by wagesofsyn
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An SNK rpg.. finally, somebody upstairs listed to me (even if itis Samurai Shodown.. ugh.) The Samurai Shodown series has always had a pretty good story behind it, and this games gives fans the chance toexplore that story as one of their favorite characters. SNK released this game on PSX, Saturn, and Neo Geo CD, but not the home cart system(odd..). If I could read more Japanese, I would definitely play this game more, as it seems to be an excellent game.
Graphics
Remember the old SNES and Genesis RPG's done from the overhead perspective? That's what this game looks like. To a'T', with the 16-bit graphics and everything. I really don't understand why this game looks ageneration old on the PSX. My guess is they didn't want to spend money developing the game graphically on the Saturn and PSX and just used theNeo Geo CD version for the port. The game does look good all things considered though, with big, recognizable characters and nice looking,Final Fantasy V-esque fight scenes.
Gameplay
Simple button commands in towns and an easy to understand battle menu make this a good RPG. It plays very similar to the Final Fantasy seriesin terms of gameplay, which is a definite plus. You get to select which story you follow, as either Ukyo (the best), Haomaru, Genjuro,Galford, Nakoruru, and Rinka. Battle scenes, as mentioned before, play like the Final Fantasy series, with better looking characters, and a movesystem, where you can perform special moves that have appeared in the fighting games in addition to using attacks and items.
Sound
Excellent music tracks accompany the gameplay, in terms of both clarity and quality. The music really fits the mood of what you're doing, andeverything - music, sound effects, etc. - is CD quality. No complaints here.
Final Thoughts
Samurai Shodown RPG is a great game. It combines the popular characters of the Samurai Shodown fighting game series with unique and effectiveRPG elements. There's not much to complain about here, and fans of the series willdefinitely want to play this deep and interesting game.
- John Gillerlain
Overall: 8.3 / 10
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Samurai Shodown | |
---|---|
Genre(s) | Fighting |
Developer(s) | SNK, Yuki Enterprise (V, V Special) |
Publisher(s) | SNK, Sega (VI in U.S.) |
Creator(s) | Yasushi Adachi |
Composer(s) | Yasuo Yamate (Tate Norio) |
Platform(s) | Arcade, Various platforms |
First release | Samurai Shodown July 7, 1993 |
Latest release | Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection June 11, 2020 |
English title | Japanese title | Platforms | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|
Samurai Shodown | Samurai Spirits (サムライスピリッツ) | Arcade, 3DO, FM Towns, Game Gear, Game Boy, Mega Drive/Genesis, Neo Geo, Neo-Geo CD, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Sega CD, Super NES, PlayStation 2, Wii, Virtual Console, PlayStation Network (PS3 and PSP) | 07-07-1993 |
Samurai Shodown II | Shin Samurai Spirits Haōmaru Jigokuhen (真サムライスピリッツ 覇王丸地獄変) | Arcade, Neo Geo, Neo-Geo CD, Neo Geo Pocket Color, PlayStation, Windows, PlayStation Network, Wii, Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade, Neo Geo X, iOS, Android | 10-28-1994 |
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood | Samurai Spirits Zankurō Musōken (サムライスピリッツ 斬紅郎無双剣) | Arcade, Neo Geo, Neo-Geo CD, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, PlayStation Network, Virtual Console | 11-15-1995 |
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge | Samurai Spirits Amakusa Kōrin (サムライスピリッツ 天草降臨) | Arcade, Neo Geo, Neo-Geo CD, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, PlayStation Network, Virtual Console | 10-25-1996 |
Samurai Shodown RPG | Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits Bushidō Retsuden (真説サムライスピリッツ 武士道列伝) | Neo Geo CD, PlayStation, Sega Saturn | 06-27-1997 |
Samurai Shodown 64 | Samurai Spirits (侍魂 ~SAMURAI SPIRITS~) | Hyper Neo Geo 64 | 12-19-1997 |
Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage | Samurai Spirits 2 Asura Zanmaden (SAMURAI SPIRITS 2 アスラ斬魔伝) | Hyper Neo Geo 64 | 10-16-1998 |
Samurai Shodown! | Samurai Spirits! (サムライスピリッツ!) | Neo Geo Pocket | 12-25-1998 |
Samurai Shodown! 2 | Samurai Spirits! 2 (サムライスピリッツ! 2) | Neo Geo Pocket Color | 04-30-1999 |
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage | Kenkaku Ibunroku Yomigaerishi Sōkō no Yaiba Samurai Spirits Shinshō (剣客異聞録 甦りし蒼紅の刃 サムライスピリッツ新章) | PlayStation, PlayStation Network | 12-22-1999 |
N/A | Nakoruru ~Ano Hito kara no Okurimono~ (ナコルル~あのひとからのおくりもの~) | Dreamcast, Microsoft Windows | 03-28-2002 |
Samurai Shodown V | Samurai Spirits Zero (サムライスピリッツ零) | Arcade, Neo Geo, PlayStation 2, Xbox | 10-10-2003 |
Samurai Shodown V Special | Samurai Spirits Zero Special (サムライスピリッツ零SPECIAL) | Arcade, Neo Geo | 04-22-2004 |
Samurai Shodown Mobile | Samurai Spirits -Makai Rinne Ki- (サムライスピリッツ-魔界輪廻記-) | iMode Mobile | 07-04-2005 |
Samurai Shodown VI | Samurai Spirits Tenkaichi Kenkakuden (サムライスピリッツ 天下一剣客伝) | Arcade, Atomiswave, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Network | 09-14-2005 |
Samurai Shodown Mobile II | Samurai Spirits ~Shimensoka~ (侍魂~四面楚歌~) | iMode Mobile | 11-21-2005 |
Samurai Shodown Mobile III | Samurai Spirits Tenka Musō Typing ~Makai Tenshō no Shō~ (侍魂天下無双タイピング~魔界転生の章~) | EZweb Mobile | 01-12-2006 |
Samurai Shodown Sen | Samurai Spirits Sen (サムライスピリッツ閃) | Taito Type X2, Xbox 360 | 04-17-2008 |
Samurai Shodown Anthology | Samurai Spirits Rokuban Shōbu (tentative title) (サムライスピリッツ 六番勝負) | Wii, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2 | 04-14-2009 |
Samurai Shodown | Samurai Spirits (サムライスピリッツ) | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, Microsoft Windows, Arcade, Xbox Series X/S | 06-25-2019 |
Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection | Samurai Spirits Neo Geo Collection (サムライスピリッツ ネオジオコレクション) | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows | 06-11-2020 |