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Samurai Shodown,known in Japan asSamurai Spirits,[a]is afighting gameseries bySNK.The series began in 1993 and is known for being one of the earliest in the genre with a primary focus on weapon-based combat.
| Samurai Shodown | |
|---|---|
 Samurai Shodownlogo | |
| Genre(s) | Fighting |
| Developer(s) | SNK Yuki Enterprise(V,V Special) |
| Publisher(s) | SNK Sega(VIin U.S.) |
| Creator(s) | Yasushi Adachi |
| Composer(s) | Yasuo Yamate (Tate Norio) |
| Platform(s) | List
|
| First release | Samurai Shodown July 7, 1993 |
| Latest release | Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection June 11, 2020 |
Plot
editThe stories in the series take place in 18th-century Japan, during theSakokuor seclusion period of Japan (the first four games run across 1788 and 1789) with great artistic license so that foreign-born characters (including some from places that did not exist as such in 1788) and fictional monsters can also be part of the story. The plot of each game is quite different, but they circle a central group of characters and a region in Japan.
Samurai Shodownconsequently portrays snippets of theJapanese cultureand language internationally with little edits. For instance, unlike most fighting games made in Japan, the characters in the series (including the announcer) generally speak only in Japanese, with dialects ranging from archaic formalities and theatricalism to modern-day slang, something that has been preserved for overseas releases. Win quotes and other cut scenes provide subtitles in several languages, including but not limited to English, Portuguese, and German. Much of the music includes traditionalJapanese instruments(predominantly theshakuhachi,shamisen,kotoandtaiko) and laterenka.Several characters are loosely based on real figures from Japanese history.
Development
editThere are two main artists responsible for the character designs and illustrations. For the early games (Part 1 to 4), the characters are created and illustrated by Eiji Shiroi. His illustrations featured a distinctive, traditional Japanese calligraphy style. While he continues to design for a few of the later games, they are illustrated by another artist named Senri Kita until the fifth title.
TheSamurai Shodowngames are most famous for their "Rage" ( giận ) gauge, a meter that only increases as a player receives damage, and which when fully activated has numerous effects depending on game. Earlier games also have a referee in the background, officiating the match.
Characters
edit
Over the course of years since the first game, theSamurai Shodowngames (excluding spin-offs) have come to feature over 80 playable warriors. The most famous among them include Haohmaru andNakoruru,who are both considered the series' flagship characters.[1]Characters directly inspired from historical figures and keeping their names, likeHattori HanzōandYagyū Jūbei,are present as well.
Games
editMain series games inbold.
| English title | Japanese title | Platforms | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samurai Shodown | Samurai Spirits(サムライスピリッツ) | Arcade,Neo Geo,Neo Geo CD,3DO,FM Towns,Game Gear,Game Boy,Mega Drive/Genesis,Sega CD,Super NES,PlayStation,Virtual Console,PlayStation Network | July 7, 1993 |
| Samurai Shodown II | Shin Samurai Spirits Haōmaru Jigokuhen(Thật サムライスピリッツ bá vương hoàn địa ngục 変) | Arcade,Neo Geo,Neo Geo CD,Microsoft Windows,PlayStation,Virtual Console,Xbox Live Arcade,Neo Geo X,iOS,Android,PlayStation Network | October 28, 1994 |
| Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood | Samurai Spirits Zankurō Musōken(サムライスピリッツ trảm hồng lang vô song kiếm) | Arcade,Neo Geo,Neo Geo CD,PlayStation,Sega Saturn,PlayStation Network,Virtual Console,Neo Geo X | November 15, 1995 |
| Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge | Samurai Spirits Amakusa Kōrin(サムライスピリッツ thiên thảo buông xuống) | Arcade,Neo Geo,Neo Geo CD,PlayStation,Sega Saturn,PlayStation Network,Virtual Console | October 2, 1996 |
| Samurai Shodown RPG | Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits Bushidō Retsuden(Thật nói サムライスピリッツ võ sĩ đạo liệt vân) | Neo Geo CD,PlayStation,Sega Saturn | June 27, 1997 |
| Samurai Shodown 64 | Samurai Spirits(Hầu hồn ~SAMURAI SPIRITS~) | Arcade | December 19, 1997 |
| Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage | Samurai Spirits 2 Asura Zanmaden(SAMURAI SPIRITS 2 アスラ trảm ma vân) | Arcade | October 16, 1998 |
| Samurai Shodown! | Samurai Spirits!(サムライスピリッツ!) | Neo Geo Pocket | December 25, 1998 |
| Samurai Shodown! 2 | Samurai Spirits! 2(サムライスピリッツ! 2) | Neo Geo Pocket Color | April 30, 1999 |
| Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage | Kenkaku Ibunroku Yomigaerishi Sōkō no Yaiba Samurai Spirits Shinshō(Kiếm khách dị văn lục tô りし thương hồng の nhận サムライスピリッツ tân chương) | PlayStation,PlayStation Network | December 22, 1999 |
| — | Nakoruru ~Ano Hito kara no Okurimono~(ナコルル～あ の ひとから の おくりも の ～) | Microsoft Windows,Dreamcast | July 6, 2001 |
| Samurai Shodown V | Samurai Spirits Zero(サムライスピリッツ linh) | Arcade,Neo Geo,PlayStation 2,Xbox | October 10, 2003 |
| Samurai Shodown V Special | Samurai Spirits Zero Special(サムライスピリッツ linh SPECIAL) | Arcade,Neo Geo,Microsoft Windows,PlayStation Network,Nintendo Switch,Xbox One | April 22, 2004 |
| Samurai Shodown Mobile | Samurai Spirits -Makai Rinne Ki-(サムライスピリッツ－ Ma giới luân hồi nhớ －) | iModeMobile | July 4, 2005 |
