Bushido Blade

~B
Bushido Blade New Player's Guide

Leif Powers

(junk e-mail address) - LEPmf@yahoo.com

Version 3

12/09/2002



Usage and legal info can be found at

http://www.leifpowers.com/legal.htm



Amongst other things, you can redistribute this document _freely_;

that is, do not charge for it. Charge for it and suffer the

wrath of the magic hammer (and the courts). Modify it, also,

and suffer.





1234567890

..........





This guide should help you cope with some of the issues that

a beginner could very well face in this game. However,

this isn't a guide to teach you to play at an expert level: given

my lack of local competition, and my lack of experience, I don't

want to tell you something terribly wrong.







1. Where do I begin?

2. Now that I can see past my face...

3. Bushido Blade Damage and Rules of Fighting

4. My General Fighting Strategies

5. My Weapon Tactics

6. Stance Properties

7. Crippled/Ground Fighting

8. Stages

9. Totally Subjective Observations

10. Hints for Hunting

11. Slash (Chambara) Mode

12. Secrets and Other Stuff

13. Credits for all Involved Parties

14. Heretofore and forthwith, the obligatory Disclaimer

15. Guide Questions and Feedback





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1.Where do I begin?



Well, whatever character you choose, you will be in a half-cage (Yahiro

Road), with a path leading to trees. One opponent will be before you. Now, you've

got 2 options. Kill all these people who come one at a time, or run to the well.

If you wish to spill blood ASAP, just defeat all these opponents here and

you will advance to fight more and, if you complete this quest with honor, you

get the first ending. To get the second ending...



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2.Now that I can see past my face...







Hit L1 and start running like no tomorrow in the direction of the trees

(cropped for cleanliness). Eventually, you will hit a passage that seems like a

dead end. Go on, for it is a) a way for the game to load data about the next

section and b) a cheap way for a dumb computer player to catch up with you. You

should keep running against the "dead end" until the enemy catches up with you,

at which point the game should load the next section, a bridge. Another dilemma.

Run across it, and you may access the hole which leads around the waterfall into

the bamboo (Hint: you can hold the climb button while running and automatically

ascend.). If you like extreme sports, take a fall off the bridge or the ledge,

and you end up on ground level. Now, for purposes of orientation, look directly

in the direction of the passage you just went through. On your right is a loop

which leads you back up to the ledge and the waterfall bypass. On the left, a

route which leads to a waterfall and thence to the Bamboo Thicket. When one

reaches the thicket, move towards the narrowing passage until it meets the next

scene, the front of the castle. Now, there are two ways to go, AGAIN:



1. Jump off the wall and end up in a pile of mud. This has 2 effects:



a) you lose your opponent

b) your clothes get muddy.



After you run out of the muck, drop into the frozen Dozaemon Moat and

pass through to the procession of steps to the top.



2. Go through the gate and run past the Cherry Blossoms to the steps until

you reach the top.



This top step leads into a massive yard (Yagura Point), the exit of which is at

the corner opposite your entrance. If you have Mikado or Red Shadow or Tatsumi, a

slower character, you may have major problems getting past the wind here.

For Mikado especially, you may need to change weapons to the Rapier to get past

this point. The key way to cross this is to jump into the pit and let it shield

you from the wind. Then you can jump out on the other side and struggle into

the exit.



This passes into the construction yard, where not only a ton of scrap but also

the well is located, fenced off by yellow barricades. Now, for the second ending

to work properly, you must injure your first opponent's knee and then fall in.

Stuart Kushon e-mailed me with a tip, saying that you can jump straight into the

well without injuring your opponent to get the second ending. However, if you do

this, you will have to fight your first opponent the whole way through. In my

opinion though, that's no big deal given that if you are able to hit his knee and

knock him down, you should be able to whip him after that if you are careful and

don't allow him in your bloodlust to hit you (so you won't get the second ending).

Amazingly, after the fall into a muddy Grotto, your clothes are clean once again.

After this, you must defeat all comers from here on out, save (except for) the last

boss, flawlessly (no scratches, they ruin your clothes). The rest of the

navigation is easy once you arrive in the Grotto. You will be rewarded with the

second ending for your character if you manage to achieve this.




at the castle with a inscribed stone on it. It is the level which you fall into

after jumping into the well. That caused some confusion.>

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3. Bushido Blade Damage and Rules of Fighting



Whatever weapon you pick, it is governed by certain rules of collision,

determining the results: successful parry, parry with stagger, weapon deflection,

struggle, light hit, kill. Most all attacks may be classified into roughly 1 of 4

categories.



Strike: an attack which originates from above or below along in a vertical change

of direction. Usually targeting either the head or the knees. Blocking this will

often allow your opponent to stagger you, particularly with the heavier weapons,

and that will get you killed pronto. Sidestepping is mildly effective. The

disadvantage here is that they usually take a while to wind up, and you can come

inside them with a thrust or lash or some such quickly, and kill them before they

can get you.



