Kenseiden plays very much like Castlevania, sharing that games problems while adding a few of it's own.
While Castlevania has a stream of pickups items to keep the player interested, Kenseiden really has nothing. For the most part it's jump and a sword attack, with no options for direction beyond left and right.
This can be espcailly frustrating with enemies. Rather than attack on a level plane, they are almost always attack from above or below, meaning it's impossible to attack them unless retreating and running forward. Later on, the character can be upgraded with a swipe to alliterative this, but for the early stages the player is largely helpless.
This problem is exasperated by enemies spawning in from nowhere a foot in front of the player, with the ability to track them through walls, at a faster speed than the player can go. These enemies instantly reset as well, meaning if you walk 5 feet right, then 5 feet right against, they always reappear. All in all, it's challenging game, not through creativity, but just sheer cheapness.
Boss battles are traditional "follow the pattern". These are fairly challenging, but unlike the rest of the game, fair.
As expected with the Master System, it's visuals happily sit above the NES. Rather than a colorful Japan, Kenseiden is is dark with a distinct lack of vibrancy associated with the setting. It's music score on the other hand is generic and instantly forgettable.
It's main (and arguably only) uniqueness is that levels can be selected and replayed. The in-game levels themselves suggest exploration, allowing players to wander off to boundaries from the directed path, but ultimately it never yields anything, which forces the player to as to ask why it existed in the first place.
It also has very light RPG elements, training stages - essenailly optional levels can boost defend and attack power as well as (very rare) items to find in the world. Grinding the barrage of enemies also increases life. This is an action rpg in it's rudimentary form. Unfortantly, regardless of it's simplicity thebalance is skewed from early game being crushing, to late game being comparatively leisurely.
For an alternative to Castlevania, Master Of Darkness is undoubtedly a better clone. It has more varied weapons, levels, a cracking soundtrack and visuals that make the NES seem antiquated.
However, Master Of Darkness strictly adheres to being a clone, never deviating, Kenseiden, however flawed, adds ideas and attempts to built on it, it's a game easier to admire than one to enjoy.
This is potentially still worth a play, just be prepared for a barrage of cheapness.
