Changes: Samurai Shodown

Revision as of 20:16, 24 June 2020

Samurai Shodown, known as Samurai Spirits (侍魂^?) in Japan, is a weapon-based fighting game by SNK released in June 2019. It's the 12th "mainline" installment of the Samurai Shodown series and the first "mainline" game since 2008's Samurai Shodown Sen, marking an 11-year gap between the releases themselves. Also it's a prequel for the first Samurai Shodown^[1] and the second of the official chronology, succeeding Samurai Shodown V.

This is also the first SNK game that utilizes Unreal Engine graphics (in this case, Unreal Engine 4).

The illustrations, in-game artwork and background were mostly done by Yumi Saji while covers were done by Eisuke Ogura.

The game was first released in June 2019 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and later ported to the Nintendo Switch and Stadia. An arcade version (running on Taito Type X3 hardware with the NESICAxLive2 digital distribution platform) was playable in August at EVO 2019 in Las Vegas^[2] and was released in October 2019 in Japan. A PC version has been released on June 11, 2020 via the Epic Games Store. The game receives regular updates, primarily DLC characters with the Season Pass.

Story

It is 1787, the 7th year of the Tenmei era. A newly appointed counsel to the Shogun, Matsudaira Sadanobu, has been chosen to usher in a new age of reform with the Kansei era. However, the land remains beset by fire, ruin, and famine, all while a sinister cloud darkens the air with a foreboding sense of dread.

Characters

The starting roster features a total of 16 characters, with 13 returning veterans from the past Samurai Shodown games, along with three newcomers and a new final boss to the series. Additional characters are slated to appear as DLC. The new characters added to the cast are:

Yashamaru Kurama, a young man of Tengu lineage, who lost his father at the hands of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and seeks revenge for his death;
Darli Dagger, a shipwright, who travels the world in search of a masked man who destroyed one of her ships;
Wu-Ruixiang, a wanderer and descendant of an ancient and honorable Feng Shui clan, she travels the world in the service of the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.

There are many returning characters for the games, including but not limited to Haohmaru, Nakoruru and Charlotte.

DLC Characters

During the live service of the game, DLC characters have been featured in Season Passes. These characters have to be purchased to be in a player's game. As noted below, Warden was added as the fourth DLC character of the 2nd Season Pass and is the game's first guest character.

Season 1

Rimururu
Shizumaru Hisame
Basara
Kazuki Kazama
Wan-Fu

Season 2

Mina Majikina
Sogetsu Kazama
Iroha
Warden (Ubisoft's For Honor series)

