Samurai Spirits also started SNK's reputation for their unique style of Engrish, known as SNKgrish in their games.
The game used an upgraded version of the scaling graphics engine that was originally featured in "Art of Fighting". The game is known outside Japan as 'Samurai Shodown' Samurai Spirits is the first game that introduced weapon fighting into the fighting game genre. Game ID: NGM-045 Players: 2 Control: 8-way joystick Buttons: 4 → With weapon: Light attack, Medium attack → Without weapon: Light punch, Medium punch, Light kick, Medium kick TRIVIA Samurai Spirits was released in July 1993 in Japan. TECHNICAL Runs on the SNK "Neo-Geo MVS" hardware. The game that put the Neo-Geo on the map! Superb weapons-based fighter featuring 12 characters, bonus rounds and one end boss. published 29 years ago: Samurai Spirits © 1993 SNK.
Now you can catch up on everything that you might have missed regarding the series with this action-packed anthology.SNK Neo-Geo MVS cart. It may have done the game justice, but the console was not a consumer favorite. For home use it was available on the notoriously expensive but powerful Neo Geo. Graphically, the game was ahead of its time, at least for the first few versions.
A two-player mode lets you do battle with another human, a refreshing change of pace from A.I.-controlled characters. Youll encounter hundreds of characters throughout the series. After unlocking a particular character, you will be able to access the music, endings, and artwork related to him or her. Youll be able to experiment with the cosmetic colorings of your characters costume, accessories, and weapons.īonus unlockable content will also be featured. By earning experience points, you can add new skills and abilities as well as change some of the requirements to obtain or unleash specific moves. You are no longer stuck with the same set of abilities that your chosen character displays at the start. Defensive moves are just as important as attacks in Samurai Shodown.įighting styles, or Spirits, can be customized. Players can roll, jump, parry attacks, and perform cancels and fake-outs.
Players will have a lot of moves at their disposal that make the combat more realistic. Strikes come in weak and medium flavors, but you can combine them to make a more powerful attack. Old-school enthusiasts may require such options in order to compensate for the lack of the arcade joystick. Moves can be easily mapped to any of the buttons on the controller. Some of the finishing moves were also eliminated. In some arcade versions as well as home console versions for the North American market, the blood was reduced and made to appear white. Finishing moves with bladed weapons would render the opponent in slices, accompanied by a sea of blood. One of the games most popular and controversial features was the graphic violence. Using a series of flags, an onscreen referee indicates which opponent received a blow and which one landed it. Slow-motion animation was used to highlight extremely powerful hits. So popular was the series in arcades that it became somewhat of a spectator sport. Relying less on stringing combos and unleashing ridiculously-powerful attacks, Shodown incorporates the philosophy of quality over quantity. The gameplay employs strategic elements of combat, where a few well-placed blows can disable an opponent. Set in feudal Japan, the music, scenery, characters, and weapons are specific to that era. It was one of the first arcade games to feature weapons in favor of hand-to-hand combat. Its fast-paced and bloody, but its not a nervous, reactionary button-masher. The Shodown series is a different beast from fighters such as Mortal Kombat of Street Fighter. This anthology will span the classic epoch of the series in chronological order a must for any fan and certainly a great introduction for beginners. Fans of the series take note that for the first time ever, the 6th installment of the series will be available for play on North American consoles. The games included in the anthology include Samurai Shodown I, II, III, IV, V, V Special, and VI. These games are reported to be virtually arcade perfect, from the graphics to the gameplay mechanics. Samurai Shodown Anthology features seven complete arcade games. FebruSure, Samurai Shodown Anthology is just a repackaging of games that already exist and many have played, but if thats not enough to make this an irresistible acquisition, then the extra features and bonus content is guaranteed to seal the deal.