Lash: an attack coming from the left or right side of the body and moving in a

horizontal direction. Usually targets body and knees. Usually blocked pretty easily,

but are treacherous when inside a combo. The knee strikes particularly are evil,

oftentimes they can't be effectively blocked. These have some of both of the strikes

and the thrusts: they come out faster than strikes, but can deal with blocks better

than thrusts. These can wallop on sidesteppers going to the wind-up side.



Thrust: an attack which moves straight at the opponent blade first. Usually

targets body. Tends to leave you open if the opponent blocks, and if he sidesteps,

you are probably toast.



Sidearm: doesn't do anything but a light hit, but a strike afterwards can kill.

You can block this attack very easily.







Now, the game makes attacks end in a weapon deflection if the two weapons collide

with each other, even if that Nodachi was sitting on your opponent's head. If the

power of the strikes or the power of the weapons is mismatched, one opponent may

stagger, and that usually results in death. A good winning strategy is to get in

close to your opponent and use a stagger attack and then kill them before they can

recover.



A clash is the result of both players using the same attack motion (most likely

using single button presses from the same stance) and colliding. The outcome of

the clash is determined in this way (I think):



Pressing toward your opponent: Opponents are pushed off their feet if you beat

them in the struggle.

Pressing away from your opponent: You fall to your knees. Consider a prayer.

_

T: \

X: These buttons make you struggle harder. It's a button mash!

O:_/





When your opponent scores a light hit, its damage depends on the region hit:



Legs: Fall down and enable kneeling commands.

Non-weapon arm: lose the use of sidearm and dirt throwing techniques.

Also, you lose some strength so your attacks come out slower

and your recovery time grows.



Anywhere else is a negligible hit, except if you're trying to get the second

ending and you get cut up.



Killing hits are determined by two criteria:



1. Hit must go through head/torso/upper legs to a significant degree.

2. The edge (usually tip) or foremost part of the weapon must be the

point of impact. All other hits are light hits.




ejaculations to signify a kill.>



Speed: Listed below is a ranking of moves based on average connection time for a

kill (fastest to slowest).



1. Thrusts 1. Single Button Presses

2. Slashes 2. Stationary Special Moves

3. Strikes 3. Dashing or Sidestepping Moves



Honor: Honor, which is necessary to get endings, is violated by these actions:



1. Hitting opponents before they are in ready stance.



2. Hitting opponents while they are on the ground or getting up.

3. Hitting opponents in the back when their backs are turned.



Hitting an opponent in the back while they are facing you does not dishonor you

in most instances. However, the game has been known to declare you dishonored if

you hit an opponent in the back:

1. During an opponent's attack

2. If you do a dodging lash and you chop the opponent in two, back

first.



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4. My General Fighting Strategies



There are, IMHO, 4 kinds of effective fighting strategies.



1. The Running Game



This strategy involves running around your opponent until you are in

position to strike a vital area, at which point you attack with a running

O or X move. Elicits comments like, "You cheap son of a spoony bard" and,

"That doesn't count." Ha Ha Ha. This strategy is why I have no friends anymore.



2. Noble Swordmanship



Go straight for the kill using head and body shots and combos. The

hardest way to play this game. The only way to settle which player is better.



3. Mercenary



Use anything and everything. Throw dirt, sidearms, and insults at your

opponent. Thrust incessantly. Hit them in the knees, then run away. Sidestep

until you vomit. Jump like an astronaut. If possible, hit opponents in the back

with a running lash. After death, mutilate the body.





4. The Masochist's Dream



This is hard, but it sure pays off in "Boo-Yah" points. Get right next

to your opponent and start defending from middle stance. When your opponent

hits you in the knee, roll back and wait for the opponent to move in. Then start

striking, throwing dirt, and laying down like a severed frog's leg plugged into

the wall. The Sidearm Throw into High Strike is a great attack from here.



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5. My Weapon Tactics





For these weapons, I would strongly recommend going through a move list and

seeing which characters have extra moves for these weapons. Those characters

will typically be the best handlers of that weapon. You can use other ones,

but if you're playing for money or some such, you should always try out the

character/weapon combination first. Otherwise, you may get stuck with something

like Mikado with the Broadsword; not a good combination.







Katana

Stance Ratio: 20-35-35



The Katana is the most diverse weapon in the game. So make use of it.

Don't sit in one stance or do one attack. Those are for other weapons, with

skewed strengths. Katana players need to keep their opponent guessing, because

not only is this the most familiar weapon in the game, but its attacks are

formulaic, and most have simple counters.



High

Oddly enough, this does low shots the best. With about

half the decent moves targeted there, High Stance is one to put your

opponent off guard with. The T-O and O-T combos work well against

incorrigible turtles. This stance is geared more towards quick,

one-time strikes than anything else.



Middle

You can do almost anything from here. This is just a plain

decent stance to return to. Use thrusts to pester opponents' defenses.

Just use dashing attacks sparingly. The thrusts are the strength of

this stance, but you can also use some of your quick game here. Don't

use the combos too much, they'll get you killed.



Low

The attacks from this stance are actually better than most from

Middle Stance. The only gripes here: speed and lack of diversity. This is

the stance that makes your opponent turtle because of its range. But do

not be doing a whole lot of moves with wind-up time, because that's what

your opponent wants you to do: start getting greedy, coming with big

powerful moves, and then they just stab you quickly and you die. Don't

stay in this one too long, your opponent can begin to read your movements

since there are only a few fundamentally strong moves from here.



