Samurai Shodown 64
| Samurai Shodown 64 | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | SNK |
| Publisher(s) | SNK |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Release date(s) | December 19, 1997 |
| Genre(s) | 3D Weapon Based Versus fighting |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players simultaneously |
| Cabinet | Upright |
| Arcade system | Hyper Neo-Geo 64 |
| Display | Raster (Horizontal) |
Samurai Shodown 64, known simply as Samurai Spirits (SAMURAI SPIRITS ～侍魂～ Samurai Supirittsu) in Japan, is a 3D fighting game produced by SNK for its Hyper Neo-Geo 64 system. It was SNK's first attempt to bring one of their franchises into the 3D realm. After having released four Samurai Shodown games on the Neo-Geo, SNK announced that they would be producing a new arcade hardware platform, this one 64-bit and with extensive 3D capabilities. Although it was never ported to home consoles, it was followed by a second 3D installment titled Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage.
Storyline
Chronologically, Samurai Shodown 64 takes place one year after Samurai Shodown II. The storyline is described officially by SNK as follows:
"It all began over two decades ago...and took several years to carry out.
'Yuga the Destroyer' seized unborn children throughout the land, provided them with various mysterious skills, and then returned them to their mothers.
The babies were later brought into the world as if nothing had happened.
These infants displayed unique abilities from infancy and were called child gods by some, child demons by others. Over the subsequent decades, they grew to become extremely gifted children, ending up as the true movers and shakers of their generation.
Then one day "Yuga the Destroyer" suddenly appeared before them.
He came to show these individuals who remembered nothing of him...a puppet show.
And those who saw this performance remembered: the missions they were given before they came into this world..."
Gameplay
The player can move in any direction, and the stages are multi-tiered. It is possible to knock an opponent through a wall or floor into a different section of the same arena, or out of the fighting area entirely, thus resulting in a victory by "ring out."
Each character has a "stamina bar" which decreases with excessive movement and attacks, and replenishes while inactive. There is also a "POW meter", which, once it reaches maximum, gives the player unlimited stamina for a period of time, and the ability to execute a super move.
The game introduced two new playable characters:
- Yagyu Hanma, a muscular man with a metallic, gigantic arm
- Shiki, a swordswoman proficient in fighting with dual katana, who is later chosen as one of SNK's selectable representatives in the fighting games SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos and NeoGeo Battle Coliseum.
External links
- 侍魂 ~SAMURAI SPIRITS~ at NBC Museum of SNK Playmore
- Official Samurai Shodown Website
- Samurai Shodown Forever fan site