While the original games in the series were traditional beat «em ups with a very limited moveset and
linear stage progression, Sengoku 3 mixes things up by adding a deep combo system, four playable characters (plus two bonus characters who you unlock after defeating them), and the ability to choose the path you wish to take to complete the stages.
Not exact matches
In fact, a closer examination on the Discern
stage would even reveal that the framework does not really follow a completely
linear progression.
Basically, it has the
linear stage - based
progression and semi-sadistic level / boss designs from the former and the exploration / hidden secrets / ability
progression and the requisite - incentives - to - return - to - old - levels - with - newly - obtained - skills - to - unlock - alternate - pathways - through - the - levels of the latter.