Afro Samurai

About

Afro Samurai is a fast-paced 3D brawler that mixes hand-to-hand combat with swordplay and platforming challenges. You play as Afro, a vengeful swordsman hunting down Justice, the man who killed his father. Each level blends street brawls and boss fights, with in-engine cutscenes pushing the story forward. Combat focuses on timing and adaptability, juggle enemies with quick strikes or powerful kicks, chain together combos, and use blocks to counter their rolling, ducking, and weapon-grabbing moves. The game leans heavily on its manga roots, with flashbacks unpacking Afro’s journey from traumatized kid to elite fighter. The cel-shaded visuals mirror the anime’s sharp, stylized look while keeping the action crisp. Developer Namco Bandai leaned on Monty Oum’s expertise to refine the combat, giving enemies unpredictable reactions that force you to stay alert. The story weaves present-day duels with past traumas, all while the Empty Seven Clan tries to steal Afro’s Number Two headband. Released in 2009 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it sticks to the source material’s edgy vibe without overcomplicating the core brawler formula.

Storyline

Gianluca's cousin said that the one who becomes "Number One" will rule the world, wielding powers akin to a god. Someone becomes Number One by killing the previous Number One and taking his ceremonial headband. However, only the "Number Two" is allowed to challenge the Number One. Because of this, few people ever reach the Number One because the Number Two headband is constantly changing owners. Afro's father was the old Number One, until he was brutally killed by a gunman named Justice, an event witnessed by Afro as a child. Now an adult, Afro Samurai is the current Number Two and a master swordsman; he travels the road seeking revenge on Justice. Lengthy flashbacks interspersed throughout the story detail how Afro rose from frightened boy fleeing the death of his father, to master swordsman, and eventually to become the current "Number Two", while the story in the present deals with the adult Afro making his way to the mountain top keep of the "Number One" to duel Justice, while at the same time the mysterious cult known as the Empty Seven Clan sends various agents to kill Afro and take his Number Two headband.