Once in a while, a game in our mailbox pops that feels like it’s sent through a time machine. When you boot up the console of choice (Nintendo Switch for this review), it feels like you’re being sucked into an old arcade machine with a bucket full of quarters. Ready to take on that devil of a machine. Ganryu 2 is precisely one of those games – and I mean this in a good way. Tough as nails, old-school action is waiting for you beyond the borders of the start screen. And it’s set in a fictional version of Feudal Japan – which makes my historian’s heart race. Let’s dive in!
The Sword in the Stone?
Before we dive into reviewing Ganryu 2, let’s do a bit of background first (yes, I know, sorry – you can skip ahead if you want). Ganryu 2 is the sequel to the Ganryu game made by VISCO on NEOGEO back in 1999, for once an era I can remember, even though I never owned the NEOGEO. The universe takes place in a feudal fantasy Japan, which is strongly inspired by the story of Takezo Musashi, whose adventures are unfolded in a series of books (mainly “The Stone and the Sword”). But when I tried to do some research on them – I primarily found the Disney classic The Sword in the Stone. Luckily we know the name of the samurai they used in-game – which is Miyamoto Mushasi (which still doesn’t ring a bell?).
Vagabond!
Miyamoto Musashi (1584 – 13 June 1645), also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke, or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku,[2] was a Japanese swordsman, philosopher, strategist, writer, and rōnin who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 61 duels (next is 33 by Itō Ittōsai). As he was often known, Musashi is considered a Kensei, a sword-saint of Japan. He was the founder of the Niten Ichi-ryū, or Nito Ichi-ryū, style of swordsmanship, and in his final years, authored The Book of Five Rings (五輪の書, Go Rin No Sho) and Dokkōdō (The Path of Aloneness).
Interestingly, the same Musashi is featured in the famous manga Vagabond; The story starts in 1600, after the decisive Battle of Sekigahara. Two 17-year-old teenagers who joined the losing side, Takezō Shinmen and Matahachi Hon’iden, lie wounded on the battlefield and pursued by survivor hunters. They manage to escape and swear to become Invincible Under The Heavens (天下無双, Tenka Musō). They find housing with two women but are soon attacked by the Tsujikaze gang. In the confusion of the fight, their paths separate: Takezō decides to become a vagabond and wander the world challenging solid opponents, and Matahachi chooses to stay with the women. You came here for the game -not talking about some manga and historical figures.
Ganryu 2
So, Ganryu 2! Play as Miyamoto Musashi and travel through a 17th-century fantasy Japan, from north to south to the island of Ganryu-Jima, where everything happened between Musashi and Kojiro (Ganryu 1). Gameplay-wise, it’s mainly a hack and slash in which you tackle the enemies on-screen with limited lives and limited options to do so. If you fail to beat the end boss, you’ll be replaying a significant portion of the level (or even the whole level) if you die at a certain point.
Growth?
So, what do we get then? I think Storybird Studio did a great job making the Ganryu title a modern 2D action game. If you’re looking for an old-school ninja game, I can recommend Ganryu 2 (especially with the lack of Ninja Gaiden on the Nintendo Switch). It plays decent (great and worse at mixed moments, like jumping walls). It looks good, and I love the little items you get throughout the levels. These are typical snacks like the little onigiri, Dango, and some katsudon, and there are also cute Maneki-Neko. Sure, it’s mostly fanservice for the fans of Japanese culture, but still a nice touch.
Ganryu 2 is a game about gradual growth in player skill, and it feels rewarding, I guess? You’ll need to replay acts and boss battles several times, but the growth happens quickly once you get the hang of it. You can’t help but feel compelled to try and try again, as you feel like you’re improving each time – or at least, that’s what I’m trying to see. This can be quite challenging since there is no tutorial on doing certain aspects of the game, which probably was a homage to old games (or they want your quarters).
It took me quite some tries to beat even the first level – but once I got the hang of it, it felt like remembering where the enemies would pop up and where certain traps/hazards were. I was back in the arcade modus and remembered why I feel nostalgic for those moments. Yes, we moved on – games became better and changed for the better! When I want to play a game of SM, I boot up Dark Souls and throw my controller at the wall. So I’m conflicted – on the one hand, I feel like it’s pushing my limits; on the other hand, I feel like I should delete it from my library – even though it compels me to become better at it!
Conclusion
So to conclude – Ganryu 2 doesn’t waste your time with frustratingly imposed difficulty, and thanks to excellent controls and versatile play mechanics, in no time, you’ll be able to conquer an entire stage without losing a single life. Unfortunately, in my case, it took me a little too long to get back into this vibe – even though Ganryu 2 is the perfect homage to ninja action games of yesteryear. I think there’s a reason we moved on and explored new possibilities with these kinds of games (looking at you, Yachtclub).
7/10
Tested on the Nintendo Switch.
