An update for that game called Samurai Shodown V Perfect was in development, but was never actually released until years later as part of a collection, then finally getting an official arcade release a full 18 years after the release of Special.
Also, on a lesser note, it's rather bloody to say the may not have focused on the gore aspect like Mortal Kombat, but it can fill almost as many buckets.Ī total of six games were made for the original Neo-Geo (MVS and AES) system, with Samurai Shodown V Special being the last game to be released for the system. However, for this very reason, its remained mostly in the cult favorite realm as high-speed super-combo-chaining fighters have taken nearly complete prominence. It leads to a more chess-like experience with a focus on hit-an-run tactics that makes play quite unlike most other 2-D fighters. Specifically, thanks to the high damage output of singular moves, the battles here would run either incredibly quick or maddeningly slow.
Overall compared to its numerous fighting game brethren, Samurai Shodown stood out from the crowd namely by being more about finesse and less about chaining super combos. Samurai Shodown 2 is also credited with introducing the first "parry" system. Once filled, this gauge increases the strength of attacks starting with the second game, Samurai Shodown 2, each character also has a super move that empties the gauge after successfully connecting.
The first game, Samurai Shodown, was the debut of the Weapon Fighter subgenre, and the one of the first fighting games to introduce a super meter, the Rage Gauge. Known as Samurai Spirits in Japan, this SNK one-on-one Fighting Game series is set during the closing years of the Edo period.