And yet, even owning the most legitimate version of the game there will ever be, I’ve repurchased SamSho II time and time again across various systems over the years. In 1997, I spent a couple hundred dollars on a NeoGeo home console so I could own Samurai Shodown II-a stellar release from the company’s fighting game legacy that remains one of my favorites to this day. (However, the sword will be thrown back in after a little bit.There’s a point you reach as an SNK fan when you start to wonder if you’re an idiot. If an opponent is hit with one of these moves it will break his or her sword and cause him or her some damage. This time there are four new fighters to choose from (with the omission of veteran Shodown fighter Tam Tam), and this game (SNK's biggest ever-clocking in at a hefty 202-Meg) is loaded with hidden moves, hidden fighters and a final Boss that will probably make your jaw drop and make you mutter "What the." as you limp away from the machine! The Bonus Rounds have been removed, but the most notable difference is the Fatality Moves that are performed when the Rage Gauge (the little POW meter in the lower corner) is maxed out. Note: For more in-depth coverage on the new fighters and their various moves, check out EGM#6! Okay, gang, you asked for it and now you certainly got it-here comes Samurai Shodown II! Not "Super," not "Special" and certainly not "Jet," here we have an actual sequel that is better than the original because it is different in ways that will keep veteran players of the first still playing-even past the, I've-mastered-all-the-moves-and-found-the-secrets-so-what's-next" stage. Also, you can play with a buddy and just button mash your way through it and have a blast together.
It is a fun game that is very addictive and you will want to master it. If this is a franchise you are new to, I would recommend that you skip the first one and jump straight into this. First time I saw this in arcades in the mid-90s I was amazed at how much better it was than the first game. I think that Samurai Shodown 2 is a truly awesome fighting game. Sure, it does nothing to the gameplay, but it is a nice touch and helps the stages feel more “real” if you know what I am saying. I liked how there were many breakable things in the stages.
The artwork in this game is just amazing, the characters have a ton of animation and each stage is full of little details. What makes them stand out is that SNK quality. Like in other fighting games in character has their own backstory, design, moves and so on. Pretty much the whole roster from the first game is here along with 6 brand new characters. Although, against the AI button mashing on the higher difficulties is not going to get you anywhere as the AI can be super cheap! However, the gameplay also suits people who just want to button mash and have fun. Things feel much tighter and more responsive and as a result, the game is way more fun.Ī huge part of what makes Samurai Shodown 2 is the fact that the fighting is very deep and you can certainly master a character like you would in Street Fighter. You have many new moves that you can do such as a parry which was if I am not mistaken one of the first times this was used in a fighting game. SNK enhanced pretty much everything that could be enhanced with this game. I said that once you play this there is no going back to the first game and the reason for that is the gameplay. Plus, each character has their own story and ending so you will want to beat the game with everyone. However, the setting and the presentation really do make you take notice of what is going down. Big evil wanting to take over the world, blah, blah you know the deal.
The game is set just a year after the first game and Samurai Shodown 2 introduces a new big bad for the characters to take on.
I like how SNK introduced some fun lore into the series here.