External Links

The following links lead to sites related to Samurai Shodown.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:SamuraiShodown2019.jpg|thumb|306x306px]]
-'''''Samurai Shodown''''', known as '''''Samurai Spirits''''' (侍魂<sup>?</sup>) in Japan, is a fighting game by SNK released in June 2019. It's the 12th "mainline" installment of the ''Samurai Shodown'' series and the first "mainline" game since 2008's ''Samurai Shodown Sen'', marking an 11 year gap between the releases themselves. Also it's a prequel for the first ''Samurai Shodown''<sup>[1]</sup> and the second of the official chronology, succeeding ''Samurai Shodown V''.
+'''''Samurai Shodown''''', known as '''''Samurai Spirits''''' (侍魂<sup>?</sup>) in Japan, is a weapon-based fighting game by SNK released in June 2019. It's the 12th "mainline" installment of the ''Samurai Shodown'' series and the first "mainline" game since 2008's ''Samurai Shodown Sen'', marking an 11-year gap between the releases themselves. Also it's a prequel for the first ''Samurai Shodown''<sup>[1]</sup> and the second of the official chronology, succeeding ''Samurai Shodown V''.
-This is also the first SNK game having to utilize Unreal Engine graphics (in this case, Unreal Engine 4).
+This is also the first SNK game that utilizes Unreal Engine graphics (in this case, Unreal Engine 4).
 The illustrations, in-game artwork and background were mostly done by Yumi Saji while covers were done by Eisuke Ogura.
-The game was first released in June 2019 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and later ported to the Nintendo Switch and Stadia. An arcade version (running on Taito Type X3 hardware with the NESICAxLive2 digital distribution platform) was playable in August at EVO 2019 in Las Vegas<sup>[2]</sup> and was released in October 2019 in Japan. A PC version will be released in June 11, 2020 via Epic Games Store.
+The game was first released in June 2019 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and later ported to the Nintendo Switch and Stadia. An arcade version (running on Taito Type X3 hardware with the NESICAxLive2 digital distribution platform) was playable in August at EVO 2019 in Las Vegas<sup>[2]</sup> and was released in October 2019 in Japan. A PC version has been released on June 11, 2020 via the Epic Games Store. The game receives regular updates, primarily DLC characters with the Season Pass.
 == Story ==
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 * '''Darli Dagger''', a shipwright, who travels the world in search of a masked man who destroyed one of her ships;
 * '''Wu-Ruixiang''', a wanderer and descendant of an ancient and honorable Feng Shui clan, she travels the world in the service of the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
+There are many returning characters for the games, including but not limited to Haohmaru, Nakoruru and Charlotte.
-=== Returning Characters ===
-* Haohmaru
-* Nakoruru
-* Genjuro Kibagami
-* Charlotte
-* Galford
-* Jubei Yagyu
-* Earthquake
-* Shiki
-* Ukyo Tachibana
-* Yoshitora Tokugawa
-* Hanzo Hattori
-* Kyoshiro Senryo
-* Tam Tam
-=== New Characters ===
-* Yashamaru Kurama (protagonist)
-* Darli Dagger
-* Wu-Ruixiang
-== Boss ==
-* Shizuka Gozen (non-playable)
-== NPC Character ==
-* Kuroko
 == DLC Characters ==
+During the live service of the game, DLC characters have been featured in Season Passes. These characters have to be purchased to be in a player's game. As noted below, Warden was added as the fourth DLC character of the 2nd Season Pass and is the game's first guest character.
 === Season 1 ===
@@ Line 57: / Line 33: @@
 * Iroha
 * [[Warden/Samurai Shodown|Warden]] (Ubisoft's ''For Honor'' series)
-: '''Note 1''': In Story Mode, the following characters doesn't have an associated stage, fighting in the featured places:
-* '''Earthquake''': Gairyu Isle (Nighttime), Green Hell & Kumano Kodo;
-* '''Shiki''': Mikatagahara & Kumano Kodo;
-* '''Yoshitora''': Rakucyu Sanmonmae, Uduki & Gairyu Isle (Nighttime) [only in Hanzo's Story Mode];
-* '''Darli''': Gairyu Isle (Daytime), Mikatagahara, Kumano Kodo & Uduki (only in Shizumaru's Story Mode);
-* '''Ruixiang''': Uduki, Green Hell, Kumano Kodo (only in her Fateful Battle vs. Shiki) & Kamui Kotan;
-* '''Basara & Mina''': Rakucyu Sanmonmae;
-* '''Wan-Fu & Iroha''': Kamui Kotan (Late Winter);
-* '''Sogetsu''': Sumidagawa.
-: '''Note 2''': In Battle Mode, the Boss Stage (Sakura of Shizuka) is available only in the first version. In addition, the Dojo stage is only available in the Battle and Dojo Modes.
-: '''Note 3''': In Story Mode, the following characters fights in the respective stages:
-* '''Nakoruru''': Uduki & Mitakagahara (in Rimururu and Mina's Stories, respectively);
-* '''Mina''': Nikko (in Iroha's Story).
-=== Normal Stages ===
-* '''Gairyu Isle: Daytime (A.K.A. Gairyujima) — Haohmaru''': The new version of the famous stage, showing the Mount Fuji and the Miyajima Shrine. Bonsais, lamps, a boat, a lighthouse and sharp stones are featured. Stage reminiscent of ''Samurai Shodown I'', ''Samurai Shodown II ''and ''Samurai Shodown V Special''.
-* '''Kamui Kotan, Late Autumn — Nakoruru''': A forest on an autumn day. Various animals, a waterfall, trees, a bamboo bridge and the village can be seen in the background. Similar to the stage of ''Samurai Shodown II''.
