Full disclosure: I completely forgot Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time released until release week when ads started showing up in my social media feeds. It was hard to gauge just what kind of game it would be based on the cinematic footage in these ads I still had high hopes though, as it was a cartoon-based video game that WASN’T developed by the shovelware company GameMill Entertainment. Instead it was getting the treatment from Adult Swim Games.

Released at the budget price of $39.99, the complaint I saw the most in the social media comment sections was that the game was only 4 to 5 hours long. Howlongtobeat.com all but confirmed that with a listing of 6 hours. This did not deter me, though, as great experiences can come in short packages, like my acclaim for Sayonara Wild Hearts. It’s all a matter of this question: is this worth the price of entry? Let’s take a look at what Battle Through Time is all about!

Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time thrusts the player right into the action, which takes place at the finale of the show to lead to a different conclusion. As players finish levels, they will be forced into further portals by Aku. Jack’s ultimate goal is to finally return to his past and defeat Aku. The story stays in canon and retains all of the vital voice actors, who deliver an impressive performance all-around. In-engine cutscenes retain the high framerates and satisfying visuals to tell the story in a streamlined fashion.

The gameplay switches between 3D and 2.5D hack-and-slash, with the former akin to Ninja Gaiden games. Enemies actually pose a pretty good challenge at higher difficulties, and will demand players choose their upgrades carefully. Not limited to just his sword, Jack can swing a club, staff, and more, as well as use firearms and throwables. As Jack takes damage, his garb sheds and hair drops, making him appear more gritty until he can acquire more health.

Adding in The Scotsman, Sir Rothchild, and Da Samurai as NPCs makes the universes feel as in-show as possible, which will delight fans (such as myself) immensely. Series creator Genndy Tartakovsky took part in development, a crucial addition to work in conjunction with the newcomer studio Soleil Ltd. Licensed entities can typically be hit-or-miss, but it’s clear a lot of love was put into Battle Through Time. Passion projects make for fun games when nobody phones in their work.

Now, back to the striking question. Is this purported 6-hour game worth $39.99? If you’re a Samurai Jack/hack-and-slash fan? Absolutely. If not, the price tag can understandably sound a bit steep, so I’d put this in purchase territory for a half-off sale. The combat is a blast and is enough to keep you on your toes at any difficulty level, especially the harder ones. Battle Through Time feels like a nice extension of the show, which had a bleak ending after season 5, making this a serviceable retcon. Check this game out and don’t forget about it like I did at first!

A PC review copy of Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time was provided by Adult Swim Games for this review.

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Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time

$39.99 USD

8.5

Score

8.5/10

Pros

• Everyone from the show on board
• Challenging combat
• Gripping story

Cons

• Hefty price tag for length
• A little buggy