Profile
General: The latest installment to the Samurai Shodown series is known as "Samurai Spirits Tenkaiichi Kenkakuden in Japan," or "Samurai Shodown 6." Samurai Shodown Tenka features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, and all 24 characters from Samurai Shodown 5 make the return, joining new and even more returning characters for the biggest roster in a Samurai Shodown game yet.
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Tenka features a "spirit select" system, which allows players to choose between six different fighting styles based on all 6 previous installments of Samurai Shodown! Although it was in Japanese when I played it, so I couldn't understand much of what it said. The ump is back, and also the guy who throws free food, bonus items, and traps into the duel is back as well. What an ass hole. Geez, seems like everyone is back... makes you wonder where they went!?
Graphically,
Tenka is awesome. The "scrolling" effect that many 2D SNK fighting games
are known for is back once again, and actually looks smoother than ever
in Tenka... It's really sharp actually and makes Tenka stand out from the
rest. The backgrounds in the Samurai Shodown series have always been stylish
and innovative, and 6 games later, they STILL have some serious eye candy
and are quite original (along with the BGMs). The hit effects and super
move effects are also well done, and do justice to make the moves look
like they hurt (or are going to hurt)... But no blood. No blood!?!? Pssh.
What's so wrong about blood. It's not like they're going to offend anyone
nowadays.
The gameplay
stays true to the series, with a few differences here and there, for one,
there's actually a fifth button. Certain characters take a long time to
"get up" *cough* Earthquake *cough*... which is funny, because you
can actually stay down even longer and "play dead," much like in many 3D
fighting games. I don't think I've ever played a 2D fighter that didn't
make you automatically get up. Interesting... but sometimes kinda annoying.
The only disappointment, no blood and no deaths... And by now, you should know how I feel about the cool, awesome, stylish, slow-mo deaths at the end of a battle when you slash your opponent "just right." It adds so much more suspense, style, (and hell... realism) to the fight, in my opinion. I hope they update this for the American version and at least have the option to turn on blood and deaths.
Besides that, it still feels like Samurai Shodown, and that's a good thing. Although, the newer characters are indeed quite more colorful (and unique) than in the prequels, so the series might not feel as traditional as it once did, but it's developed into something that "stands out" and that's what this series might need to stay alive. And now since you can select animal characters to fight by themselves, like Cham Cham's monkey, Galford's dog, or Mina's little umm... "thing," Tenka can be quite entertaining and funny at times.
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Manufacturer: SNK
Playmore
Platforms: PS2,
X-box
Release: 2005
Characters:
Haohmaru,
Ukyo,
Hanzo,
Nakoruru,
Genjuro,
Kyoshiro,
Shizumaru,
Gaira,
Rimururu,
Basara,
Sogetsu,
Kazuki,
Gen-An,
Cham
Cham,
Tam Tam, Charlotte,
Galford,
Jubei,
Rera,
Rasetsumaru,
Suija,
Enja,
Yoshitora
Tokugawa, Kusaregedo,
Mina
Majikina,
Yumeji, Sankuro,
Yunfei,
Ocha
Maru, Wan Fu, Earthquake,
Nicotine,
Sieger,
Mizuki,
Amakusa,
Iroha,
Sugoroku,
Andrew,
Paku
Paku, Poppie,
Gaoh,
Demon
Gaoh
Related Games:
Samurai Shodown, Samurai Shodown
2, Samurai Shodown 3, Samurai
Shodown 4, Samurai Shodown 5, Samurai
Shodown 5 Special, Samurai Shodown 64, Samurai
Shodown 64 - 2, Samurai Shodown
Pocket, Samurai Shodown 2 Pocket,
Samurai Shodown Warrior's Rage, Samurai
Shodown: Edge of Destiny, Samurai Shodown
Anthology
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Closing Comment:
Samurai Shodown 2 and 4 are still my favorites of the series, but with
such a huge roster, what fan wouldn't like this game. The gameplay is still
solid, and so far, I really like it! But dammit, I want my opponent to
DIE at the end of the fight!!! >:/ ~F.Yagami,
Webmaster
of TFG