Players have direct involvement in the plot by choosing dialogues and actions in the game.
After completing the game, players will retain the weapons, items, parts they obtained, money, as well as physical stats, learned skills and techniques for future replays.
Based on what they did in the game, players will receive an end-game title and Samurai Points.
The total Samurai Points are used to unlock secrets, heads, clothes, and abilities.
The game encourages players to be honourable, because they will lose their total Samurai Points for doing villainous acts, and will not be able to unlock secrets.
Time progresses as the day advances; morning, noon, evening, night, midnight, and dawn.
Now the "push and pull" system like in the first game is used, as well as a new "instant kill" (hit-satsu) technique called "glimpse of death", which is activated after a successful awase.
You can learn unarmed fighting and dual ninja sword techniques by reading scrolls.
[7] Learned skills are now recorded with the main character and later can be assigned to newly created weapons.
In addition to that, Way of the Samurai 3 is the first in the series to allow players to build their own katana or spears by collecting parts like blades (scabbards included), guards, grips, pommels, and bringing them to the blacksmiths.
The player can obtain the "dual wielding" ability after earning a certain number of Samurai Points.
Some of these jobs include babysitting a dog, finding runaway kids, punishing food thieves, rescuing kidnapped babies, or just killing someone.
In addition to various normal "jobs" provided by four different brokers, there are some minigames like "ring the bell", "cut vegetables", "dismantle the giant tuna", and "make mochi (sticky rice cakes)".
[14] Chris Roper from IGN wrote a review, giving it a 6.5 overall for having "PS2 games" graphics, "meh" combat, and "not enough of a sandbox to really build a castle".
[15] It features additional content, including four more companions (Osei, Itsuse, Araragihime, and Sensei).