Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku

 GameCube
Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku Image
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 5 Ratings

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  • Summary: Thrust into the future by the evil Aku, a lone Samurai warrior must quickly find the time portal to the past to rescue his defenseless people. Ancestors of the displaced Samurai call him Jack and help him through four enemy-filled realms with 24 interactive levels. Samurai Jack suffersThrust into the future by the evil Aku, a lone Samurai warrior must quickly find the time portal to the past to rescue his defenseless people. Ancestors of the displaced Samurai call him Jack and help him through four enemy-filled realms with 24 interactive levels. Samurai Jack suffers various states of damage if he fails to dodge fireballs and sword strikes, but slow-motion attacks, devastating combo moves, and sushi snacks empower the hearty warrior. From a burning village to the bustling Aku City, you'll guide Jack as he blasts through doors, finds hidden pathways, and frees caged locals, bringing him ever closer to fulfilling his great destiny--the defeat of Aku once and for all. … Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. Yahoo!
    80
    Ultimately, The Shadow of Aku's excellent controls, just-right fighting action, humor, and easy-on-the-eyes visuals do the Samurai Jack license proud.
  2. Warcry
    75
    It needed more content and more effort. The mechanics of the game are good (for the most part) but the most impressive engine and artwork in the world can’t make a game excellent without any substantial content.
  3. GameZone
    70
    Where Jack fails to succeed is an issue that will never be fully resolved in gaming: repetition. Samurai Jack is the same thing over and over. It never changes, never evolves.
  4. Game Informer
    60
    An amazingly generic action title. It's a shame, as Samurai Jack is easily one of the most unique cartoons on the air today, so this could have been so much more. [May 2004, p.93]
  5. Kombo
    55
    Made for the hardcore fans. Everyone else is going to find a hard time enjoying its clunky gameplay and bland graphics.
  6. GameSpot
    52
    A thoroughly generic combination of beat-'em-up and platforming gameplay that draws upon only the most rudimentary elements of both genres and does nothing particularly interesting with either of them. Both exceedingly trite and exceedingly brief, Shadow of Aku is pure mediocrity from beginning to end.
  7. Times Online
    40
    The trouble is that once you have got the hang of the swordplay, throwing stars and bow and arrow, it all becomes a bit repetitive, while the problem-solving element to the game provides little challenge.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. KevinN.
    Jan 20, 2005
    10
    It`s just amazing! so many great moves and combos,when I was sick playing my old games poof! I saw it out of no where.It is a challenging It`s just amazing! so many great moves and combos,when I was sick playing my old games poof! I saw it out of no where.It is a challenging game too. It is definitely the best game I ever played!… Expand
  2. GamecubeLover
    Jul 22, 2016
    7
    The Shaow of Aku is good and shouldn't receive bad reviews. This game is actually fun but this game still is flawed and I mean really flawed!The Shaow of Aku is good and shouldn't receive bad reviews. This game is actually fun but this game still is flawed and I mean really flawed! But this game is still good.… Expand
  4. [Anonymous]
    May 13, 2004
    4
    This game is boring. It is easy and repetitive. It is such a disappointment (especially from Sega) .

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best GameCube Game of 2004
64
#64 Most Discussed GameCube Game of 2004
44
#44 Most Shared GameCube Game of 2004