesty81’

Score

7.0

Graphics

8.0

Sound

6.5

Gameplay

8.0

Fun Factor

Overall

7.5

[Eiffel]

Best arcade title I've played in a while. A very hard title.