Samurai Academy: Paws of Fury Review (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch & PC)

Samurai Academy: Paws of Fury builds on Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, a 2022 animated film many people watched once and then immediately forgot existed. The movie had some charm and a couple of good gags, but it never hit the point where anyone expected it to grow into something bigger. That’s why the release of a follow-up game feels like an unexpected second chapter, almost like someone decided the idea deserved another shot.

Interestingly, the game doesn’t pretend the film was some massive hit. There’s no forced nostalgia and no heavy-handed retelling of the movie’s events. Instead, the developers grabbed the best parts of that world, the talking-animal cast, the silly samurai energy, and the humor, and turned it into something players can dig into at their own pace. Even if someone hasn’t seen the movie, Samurai Academy: Paws of Fury stands fine on its own. That said, let us check out its review.

The Return of the Samurai

Going into this game without having seen the movie might feel like a toss-up. Movie tie-ins often assume you already know the story, but this one doesn’t. It’s simple, clean, and explained clearly from the start. You play as Hank, a dog who wants to become a samurai in a world full of cats. A newly returned shogun shows up, trouble quickly follows, and Hank ends up trying to protect villages from waves of feline attackers.

Nothing groundbreaking, nothing overly dramatic, it’s light, straightforward, and comfortably cartoonish. What matters is that it sets up a tone the rest of the game sticks to: goofy, warm-hearted, and never trying to be something deep or cinematic.

Surprisingly, the cutscenes are fully voice-acted, which honestly is a cool thing. Of course, not every line lands. Hank, in particular, sounds like he’s pushing through some very forced delivery at times. Nevertheless, the writing itself is surprisingly funny. There are quick one-liners, silly exchanges, and moments that genuinely caught me off guard and made me laugh. 

It’s not high comedy, but it knows exactly what kind of humor fits a family-friendly samurai dog adventure. ultimately, the story is simple, the writing is better than expected, the voice acting is hit-or-miss, and the tone is consistent. For a game with this target audience, that’s a win.

Combat

A lot of people see “animated movie tie-in” and assume the gameplay will be shallow, repetitive, or slapped together. That’s why the variety in Paws of Fury stands out. It’s not groundbreaking, but it keeps shifting gears in ways that make the adventure feel more lively and less predictable.

Combat is a simple, timing-based system. Players get light attacks, heavy attacks, a dodge, and a couple of special moves that unlock over time. Of course, it’s never challenging enough to frustrate younger players, but it has just enough weight and rhythm to keep older players from zoning out.

Platforming sections lighten the pace, offering short obstacle courses that break up the action. They aren’t precise in a Mario sense, but they’re pleasant and feel tailored for quick fun. Then there are the “academy tasks,” little minigame-like challenges sprinkled throughout. These range from reflex tests to stealth-lite missions to silly things like sorting runaway training dummies. Ultimately, nothing here reinvents the wheel, but the mix works. It feels like the developers consciously tried to avoid monotony and mostly succeeded.

Minigames

That same variety carries over into the actual minigames scattered throughout Samurai Academy: Paws of Fury, which the game has far more of than anyone would expect from a budget platformer. And like the academy tasks, they help keep the pacing light and playful. Instead of acting like quick throwaway extras, most of them feel like small extensions of Hank’s core moveset. It’s all about little tests of movement, timing, accuracy, or simple observation.

Players might be racing butterflies through narrow alleyways one minute, lining up bow-and-arrow shots the next, or darting across rooftops to help villagers track down missing items. What makes these activities fantastic is how naturally they fit into the world. None of them overstay their welcome or feel repetitive. They hand out coins, costumes, and collectibles, but more importantly, they encourage players to poke around parts of the hub that would otherwise be easy to ignore.

The responsive controls help a lot, too; even simple tasks feel a bit more polished thanks to smooth movement and surprisingly solid gyro aiming. In the end, the minigames serve as short palate cleansers between tower defense missions and platforming trials. They’re not groundbreaking, but they’re consistently enjoyable and slot cleanly into the overall rhythm of the game.

