I'll let you in on a little secret. Whenever I see people acting selfishly or dishonestly, it's common for me to think, "that's not very Bushido of them". This is who I am.

Bushido Blade is a modest little game, and I think people who bought it at full price are still a little bitter about it, but it remains indispensable. Fights are often over in one hit. Attacks are fatal. The twist is that if you want to make it through Story Mode, you need to fight with honour. That means no backstabbing, attacking while an enemy's on the ground, or jumping in before they finish their pre-fight speech. It's a neat little gimmick, and one that's gone a long way in earning my respect.

There's not a lot of content here, gameplay isn't very technical and there's odd blemishes as the tone swerves between dour historical drama and 1997 PS1 fighting game with big hair and technicolour outfits. The controls don't go far beyond Nidhogg (or Great Swordsman, for all the Taitoheads in the audience). It remains unique, though, and it's always in the back of my thoughts. Time, ticking away, until I know I have to go for another 20 minute run through Bushido Blade.

It should be said, two-player gives no rewards for good conduct, and it completely changes the game. That's where brutality and opportunism win the day. It's brilliant for entirely different reasons. The game's no Street Fighter, but there's plenty reason to own a copy.