Utsusemi: Against a running opponent, and especially the computer, use

the four quick strikes. It's too risky in close, and only useful when

your opponent is at a medium distance and incapacitated.



Against: Go through Slash mode. Devise your own tactics for countering and

handling different attacks. Use the strengths of your weapon. No weapon

can out-average a Katana. These tactics will also help with all fights.



Rapier

Stance Ratio: 25-5-70



This weapon is one of the most off-balanced in Bushido Blade. With most

of the power in its Low Stance, players must strike first and strike true. Kills

are just a thrust away, so put thought into your tactics. Try some lashes every

so often to let sidesteppers know you're onto them. Do what your opponent does.

The Rapier is best in a side-to-side fight, so convince your opponent there is

no other option.



High

When your opponent tags you, knocking you out of Low Stance, and

tries to get in close, switch here. This has the most

slices, which can knock your opponent away just a bit, perfect for Low

Stance, the best one by far. Just don't switch if he is there, because

that is the best way to die. Make it clear with mad strikes and a couple

follow-up thrusts that you are not to be messed with in the inside game.



Middle

Why, o why does the game start you here? This position is a good

contender for Worst Stance. Only a novice will fall for the cheap tricks

here. Get into Low Stance IMMEDIATELY!



Low

The thrusts are quick and effective. Even button mashers can win

consistently from here. Get in range and let a fusillade of attacks put

your opponent on the retreat. That means you, Black Lotus!



Against: Sidestep. No other option is as effective against the might of

Low Stance. Never sit in one place. The T-T thrusts are a flood that

keeps on coming. Watch out for his sidestepping thrusts and lashes from

all stances, these have deceptive range and can certainly kill you if you

don't watch out and protect your backside. One thing you

should try and do is work him by trying to hit his weapon. It's all the

way out there even in Low Stance so keep your distance at first and use

quick hits to bang on his weapon. This will get him away from just hitting

T-T immediately whenever you try and wind up a stagger hit. Then you use

your slower stagger now that you have him thinking block or sidestep instead

of standing in there and coming up underneath you with a thrust.

You can try and use the defensive posture, blocking his thrusts then

quickly retaliating, but you have to remember that even the Rapier has

enough juice to make you stagger for a little bit and that can be enough to

kill you. Also especially in Low Stance, if you whiff that block he can

thrust away at you low, then eventually get in close enough on your third

or fourth backpedal to take out your legs. It is workable to block, but

don't rely on it as the sole means of defense.



Naginata

Stance Ratio: 5-30-65



Your opponent's distance is your power. The farther away you are, the

more options and therefore strength you have. If there's even an off chance that

your adversary will get inside, run. Thrusting is the only out in many of your

fights. Impatience plays into your hands. When you think your opponent is

boiling over, strike. Make sure not to be hasty about changing stances, you can

very easily get killed by quick players with fast weapons if you are in too close.



High

Long range fighting is this stance's forte. The wind-up on these

attacks, however, is almost unbearable. The O-O series is pretty effective

if you have your opponent up against a wall, you don't move towards the

opponent.



Middle

Thrust when close with ruthless timing. Prediction of incoming

attacks is critical to effective fighting here.



Mikado: The combo with a jump should be abused.



Low

Two hit combos from this stance can knock off a hasty opponent.

Close fighting is easiest here. Knock opponents into thrust range for

rapid disposal with triple jabs (four for Mikado).



Against: Use weapon deflection: since the Naginata is so slow to recover,

you can stagger without a powerful weapon if you just bang hers at the

right time. Use fast combos to put the opponent on the

defensive and harass with running strikes to take off some of the

aggressive thrusting action. Get in closer than you think possible by

sidestepping and then advancing with an attack.



Hammer

Stance Ratio: 30-5-65



Fighting with a weapon like the Hammer depends on first strikes. So play

easy. Tease your opponents. Deceive them into believing your assault is over.

Then show them who's boss. You can use this weapon with a character like

Kannuki to put on a defensive show - it's tough to stagger a hammer character

if they block, but if the opponent knocks away your weapon, you could be in

trouble since its recovery time isn't great.



High

The hammer flurry is half your strength. Move close, and let 'em

have it. If you miss, go for a longer range single move. Always be ready

to whack unsuspecting opponents with low hits, because the mentality is,

"High stance! Get ready for a pounding!"



Middle

Not a good stance. The problem here is that other stances do a lot

better than this, and the Hammer is a weapon for which you need to get

close and then let loose with. There are too many single strikes here

which makes it very difficult to get a kill.



Low

When opponents get in your face, Hammerspin till you barf. There

is also a unique X-T attack that changes levels, for confusing opponents

used to the big head swings. Even though the High Stance hammer salvo is

most famous, the Low Stance T-T is definitely capable of killing so don't

forget about it. Just make sure you aim properly because you can often miss

with the Low Stance T-T. Kannuki players, use that Hammerspin combo

constantly.



