Samurai Shodown Game by SNK/Takara Reviewed by Deathpunk Deathpunk@yahoo.com Size: 2mb Save: None Released: 1994 Works with: All **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Long before SNK decided to produce the Neo-geo pocket color, they released several arcade conversions of some of their biggest games on the lowly old Gameboy. This 1994 game, while not nearly as complete/fun/good as it's NGPC 1999 counterpart, still reigns as one of the Gameboy's better fighting games. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: Samurai Shodown, in any event, is no different than most early 90's one-on-one fighting games. You choose a character, from a pool of 12, and compete in hand to hand.....er weapon-to-weapon combat. The winner goes on to the next match, and the cycle continues until you get to the boss. Like most fighters today [but not back then] Samurai Showdown implemented a rising "super" bar, which when full gives you an "advantage". While i couldn't seem pull of any "super" moves, it does seem to make your fighter slightly more powerful.Also added was an engenius "weapon disarment" system. Whenever your weapons "clash" together they lock up, and then it's a frantic scramble to try to disarm your opponent. Really shines in multiplayer! The only visable flaws to this reviewer were the boring and mildly unrewarding gameplay, that forever stalk the gameboy fighter genre. Liked: nice add ons, resonably fun Hated: Neo-geo pocket (version) is 100 times better:) **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: As Taraka's first GB fighter [to my knowlage], their small-cutesy graphics = smooth fast frame rate, hadn't yet been implemented. While not as fluid as say King of Fighters 1995, the graphics are about par, if not a step above for the system. What really pushes it though are the GREAT looking cinemas and cut scenes! Right from your first glance at the title screen, you'll love the well drawn hi-rez looking pictures. But sadly the cuts are so good it makes everything else look worse. Drawn more "realistic" ,as opposed to the superdeformed KOF 95 and NGPC versions, Samurai Shodowns' animations suffer slightly. There really isn't as much a variety of them as should be. Still it isn't as bad as Street Fighter II's 5 frames a second framerate. But on the plus side animations that should of been removed, like Uyko's "slice in half" move or Haohmaru's "throw sword/ spin scabbard" ending pose, were left in. Still they should of cut the to make room from more normal move animations:( [Also left in were all the backgrounds! it's weird why they cut some things and left others in] Liked: Great Cutscenes! Hated: Others could of been better **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: While the effects are just a little better than the standard on the Gameboy, the music really shines! The tunes match each stage perfectly, and are better than those found in Pokemon or Final Final Fantasy II. Liked: Great Fitting Music Hated: nothing really:) **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Nothing really to complain about here:( Besides the great looking game design, everything is about normal for the gameboy. Still the control feels a little "floaty". Also the original had four buttons, weak and strong slashs and kicks, and press both slashes or kicks for hard. But INSTEAD of make tap for weak press for strong and press both for hard slash [you never used kick anyway]. ..they made it A-weak kick, B-weak slash, A+B Hard slash. why? Contol freaks, or SNK purists MAY HAVE A PROBLEM with this!!! Liked: Cinemas Hated: could of added more attacks **************************************************************************** Improve: Let SNK do the conversion RIYL: KOF 1995-1996, Samurai Shodown I-IV **************************************************************************** Final Words: While it's not the best fighter on gamboy, it still is one of the best. With it's wealth of gameplay and reply most fighting fans will enjoy this one.Sadly there never was, or will ever be, a sequel:( But cheer up, for you can get a bigger, better and badder [remember the old neo-geo slogan?] version on the NGPC. Still, if your into fighting games you can't go wrong with Samurai Shodown. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: **** and 1/2 Graphics: **** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: *** and 1/2 Personal Opinion: *** and 1/2 Total: 20.5 Final Score: 82% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: none.