First Samurai (1991). Play Free Online

Summary

First Samurai (sometimes just called The First Samurai) feels like a love‑letter to early ’90s arcade action. The game mixes 2D platforming with beat‑‘em‑up thrills, dropping you into a stylized, mystical version of feudal Japan that suddenly spirals through all sorts of time‑bent locales. I love how eating food and sipping sake actually boost the samurai, while contact with fire or enemies drains you, and magic pots act as checkpoints powered by the sword’s energy. Each level hides four items you must collect before confronting the boss, and monsters drop sword energy that automatically refills your attacks, giving the combat a satisfying loop.

Development anecdotes spice up the picture: graphic artist Paul ‘Dokk’ Docherty proposed the samurai theme after a cheesy monster flick, and programmer Raffaele Cecco tackled his first 16‑bit project on an Amiga, rewriting sprite and scrolling code from scratch. The team prioritized “pick‑up‑the‑joystick” controls, borrowing arcade‑style throws and grapples to keep the moves feeling diverse yet intuitive.

Critics saw it as a novel platformer: Famitsu hovered around a 6/10, while Super Game Reviewer gave it 79%, noting a dip in quality on later stages.

Storyline

In The First Samurai, you play as the titular warrior, the first samurai of feudal Japan, who is thrust into a supernatural conflict. The Demon King descends from his mountain realm and overwhelms you and your master with dark magic.

Defenseless, you fall while your master fights alone, ultimately dying but using his last breath to summon a mysterious Wizard Mage. The Mage begins teaching the young samurai the ways of magic, forging an enchanted blade.

Fueled by revenge, the samurai follows the fleeing Demon King into a distant future, wielding his magical sword and confronting new rivals along the way.

Edited by Maya Carter