Samurai Shodown II retained all of the features that made the original game great while adding more characters (including a secret opponent) and improving the gameplay, special moves, artificial intelligence, graphics, and sound quality. The only really radical change was the elimination of bonus rounds. Sure, it was derivative, but it was a sequel! It was everything one could hope for in a video game sequel, and this version is the one that forever captured my soul. Pity me.
The third version took the series in a
totally new direction. It was the
most radical change in a game series since Street Fighter II. The gameplay
was completely reworked. Air blocking and dodging were added. Throws
were replaced by "guard crushes." Combos were made ridiculously easy to
execute, and several had infinite damage capabilities. The character list
was highly revised with several additions and removals (no more Gen-an
*sniff*). The graphics
systems were completely altered to allow rendered characters and more
interactive backgrounds, and the artwork involved was changed
completely. Sound quality was compromised to allow for the complex
graphics. The effects of bombs were altered. The English translations were
improved, which was a real shame. Character alignments were
added. Selectable skill levels were added. Power-up moves were added,
but the rage-guage resets at the beginning of each round. Even the
functions of the buttons
were changed. Overall, Neo Geo's attempts at dazzling players with new
features defeated their purpose of creating a great sequel. This version
is still a great game and better than most fighting games currently on the
market, but it is also far inferior to its predecessors. The game has
several bugs, which suggests that it was released too soon before proper
playtesting had taken place, and the gameplay is horrible compared to the
first two. The ranges of the attacks are poorly put together, the
air-blocking really ruins the feel of a match, and the combos, especially
the infinite ones, absolutely destroy the integrity of the game. Good
features: rendered graphics, dodging, guard crushes, overhead attacks,
character alignments,
Shizumaru, Basara, playable Zankuro. Bad features: everything else,
especially the loss of Gen-an!
Version four was released last year, but I haven't played it enough to give an accurate analysis. I've never played a versus game, and the way Samsho III drove people away from the series, I may never play one. New features I know about: no more air-blocking; two new characters; return of Charlotte, Jubei, and Tam-Tam (still no Gen-an!); no bombs; double life-bars; standardized supers and combos, which is pretty weak; and suicide moves, which is pretty cool. I hope people rediscover this game because I am hurtin for some action.
Here's a list of game resource links (you can't get 'em on Yahoo!):
CK's Samurai Shodown Page. Awesome site!
Kafuin Gaira's Ultimate Guide to Samurai Shodown III. A classic.
Brokken's Samurai Shodown pages. Includes complete movelist for SS4. Nothing on 1 and 2.
Palace Versailles. A Charlotte Shrine.
Sklathill's Nakoruru and Rimururu Shrine
Samurai-Spirits Ending-Gallery. Spoiler site. Takes a long time to load the images.
Harrison's Samurai Shodown II Homepage. Bios of each SS2 character (including Gen-an!).
Genjuro's Page O' Samurai Shodown Stuff. Good info on the whole series (including SS64).
The Shrine of Kibagami. Genjuro shrine.
Samurai Shodown III movelist. From Sony Playstaion.
The Unofficial Ukyo Page. Ukyo shrine. Nice.
World of Water and Ice. Contains shrines to Sogetsu and Rimururu.
Samurai Spirits 4. Great site. All in Japanese. Wish I could understand it.
