Samurai Shodown

[Melf]

The early 90s saw a flood of fighting games, and many thought that the Genesis would never be able to accurately port one of the premier Neo Geo franchises when it was announced that Samurai Showdown would see a release. Were they right? Read our full review (http://www.sega-16.com/2005/09/samurai-shodown/) and see for yourself.

[Vicman]

Personally, I would've given the game a 9/10. He gives it an 8, ok no biggie, but then he says it's possibly better than Street Fighter II! WTF? If it's better than SF2 and yet it only merits an 8, that means he thinks SF2 is a 7/10? :?

[Wampaa]

I love SS! At the time I had the uber 3DO version so didn't buy the Genesis version. I did however play it in the store and was amazed at how well of a version the Genesis had. They did a great job packing allot in this cart. Very great job on a great game!

[Sega Uranus]

Samurai Shodown, a game so good that it DESIRVES to be spelled wrong!

(j/k)


Great review, and 9/10 for me!

[David J.]

I rented the Genesis version back in the day and it was a pretty good port.

[Demonic Weasel]

Never heard of this one, but it sounds pretty good.

[crazyjoedavola]

I agree. When this game came out in the arcade, it quickly became one of my faves. Voices, colors, great animation and awesome weapon based combat made me feed that thing a ton of tokens. I was afraid that a lot would be lost with the Genny version, but I was surprised. I missed the zooming in and out, but then again, I never expected it in the Genesis version.

A faithful port of a great fighting game.

[Genesis Knight]

I actually thought I'd get flamed off the planet if I gave it a 9/10, much less the 10/10 I think it deserves. I guess I didn't realize that people actually liked it.

Could you please change it to a 10/10, Melf?

[Drixxel]

I'd say if any version of Samurai Shodown deserves a 10, it's the Neo Geo original. I've played considerable amounts of the Genesis and SNES ports, and while I think Genesis Samurai Shodown makes the better compromises in order to create the superior SS experience between the two, I don't consider Genesis Samurai Shodown to be a 10/10. There's too notable a gap between it and the Neo Geo SS to score perfectly, but I'd say a 9/10 is definately deserved. Still, it's your review, clearly you can score it as you please. Samurai Shodown is definately a kickass fighter.

[j_factor]

Samurai Shodown is easily the best of SNK's genny ports, and is definitely one of the most notable fighters of its day. I think an 8 is about right, but I'm pretty strict on my ratings.

[Fang]

I really liked Samurai Showdown 1 and 2 in the arcades so how can I not like the genesis version. What is failed to mention in the review is that Earthquake isn't in the game which to me makes it a good but not great port. The characters are bigger than the snes and more blood in it too.

[Dartagnan1083]

I'm really currious about the Sega CD port.
are there any substantial differences?

[StealthNinjaScyther]

I object to the notion that SS is the best SNK port to the Genesis. Most accurate maybe, but the best would be King of the Monsters 2 if only for the fact that it's actually better than its Neo Geo counterpart. I've also heard the Fatal Fury 2 port is pretty good too.

[Genesis Knight]

I don't think I said that SS was the *best*. Did someone else say that?

[StealthNinjaScyther]

Yeah, I was responding to someone else's comment.

[j_factor]

Yeah, I said that. I.. can't really remember King of the Monsters 2.

[Fang]

I object to the notion that SS is the best SNK port to the Genesis. Most accurate maybe, but the best would be King of the Monsters 2 if only for the fact that it's actually better than its Neo Geo counterpart. I've also heard the Fatal Fury 2 port is pretty good too.

Fatal Fury 2 is a good SNK port on the genny it's really close to the arcadeall characters are there. I never played the genesis version of King of the Monsters 2 only the first one.

[Genesis Knight]

I own KotM2, but I don't play it much. Don't really have a reason for not doing so, but it just doesn't grab me. Never seen the arcade version... KotM1 for Genesis stinks to high heaven. Horribly bad.

[Drixxel]

There'd definately a lot more to King of the Monsters 2 compared to 1. I've played through #2 on SNES a sickening number of times, as it always seemed so appropriate a choice for two dudes on a boring afternoon.. it's worth playing through, Genesis Knight, especially if you have the opportunity to go about it with somebody else.

[Genesis Knight]

All right, although my main game-playing friend is more of a PSX type nowadays. I'll try to get him on this one, though. =)

[TheEdge]

Better than the Arcade version......Yea, I said it.

[Aarzak]

Lies. But it was quite impressive for the Genesis hardware. The gameplay however, was heavily affected as each character had their strong attack removed. Not to mention the tinny sound, missing/cut-off voice samples, slowdown that almost brings the Genny to its knees........hell this port brought the Genny to its knees.

And for fans of Earthquake........no Earthquake.

