GamingUnion: "For those who aren't already aware, Nintendo's eShop service on the Nintendo 3DS has had a surprisingly prolific series of high-quality releases so far, including Pushmo and VVVVVV, just to name a few. Pushmo gave us a 3D take on the classic puzzle genre while VVVVVV was an excellent port of the PC original with a few extra touches. Nintendo's latest entry in their own releases for the 3DSWare service is a title with an eastern flair --- Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword, which has a hint of Punch-Out!! mixed with an art style reminiscent of Capcom's Okami. And surprisingly enough, this unique mix actually works out quite well in the end."
Aron writes:
"Imagine this: you are a young person in feudal Japan, out for a quiet morning stroll. Maybe you’re just walking because video games haven’t been invented yet, so there’s not much else to do. Or perhaps you’re just looking for a quiet place by a stream to beat your laundry on a rock and contemplate the meaning of life. Unfortunately, none of this is to come to pass because a tiny green man gives you a magic cherry blossom sword and tasks you with saving the land’s princess. This may sound like a fever dream, but it is actually the opening sequence to Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword for the Nintendo 3DS. In this eShop exclusive title, you must learn to use the aforementioned sword to mow down the countless ninjas, brutes and various other bad guys that would stop you from saving the fair princess."
Game Rumble: A game that has something to do with swords would typically end up to be a hack n slash game. However, Sakura Samurai takes a different route and would introduce a more tactical way to engage in a fight. It chose to follow its own virtue, but does it succeed? Read our review and find out!
"Since early summer of last year, the Nintendo 3DS system's eShop has seen a robust lineup of interesting offerings, some good and some bad. We've seen great titles like Pushmo, Mighty Switch Force, and Mutant Mudds, for starters. A title that released in the first quarter of 2012 in North America, Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword, has finally released in European territories, though renamed Hana Samurai: Art of the Sword, for whatever reason. Is the swordplay within the game a work of art or a disaster of a masterpiece?"
I've been wary of Nintendo's eShop, but I keep hearing good things. I might have to give this a shot!