Parents' Guide to Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada

With its fast combat sequences, attractive high-resolution graphics, fluid animation, and great pacing, this is a highly enjoyable, historically relevant action game. Even if you've never played a Samurai Warriors or Dynasty Warriors game before, this Japanese single-player game is just really, really fun. Many games of this kind often feel like the developers give you mundane tasks to accomplish between high-energy battles, but in this case everything between combat is relevant and enjoyable. You'll want to talk to NPCs to perform side quests and build up your Six Coins gauge, so that you can get stratagems to beat enemies and give your party a boost. It all works together, tied together with a story that gives the game purpose (though, admittedly, it can sometimes be a little hard to follow). But sure, it's the prepping for and execution of the combat that will keep you glued to the screen, especially once you master the combos that sends enemies flying into the air. But there are a couple of minor issues, like slowing down the on-screen play whenever there's a lot of action all at once. Additionally, you may sometimes think you're unfairly ambushed and will need to repeat the level to beat it, which can frustrate you. But overall, Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada feels, looks, and plays like a great action game, especially for fans of this genre.