Against: Time attacks so that they will collide with the Hammer. What you

don't need is a Hammer blocking attacks. That's the Hammer that comes

crashing down on your head. And keep your fighting short and sweet. The

Hammer has good deflection. Either fight or flee. Also, try to keep your

distance from the Hammer man when you fight. It makes it a lot harder for

the opponent to kill you if he has to come all the way to you and do a ton

of stagger attacks to get into the killing zone. That gives you opportunities

for him to whiff an attack or for you to come out with a key block, which

you can then capitalize on.

Also, if you have one, try to use a stance that keeps you upright. Being in

a stance where you are below the Hammer man's shoulders makes you very easy

prey for the big hammer strikes.



Nodachi

Stance Ratio: 30-30-40



You MUST take the intitative. Your weapon is lethargic in close. Plan on

taking your range and leveraging it for the battle pace. Fighting with a Saber

in close should not be a priority. Make a fight a series of trading blows.

Stance changes should be premeditated to give yourself time. Consider running

and then changing strategy. You, however, need to also see to it that runners

going for you be punished for their follies. One last note: Conserve your energy.

Don't try to make the other person pay for every mistake. You'll just make one

of your own. Your goal here is to make the other person defensive and reactive

to your attacks, setting up the staggers and giving you more chances for lucky

kills. Another thing that you need to do to win is to beat on your opponent when

you think he is starting something to try and get in close. If he begins to wind

up at the end of your range smack him.

Low attacks are very effective with this weapon. Don't get caught up in the

stagger and trapping game so much that you don't throw out a few low shots every

fight.

Your defense isn't great with this weapon, recovery time can be awful.



High

You want to mix it up in this stance. It has good attacking range

but the attacks aren't terribly effective, except for f+X. That is as

quick an attack as you can mount with this weapon.



Middle

Make a quick blow every so often at the beginning of the fight.

It pays dividends in a cautious opponent who will fall easily to a

brutal onslaught from a long range later in the fight, even if the first

strike fails. O-O-T should not be left aside. It can make mincemeat of

even a cautious opponent in a bad position. This stance also has very

good distance: if you are trying to just tag your opponent when he begins

a pattern of his this is a good stance to do it in.



Low

This stance pulls its weight in its O-O slashes. The other moves from

here are decent as well but that is the great offensive power of this stance.

Watch out defensively though, it's easy to get overextended.



Utsusemi: See Katana, Low Stance.



Against: Trying to block this thing is "interesting". Get your opponent

first. Even if you don't do much with your first attack, you've probably got

better position. Turn that into an inconvenient strike to the body or knees.

Another good strategy is to lure the opponent into attacking you on the

outside of his range, then closing the distance on a miss. Never go into

the middle of his range because he can start to stagger you from there and

all you will be able to do is sit back and watch him beat the gizzards out

of you. It also puts you dead center into his killing spots, so get close or

get out of the way.



Long Sword

Stance Ratio: ? (adjust to opponent)



Use sparingly. That's the mantra for the Long Sword. Most attacks are

short range. The ones that aren't become abused because they are easy avenues

to a kill. One important aspect is to lure your opponent in. How? By using quick

strikes to provoke a hasty strike or lunge. Sidestep or back away, and now a

swift end is near. Only the Saber can fight with a Long Sword in close, so making

use of your speed is essential.

I can't make much sense of this weapon, what I guess would be most effective

is to use the different stances depending on what is the most effective

counterattack for your opponent. If you want to thrust him underneath, go high,

and if you want to try sidestepping go middle.



High

This is a thrusting stance. Use a strike to set things up and then

stick 'em to death with this. You can also attack low pretty effectively.



Middle

This is a lashing stance.



Low

This one seems to have a little bit of everything. I don't know

what this is best for or how often one would use it. It has good range

but a lot of the attacks whiff if your opponent is sidestepping and

moving around a lot.



Against: Block. Then show what a nuisance you can be with knee attacks

and sidestepping hits. Using a heavy weapon for stagger and just pure

overwhelming power is also a good idea.



Saber

Stance Ratio: 30-10-60



This sword, unlike the Long Sword, has the diversity and the speed to

take the fight to the opponent. From every stance, advancing and fast combo moves

give the Saber a wider scope. But the range is still a problem. Instead of

focusing on yourself, you must look at the adversary for victory. Mistakes are

just cause for retaliation. You are a pirhana, and the opponents are meat. Chop

them up. Just don't get too aggressive when the opponent isn't compromised. They

can hit you and beat you until you are black and blue because your style of

fighting won't leave much between you and death. All you need to do is beat your

opponent before he can do anything about your attack series.



High

This stance tends to be more of a lashing stance than any other.

It has its uses.



Tatsumi, Red Shadow & Mikado: Work those combos! They really really

enhance your killing power.



Tatsumi & Kokuren: The five thrusts are finishers, not lead-ins.

When you can see the whites of their eyes, let this one loose.



Middle

Not too much here, but the combos can give you some breathing room.



Low

T-T is a really tricky move. If you have it lined up, no one can

stop it. But if you miss, pray that your opponent is as freaked as you.

