Become an honor-driven "bushi" (warrior) who wields his blade against dark forces in this adventure game based on the hit cartoon series.

Samurai Jack has been trained by masters of weaponry from the far corners of the globe. He alone holds the power to stop Aku, a maniacal wizard bent on destruction.

In a last ditch effort to escape his destiny, Aku sends Samurai Jack into the distant future. Now, Jack must collect the missing segments of the Amulet Element if he is to have any hope of saving the world.

Have Katana, Will Time-Travel

The setup may be straight out of The Twilight Zone, but both cartoon and game are surprisingly lighthearted. Jack is thrown into disorienting settings that are alien and familiar at the same time. While pursuing the forces of evil, he must adapt to his environment, but maintain his belief and sense of honor.

A brief tutorial introduces Jack to his samurai moves as if he'd forgotten them. Jack can run, jump, crawl and cling to walls. The animations of Jack swinging his "katana" (samurai sword) are near-perfect duplicates of those from the hit show.

You Can Ronin but You Can't Hide

Gameplay pretty much consists of collecting and brawling, although hobnobbing with the occasional friendly character is vital to advancing the plot. Exploration, such as it is, is aided by a handy map.

Once equipped, armor and rings boost attack and defensive stats. You can also enhance your sword's powers by studding it with gems. Health potions can be saved for an emergency.

The Ki to Success

The game nicely captures the "ki" (spirit) of the cartoon's retro graphics. Samurai Jack may not push the Game Boy Advance to its limits, but the fascinating blend of anime and classic Eastern painting is surely entertaining to watch.

Samurai Jack: The Amulet of Time manages to deliver much of what makes the cartoon popular. Character interactions and a variety of items to find and equip add depth to a combat-centric game.