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«©NCSX» After Commodore Perry "encouraged" the Japanese to sign the Treaty of Kanagawa on March 31st, 1854 and therefore opened up trade with the United States, Japan was thrown into chaos. Japan's 200 years of self-imposed isolation ended and the samurai ranks began to question the power of the Tokugawa Shogunate and its ability to defend Japan. In his second trip to Japan, Perry had threatened to shell Edo if his demands were not met and the Shogunate had buckled too easily to his whims. Journeying from the whole of Japan, marauding bands of roshis (masterless samurai warriors - not ronins or rurounis) gathered in Kyoto and sought to topple the perceived weak Shogunate and repel the western invaders who had arrived on the black ships. Taking place from 1860 through 1869 and reversing the roles of the prequel (Fuun Shinsengumi), players join the ranks of the roshi and battle the Shinsengumi who are policemen hired by the Shogunate to keep the peace. Walk around town, interact with fellow conspirators and engage the team-tactics of the Shinsengumi who beat down on insurgents in squads of four or more. Instead of being limited to Kyoto like the original, the new action-slasher takes place across Japan as organized gangs seek to cause ruckuses throughout the land. Historical recreations in the game include the Ikeda-ya slaughter where disgruntled Ishin Shishi (imperial swordsman) gathered in 1864 to plot the overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate. After the meeting, many of the Ishin Shishi stayed in the Ikeda-ya inn and drank until they fell asleep. A band of roving Shinsengumi learned of the Ishin Shishi's plans and rushed into the inn and killed everyone. Afterwards, the Shinsengemi were credited with saving Kyoto and the Shogunate from a series of unfortunate events. The mission in this scenario is to protect Ishin Shishi leader Kogorou Katsura from the Shinsengumi and escape through a backdoor in the inn to keep the rebellion alive. In another scenario, players help Shimazu Hisamitsu of the Satsuma clan and soldiers in their 1868 overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Shimazu would eventually play a part in the Meiji Restoration. Warning: This game includes graphic scenes of violence (blood splattered humans, people getting shot through the forehead, bodies falling like mere chaetal) and we recommend that the squeamish or easily offended NOT purchase this product. View the back cover and screenshots. This document is ©NCSX 2005. All rights reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part of this document may be made without express written consent of National Console Support, Inc.
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