Review: Samurai Jack -- Code of the Samurai

Fans of Genndy Tartakovsky's "Samurai Jack,"gets five "lives," and you can see the red meter
which wrapped last year on the Cartoon Network,slowly shrink as he is bombarded with digital
enjoy the quirky storytelling and stunning visuals,mayhem. Try to at least hold on to the fourth
also the martial arts sequences. Naturally, it was"life" when getting to the second level. After you
only a matter of time before the online gamingclear each level the "life" you're currently on is
industry turned the time-traveling samurai'sreplenished (Jack must have been drinking his
adventures into video games.I haven't tried anytrademark green tea.) When you get to the third
of the games available for gaming consolelevel, try to keep at least three "lives," although
systems, confining my efforts instead to Cartoonyou can get away with two. You need at least
Network's own Web Site. Its Games sectiontwo to have a chance during the final skirmish
features six games based on "Samurai Jack,"with Aku.At the end of the first two levels you
including "The Way of the Warrior," in which thedo battle with a giant adversary more powerful
young samurai trains through several simulationsthan the others: a skeleton warrior on the first, a
for his eventual battle with the shape-shifting evilbasket-head warrior on the second. The good
sorcerer Aku (deliciously voiced by veteran actornews is you can watch its "life" meter and track
Mako in the series and console games).The otheryour progress on defeating it.The second level is
games invariably feature Jack battling Aku'sfilled with gears running amuck to mow you
minions--robots, beetle insects, and the like. Twodown, blades slashing at you, and on all three
of the games feature a final showdown withlevels you run the risk of falling in slime or on
Aku."Code of the Samurai" was a tie-in with asharp spikes, which make you lose a life. Tip: Time
Samurai Jack marathon, so when you access theyour jumps to avoid the gears, but don't get too
game, the interface asks you "Enter Code orjumpy, otherwise you fall into the slime.The third
Play." I advise pushing Play since the originallevel features spikes, moving platforms and even
marathon was two years ago.Once you get intowider jumps, if that's possible. Tip: The vapor
the game, you have to fight through threedemons can appear anywhere and are more
treacherous levels before you even get topoweerful than the adversaries in the first two
Aku.The first level features crumbling ledges,levels. But this workout is just practice, flexing
motorized spikes, machine-gun fire as you rideyour muscles for the clash with Aku.The final
rock lifts up mountains, and of course, thestage features ledges that sink into lava--you
inevitable baddies waiting to attack you. Tip: Whenhave to jump fast before you fall in. The
riding the rock lifts, duck and jump to avoid thecomputerized Aku is quite impressive, and just as
machine gun fire. Seize the opportunity when thein the series, flies off several times before Jack
second lift descends or ascends close to the liftcan deliver the final blow. But be brave, be
you're on, otherwise you'll have to avoid thesteadfast, be victorious, and you, gamer, will
gunfire until the lift comes back within reach. Thedefeat the evil scourge! The conclusion to the
level features two lift challenges, all with agame is satisfying and delivers the anticipated
computerized attacker waiting at the top of theemotional payoff.Play your destiny now at
cliff.The creatures on all three levels arereviewer/screenwriter Kristin Johnson composes
adversaries that fans of "Samurai Jack" willpersonalized poems, speeches, toasts, vows, and
recognize: zombie warriors, Terminator-stylefamily memories. Visit to order your personalized
robots who look like they have baskets on theirmemories. She is also co-author of the Midwest
heads, and Aku's minions that turn into vaporBook Review "enthusiastically recommended" pick
when you attack them.Tip: Try whenever possibleChristmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories,
to hit the targets with a good quick thrust ofRecipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts
Jack's katana. The game says other weapons are(ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is
available to Jack, but for some reason you onlyavailable at our Web site, or e-mail the publisher ()
see him use his katana. Go slow and time yourto receive a printed media kit and sample copy of
attacks so that the targets can't hit you first.Jackthe book.