Bushido Blade
↗ 10%
😊 7.6/10
(Playstation - PAL, Fighting)
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$28.66
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Developed_By:
LightWeight Co. Ltd.
Published_By:
Squaresoft
Released On:
14 Mar 1997
The Bushido code of honor governs the actions of the Samurai and sets a code of ethics for use in fighting. Sometime in the 20th century, a group of Narukagami ninja, each proficient in a different style, find themselves in a battle to regain their honor in the fighting ring.
Bushido Blade is a versus fighting game with several unique features. It does away with health bars, special meters, and other traditional gimmicks and allows for battles to be won with a single hit. Players select from among six ninja, each of a different fighting style and attributes. Players also choose equipment from among eight weapons, including Japanese swords, European blades, naginata and a sledgehammer.
Battles take place in wide open areas in which combatants can run around as well as climb up and down. Some structures, like bamboo trees, can even be cut down. In the single player game, players can even run through the entire castle, picking a preferred fighting ground location. In addition to the single player story mode, there's a versus mode, a slash mode where you will be attacked by 100 generic ninja in one long corridor, a training, and a 'POV' mode, which allows players to play from first person, heightening the realism. The game's versus mode can also be played using two Playstation consoles linked up.
Gameplay involves picking one of three stances, then attacking high, middle, or low. Directions while attacking change attacks, and attacks can be combo'd. Player damage is location based, with hits to arms often making them useless, hits to legs crippling, and hits to heads and clean across the torso being mortal. The use of stances and the easily achieved one hit kills make Bushido Blade one of the most deadly, and therefore realistic, weapon fighters around.
Bushido Blade was released on Playstation in 1998 and offers a unique blend of style and brutality. With its emphasis on strategy and quick reflexes, fans of fighting games will find Bushido Blade to be a thrilling experience.
UPC-A:
711719690023 (United Kingdom)
UPC-A:
711719690122 (France)
UPC-A:
711719690221 (Germany)
UPC-A:
711719690320 (France)
UPC-A:
711719690528 (Greece)
Sony PN:
SCES-00899 (United Kingdom)
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Input Devices Required:
Gamepad
Save Game Methods:
External Storage
Miscellaneous Attributes:
Link Cable
Multiplayer Options:
Same/Split-Screen
Number of Offline Players:
1-2 Players
Number of Players Supported:
1-2 Players
Controller Types Supported:
Analog Controller
Additional Hardware Supported:
System/Multi-Link Cable
Multiplayer Game Modes:
Free-for-all / One-on-one (VS)
Number of Local Players via System Link / LAN Cable:
2 Players
Prices as of 19 Sep 2026
Typical $20.98–$28.48 (last 90 days)
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
This is a fighting game where players assume the role of a Kage assassin, tasked with hunting down a rogue former comrade. The core gameplay revolves around honorable sword combat, with dishonorable actions leading to in-game penalties and a "dishonor" status.
Story
The Meikyokan Dojo
Deep in the Southern mountains of Japan lies the Meikyokan, an ancient dojo. This 500-year-old dojo continues the secret teachings of the Narukagami Shinto.
The Kage Assassins
Within the Meikyokan, there exists a secret society of assassins called the Kage. Each Kage pledges loyalty and secrecy on penalty of death.
The Fugitive
This was all myth, as no Kage had ever left the dojo. Until one day, when one escaped.
In retaliation, the Meikyokan ruling council ordered several assassins to destroy their ex-comrade, or be destroyed themselves. They caught up with the fugitive Kage in the blasted ruins of the Yin and Yang Castle. A fierce battle ensued between the ex-comrades, and only one lived to tell the tale.
Bushido
Bushido, "the way of the warrior," is a deeply followed code of honor that bound the Japanese Samurai from 1000 AD to 1876 AD. This code fused traditional Shinto and Zen Buddhist beliefs to create virtuous, honorable warriors.
Sword matches were fought in accordance with the honorable teachings of Bushido. Dishonorable fighting was punishable by death. Yet dishonor was far worse than death.
Dishonor in Bushido Blade
In Bushido Blade, those who fight dishonorably, such as striking an opponent from behind while running or climbing away, will be punished. The secrets of the Kage will not unfold at the end of the journey. Worse of all, you will be marked with dishonor for not following the code of Bushido.