[gamegenie]

best on Sega CD

[otaku]

this game is no matter what anyone says best on SNK neo geo hardware ports up until now were worthless (now they're ok)

[TheEdge]

Lies. But it was quite impressive for the Genesis hardware. The gameplay however, was heavily affected as each character had their strong attack removed. Not to mention the tinny sound, missing/cut-off voice samples, slowdown that almost brings the Genny to its knees........hell this port brought the Genny to its knees.

And for fans of Earthquake........no Earthquake.

I assume you haven't played this title with a 6-Button controller?


Light attack - Medium attack - Heavy attack

light kick - medium kick - heavy kick

Also if you just have a 3 button controller you can press light attack & medium attack at the same time to combine into the heavy attack.

@ the slowdown you bring up is supposed to be there. Samurai shodown titles always have long drawn out hits. When some get a medium or heavy attack off the game is programmed to slowdown to create the damage effect.

[Aarzak]

I meant that the animations for character's strong attacks (such as Haohmaru) were removed, and instead animations from their weak/medium attacks were reused.

I'm aware of the intentional slowdown SS titles have, but when the action gets heavy on Genesis SS1 it really does bog down.

[TheEdge]

^ Especially when people start using projectiles. Then it chugs a long a little.

[acdc]

I loved this game played it gray only
It s a shame that earthqauke was removed

[Thunderblaze16]

Is the snes version better or worst?

[Guntz]

If you like Earthquake, yes. If you like everyone other than Earthquake to be near their original size, then no.

On SNES, all characters were shrunk down to include Earthquake. Technically he's still bigger than everyone, but it's not quite the same when Earthquake doesn't fill up the whole screen.

[The Coop]

I always felt this was by far, Takara's best effort. Things got left on the cutting room floor (namely, Earthquake and his stage), but the rest of the game made it in largely unmolested, even the bonus rounds. Nice graphics and animation, 12 total characters, cool backgrounds, some cool gameplay touches (losing weapons, item drops, some animals to use for attacks, etc.)... it's just a well rounded and thought out fighting game that break away from the Street Fighter mold with its weapon-based combat and more methodical pacing. It's not a perfect port obviously, as some small things were altered to save space, but it still looks, plays and feels like the game it was ported from, and the even the sound was handled pretty well. It also helps that the Neo-Geo original was a fantastic game to begin with (unlike some other SNK ports that Takara brought over).

So yeah, great fighter for the Genesis, and it trumps the SNES version to boot... even if it had Earthquake.

[DanceroftheShadows]

Never played the Genesis version, but I do remember it being a big deal when it came home to the consoles. Advertisements, tons of positive reviews in magazines.

What I CAN tell you is, I suffered through the actual NeoGeo version, SS1 was made before SNK "discovered" progressive difficulty, in other words, every single character is tough as nails. I dont know how I beat the game on level-4 difficulty, oh yeah a lotta retries. The last bad guy Amakusa? Was damn near impossible untill you realize you can fool him/her into walking into you everytime for a throw to get a perfect using any character 100% of the time.

[The Coop]

The Genesis version's easier, though if you want to see the full endings (extra stuff after the character's ending), you have to beat it without continuing, and on difficulty 4 or harder if I recall.

[Phantar]

If only the PAL-version of the game wasn't that unbearably slow! *groan*

I mean, even the NTSC-version suffers the occasional slowdown, but can you imagine the drag this puts on a Eruopean Mega Drive?
This is one of those games that justifies both region modding and overclocking your console. Only then does it unfold its full glory.

Here's a clip of the PAL-version, yo you can see what I'm talking about.
1SE93ryz6uI

/edit: Holy crap, I've just noticed! Look at the end of the clip: Galford friggin' CUTS HANZO IN HALF there! I never realized you could actually do that (and I had seen the match life, however I never really noticed that until now...)

[agostinhobaroners]

I always felt this was by far, Takara's best effort..


This game was not programmed by Takara, that's the reason this port is one of the best fighting game ports on the Genesis. It was ported by Saurus, somehow a company directed related to SNK.
You can check the Japanese version of the rom, it doesn't have the flatulent Takara's logo and no mention at the title screen. Or here (http://www.gamefaqs.com/genesis/563339-samurai-shodown/data) (OK, I know it's not so reliable...), here (http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/company/72532.html) and here (http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/Saurus).

Takara, indeed, did the SNES port (http://www.gamefaqs.com/snes/588641-samurai-shodown/data) and it's a good explanation to how it sucks compared to this one.



This is one of those games that justifies both region modding and overclocking your console. Only then does it unfold its full glory.


For sure! The port is overall very faithful to the original, but you need a little boost to enjoy it in its full glory! *Mainly* when you're fighting with/against Nakoruru.

[DanceroftheShadows]

I dont like any other Samurai Showdown, actually I dont even like part one that much either. Im just not a fan of the series. (although I did enjoy part one while I did play it)