Perform advancing strikes when your opponent is aligned properly. If your

adversary is in a strange place, it's more than likely that attack will

whiff. Your recovery time will probably be fast enough to start another

attack that your opponent will not be ready for. This stance has

everything you want except low attacks, there isn't much

here of that and if your game depends on it, don't use this weapon.

However, this stance's range is excellent and its speed is no worse.



Against: Block it, but don't hit right away, especially if you have an

unwieldy weapon. Instead, maneuver for better position and fight on your

own terms. The position game is the one you must win because this weapon

doesn't yield its bearer much defense. If you can get into a position of

strength, you can beat him down. However, if he gets close, especially in

Low Stance, he can start attack series that stagger you for more than ten

seconds, and he can dance all around you hitting you even if you started

by blocking. Then he just has to cut your legs out and you are toast.

Fortunately this isn't much of a problem in Low Stance, but there, he

can get around your backside and stick you from behind if you let him go.

Get him in front of you and keep him advancing towards you so that his

defense will be compromised while he dashes to try a quick attack.



Broad Sword

Stance Ratio: 40-10-50



This weapon, used improperly, is the worst in the game. This weapon, used

properly, is something that if the opponent makes one mistake he can be killed

right then and there. Its moves are very powerful, and their radii of death is

probably the best in the game. However, it can be very slow, and certain

characters like Mikado (especially Mikado) have major trouble handling it, even

moreso than the Hammer. But if you know what you are doing you can cause major

problems for your opponent no matter what they try to do to you.

One major characteristic of this weapon is that, while there is delay on almost

every single move, it isn't horrendous and you don't have big wind-up animations

like you will oftentimes with the Nodachi or Naginata. Also, these moves, if

they hit the opponent, usually stagger, making for an easy recovery. However,

this weapon's recovery time makes it difficult to capitalize on a general stagger

as is the case with the heavier weapons (generally speaking).

Get your opponent near a wall to keep them from running and then beat them into

submission. Don't forget that your blocking is effective with this weapon.



High

O-O and X-X are your big weapons here. O-O is an absolutely

devastating canned combo. If you make contact (blocked or hit) with the

first one then the second one is a kill in more than half the cases, unless

your opponent rolls away. O-O is what you want to try and open up. You have

some other things here but they don't set up too well. Try and come in with

one of the dashing moves and then let them counterattack (it won't kill you

because you should have staggered them), block it, and now you have them

where you want them. O-O and watch the blood flow.



Mikado: Use that special combo, it has good reach and it stays out

for a while, so it's good for putting it out there when you know the

opponent is coming in at you.



Middle

This is a stance, surprisingly, that is best for low attacking.

O-O isn't that good in this one, but Up+O and Down+O can hit low a lot

of the time. This stance also has some good distance covering moves

to get you back close to your opponent.



Low

This stance is the all-around best stance for this weapon. You have

striking ability in the medium and long range with T-T, your low attack is

also decent at range, and what a medium attack. It spins you around and

makes life painful for your opponent if they try to use motion and get

around your strikes and low thrusts.



Kannuki: Use the M-M combination to beat down your opponent. That

finishing thrust will often get them.

Kokuren: Few canned combos in this game are better than the one

you have for this weapon. Don't forget about it.



Against: Sidestep like a top. Nearly all the moves are vertical. The ones

that aren't, can be easily outrun with a dash. If your opponent goes into

Low Stance, keep your distance and let him make the first move. In any

other stance, take the fight to him before he can start smashing you with

his distance moves. Don't let him get lucky on you; if he beats on you

enough, even if you are blocking him most of the time, sooner or later

he will get an opening and he can kill you right then and there if you

whiff the block. If you have a big weapon, try to bait him into T-T when

you are playing off him. If you can dash away or get a recovery time

advantage he is ripe for the picking in his Low Stance.



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6. Stance Defensive Properties



This is not intended to point out specifics of each stance for each weapon, but

rather to raise some general points about the majority of stances.



When one starts the fight in Middle Stance, most general attacks are blocked, by

nature that the weapon is stuck out in front of you. Is that a good thing? The

extended weapon serves as easy prey for quick deflections and death. Putting your

weapon out for your opponent to manipulate must therefore hand over the intiative

and possibly the fight. What are your alternatives? High Stance? High Stance puts

your weapon in the middle of your head. Now all of your front leg protection is

gone, and all that stands between your leg and your opponent's weapon are your

reflexes and the mercies of collision detection. That puts you, in a bad way,

out of the fight. The pluses? More head and body protection. Low Stance. When you

stick your weapon down here, you either have it in front or back. If you have it

in front, it guards against crippling, but most of the weapons have it in back,

providing little protection against anything! Furthermore, by going down this low,

you expose yourself to a lot of strikes that would not come close to killing you

otherwise. Of course, the moves of each stance have to be considered to paint a

complete picture of which stances are proper to assume, and you can definitely

block in a large number of cases, but this is just a little thought exercise.





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7. Crippled/Ground Fighting (In Chronological Order)



1.Knee Hit



2.Face-Up

These are the considerations: a) Is my opponent crippled? (Let's assume

no for the time being.) b) Where is my opponent?



Possiblities

1. Medium or Long range

a) Roll back.