Controls
START
Skip the opening sequence
START (press again)
resume play
Select, Start, R1, R2, L1, and L2 (simultaneously)
reset and return to the Main Menu
SELECT
Surrender (only when legs sustain heavy damage and the character is unable to stand)
Directional Buttons
Movement - Use in conjunction with other buttons when Attacking or making Menu selections
Directional Buttons (Right)
Move forward
Directional Buttons (Left)
Move backward
Directional Buttons (Up)
Move left (further into screen)
Directional Buttons (Down)
Move right (toward the front of the screen)
R2
Free movement button
R2 + Directional Buttons
run in any direction (Free Running)
R1
Raises center of gravity
Circle
Upper Body Attack (Attacks opponent's head)
Directional button + R2
Crouch Step
Directional button + R2 + R1
Jump
Directional button + R2 + Circle
Throw any sub-weapon in possession
Directional button + R2 + R2
Blinding the Opponent
After the Crouch Step, Triangle Button
Major Attack
After the Crouch Step, Cross button
Major Attack
Directional button + R2 + Triangle
Head Crush (Example of Major Attack)
Directional button + R1
Climbing to Upper levels
When weapons hit: R2
Eluding Attacks (instantly roll back)
How to Play
BASIC RULES
Bushido Blade is an innovative fighting game that shatters traditional fighting game conventions. Time limits, health meters, and restricting arenas no longer exist. It's pure fighting in the real world.
Use any combination of six characters and eight ancient weapons which increase the elements of strategy. Victory is achieved by delivering fatal attacks to the opponent's vital parts, such as the head, the chest or the torso.
It only takes one critical blow to destroy your opponent. This is the "Single Deathblow" system and it's completely unique to Bushido Blade.
MAIN MENU
Story Mode: One or Two Players
The player is the renegade who has escaped from the secret society of Kage assassins. The goal is to find an escape route somewhere within the ruined castle while fending off the Kage assassins bent on their ex-comrade's destruction.
In this mode, dishonorable fighting will keep the player from seeing the secrets of the Kage unfold.
VS. Mode: Two Players
Each player selects a different character, a weapon, and the battle environment. At the end of a match, selecting "CONTINUE" will start a new match without returning to the character, weapon, and arena selection screens.
If "CONTINUE" is selected, the number of wins for each player will be displayed.
Slash Mode: One Player
The Player's goal is to defeat 100 opponents, who will appear one after another. Any damage sustained will not be restored unless the Player restarts to the beginning or selects "CONTINUE."
•
NOTE: In Slash Mode only the Katana can be used.
Training Mode: One Player
The Player selects an opponent and weapon to practice the various attack strategies. In Training Mode, the battle environment will be limited to three areas.
In addition, wooden training swords, not real ones, are used. To end, press Select and Start simultaneously.
POV Mode/Link Mode: One or Two Players
This allows the player to fight from the perspective of the character. Only one player can use POV Mode while Link Mode is for two players.
•
NOTE: The spacing between the characters and the use of the Directional Buttons are slightly different from other modes. For details, see P. 27.
Movie
View the introduction movie to Bushido Blade. You will also be able to view ending movies here once you've cleared the Story Mode.
BASIC ATTACKS AND COMMANDS
Basic Attacks
The patterns for the basic attacks are shown to the right. However, depending on the weapon or stance (and in some cases the character) not all attacks can be available.
•
Note: The explanation of these commands are for when the character is on the left side of the screen.
Attack while Free Running
•
(L)+(Directional Button)
Can be used with any weapon. Press the () Button to attack while continuing to run. Press the () Button and the () Button to stop after attacking on the run.
Attack while Jumping
•
+(R2) (R)
Can be used with any weapon. Press the Attack button while jumping. Press the () Button to land in High Stance, the () Button for Normal Stance, and the () Button for Low Stance.
Additional Attack
•
()
Effective against an opponent that has collapsed.
Face-off
When both players attack at the same time, a "Face-off" situation will occur. In this event, push and shove the opponent by repeatedly pressing one of the attack buttons.
The character that loses the "Face-off" will be pushed back, and the "Face-off" winner will gain the advantage. The losing character can try to dodge their opponent's push and regain the advantage by pressing the or Directional Buttons.
Defense Break
This game has an unique defense system (Button). Unlike conventional fighting games which offer automatic blocking, here defense is done by intentionally deflecting the opponent's attack with your weapon.
However, when the opponent's attack power is much stronger than your character's defense power, your character could lose their balance from this. Even though damage is not incurred, control of the character will be momentarily lost. This is called the "Defense Break."
Obviously this is a bad situation, however, if the (R2) button is pressed the moment the balance is lost, the character will roll backwards and dodge the opponent's next attack. This is an essential move for those using a less powerful character.
LEG DAMAGE/INABILITY TO STAND
As the legs sustain damage, movement will become hindered, the ability to change the stance will be lost and eventually the character will no longer be able to stand. The character can still perform basic attacks and defenses, provided there is no other inhibiting body damage.
