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Samurai Shodown
Producer: A. D. Vision
Release Date: 1995
Starring: Haohmaru, Nakoruru, Amakusa, Tam-Tam, Galford, Charlotte
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SNK took the concept put forward by Capcom's Street Fighter II, added swords and blood, set it in feudal Japan, and ran with it. The result was a superb series of 2D fighters known as Samurai Shodown. With characters like Haohmaru, Tam-Tam, Galford, Wan Fu, and the cute and cuddly Nakoruru, Samurai Shodown developed a cultlike following and expanded many people's knowledge of samurai fighting styles (fireballs notwithstanding). Blood flew on nearly every blow, and the unique counter-hit system resulted in some of the most intense and shortest matches ever seen in arcades. The characters were all given detailed backgrounds and interactions with one another, so an animated movie was almost a sure thing.
The plot in the film version of Samurai Shodown is solid, despite how it ignores the game's own history. The evil Amakusa Shirô Tokisada (bizarrely female for some reason) has broken a sacred seal in a quest for power. One hundred years ago, six holy warriors tried to stop her but were unsuccessful. Although their bodies were destroyed, their souls were not, and they were reborn a century later to return and defeat Amakusa. The characters in Samurai Shodown were divided into two factions: those out for justice and those out to impede it. Regardless, samurai Haohmaru held the key to defeating Amakusa, but there was one major problem: Haohmaru's resurrection wasn't yet complete. Though alive, he had no recollection of his past existence and was content to go around defeating local dojos, destroying wasp nests with sticks, and generally having a good time. Even when his village was incinerated and his mother shot with an arrow by Amakusa's soldiers, he still failed to return to his former self. It was only during a direct confrontation with Amakusa that he realized his destiny and shook off his existing personality.
The action sequences were straightforward with many of the characters employing their special techniques as they fought one another. Nakoruru was elegantly animated, and Earthquake stayed true to his obese, rolling self. Fans of the game shouldn't pass this up, though the ninja Hanzo was sadly underused.
Memorable Line:
"You grovel well." - Amakusa, to a pathetic underling.
Next: Now show me Fatal Fury: One Two Punch
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