Must-buy app for me!

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Samurai Shodown V Xbox Live Hands-On
We bust and slash our way through a nearly complete, Live-enabled version of this NeoGeo fighting game.

Fighting game fans know the name Samurai Shodown, since it's one of the most respected series among SNK's crop of NeoGeo classics. Granted, many fans would argue that the series hit its peak more than a decade ago with Samurai Shodown II, but that hasn't stopped SNK from trying to recapture the magic. You're not liable to find NeoGeo arcade machines as common these days as you would back then, but thankfully, SNK's keeping that fighting game spirit alive with its arcade-inspired lineup.

Like most of the company's other games, Samurai Shodown V for the Xbox is mostly just a straight port of a NeoGeo game, so we're talking hardware that dates back to the late '80s, here--don't expect any whiz-bang effects from this game. However, judging by this latest version we played, you can expect all the classic Samurai Shodown characters to make a comeback, and for the action to play just as well against the computer as against other players on Xbox Live. We just hope SNK manages to iron out a few remaining hiccups in the action before the game ships.

Samurai Shodown V is a one-on-one fighting game like all its predecessors, letting you pick one of more than two-dozen colorful characters and take on your opponent in a fight to the finish. While these characters frankly look pretty crude by today's standards--the 2D graphics are highly pixelated and betray the game's old arcade roots--there's plenty of charm and personality on display in this game's roster. Pretty much all our old favorite characters are back, from ninja master Hanzo, to the terminally ill swordsman Ukyo, to the arrogant samurai Jubei, to the vengeful, muscle-bound Genjuro.

A number of new characters are present as well, like Yumeji, a well-mannered warrior who can use many of the other fighters' best moves against them; and Yoshitora, who carries not just one or two swords, but four. While the new fighters have their own moves and looks, most of them are based on alternate versions of the original characters found in Samurai Shodown IV. For this reason, they do fit in reasonably well with the others, but not every single character is completely unique. Still, the game's broad variety of characters is definitely one of its stronger suits.

The gameplay over Xbox Live seems to be working fine. You're able to set match parameters when creating a match, and in a nice touch, when finding games through the quick-match feature, you're prompted to accept the opponent's conditions (for example, if you don't want to play a five-round match, you could opt out). Like other recent online-enabled SNK fighting games, this one will also let players set up their own tournaments for hardcore online competition. The one snag we ran into when testing the game over Live was that the rematch feature doesn't seem to work quite right yet, so we're hopeful that this will be fixed. After all, once you find a good opponent online, you just want to keep playing.

Samurai Shodown V plays a lot like IV. You've got weak, medium, and strong slashes as well as kicks and various evasive maneuvers to choose from, plus a smattering of special moves for each character. Some characters are wildly different from others, making for fairly unusual matchups, like when you've got tiny Nakoruru fighting against the screen-filling, hideously ugly Kusaregedo. And while the graphics aren't razor-sharp or anything, the battles are surely pleasant on the ears, thanks to some great Japanese voice acting for all the fighters, as well as an arranged soundtrack featuring unique musical themes for all the main characters. A lot of the sounds and voices are recycled from previous Samurai Shodown games but still hold up well. The music's new, though it features remixed themes that fans of the series will instantly recognize.

This is a game best suited for those of us who've held on to the fighting game spirit despite the untimely demise of the glory days of arcade gaming. Samurai Shodown V plays just like the NeoGeo classics, and notwithstanding the brief but present loading times between matches and the occasional hiccups in the action, this version seems to be arcade-perfect. However, there's really no reason the Xbox shouldn't be capable of pulling this game off flawlessly, so we're anxious to see how it finally turns out, and to get online and take on other Samurai Shodown fans around the world. The game's release date has kept getting pushed back this season, but we're hopeful Samurai Shodown V for the Xbox will see the light of day without too much further delay. Stay tuned for our full review when the game's finally released.

By Greg Kasavin
Posted Dec 2, 2005 3:32 pm PT

 

HELL YES!!! I loved this game. I have a friend that has the original Neo Geo and parts 1-3. I didn't really like 3 but 2 and 1 were crack. I'm surprised they didn't mention Haohmaru (sp). Wan Fu in part 1 with the giant Scimitar and gigatnic Earthquake.

 

I love this game.

I'll kick all your asses with Ukyo

 

I was checking out gamespot.com where the review came from and they have a screenshot of all the characters. However WanFu, Earthquake, and Charlotte weren't there. That would suck if that's the case. Was there ever a PS1 version of part 1 or 2?

 

Pffft...You'd get owned if I was Jubei or Hanzo.

 

Jubei > *

 

how could they write that article and mention nothing about galford or haohmaru?

WHAT THE CRAP

 

OMG.

Look who has turned up again! Mr. I-Hit-Walls!

 

:STFU:

We all hit walls... I'm the only one big enough to admit it.


























Hey!

 

Where have you been lately? Kinda on AZ hibernation?

 

Very busy with school. I just finished my Master's thesis. Now I have a little more time to waste.

And I'm DEFINITELY getting this game. Just for old time's sake.

 

Ah! Welcome back! What subject/topic did you research on for your thesis?





And it's good that you're buying this game. At least there are no walls.

 

I'm a mechanical engineer. My research was in automotive engines.

Can't Ukyo jump off the walls or something?

Edit: 5500.

 

Ukyo had the giant flame birds. My boy used to own with him too. If they had air blocks he wouldn't be as good.

Galford was there. Is there a doggie still?

And who the hell was Jubei. Was he in 3 or something? I can't remember the name except for the old guy in Fatal Fury 2.

 

Jubei was in 1 and 4 I think?

 

Nice. Well, congrats on your thesis!


As for congratulating you on your 5500th post, all I can say is "NOOB"...!

 

Jubei was the samurai looking (bad description, i know) guy with the two swords. He wore brown.

 

And green...also had a mean looking eye-patch.

 

NICE,
I spent easily $50 one year on quarters for playing that game at a nearby arcade to my high school. Also played a lot of uhhmmmmmm that game with iori or something, the guy who has the body used in rise's avatar.

 

Fatal Fury? King of Fighters?

 

KoF is already out on the PS2, dude. Also, Fatal Fury characters are in KoFs now...

 

No I was trying to identify the game Rise's avatar is from.

 

King of Fighters...with Homer's head attached.

 

yep kof, and I used some cheats to get evil iori's character and shit. good stuff.

 

I remember now. Black long hair tied up. Had the 100 hand slap but with swords.

 

Two swords.

 

I did type swords meaning plural Mastah Anal. The game comes out very soon btw.

 

That's Mastah Neurotic to you.

 

Exactly. He was the man...