Do you remember back in 1993 when Samurai Shodown or better known as Samurai Supirittsu was launched. The competitive fighting game was produced by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home platform. Well the game and all the other titles in the series are back in one big game, Samurai Shodown Anthology.
The game features all of the games that already exist in the series, but the extra features and bonus content is sure to win new and old fans over. 2009 seems to be the year when old school fighting games is the in thing, but are they too out of date for today’s gamers.
The Sony PSP version of Samurai Shodown Anthology features six complete arcade games. The games are virtually arcade perfect, but how will it make the transition from the arcade to the small handheld. The games in the anthology include Samurai Shodown I, II, III, IV, V, and VI; the games are set in chronological order.
Samurai Shodown is from the popular era of fighters such as Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. The games are fast paced and you will have to be prepared to get some sore fingers while plying the game. The original was one of the first games to use weapons rather than hand-to-hand combat, so it was a bit of a groundbreaker in that sense.
These games do not rely on stringing combos and powerful attacks; instead, it is more about a few well-placed blows to disable an opponent. A series of flags are used in the game, as well as an onscreen referee to indicate which opponent received a blow and which one landed one.
A part of the game that looks a bit outdated now is the graphic violence, back in the day it was a controversial features, but today’s games are far worse. However this feature is still a fun part of the game, and finishing an opponent with a bladed weapon gives you a nice feeling, as well as the sea of blood. Not that you will know it is blood; remember we are talking about 16-year-old graphics.
Moves can be mapped on the PSP buttons, old school gamers will need to use these options to compensate for the lack of an arcade controller. When you strike an opponent you have the choice of using weak and medium force, by combing them you can make your attack much more powerful.
All the moves are back in this remake, using them makes the game all the more realistic, you can jump, roll, parry, attack, and perform fake-outs and cancels. Just remember there are a few defensive moves as well, these are just as important as the attacks.
While playing the game you are able to earn extra points, this will add new skills and abilities, the points will also change some of the requirements that are needed to obtain or unleash specific moves.
The bonus unlockable content that we spoke about comes about once you have unlocked a particular character; you are then able to access artwork, endings and music that is related to that character.
Samurai Shodown was ahead of its time back in the early 90’s, but this anthology certainly is showing its age now. Let us remember that these games are not about the graphics, it is all about the fun of the game, and this anthology gives you six times the fun.
For more details on Samurai Shodown Anthology for the Sony PSP visit: www.ignitionent.com
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