Psikyo horizontal shmup with medieval Japanese theme and varied characters. Fast and punchy gameplay, memorable bosses, well-paced difficulty. Visually charming. One of Saturn's best horizontal shmups, often underestimated.
Your verdict
Category
Shooter1 player12+
Co-op
Description
Vertical shoot-'em-up by Psikyo transposing Sengoku Ace mechanics into feudal Japan. Published by Psikyo, released in Japan in 1998. Five playable characters including a samurai, a priestess and a ninja with distinct special attacks, bosses inspired by Japanese folklore demons, detailed visuals in a revisited ukiyo-e style. Saturn port of the 1996 arcade.
Sengoku Blade - Sengoku Ace Episode II review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
A horizontal shoot'em up of polished anime design, expressive heroes and imposing bosses: Psikyo unfurls a colourful, snappy action. The vividness of the sprites and the richness of the settings overflow with energy. This visual direction, lively and polished, illustrates all the charm of the 90s Japanese shooter.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,3 GB📅25/06/1998
Published by Psikyo
Sengoku Blade - Sengoku Ace Episode II (Saturn) price, value & rarity
Japan exclusive Saturn edition of Sengoku Blade Sengoku Ace Episode II, distributed by Psikyo in June 1998, a sequel to the Psikyo Sengoku Ace shoot in the horizontal shooter sub genre with Japanese fantasy imagery. Psikyo Japan run was short, jewel case with intact obi, and the late nineties Saturn window for Psikyo makes it for horizontal shmup and Sengoku Ace sub franchise enthusiasts a targeted archive object. Complete with obi clearly valued among Psikyo Saturn completists.
An underrated gem
Transposing the action of Sengoku Ace into an imagined feudal Japan, this Psikyo horizontal shooter wins you over with charismatic characters and a brisk pace. Stuck in Japan, it went largely unnoticed in the West. Colorful and bursting with personality, it offers an accessible, joyous shmup that genre fans would do well to dig up.
Is Sengoku Blade - Sengoku Ace Episode II still worth playing in 2026?
A direct sequel to the Psikyo shoot, Sengoku Blade Sengoku Ace Episode II offers a Japanese horizontal shoot with characters of distinct abilities and Japanese historical fantasy universe. The vibrant anime art direction, accessible handling and energetic soundtrack make it a horizontal shoot reference on Saturn. For anyone fond of Psikyo shoots or seeking a Japanese fantasy horizontal shoot, a warm recommendation still valid today without any hesitation on the Sega machine for Japanese fantastic shoot genre fans truly here indeed.
