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Genji Dawn of the Samurai is a hack-and-slash action video game (that also contains some role-playing elements) developed by Game Republics and published by SCE, released in 2005 exclusively for the PlayStation 2. This is a single-player game.
This game generally received positive reviews from the gaming press; it was praised for its extremely beautiful visuals and detailed graphics, as well as its challenging combat system, some critics, however, asserted that this game was too short. It also offers many interesting cutscenes.

Dawn of the Samurai takes place in feudal Japan, around the 12th century. The story featured within the game is loosely based on the Japanese history, and follows partially the third section of the Tale of the Heike which deals with Yoshitsune s rise against the Taira clan (famous and powerful Japanese clan at that time).
You will be able to play as Yoshitsune or Benkei in their quest to defeat the Heishi clan, and collect magical stones called Amahagane (that are stones of power that allow select individuals to release magical powers known as kamui).

Yoshitsune is a young samurai (16), his father was defeated (leader of Minamoto clan) and killed by the Taira clan s leader during the Heiji rebellion. He grew up without knowing the truth about his father s death, and his origins; and lived lonely in the mountains becoming a talented swordsman, but he owned an Amahagane stone.
So one day he is attacked by members of the Heishi Clan, who were looking for the magical stones. Yoshitsune an archetypical fast and agile warrior, making up in speed what he lacks in strength.

Then he met a mysterious warrior and he left his mountains to face his destiny and have his revenge on his father s murderers. This warrior was Benkei who is a giant monk warrior, with superhuman strength who was serving Yoshitsune s clan, and craves to serve them again.
Benkei is a more powerful warrior than Yoshitsune but quite slow and when he met Yoshitsune he challenged him in a battle but was defeated. He then understood that his mission was to follow and protect Minamoto and fight by his side as a brother in arms.

Throughout the game you will have the possibility to improve your character; by leveling it up normally by defeating enemies and acquiring experiences, or by using Essences of Amahagane (health, attack or defense) to level up certain stats. Both methods are independent of each other. The experience earned is shared by the two characters.
Each of your characters has a number of kamui bars under their health bar. The number of Kamui bars will depend on the number of magical stones that you collected in the game.

During a combat you will notice that the kamui bar will build up and you will be able to release this stored power through devastating attacks. While playing this power will evolve as you advance in the game. Timing is of the essence as you must attack at the exact moment indicated by the game, or the move will fail.

Genji: Dawn of the Samurai reviews