The Ninkyo

Picking up that pretty mean sword and actually using it on the thugs who try to shake you down feels incredibly satisfying. The leather jacket is a nice touch for defense, though I wish the game itself was a bit longer to really sink into the territory.

Extorting cash from shopkeepers is surprisingly addictive — I’ve already bought the leather jacket and it makes me feel properly tough. The sword hits with a satisfying thwack that makes the short playtime feel worthwhile.

I was surprised how satisfying it is to just shake down pedestrians for cash — the leather jacket actually makes a difference in fights. The sword packs a nice punch too, and the whole thing feels like a gritty little time capsule from the PS2 era.