(LAST UPDATE: 7/13/09)
Developer(s): SNK
Playmore
Publisher(s): SNK Playmore
Platform(s): PS2, PSP,
Wii, Xbox
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, Kuroko,
Zankuro,
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
Review: The
latest 2D installment to the Samurai Shodown series is known as Samurai Spirits
Tenkaiichi Kenkakuden in Japan, AKA Samurai Shodown 6. SS6, or Tenka
(for short), brings back all 28 characters
from Samurai
Shodown 5 Special, and also marks the return of several classic characters
from the series that we haven't seen since Samurai Shodown
2, such as Gen-an, Earthquake, Wan Fu, and Sieger. On top of all the
returning favorites, joining the roster are several brand new faces which
include: Iroha, Andrew, Soguroku, and Ocha Maru; alternate versions of classic
characters, and even a handful of animal characters (now playable by themselves
for the first time) which makes for the biggest roster in the Samurai
Shodown series to date... 52 selectable characters in all, though some are
actually the same character. 
Although "Bust" and "Slash" versions of characters are a
thing of the past, Tenka introduces the "spirit select" system that allows players to choose between
nine specific character settings which tweak your character's abilities
and play style. Depending in the "spirit" mode you select, your
character will be capable of doing different things during a fight, such as
being able to knock away your opponent's weapon or break it all together...
Special attacks, defense/evading techniques, and even combo possibilities differ
depending on the "spirit" you select, which adds a lot of diversity to
the game on top of the awesome character roster.
Graphically,
SS6 doesn't disappoint, although previous installments do look mighty
similar and possibly even "outshine" this version in the visuals
department. The stages of SS6 are refreshingly different, and have a really "sharp" appearance
which is both a good thing and bad thing in some ways... The scrolling effect that many 2D SNK fighting games
are known for is back once again, and does appear to be " smoother" than
ever,
but due to the sharp backgrounds, the "pixelation" stands out a bit
more than usual. The past backgrounds in the Samurai Shodown series have always been
hand drawn, and were no doubt incredibly "moody" and simply beautiful...
SS6's stages aren't bad in comparison, but they're somewhat on the gritty
looking side and the
background characters appear quite stiff... To say the least. No doubt backgrounds
in previous games were better, and I would have actually much rather seen Samurai
Shodown 6 packed with classic locations rather than the new ones. The new BGMs
are pretty cool, and the redone voice acting is also well done and notably different, but
again, slightly pales in
comparison when compared to the prequels.
Sadly, there's no blood in SS6... And even more depressing, no deaths. It's
weird that they took out such a "staple" element of the series... I
mean, how could they leave out the epic, stylish, slow-mo fatalities that the
series was known for. The question whether or not your opponent will actually
die on the final blow adds so much suspense and style to game (on top of
realism) and it's a bloody shame they decided to do away with it yet
again. 
There
are at least a wide variety of cool looking hit effects, and do justice to make the moves look
like they hurt... But no blood. Samurai Shodown + no blood!?!? No, I won't get
over it. It's not like they're going to offend anyone nowadays... Is the teen
rating that important to you SNK? 
I'm glad at least that the Kuroko is back, and that guy that throws in items
from the background, whom now throws in sub-weapons which can be picked up and
tossed at your opponent, along with the yummy Japanese food. 
Visual details aside,
the gameplay is still enjoyable and feels like a mix between all of the previous
installments to Samurai Shodown... Kinda weird actually. The game is smooth, and
slower in some places than it probably should be, but still has that
"pace" that the series is known for. Many characters have been
"toned down" from previous versions, obviously to balance out the
game... Balance is good, but what about fun? Honestly, many of the classic
characters were more fun to use in previous games. 
You can still "make it work" with
your favorite character, but he or she most likely isn't going to play quite
as you remembered, and will feel quite toned down if you were any sort of Samurai Shodown player in the
past... It's also a shame there aren't really "two" versions of each
character like we had in SS3 or SS4, but the new spirit select system is better
than nothing.
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- Review is for PS2 version of Samurai Shodown 6 - |
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7.5 / 10 |
Closing Comment: Samurai
Shodown 6... Not quite as I had hoped it would be at the end of the day. Really,
the character sprites are still the same sprites that we saw in Samurai
Shodown 3, and some of which ironically, don't animate quite as fluidly
as in that game (not as many
frames). I suppose that's because the sprite artists wanted to have an
"orthodox" frame count, so they took frames away from characters who
had more to match the new characters they were introducing... It's
understandable (and lazy) and at least it gives good reason to go back and play
SS3. 
Overall the game animates well,
but the overall animation has been done slightly better in previous games, which is odd.
On that note, the gameplay, the mood, and almost everything else has also been
done better in previous games. I can tell that SNK took a lot of advice from
players during the creation of SS6, and balanced the characters out according to
the players who tested the game. Yeah, it makes for a more balanced game, but in
my opinion, it's not as fun as previous versions for that very reason... Samurai Shodown 2 and
Samurai Shodown 4 are still my favorites of the series by far, but with
such a huge roster, what fan of the series wouldn't like this game. The game is
still fun, it's still Samurai Shodown, but dammit... I want my opponent to
DIE at the end of the fight!!! >:/ ~F.Yagami,
Webmaster
of TFG
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