1. Distance closes. *Starting Position A*

b) Get up.

1. Distance closes. *Starting Position A*

c) Lay down/roll around and get dirty.

1. Wait for the opponent to get close.

1. What are you thinking?

2. Suicidal.

2. Short range, In Front Of Legs

a) X press. Fall over.

This is a bad position because if the strike is blocked,

you are dead.

b) Roll back.

1. You escape.

1. You attack. *Starting Position B*

2. You sit. *Starting Position A*

2. You get hit.

1. Fatal.

2. Minor.

1. Back to #2.

c) Roll over.

1. Increases your chances of escaping.

2. Roll until your opponent is on your side.

1. Refer to #3.

3. Short range, On Side

a) Roll away/back.

1. Escape.

1. Attack. *Starting Position B*

2. Sit. *Starting Position A*

2. Do nothing. *Lying Position*

4. Short range, Head At Opponent's Feet

a) Roll back/forward.

1. You get hit.

1. Fatal.

2. Minor.

2. Escape.

1.Turn around. *Starting Position A*

b) Roll over.

1. Increases your chances of escaping.

2. Roll until your opponent is on your side.

1.Refer to #3.



*Lying Position* Now, you've decided to fight your opponent while on the ground.

There are certain criteria for this, that IMHO, need to be met before a lying

attack is made.

1. Is your opponent lined up?

2. Where is the weapon?

If your attack will just hit the weapon, it's more than likely

that your opponent will recover fast enough to make you a grave man.

3. What happens if it does hit?

The attack, if sucessful, will either cripple or knock your

opponent away. Most of the time, it will be to your advantage to roll

back and set yourself for the next attack. Be ready to fight when you get

up and not a second before.

4. Is he waiting to try and block you?

If so, do not go for this. There is a fatal strike waiting with your

name on it since you will be incapacitated at his feet.



*Starting Position A* Your opponent is now in front of you. How does one fight

this adversary? Unless you have a quick weapon, blocking is probably not going to

be a stellar choice because your adversary has the edge on you in almost anything.

Strike first, and a little luck might win you the day. Throwing your sidearm and

then striking often proves an effective move, but predictable. One can fall

down, but there are risks in that, as outlined above. Not every strategy will work

against every opponent. Be prepared to lose, and don't freak about it, either.

It happens. Using your O move is often the best way to go, but if you see an opening

for X to take out his legs, do that first and get him on even terms.



*Starting Position B* Same as above, but blocking takes on more urgency, because

an attack will almost unfailingly come from the ruffled opponent. If you have a

slow weapon, it might not be such a good idea to end up here as opposed to A.



When fighting a crippled opponent from one's knee, the same rules apply, but the

speed and consequences often vary. For instance, a miss on a dashing strike might

not prove as fatal as it would if one's opponent were standing. All that changes

here are one's odds.



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8. Stages



Here is outlined some basic stage strategy as well as specific stuff.



Basic



In every stage, there are walls. So? You can get your opponent

next to a wall, but how does that help? Well, obviously, your opponent's strikes

will be limited from a wall, reducing the possible attacks. What that means to an

experienced player is that, more often than not, an opponent will try a thrust or

a short attack. From that viewpoint, a sidestep or moving backward will put you in

a great kill position. Now, there are some considerations to be made. Try to make

opponents come to you, rather than attacking them on the wall. That's because,

with the exception of thrusting, the barrier will deflect your hits too. Don't

use the wall as your weapon. Use it to move your opponent. How does one, then, get

people to the wall to perform all this fancy-schmancy mumbo-jumbo? Well, the

quickest way is simply to run to the wall, not too close, and also not with the

wall to one's back. The purpose in this is to get the opponent not to think "Hey,

I'm not going there!" but rather to get your opponent fighting so that then your

opponent will not actively avoid the wall, but focus on killing you, and thus fall

into easy patterns and traps.



When a stage has different levels, this aids a smart person with a long range

weapon or one who is quick and exacting. Why? The different levels offer outs for

a person who is in a bad spot and needs somewhere to regroup without getting one's

opponent in one's face. When moving to low ground, run and jump off as far away

from the wall as possible. When moving to high ground, jump onto the wall rather

than climbing. Then pursue one's opponent ruthlessly ,not letting one's opponent

onto your level, and attack only when the strike is sure to kill. Don't needlessly

squander a height advantage with wild swings.



On obstacles, practice on your own finding attacks and combos that will bypass the

obstacle and still score a hit. Any obstacle in the game can and should be used

for a sort of wall effect, whereby your opponent may feel trapped against it and

attack rashly, to your advantage. To the best of my knowledge, the bamboo is the

only thing that can be chopped down (consequently, the only effects it has are

visual). Here are some I like:



Trees: Thrust in any way possible. Running near one of these is a great way to

stop a relentless runner, by sidestepping around the tree and attacking. Running

around the tree yourself can change the camera movement so fast that a human

opponent may feel discomfort, at which point you strike. This strategy has also

been known to reset one's Playstation (by your human opponent).



