A fun old-school beat ‘em up with a few modern twists.

Samurai Riot is a passable experience. The fighting mechanics are fine, and the moral choices add something to the game, even if the story that accompanies it is rather uninteresting. The pacing, however, detracts enough from the game that unless you want to see all of the potential storylines, you'll stop playing if you can muster enough interest to finish one storyline. If you plan on playing this with a friend, then it isn't a bad purchase, but those looking for more from their beat-'em-ups can skip this one for now.

Samurai Riot lacks personality and charm; the combat system doesn't offer anything more than mimicking the classic side-scrolling beat'em ups. As it is, the game could be a starting point for something new and interesting, but Wako Factory has a long way ahead.

Samurai Riot is a flawed take on the beat 'em up genre. While the game may supply a few fun nights of mindless gameplay, especially if conquered with a friend, its combat lacks the depth needed to truly engage the players, despite its interesting narrative and characters. Given beat 'em ups' storied history, there are far better games deserving your time.