Samurai Bringer is a roguelite action game with levels which change with every playthrough, where you cut down hordes of Samurai and Demons to collect combat techniques and polish your fighting style in order to defeat Yamata-no-Orochi, the eight-headed dragon of Japanese mythology.
Players can freely assign individual attack types like slashes, thrusts, jumps, and projectiles to different button inputs. They can then enhance these basic attacks with additional effects, such as elemental damage, increased range, or multi-hit properties. By mixing and matching these attack components, players can create their own unique combat styles and combos. Reviewers praise this deep level of customization, as it enables experimentation and rewards players for discovering powerful new move combinations.
Each playthrough features procedurally generated levels, with enemy placements and types changing dynamically. Defeating powerful "Great General" enemies can unlock new attack scrolls and character classes, further incentivizing players to tackle the unpredictable content. Reviewers highlight the need to constantly adapt their customized movesets to handle the varying challenges presented in each run, adding an element of replayability.
The game is structured as a roguelite, where player progress persists across runs. While individual runs may end in defeat, players retain permanent upgrades to their maximum health and stamina, as well as access to unlocked character classes and attack scrolls. Reviewers appreciate this gradual progression system, as it allows them to steadily become more powerful over time while still maintaining the challenge of the roguelite format.
Defeating over 100 legendary Japanese warriors, known as "Great Generals," rewards players with their unique weapons, armor, and the ability to play as that character in future runs. Reviewers highlight this extensive character roster, each with their own preset moveset and passive abilities, as further enhancing the experimentation and replayability of the combat system.
Reviewers praise the game's accessibility, particularly the ability to fully customize the control scheme to their liking. This, combined with the vibrant pixel art aesthetic and optional full-screen mode, makes the experience enjoyable across a variety of input methods and display preferences.