Dive
•
(R2)
When the character can no longer stand, they can still dodge attacks by pressing the (R2) Button which will cause them to dive to the ground. While on the ground, press the () or () Directional Buttons to make the character roll.
Rising Attack
•
(4)+(0)
This enables the character to attack their opponent while regaining their feet.
Throw Sub-weapon
If the character can no longer stand, and assumes a low stance, they can throw their sub-weapon without pressing the (R2) Button.
Blinding
•
)+(R2)
If the character can no longer stand, and is in the low stance, the character can still blind their opponent.
Surrender
•
(SELECT)
When a
Items & Weapons
Katana
Primarily a two-handed weapon, this can also be used less effectively with one hand. The Katana has great range, but is slow when initiating attacks.
Nodachi
Both hands are needed to wield the super-long Nodachi. It covers a large area, but it is slow to begin and finish attacks.
Long Sword
Used single-handed, this weapon does not give opponents openings at the beginning or the end of the attacks. Because of its speed, and its substantial length, the Long Sword is particularly good for beginners.
Saber
The Saber is a one-handed blade. The shortest weapon, it offers the opponent no openings either at the beginning nor the end of attacks. While it is very fast, this weapon's size makes it defensively weaker than the other weapons.
Sledgehammer
The heaviest of all the weapons, the Sledgehammer takes both hands to wield. Very powerful, but also very slow, which makes it a hard weapon to handle.
Broadsword
Almost as heavy as the Sledgehammer, the Broadsword demands the use of both hands. The Broadsword does a lot of damage, but is sluggish to start an attack. Not a beginner's weapon.
Naginata
The longest of all the weapons, the time it takes to begin an attack and to draw back makes it very slow. This weapon is particularly effective at keeping an opponent at a distance.
Rapier
The Rapier is designed for stabbing attacks. It offers good range in spite of its limited length. However, since it is the lightest of all the weapons, its ability to deflect an opponent's attack is poor.
Enemies & Characters
KANNUKI
Kannuki is the most powerful of the six characters, with a reputation that makes his opponents freeze with fear. He uses a Tessen (Iron Fan) as a sub-weapon, which is hard to defend against when thrown from a short range.
UTSUSEMI
Utsusemi is the oldest of the six characters and a master swordsman, whose fighting style is described as trying to fight a shimmering heat. He carries a small, versatile throwing knife called a Kozuka concealed in his sword sheath.
BLACK LOTUS
This Irishman, known as 'Black Lotus,' has a good balance of power and speed, and his opponents forget their troubles as they die. He uses a double-bladed Tanken (Short Sword) as a sub-weapon, which is heavy and safer to run from than defend against.
MIKADO
Originally a shrine maiden, Mikado is the smallest of the six characters, known as 'a gate for the god's descent,' possessing a good balance of speed and power. Her Aikuchi (Knife) sub-weapon has an unusually thick blade that can deflect attacks and deliver fatal blows.
TATSUMI
Tatsumi was not originally a member of the Kage but became involved due to an unknown event, possessing good speed but not much power. He has no sub-weapon but can use one if he picks up an opponent's.
RED SHADOW
This Russian ex-Ninja, named 'Red Shadow' due to her resemblance to a firefly's dull glow, is not as strong as she looks but has great speed from her past training. She uses a poison-coated iron Shuriken (Throwing Star) as a sub-weapon.
Tips & Maps
THE RUINS OF THE YIN AND YANG LABYRINTH CASTLE
The arena of the Story Mode is the mammoth ruins of the castle. Players move through fields and select the best battle arena while searching for the escape route.
Opponent Falling Off
When the CPU opponent falls off high cliffs, the player can choose to chase and continue fighting, or win by not chasing and proceed to the next stage.
POV MODE
This mode is played through the eyes of the character, offering a more thrilling and challenging experience due to different directional button controls and spacing.
THE DIFFERENCE IN DIRECTIONAL BUTTON CONTROLS
In POV Mode, the forward direction (➡) becomes (⬆) as seen through the viewpoint, affecting commands like jumping.
Finding Opponent in POV Mode
If you lose sight of your opponent in POV Mode, press a Directional Button, the attack button, or the defend button to turn the view towards them.
LINK MODE
Two players can link their PlayStations to fight each other in POV Mode, enjoying an ultra-realistic fighting experience on a special stage.
Setting-Up the Link Mode
Connect each end of the link cable to the Serial I/O terminals on the back of each PlayStation before turning the power on, and ensure a separate Bushido Blade disc is used for each console.
Starting the Link Mode
After connecting the link cable and turning on the PlayStations, press the (START ➡) button on each controller to go to the Main Menu, select "Link Mode", and then choose characters, weapons, and the arena.
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