Back in February, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time was surprisingly announced, with it being so surprising because the series had been finished for three years. Though it had been a long time coming, the TV show Samurai Jack had ended, and most fans thought that was it.
Fans were surprised to learn that not only was Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time a thing, it also apparently tied in with the show's story. This is an especially impressive claim since the plot of Samurai Jack was traditionally loose and episodic, with the larger story only coming together in the final season.
One thing that the Battle Through Time release date trailer confirmed was that enemies from different moments in Jack's past were resurfacing, so Jack would definitely be fighting through familiar locales. In the end, this took the form of Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time's 9 stages, each one encompassing one or more locations Jack had been to in the past. The reason for this is that the game takes place in a time pocket Aku has created to trap Jack as he journeys back to the past. The 9 stages are as follows:
1: Aku's Mines
The first part of this stage takes place in the mines where Jack and his canine allies made the first stand against Aku. The second part follows Jack into the swamp where he and the Scotsman first teamed up, although their interaction is different this time. These are locations from two of the best Samurai Jack episodes, making a logical starting point for a tribute game.
2: Boon's Castle
The second stage is Boon's Castle, a strange fortress from Jack's second run-in with the Scotsman. The mecha-demon filled castle is certainly intimidating, but the demon lord Boon himself is strangely absent.
3: Cave of the Ancient
Here, Jack explores an ancient, lava-filled cave system and faces two foes from his past: the villainous Demongo (one of Aku's most intimidating servants) and the tragic Lava Monster.
4: Undead Cemetery
The location of one of the spookiest episodes of the show, Jack must face a horde of zombies here. The stage culminates in a rematch with Demongo, followed by a battle against the dread Banshee.
5: Aku City
The first location Jack landed in when he reached the future, Aku City is where players will have to start using Samurai Jack's new skills and advanced techniques. Players will have to flee from the mighty Imakandi, battle the robotic Ninja, and, finally, face the Bounty Hunter couple on a moving train.
6: Ruined City
Scaramouche, Aku's robotic, musical assassin makes his appearance here, as does Demongo (again). This stage corresponds to the fifth season of the show, where Jack sported a beard and a different getup. The level involves a fight with a huge rubble golem created by Scaramouche, and concludes with a fight against the assassin himself.
7: Snowy Forest
Another Season 5 locale, this one sees Jack face off against Ashi's sisters, the Daughters of Aku. For anyone familiar with the show, it's an emotionally charged fight.
8: Prison Ship
Another Season 5 location, the prison ship is a series of constrictive corridors that sees more Demongo fighting. Jack must also battle the deadly Lazarus 92, although the final battle is against Ashi's Aku-esque demonic form.
9: Aku's Tower
The final showdown. It's a big one.
These are the stages of Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time. It's unlikely to be named one of the best hack and slash games of the decade, but no one can deny it's a cool tribute to one of the greatest cartoons of the past 20 years.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is available on PC, Switch, Xbox One, and PS4.