Tombstones and Tablets: Higher slashes work, as well as strikes, but your opponent

must be very close to the stone to die. Try sidestepping around and slashing to

move your opponent away from the stone in a direction better suited to your weapon

(such as in Yahiro Road, try getting your opponent trapped behind the tombstones,

then jump over and thrust).



Yahiro Road: For most weapons, fighting in the default area usually works.

But if you're using a slower weapon, try moving the fight over to the trees. This

allows you to retreat to the trees if the fight gets too rough. Now, onto running.

If you're playing with a fast runner, or a skilled one, try running in between the

trees and the walls to gain better position. For laughs, you might try to get your

opponent to run very close to you, at which point you enter the tombstone corridor

and turn out of them very quickly. At that point, a human opponent might lose

sense of their position due to the camera movement and bump into the tombstones.



Bridge and Ledge: Just like fighting on a concrete block. No barriers.

Just fighting. If you like to gamble, jump off the bridge and try to hit your

opponent while your opponent is falling off. If you fall off, use the bridge

supports as though they were trees.



Long Passage to Ledge (Right way from facing Yahiro Road): Nothing of note

here.



Waterfall Passage to Bamboo: Nothing of note here either that hasn't been

said before, save the fact that one's opponent can be driven more easily to the

wall if you move them in a pattern around the frozen pool.



Ledge Passage to Bamboo Forest: Try putting yourself behind the panels

protruding from the castle and thrusting when your opponent comes past.



Bamboo Forest: Nothing of note.



Castle Front: Jump into the mud pit once, just for fun.



Cherry Blossoms: Jump up into the trees if you feel threatend as per

Yahiro Road.



Dozaemon Moat: Use the levels to your advantage. Jump back and forth.

Don't get too close to the tree. It can often cause more harm than good.



Steps to Yagura Point: Jump, never climb up steps.



Yagura Point: Only a fool dares step into the pit. A person can jump and

kill a person inside there very easily, much more than usual.



Construction Yard: One may jump in the well, but take note of the visual

obstructions. Climbing onto the small platform is a good idea.



Grotto: Nothing of note.



Helipad: Run around Katze (the Gunman) until he loses all his bullets

(10, to be precise), then hit him.



Executioner's Cove: The sea is not a wall. I repeat, the sea is not a

wall. Trying to treat it as such limits your thinking. With the sea, you may do

any move, but so can your opponent. Trying to pen opponents back there is a

needless waste of time. The rock just keeps one's shorter attacks from connecting.

Most attacks still work, so don't be complacent and don't strike without cause.



Graveyard: Nothing of note.



Meikyokan: The two pillars may be treated as the trees in Yahiro Road, but

don't let yourself be pushed to the corners. The shrine should not even be

approached. The deflection makes it as if it were a wall.



(after the Meikyokan, the last battle takes place in Yagura Point)



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Totally Subjective Observations



That tree in the Dozaemon Moat is a paradox. Most of the time it works for whoever

is defending it, but the attacker always seems to hit the tree.



Jumping and attacking is not really that much good at all. It can be sidestepped,

amd most of the time it doesn't even hit. It takes lots of practice and a good

dose of humor to use that attack (as you will be hit many times).



Black Lotus is a good character, but his size is what balances him off from other

characters like Tatsumi. Since he is good with a lot of small weapons and he has

some strength that's his weakness.



Kannuki always kicks in the Character Select Screen, but he can't kick in a real

fight.



Odd, while you could just go inside the castle through the window, that doesn't

seem to be an option.



There's no sake for weary warriors!



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10. Hints for Hunting



More often than not, a flurry of attacks will work, even against a blocking

fighter.



Look for ways to knock your opponent's weapon away and stagger him, such as the

Katana middle stance O-O. It's easier to fight and win consistently when you know

the outcome of your attack before it even lands.



Block. It works a lot more than you think. Not against Hammer T-T-T-T, but against

cheap stuff that turns into nasty hits. Also, blocking gives you an speed edge on

the next attack if you don't stagger.



Thrusting is consistently fatal. If you have to abuse a move, use this one. Just

don't do it too close to your opponent.



Honor is no virtue in VS Mode. Hit 'em in the back!!!



Throwing dirt is a good way to make your opponent frustrated. It doesn't help

your position, however.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11. Slash (Chambara) Mode



Fight 100 ninjas, geishas, and old men with only a Katana. What fun.

The characters come ten at a time, each with their own attack that they do for no

apparent reason. When you kill nine stock enemies, you fight a boss and move on

to the next level. Now, here's the deal. All the enemies will come at you,

probably running. Let them run around. Sidestep or block if they get too close.

When they are not too far from you, they start doing the attack shown in the chart

below. It's up to you to kill them, using anything. No damage is healed, ever.

The bosses are unpredictable. It's better to just kill them than figure out their

strategy du jour. Most of the time (that is to say, when you're not close) the

enemies will assume middle stance.



If you beat this without getting scratched (same as Story Mode) you will get Katze,

supposedly.





Enemy Numbers and Attacks



01-09:T

10:Boss

11-19:O

20:Boss

21-29:X

30:Boss

31-39:b-f+T

40:Boss

41-49:f-f+O

50:Boss

51-59:f-f+T

60:Boss

61-69:f-f+X

70:Boss

71-79:O,O

80:Boss

81-89:T,O,O

90:Boss

91-97:Anything goes.

