ABOUT:  Joining the ranks of most other well known 2D fighting game franchises, SNK's trademark weapon-based 2D fighting game series made the jump to 3D graphics for the first time ever with Samurai Shodown 64. Showing off a vibrant 2D art style, SS64 reintroduces many veteran characters from the series history and introduces a few newcomers, such as: Shiki, Yagyu Hanma, Deku, Dekuina, and Yuga.
 

 
The characters are presented in halfway decent 3D animation & graphics (for the time), though textures are fairly low quality and character models are plagued with noticeable pointy polygons. The overall gameplay is somewhat "slow" but retained most of the series' staple gameplay mechanics. The Rage Explosion returns from Samurai Shodown 4, and every character now has a powerful super move called a Fatal Flash. Unfortunately, special moves didn't vary in strength depending on the button the was used anymore, which might've put a damper on the gameplay dedicated players have come to expect.
 

 
Samurai Shodown 64's gameplay takes full advantage of its 3D engine... with the ability to move in any direction (in a fashion that was later refined in Namco's Soul Calibur series). SS64 is also the first 3D fighting game to use multi-tiered stages - where it's possible to knock an opponent through a wall or floor into a different section of the stage. This idea was later used in the Dead or Alive series, which is frequently (and erroneously) credited for the innovation. SS64 also lets characters knock each other out of the arena entirely, resulting with a "ring out" victory. 
 

Click Here for all concept sketches!

Page Updated: August 16th, 2019 Developer(s): SNK Publisher(s): SNK Platform(s): Arcade (Hyper Neo Geo 64) Release Date(s): December 19th, 1997 Characters:  Haohmaru, Genjuro, Ukyo, Galford, Hanzo, Shiki, Yagyu Hanma, Sogetsu, Kazuki, Nakoruru, Rimururu, Gandara, Deku & Dekuina, Yuga Featured Video: Related Games: Samurai Shodown 64: Warrior's Rage, Samurai Shodown Warrior's Rage, Samurai Shodown Sen, Samurai Shodown, Samurai Shodown 2, Samurai Shodown 3, Samurai Shodown 4, Samurai Shodown 5, Samurai Shodown 5 Special, Samurai Shodown 6, Samurai Shodown Pocket, Samurai Shodown 2 Pocket, Samurai Shodown Anthology, Soul Blade, Bushido Blade, Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat 4, Dead or Alive, Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition, KOF: Maximum Impact, Final Fight: Revenge, Street Fighter EX, SFEX2, SFEX3    Gameplay Engine    Story / Theme    Overall Graphics    Animation    Music / Sound Effects    Innovation    Art Direction    Customization     Options / Extras     Intro / Presentation     Replayability / Fun     "Ouch" Factor     Characters     BOTTOM LINE           Final Words: Like most people outside of Japan... I've never had the opportunity to play this rare 3D incarnation of the Samurai Shodown series. Even though I know it was a disappointing "game" due to the unrefined 3D engine, I won't give it an official rating until the day that I actually play it... if that day ever comes. What Samurai Shodown 64 lacks in gameplay and in-game visuals it makes up for with an amazing art style. In fact, SS64 actually has some of the BEST and most amazing artwork in the series history (which is saying a lot!). On that note, check out some of TFG's Art Galleries below. The in-game "fatality sequences" utilizing some of the artwork is one of the prettiest aspects of the game for sure. Thanks to YouTube, we can at least check out some SS64 gameplay of the game and those badass finishers (see video above).  ~TFG Webmaster                                Click Here for all concept art!