Kabuki Warriors

For the WWE tag team, see The Kabuki Warriors.

Kabuki Warriors (斬 歌舞伎, Zan Kabuki) is a 2001 fighting game developed by Genki and Lightweight for the Xbox. It was published by Crave Entertainment in North America and Genki in Japan. One of the Xbox's earliest exclusive titles, the game received negative reviews.

Kabuki Warriors
Developer(s)	Genki, Lightweight
Publisher(s)	JP: Genki NA: Crave Entertainment
Composer(s)	Takayuki Nakamura
Platform(s)	Xbox
Release	NA: November 20, 2001[1] JP: February 28, 2002
Genre(s)	Fighting
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

The game features a kabuki theater theme, where players control kabuki actors battling on stage. It features a single attack button and a "performance meter" that tracks how well players are engaging the crowd (earning more money in Tour Mode).

The core gameplay is Tour Mode, where players travel across Japan with their troupe, battling in 3v3 matches to earn money (for faster travel). Winners can trade warriors to strengthen their team.

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	32/100[2]

Review scores

Publication	Score
AllGame	[3]
Edge	1/10[4]
Electronic Gaming Monthly	2.5/10[5]
Famitsu	20/40[6]
Game Informer	0.5/10[7]
GamePro	[8]
GameSpot	1.4/10[9]
GameSpy	40%[10]
IGN	2/10[11]
Next Generation	[12]
Official Xbox Magazine (US)	5.9/10[13]
TeamXbox	3.3/10[14]

Reception

The game received "unfavorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.^[2] It is considered one of the worst video games of all time. Complaints were directed towards a lack of variety between characters and environments, dreadful graphics, a very limited move set, and only utilizing one button for attacks. GameSpot gave it the distinction of being named "Worst Game of 2001".^[15]

Edge, giving the game its first one-out-of-ten rating in the publication's history, said that the game is not kabuki, but a Yie Ar Kung-Fu with blusher.^[4] Andy McNamara of Game Informer heavily panned the gameplay, difficulty, graphics, and AI, noting that the opponents were easy to beat,^[7] a sentiment in which NextGen also agreed.^[12] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 20 out of 40.^[6]

References

1. "GameSpot: Xbox Reviews: Kabuki Warriors Review". 2001-12-05. Archived from the original on 2001-12-05. Retrieved 2023-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
2. "Kabuki Warriors for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on December 2, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
3. Scott Alan Marriott. "Kabuki Warriors - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
4. Edge staff (February 2002). "Kabuki Warriors Review". Edge. No. 107. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
5. EGM staff (January 2002). "Kabuki Warriors". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 150. Ziff Davis. p. 231.
6. "斬 歌舞伎". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
7. Andy McNamara (December 2001). "Kabuki Warriors". Game Informer. No. 104. FuncoLand. p. 109. Archived from the original on June 12, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2008.
8. Iron Monkey (November 21, 2001). "Kabuki Warriors Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 14, 2005. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
9. Jeff Gerstmann (November 28, 2001). "Kabuki Warriors Review". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
10. John Murrin (June 3, 2002). "Kabuki Warriors". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 17, 2005. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
11. Anthony Chau (December 3, 2001). "Kabuki Warriors". IGN. Snowball.com, Inc. Archived from the original on December 4, 2001. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
12. "Kabuki Warriors". NextGen. No. 85. Imagine Media. January 2002. p. 42. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
13. "Kabuki Warriors". Official Xbox Magazine. Imagine Media. January 2002.
14. Steve Barton (December 9, 2001). "Kabuki Warriors Review (Xbox)". TeamXbox. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
15. "The Best and Worst of 2001: Worst Game". GameSpot. CNET. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved March 16, 2016.

External links

• Kabuki Warriors at MobyGames