Yotoden

Chronicle of the Warlord Period

• Chapter I - Break Out

• Chapter II - Demon's Cry

• Chapter III - Flames of Anger

                      V----V
          G-----------PG----------PG13-----------R------NC17

Yotoden == Legend of the Swords of Sorcery

Nasty monsters are on the rampage. In particular, these monsters are attacking the three original schools of martial arts, the Hyuga Ninjas, Kasumi Ninjas and Hagakure Ninjas. The first two schools have already fallen to the advances of the evil nasty monsters.

Entrusted to Ayame, the last of the Kasumi Ninja, is an ancient short sword with a legend that says when it and its three other companion weapons are brought together they can defeat evil and bring peace. As fate would also have it, entrusted to Sakon the Whirlwind, last of the Hyuga Ninja is a long sword with a similar tale.

And, as the plot is written, the last weapon, a halberd, is in the hands of Ryoma Kogure of the Hagakure Ninja.

Indeed....

Of course, the nasty monsters come to destroy the Hagakure Ninja and the three ancient schools are brought together again to fight. And, of course, the monsters lose.

The first chapter in Yotoden is basically set up, but this is ok and things get rolling in the second chapter. However, I was somewhat confused at the accuracy of the flint or match lock guns used in this volume. Must be ninja magic. Is it now the fall of 1581.

In the final volume, Nobunaga gets his desire and becomes a literal demon monster. However, in true ninja form, the monster Nobunaga is not the only evil one around. His servant Ranmaru Mori is quite a bit more then he first appears, and his revelations turn the entire series on its ear. None the less, in the end, all of the good guys do defeat the bad guys, but the cost is high.

The series appears quite similar to the movie The Dagger of Kamui. It is less violent then Ninja Scroll, Yoma: Curse of the Undead, or Shadow Skill.