| Samurai Shodown VI | Samurai Spirits Tenkaichi Kenkakuden(サムライスピリッツ thiên hạ một kiếm khách vân) | Arcade,PlayStation 2,PlayStation Network | September 14, 2005 |
| Samurai Shodown Mobile II | Samurai Spirits ~Shimensoka~(Hầu hồn ～ bốn bề thụ địch ～) | iModeMobile | November 21, 2005 |
| Samurai Shodown Mobile III | Samurai Spirits Tenka Musō Typing ~Makai Tenshō no Shō~(Hầu hồn thiên hạ vô song タイピング～ Ma giới 転 sinh の chương ～) | EZwebMobile | January 12, 2006 |
| Samurai Shodown Sen |
Samurai Spirits Sen(サムライスピリッツ lóe) | Arcade,Xbox 360 | April 17, 2008 |
| Samurai Shodown Anthology | Samurai Spirits Rokuban Shōbu(サムライスピリッツ sáu phiên thắng bại) | PlayStation 2,PlayStation Portable,Wii | July 24, 2008 |
| Samurai Shodown Slash | — | iOS,Android | October 14, 2014 |
| Samurai Shodown: The Legend of Samurai | Samurai Spirits: Oborozuki Densetsu(サムライスピリッツ: Lung nguyệt vân nói) | iOS,Android | December 3, 2018 |
| 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 | June 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 | June 11, 2020 |
Adaptations
editA television special loosely based on the first game, internationally titledSamurai Shodown: The Motion Picture(SAMURAI SPIRITS 〜 xé trời hàng ma の chương 〜,Samurai Spirits: Haten Gōma no Shō),aired in Japan in 1994. An English dub was produced byADV Films,released on VHS in 1995 and on DVD in 2005. The plot is an altered retelling of the originalSamurai Shodown,with such changes as switching Amakusa's gender from male to female and the inclusion of the “Seven Holy Warriors”, skilled warriors who were resurrected to specifically fight Ambrosia; the latter were never featured in any otherSamurai Shodownstory.
Several manga adaptations ofSamurai Spiritswere produced in Japan. One of them, titledMakai Bukei Jō Samurai Spirits(Ma giới võ vân thiếp サムライスピリッツ,Samurai Spirits: Scrolls of the Demonic Arts),written by Kyoichi Nanatsuki and illustrated by Yuki Miyoshi, was serialized in theWeekly Shonen Sundayin 1994. It was later adapted into English under the simplified titledSamurai ShodownbyViz Mediain 1996, where it was serialized in the short-livedGame On! USAmagazine and concluded inAnimerica.The story is meant to be a prequel toSamurai Shodown II,establishing an original character, Yui Minbunosuke Shosetsu, as the main antagonist. Game characters Haohmaru, Nakoruru, Hanzo, Charlotte, and Genan remain the focal characters to the plot. They often interacted with several original characters in the story; the most prominent perhaps is the Koga kunoichi, Nagiri, who believed Haohmaru had killed her father during his travels and sought to avenge him.
The firstanimeOVA,the two-partSpirits 2: Asura Zanmaeden,serves as a preface to the events ofSamurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage.Character designs were done byAoi Nanase,a longtime fan of SNK. Unlike mostgame-based anime,the voices were supplied by the same actors as in the game. It is relatively obscure, never having been released in the U.S., and the prospect of licensing is dim at best, as it offers no introduction to any of the characters, assuming (not unreasonably) that anyone watching it is likely to be familiar with the series and its cast already. The story mainly revolves on Nakoruru and her humanistic ideals: she believes that anyone with a heart has the right to live peacefully. Shiki, though apparently free from Yuga's influence, is recognized as a threat for the sorcerer's return and it was through Nakoruru's reasonings that previously saved her life from Haohmaru. Nakoruru finds her and then struggles to peacefully defend her from her pursuers, which include Haohmaru, Galford, and Asura. Though torn because of her morals and pacifistic nature, Nakoruru eventually agrees to draw her blade and fight for those who need protecting. Despite being wounded in his final skirmish with Nakoruru, Asura stabs Shiki and they both sink into a portal to the underworld. Making peace with her blood-thirsty alter ego, the Ainu priestess leaves Kamui Kotan, hoping to find news of Shiki's safety.
The second 30-minute OVA,Nakoruru ~Ano hito kara no okurimono~,centers around theNakoruru ADVgame, again using Nakoruru as the main heroine. Character designs were done by Yasuomi Umetsu, who is best known for his work inMezzo ForteandKite.The events of the story are meant to take place during the time of peace between the first and second games of the series. The story introduces her childhood friends, Yamtamu and Manari, along with her younger sister, Rimururu, and the relentless Enigma, Rera. Nakoruru, though glad that there is serenity, experiences several premonitions of devastation and is haunted by the thought of further bloodshed. The climax of the episode has Nakoruru protecting a deer from a rock slide, implied to be caused by evil entities. For undisclosed reasons, the OVA never released another episode and the story remains unfinished.
In 2006,Sabertooth Gamesreleased aSamurai Shodown Vcollectible card gameset along withThe King of Fighters 2006for itsUniversal Fighting System(UFS) collectible card game. Featured characterstarter deckswere also released for Haohmaru and Ukyo Tachibana. STG staff favorites from theSamurai Shodownside tend to favor towards characters Nakoruru and Hanzo Hattori.
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^"The Mini SNK Companion".Retro Gamer.187.
External links
edit- Samurai Shodownofficial website
- An archive of theSamurai Shodownold official website
- Samurai Spirits 1-4at NBC Museum of SNK Playmore