033PREVIEW
Back in the early ’90s the clever
trousers brigade would ponder the
virtues of a fighting game that was
completely in Japanese. There were
no English subtitles and hits were
acknowledged by a man waving
coloured flags. Samurai Shodown was different.
Ten years since it last appeared on PlayStation,
and nabbing some of Street Fighter V’s colourful
swagger, the cult fighter is back, and it’s still
doing things in its own unique way.Just like Capcom’s Street Fighter V, Samurai
Shodown is a 3D fighter played on a 2D plane. It’s a
setup that delivers the classic stick-twizzling combos
of old, but gives the dev room to – on occasion –
literally send the visuals soaring, as super special
attacks break loose, zooming, panning, and spinning
out in elaborate animated cinematics.
In action this reboot is just what’s needed from
a game that slots in chronologically after Samurai
Shodown V and before the original game. It features
a roster of classic characters who long-time fans will
want, while adding three new faces to the mix for
freshness. It’s an approach that has put pressure on
the team, some of whom worked at SNK in the ’90s,
to meet expectations.SHODOWN THROWDOWN
The first thing we notice picking up the pad is how
this feels like Samurai Shodown from the sweaty
arcades of the ’90s. There’s a weight and pace toSAMURAI
SHODOWN
A slice of near-perfection
FORMAT PS4 / ETA JUN
PUB ATHLON GAMES / DEV SNK
“IT DELIVERS
THE CLASSIC
STICK-TWIZZLING
COMBOS OF OLD.”