98-100:Boss: You're done!







Helpful methods to beat them:



1. Thrust repeatedly until they die.

2. Block their attacks, then waste them with a convenient attack.

3. O-O until they cry.

4. Use Low Stance T-X to hit them and take their legs out.

5. Sidestep their attack then waste them with a quick lash.

6. Run around them and wait until they run up against a wall or some such,

then go in and smack them.





I have beaten this one without getting touched - once. A very taxing, very

difficult process. The sheer randomness of it is insane. However, I did not

get Katze to appear. I have heard of this happening before. I believe the

solution is to do it after you have gotten all the movies (all the endings).

If that doesn't work, I don't know what to tell you.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12. Secrets and Other Stuff



To summarize what I know and have heard:



1st ending: Beat the game without being disgraced.



2nd ending: Run to the well as described above, then injure your opponent's leg,

and fight all the other opponents (save (except) the last last one) without an

injury of any sort.



Some hints on this:





(from Stuart Kushon)



"Uh, also . . . you can get the second ending without injuring a leg and

jumping into the well. You can jump into the well, kill the first person

you fight, then kill your characters "Well opponent", and proceed without a

scratch. And when I mean without a scratch I mean W/O a scratch. Even

blows that don't mark up your costume. Like a shot from Katze that just

nicks you, but doesn't kill or even appear as a wound. If you see orange

you are done. If you still haven't beaten it. . . here is an easy way.

Pick who ever you like (preferably Mikado, Utsemi, or Black Loctus) and

run to the well, jump in. From there the fighting tactic is to just run

away. The computer will run around for a while and then "lock onto you"

and run at you from a distance (you'll be able to tell that they are locked

on). At that point just wait and press T,X. The first hit will crack them

in the head for a kill generally, if that doesn't kill them the second will

put them on their kness. It generally kills though."





(from Kayin Amoh)



"The way my brother has done it 5 times already (with Mikado soon to

come) is to use katana, go into Low Sance, and when the time is right

just hit Square, Square for those 2 mid swipes. It usualy kills if

repeated enough times, but sometimes you'll get offed by the guy on the

beach or the girl before Meiyokan."



Enable Katze (the Gunman) in VS Mode: After doing the first two secrets, Beat

the Slash (Chambara) Mode fighters honorably and without receiving a scratch and

Katze will be next to Kannuki on the right of the selection bar (I think).



I know that you can't do this before you get all the movies (all the endings).

Try getting all the movies first and then going for 100 kills. You may be able

to do it with scratches, your mileage may vary.







Play VS in the entire Story Mode level (donated by Paul Barney): "Start a story

mode game, then have the second player press R1+R2+L1+L2+select+start on the

second controller. The game will go to the character selection screen and both

players will be able to play on the entire island."









Physical Insults



Standing next to your dead opponent in VS mode so that, when you strike a pose,

you will stick your weapon into them, spurting fountains of blood.

Hitting a dead opponent until the replay starts.

Throw your weapon at a kneeling opponent.

Running into and knocking over your opponent.



Verbal Insults



I couldn't think of anything funny for this section. Sorry.





---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

13. Credits for all Involved Parties





I hereby give credit to:



All the people, institutions, and other stuff I have ever heard about in my life:



And more relevantly:



Square, Lightweight, all those people for making this game



Contributors:



Barney, Paul 'OO (pbarney@derryfield.com)

For the two-player story mode code.



Stuart Kushon (skushon@andrew.cmu.edu)

For the tip on second endings.



Kayin Amoh (darshu@hotmail.com)

For the tip on second endings.



Whoever is posting this:



CJayC at Gamefaqs.com



ashe.mckee@ukonline.co.uk (The Bushido Codes)



Draco (Draco's Bushido Blade Page)



Al Amaloo (http://gamewinners.netgate.net/PSX/BushidoBlade.htm)



The Game Masta (Bushido Blade HQ)



The Krazy Elf





All those FAQ writers (in the order that I typed their names)



DrBlasfemy-drblasfemy@aol.com

Andy Chien-ranmas@netcom.com

Mike Lee-mikelee@icomsim.com

ZyXx-jockej@kuai.se

Mark Blanco-mark.blanco@comm.hq.af.mil



My Playtesters, Steven and Mike (Tang)



You, for reading this



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

14. Disclaimer



I do solemnly swear, that the purpose of this Guide is to inform. It is

not to deride, nor is it to defame. It is not intended to make money. All

trademarks, names, etc. mentioned are probably protected by various legal

devices and are property of their respective owners. Thanks for not suing me. Your

cooperation is appreciated (seriously). All rights reserved. This Guide has been

a total waste of time. And most of all:



NO OFFENSE INTENDED!!!



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15. Guide Questions and Feedback



Q: Where can I get the move lists?

A: Try http://www.gamefaqs.com for most of them. I don't know where Drblasfemy's

Katana FAQ is, though.



Q: What's New Horizons?

A: Go to http://www.koei.com to find out more.



Q: Is your real name Ivan Hoe?

A: Yes, it is.





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