Second Samurai, The

Developer: Vivid Image

The Second Samurai revives gritty, side-scrolling action with large pixel art stages, layered melee combat, and a steady stream of brutal enemies. Players guide a lone samurai through hazardous environments filled with platforming traps, memorable boss encounters, and occasional ranged foes that test timing and patience. The game leans into old-school difficulty, rewarding careful pattern recognition and precise jumps while delivering a nostalgic soundtrack and striking visuals for its era. Its blend of hack-and-slash tactics and platforming challenges makes each level feel tense and cinematic — a throwback for players who relish tough, rewarding retro action.