First Samurai

Vivid Image

Industry	Video game development
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	First Samurai

First Samurai, also referred to as The First Samurai, is a 1991 beat 'em up platform game developed by Vivid Image and distributed by Image Works. The game initially launched in September 1991 on the Amiga and Atari ST, with subsequent ports made available for Commodore 64, MS-DOS, and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. A follow-up title, Second Samurai, was released in 1994, and an iOS version arrived in 2011.

Plot

In The First Samurai, players take on the role of Japan’s inaugural samurai during the feudal era, undertaking a mission to overcome rival swordsmen.

Gameplay

Players enhance their samurai’s strength by consuming food and sake, while hazards such as fire and enemy attacks diminish health. Progression through each level requires gathering four specific items to unlock access to the boss encounter. Magic pots serve as checkpoints, which become active through replenishing sword energy gained by defeating foes. Bells are used to clear barriers obstructing the player’s path. The adventure begins in a forest hermit's domain and advances through villages, towns, and dungeons.

Development

Work on The First Samurai started in July 1990, aiming for a September 1991 release on Amiga and Atari ST platforms; an MS-DOS version was not originally planned. The samurai theme was inspired by graphic artist Paul 'Dokk' Docherty’s idea, aligning with Vivid Image’s aspiration for a mystical storyline emphasizing honor. Project manager Mev Dinc emphasized programmer Raffaele Cecco’s significant contribution to refining gameplay concepts.

The team prioritized intuitive controls to ensure accessibility while incorporating diverse combat moves, drawing influence from arcade titles to deliver fluid animations. Cecco’s initial 16-bit project involved creating new sprite management and scrolling systems from the ground up, utilizing a 386 PC with Fruad Katon’s Programmer's Development System (PDS). Extensive development time was dedicated to fine-tuning enemy placement and gameplay balance.

Game levels were designed using white blocks that defined platform boundaries, climbable walls, spawn locations, and collision zones. For the Atari ST adaptation, these blocks required pre-shifting to improve performance. John Twiddy created a bespoke map editor integrated with Deluxe Paint for efficient placement of backgrounds and objects, which was regularly updated during development.

Due to memory constraints, sound design emphasized subtle effects rather than a full musical score. The main character’s sprite was divided into limbs to facilitate animation and conserve memory, resulting in 105 limb sprites and 30 animations at one point. A planned sewer stage was removed because of excessive memory usage caused by animated water sprites. The game runs at 25 frames per second to maintain a balance between animation smoothness and system performance.

In 1992, the Amiga edition was sold for roughly 84 Deutsche Mark on two floppy disks.

Reception

Dave Jones of ST Review commended the Atari ST version as "an undoubtedly classic" that remains more enjoyable than many games released at the same time.

The Amiga version received an 82% rating from Amiga Joker, which noted that although it lacked originality, First Samurai stood out due to its technical excellence and engaging gameplay. The review praised its captivating mechanics, weapon variety, challenging puzzles, and cleverly designed levels featuring hidden secrets. Graphics were described as "vibrantly colourful" with detailed animations and striking effects such as sword sparkles and parallax scrolling. Music and sound effects were also lauded, concluding that Image Works produced a meticulously crafted title.

Super Gamer awarded the SNES version a score of 79%, recognizing it as an innovative platformer but criticizing some later stages for being less satisfying.

The Amiga release earned a 90% rating from the Channel 4 show GamesMaster. Computer and Video Games magazine acknowledged influences from games like Strider and Shadow Dancer but still deemed it "brilliant." In 1993, Commodore Force ranked it ninth among the top 100 Commodore 64 games.

Cancelled version

In 1998, plans were made to resurrect the game for the Nintendo 64, entering initial development phases; however, the project was discontinued soon afterward and never reached the market.

External links

• First Samurai at Gamebase 64