SAMURAI SHODOWN 5 Preview

SNK Playmore has made a career out of the two-dimensional side-scrolling fighters that feature arcade style action. The King of Fighters series is a prime example. Apparently the formula is so successful that it warrants yet another iteration with the arrival of Samurai Shodown V.

Ok, not the arrival, for SNK NEOGEO is not actually slated to ship this title to retailers until December 20, but GameZone.com was able to get a preview build for the Xbox and spend some time with the title.

If you have played the KOF titles, then you know what to expect. You pick a fighter and then engage in side-scrolling combat against a stagnant backdrop. Rounds are timed and it is usually best two-out-of-three to determine a winner. Win and you advance to the next fight.

There is a storyline, not that it really matters that much in regards to the gameplay. One samurai vies against the shogun, which in turn leads to a gathering of 26 fighters. That’s it. You fight, you win, and you may get to meet the boss.

The game will have full Xbox Live support for tournament modes and there are 11 new characters in the mix of this upgraded version of the original arcade release. Each character has a ‘rage gauge’ that can be charged up to unleash even more devastation than the regular combos can manage. The game also adds a spirit strength that slows down your opponent and a sword spirit gauge to enable players to do a little planning of moves.

And when it comes to moves, this game has plenty. The button combinations are similar for each character’s attacks, but each character has special moves depending on the character. You can enable Mina Majikima’s bow attacks for devastating ranged damage, or get in tight for fiery attacks of Kazuki Kazama. According to the press release, there are a total of 23 combo moves available, though players may likely find certain button-mashing combos work best depending on the opponent.

The game’s graphics are very much in line with what players have come to know from the KOF series as well, though a few characters have been designed by Noburhiro Wazuki. But when it comes to the fighting itself, you move horizontally, duck, leap out of attack range and launch your own offensive moves or counters, building up your meters. The concept of the game is very simple.

The controls are easy to use, and the sound effects are serviceable.

While not noticeably different from other SNK/NEOGEO titles, where the draw for Samurai Shodown V will likely occur is in the online tourney mode. Still, this is a pure arcade fighter title that draws on the rich backdrop of the genre and presents a lot of the old with a smattering of the new.