Summary
Be it with guns, fists, or swords, gamers have always relished the chance to engage in some virtual combat with one another. While many real-world equivalents to these scenarios exist, many do not have the storied history, precision of movement, and breadth of inspiration asthe Kendo martial art.
While the Kendo style is typically defined by its role as anon-lethal form of combat, many video game titles have used its renowned slower pace and high-impact strikes as inspiration for their own combat systems. As such, while many vow to use more lethal equipment, the core tenants of the martial art have remained relatively solid throughout the many genres, settings, and styles it has been incorporated into.
For Honor’sexpansive selection of sword-wielding charactersmakes it a title that celebrates blades overall, rather than any specific fighting style. While Vikings and Knights are powerful adversaries, the initial roster of the 2017 game is rounded out by the introduction of the Samurai.
Despite its fantasy medieval setting,For Honordoes implement some intricate Kendo elements through characters such as Orochi and Nobushi’s fighting styles and stances - withKendo master Alexander Bennettreportedlyacting as a consultant. Of course, being a combative title, real swords are used and opponents are slain, in stark contrast to the training style that Kendo is primarily used for.
6First Cut: Samurai Duel
A 2D Pixel-Art Adaptation of Samurai Media And Kendo Fighting
While attempts at realism are often commendable, the medium of video games is inherently an entertaining one. As such,First Cut: Samurai Duel’sfocus on the Kendo-esque aesthetic of Samurai sword fighting is commendable, especially considering that it is balanced by some genuinely intricate gameplay.
The use of space and movement to avoid incoming attacks is tantamount toFirst Cut’scombat. However, its clear inspiration from Samurai movies and other media keeps it from becoming too similar to a true simulator experience.
5One Strike
A 2D Pixel-Art Fighter Incorporating Various Asian Fighting Styles
Retro Reactor’s retro-inspired visuals and indie game budget do nothing to alleviate any sense of lethality in its swordfighting gameplay. As its name suggests, all characters are killed with only one strike, resulting in a cat-and-mouse playstyle with players poking and prodding at one another’s defenses.
While specifically playing as Kenji, players will take the measured approaches and swift strikes of the Kendo combat style against a variety of other —many times more flamboyant— combatants.
4Budokan: The Martial Spirit
A Thirty-Year-Old Accomplishment in 2D Kendo Fighting Realism
Budokan: The Martial Spiritmay be a more than 30-year-oldElectronic Arts title, but that doesn’t stop it from being a truly ambitious 2D fighting game even today. Allowing players to spar in the Bo, Karate, and Nunchaku styles, this 1989 PC title also allows gamers to fight using Kendo.
While the title was received as a genuinely entertaining experience at the time,Budokan: The Martial Spirithas a genuine interest in portraying each of these styles of combat as authentically as its 2D pixel sprites can.
Bushido Blade
“ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL AND EXTRAORDINARY FIGHTING GAMES EVER."-PSX MAGAZINE"Bushido” is the soul of Japan - an ancient honor code deeply followed by samurai warriors for centuries.Plunge into real world battles across vast 3D environments that you may run, slice and tear through.Sword matches become unbelievably real where one critical blow is the mean difference between death and victory.“Nothing less than amazing.” -GameFan• 1&2 player combat• 6 awesome fighting modes• 6 skilled warriors• 8 ancient swords and weapons• Plus unique sub-weapons• Countless special moves
Bushido Blade’s1997 release brought with it not onlyanother PlayStation-exclusive titlefrom Square Enix, but one with a truly dynamic combat system. WithBushido Blade’sinstant-death gameplay, players are forced to meet the 3D fighter on its own terms.
Not being a simulation-style title, some creative liberties have been taken in its portrayal of sword combat. With various weapons available — from the Katana to the Rapier — different combat styles can be employed, yet when wielding a Katana the player incorporates many of the slow-paced stylings of the Kendo form.
2Kengo: Master Of Bushido
A Unique Fighter With A Focus On Improving The Player’s Swordsmanship
Kengo: Master of Bushidomay be a spiritual successor to the critically-acclaimedBushido Blade, but this stance-swapping fighting game leans much more into non-combat elements. While combat is fluid and enjoyable, Kendo is incorporated into the player-characters' preparation for sword combat as well.
In the single-player campaign, gamers take on the role of a Kendo student who rises through the ranks among allschools in the area,to eventually become the best. With its precise combat,Kengodifferentiates itself from other fighting games, as"the key to the game will be learning the actual art of Kendo"
1KendoDou?
A 3D Kendo-Style Fighter Balancing Realism And Fun
Many other titles, when taking inspiration from Kendo, often simply adopt a slower pace and the strategic fighting of the style of combat. However,KendoDou?‘s2020 release saw the creation of atraining-esque fighterthat does not attempt to be — as the developer Franklin Chang states — “a realistic simulation of Kendo, but tries to create a fun playable game with some of the constraints of real Kendo”.
Using physics-based 3D models — and focussing on attacking the three Kendo combat areas of the head, wrist, and body — this title is a mobile game that accomplishes an impressive amount of creative realism.
