Capcom may have invented the modern fighting game, but SNK pushed relentlessly throughout the 90s to innovate it. Their portfolio includes classic franchises like Fatal Fury, King of Fighters and Last Blade, along with countless other more obscure brawlers such as World Heroes, Breakers and Kizuna Encounter. While Mark of the Wolves is rightfully heralded as one of SNK's greatest achievments, a game off the Fatal Fury line that had achieved two dimensional perfection beyond the long reigning king, Street Fighter II, there was one series of games, and in that one title, that truly took the standard fighting formula into a new, completely revolutionary direction.
Samurai Shodown 2 stands as SNK's one unquestionable masterpiece that completely changed the way fighting games could be played. The original game was ground breaking for its innovative game play mechanics and weapons oriented combat. The sequel took the original concept and perfected it. Fifteen totally unique warriors share the roster; each character having their own distinct style and personality. The 202 meg cart brings each one to life with stunning art work and phenominal graphics. Characters are large and zoom in and out of the playfield, backgrounds are rich and detailed; every character has a stunning back drop appropriate for their personalities. The soundtrack is equally incredible with full length orchestrated tracks that range from atmospheric minimalisms to thunderous compositions. Characters' also have their own unique voices and dialogues, and while all of it is in Japanese (with the exception of Galford's Engrish), it still all sounds great. With the incedible amount of detail both visually and aurally, Samurai's world feels like a living, breathing anime.
Great presentation will only get you so far of course, so SNK matched the game's look with equally involving game play. SNK took the original mechanics from the first game and improved it ten fold. The game's focus is on timing and attack execution, very similar to Virtua Fighter. You're not going to be able to inflict a lot of damage with high hitting combos (ala Street Fighter II) but rather by laying the perfect strike at the perfect time. The POW meter now allows for a "weapon smash waza" when maxed out, which breaks your opponents weapon and forces them to fight bare handed until the ref throws it back in the playfield. Characters are perfectly balanced and while the end boss Mizuki is challenging, she isn't cheap like the King of the Fighter's Rugal, Zero or other over powered brutes.
Samurai Shodown II isn't only one of the greatest Neo Geo games ever produced, it is also one of the best 2D fighting games in the history of the genre. With tons of replay because of intricate game play, endings, secrets and two player match ups, Samurai Shodown II is also one of those rare fighting games that will take a very long time to complete. On a scale of one to ten, without a doubt a ten.
Create an Account
Member Login