-** '''Note''': in the update 1.60, the deer present in the stage, which was crouching before, stands.
-* '''Mikatagahara (A.K.A. Mikatagahara Field) — Genjuro''': The new version of the famous dandelion field on a full moon night with a red sky. Features mountains and dead trees in the background, besides pathways through the field. Stage reminiscent of ''Samurai Shodown II''.
-** '''Note''': the new name of the stage is a reference to the Battle of Mikatagahara, occured during the Genki era.
-* '''Minerva no Ma (A.K.A. Hall of Minerva) — Charlotte''': The new version of the salon of the de Colde family. Features a new portrait showing all the original cast in the game (the same showed in the first promotional trailer and except the DLC characters), a red carpet, chandeliers and vases with red roses. Stage reminiscent of the two games of the series.
-* '''Pirate Galleon or On The Galleon (A.K.A. Galleon Senjyo) — Galford''': The deck of a pirate ship. Other ships appear in the background and the crew can be seen (which reacts when certain fighters win or lose fights, no matter the position, and especially when Galford win or lose fights in this stage), as well as barrels, cannons, woman statues and ropes. Similar to the stages of ''Samurai Shodown I'' and ''II''.
-** '''Note''': When the fight's time is almost over (starting from 10 seconds), the ocean water rises high, scaring the crew.
-* '''Uduki (A.K.A. Early Summer) — Jubei''': The new version of the open bamboo forest. Features shacks, stones (some with Buddha face) and lamps. Also can be seen a gate in the background and the sun. Stage reminiscent of ''Samurai Shodown'' ''I'' and ''II''.
-** '''Note''': in the Nintendo Switch version, the bamboo trees are static.
-* '''Gairyu Isle: Nighttime — Ukyo''': In this version, the shrine and lamps are multiplied and a shack can be seen. The boat and the lighthouse disappear, and in the left side, can be seen a full moon. Stage reminiscent of ''Samurai Shodown I, Samurai Shodown II ''and ''Samurai Shodown V Special''.
-* '''Kumano Kodo — Hanzo''': The pilgrimage route forest next to the Nachi Falls and the '''''Tsugizakura-oji''''', '''''Chikatsuyu-oji''''' and '''''Hosshinmon-oji shrines''''', in a cloudy and misty day. The stage is raining lightly. Similar to the stage of ''Samurai Shodown I''.
-** '''Note''': in the Nintendo Switch version, the rain doesn't fall in this stage, and the mist disappears.
-* '''Shibaigoya (A.K.A. The Kabuki Stage) — Kyoshiro''': The new version of the famous stage which the Kabuki dancer performs his act. Features sakura trees, a Kanji sign, painted walls and an audience watching the fight. Stage reminiscent of the three first games of the series.
-* '''Green Hell — Tam Tam''': The new version of the birthplace of the Mayan sacred warrior. The fight takes place on a stone bridge next to the muddy ruins of the Mayan city, with a waterfall in the background, small waterfalls and native vegetation.
-** '''Note''': in the Nintendo Switch version, a fine mist can be seen in the stage.
-* '''Rakucyu Sanmonmae (A.K.A. Before The Temple Gate) — Yashamaru''': The main gate of the Ninna-ji Temple, in Kyoto. Features trees, lamps, mountains, flags, flying birds and the pagoda of the temple, in the background. A small rain of snow falls slowly on the stage, and can be seen an amount in the right side.
-** '''Note''': in the Nintendo Switch version, there are fewer birds flying in the background.
-* '''Sakura of Shizuka''': A courtyard of a temple. In the first version, a sakura tree, multiple stairs, corridors and lanterns can be seen. In the second version of the stage, only the sakura tree and the lanterns are featured. '''''Associated with Shizuka'''''.
-* '''Dojo''': A empty dojo with small windows and a samurai sword in the background. Kuroko can be seen judging the matches.
-** '''Note''': This stage is the only one in which Kuroko appears.
-=== DLC Stages ===
-==== Season 1 ====
+== External Links ==
+The following links lead to sites related to Samurai Shodown.
-* '''Kamui Kotan, Late Winter — Rimururu''': The same stage as Nakoruru, but in the depths of winter. Leafless trees, snow-covered ground and forest animals can be seen, besides snow falling on the stage. Similar to the stage of ''Samurai Shodown III''.
+* [https://www.snk-corp.co.jp/us/games/samuraishodown/ Samurai Shodown's official website]
-** '''Note''': in the Nintendo Switch version, a mist can be seen in the stage.
+* [https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Warden Warden at the SNK wiki]
-* '''Nikko — Shizumaru''': The Toshogu Shrine, next to the '''''Yomeimon Gate''''', in the background. Redwood trees feature prominently and dead leaves are strewn about the arena, besides lion statues and some trees in the background. Pigeons flock about the stage floor, which divides into a tiled walkway and dead ground.
-* '''Sumidagawa (A.K.A. Sumida River) — Kazuki''': A wooden boat next to the Edo Bay and the Shinohashi bridge, during the annual fireworks celebrations in Edo. Features a rope, lamps and multiple boats, besides fireworks fill the sky.
-** '''Note''': In the Story Mode, the people in the boats react differently when the Kazama brothers fights in the stage: vibrates when Kazuki wins and regrets when he loses, and the contrary occurs when Sogetsu win (regrets) or lose (vibrates).