Samurai Shodown

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Samurai Shodown
Original title サ ム ラ イ ス ピ リ ッ ツ
transcription Samurai Supirittsu (Samurai Spirits)
developer SNK
Publisher SNK
First title Samurai Shodown (1993)
Last title Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection (2020)
Platform (s) 3DO , Dreamcast , Game Boy , FM Towns , Hyper Neo Geo 64 , Neo Geo , Mega-CD , Mega Drive , MS-DOS , PlayStation , PlayStation 2 , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation Portable , Saturn , SNES , Wii , Windows , Xbox , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , Nintendo Switch , Google Stadia
Genre (s) Fighting Game

Samurai Shodown ( Samurai Spirits in Japan ) is the name of a fighting game series by SNK that originally appeared for the neo-geo machines and game consoles. The original series was 2D and had four successors; in addition, several games in 3D graphics appeared for the Hyper Neo Geo 64 .

overview

The storyline of the series is set in 18th century Japan. The first four editions take place in the years 1788 and 1789. In addition to the characters typical of this period, some of which have real models, fighters from other countries (some of which did not even exist at the time) and monsters were built in. The plot of the games is very different, but all revolve around the same group of characters and a region in Japan.

Effect of the game

Samurai Shodown was next to Mortal Kombat the first fighting game that was not based on the classic combat system of the then dominant Street Fighter II . Instead, SNK introduced a new system with changes in the gameplay, in which above all the weapons and the "Rage Gauge" (a bar that is charged by inserted blows and increases the combat strength of the character in question and unlocks a particularly effective attack once) for Variety and tactical depth ensured. Samurai Shodown is one of the games with the biggest 2D animated sprites.

Musically, the series is independent: the background soundtrack selected according to the characters changes from rock, which is used in American-oriented characters, to orchestral arrangements with Renaissance instruments. The pieces of some Japanese characters mostly consist of very reduced Asian musical accompaniments from flutes and medieval stringed instruments. These are often accompanied by singing.

Depiction of violence

In the game (in the Neo-Geo and Neo-Geo CD versions) at the end of the fight the opponent can be knocked in half with certain attacks, whereupon the opponent's corpse is then transported away on a covered stretcher with malicious victory slogans from the winner. The manufacturer SNK refrained from using this feature again in parts two and three. It was also not adopted in the Super Nintendo , Game Boy and Mega Drive versions of the debut. The Neo-Geo variant of Samurai Shodown II uses either red or green blood for display, depending on the language version selected. If the game is operated in English, it is green, in the Japanese version it is red.

series

  • Samurai Shodown / Samurai Spirits
  • Samurai Shodown II / Shin Samurai Spirits: Haōmaru Jigoku-hen
  • Samurai Shodown RPG / Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits: Bushido Retsuden
  • Samurai Shodown III / Samurai Spirits: Zankuro Musou Ken
  • Samurai Shodown IV - Amakusa's Revenge / Samurai Spirits: Amakusa Kourin
  • Samurai Shodown!
An adaptation of Samurai Shodown IV for the Neo Geo Pocket Color
  • Samurai Shodown 64 / Samurai Tamashii: Samurai Spirits
  • Samurai Shodown 64 II / Samurai Spirits 2: Asura Zanmaden
  • Samurai Shodown II!
An adaptation of Samurai Shodown 64 II for the Neo Geo Pocket Color

Others

  • A major mistake crept into the packaging of the Sega mega-CD version of the first part: There is a screenshot of the fighter Earthquake, which is not available in the mega-CD version.
  • The black-clad referee, who in the background of the arenas raises the flags for “point allocation” with every hit, is built into the second part of the series as a secret playing figure and can be fought as an opponent with a special trick.

Adaptation

The fighting game saga was implemented as an anime in 1994 under the title Samurai Shodown - The Motion Picture . Furthermore, a two-part OVA called Samurai Spirits 2 was released in 1999 .

Web links