A Smooth Show

Samurai Academy: Paws of Fury leans heavily on fast, playful movement, and it’s one of the game’s nicest surprises. You start with the basics: a roll, a double jump, and a dash, but the game keeps layering on new tricks. Before long, you’re zipping around with a bow, landing simple combo strikes, and swinging through the air with a grappling hook. It offers far more mobility than most family-friendly action games.

The controls mainly maintain that freedom. They’re responsive and snappy, though the default sensitivity will probably feel too high. Dialing it down makes aiming and platforming much more comfortable, especially for younger players. Combat is on the lighter side, but it works. Hank’s sword strikes are quick; the bow becomes fun once you tune the settings. Similarly, fights wrap up before they overstay their welcome. The game clearly isn’t chasing deep, technical action. Instead, combat acts as a quick break between platforming stretches, puzzles, and short challenges.

Where things really click is in how movement ties everything together. Chase scenes, timed obstacle runs, tall climbing routes, and drifting races all push you to use your full toolkit. Even when you’re not in a mission, it feels good to bounce between rooftops or chain a dash into a grapple to reach new spots.

Unfortunately, there’s no option to remap inputs, which can be a little frustrating for players who like customizing controls. That said, the default setup is easy to pick up. Now, combined with the game’s mobility and breezy combat, the system strikes a nice balance. It’s approachable for newcomers while still keeping the action fun and satisfying adventure game.

Heart of the Game

Samurai Academy: Paws of Fury spreads its adventure across three open hub areas that offer more freedom than you’d expect. Each one is packed with collectibles, side activities, and optional challenges that encourage you to learn the layout instead of relying on a mini-map. Navigation can feel a bit loose at first, but once you settle into each zone, moving around becomes easy and even fun. What stands out most is the variety. Every hub brings new themes, characters, and mechanics. Everything you do, big or small, ties back into movement, combat, or exploration.

On the other hand, platforming trials act as fast obstacle courses where you race an AI rival, use traps, and look for shortcuts. Early courses are simple, but the final ones demand sharper timing and cleaner routes. Tower-defense raids are the highlight, offering 15 unique missions with distinct layouts and no repeated designs. You’ll defend shrines, set traps, and jump between lanes as waves of enemies push in, and while they were clearly designed with co-op in mind, they remain exciting on your own.

The hubs are also dotted with smaller activities. Shooting galleries, butterfly chases, hidden chests, cosmetic collectibles, and short quests add flavor without feeling pointless. Each one rewards curiosity or skill in a small way, which keeps the world inviting. As for progression, the structure is clean: explore, complete trials and raids, advance the story, and repeat. The only hiccup is that the game occasionally fails to tell you when you need more trials to move forward. It’s a small oversight in an otherwise well-paced loop.

Verdict

Samurai Academy: Paws of Fury is a surprising little package that does more than most movie tie-in games manage. At first glance, it might look like a simple kids’ platformer game. However, underneath the bright colors and goofy dialogue, there’s a lot to enjoy. The combat is fun, with responsive controls and a good mix of melee combos, ranged attacks, and traps. The platforming sections are light and enjoyable, the horde battles bring in a touch of strategy, and the minigames add variety.

The voice acting is hit-or-miss, and some textures aren’t there yet, but those flaws never get in the way of the overall experience. The hub worlds are full of secrets, collectibles, and side activities that reward exploration. Similarly, unlocking new abilities encourages revisiting older areas, which adds some nice replay value. 

So while the visuals themselves aren’t anything special, the smooth performance makes the overall experience feel far better than the graphics might suggest. Ultimately, for $25 or $20, the game is a solid value for anyone looking for a lighthearted adventure game that mixes platforming, action, and playful minigames. It won’t redefine the genre, but it’s a fun, well-crafted experience that’s worth checking out.