What a treat that a classic game like this has been brought back from the dead.
For those that are unfamiliar with the series, here's the skinny: During the 1990's the fighting game scene made waves which started with Street Fighter II. Before long, every gaming company wanted to match Capcom's successful tour de force and capitalize on the new fighting game phenomenon. One company was pretty successful and many of the more hardcore fighting fans found a second home with them; SNK. After many experimental games, SNK found a series that captured some of the attention of Street Fighter II fans. That game was Samurai Shodown. Samurai Shodown II came not too long after with added characters and more refined game play. Graphically, the game was very detailed and featured zoom ins and outs of the action depending on the position of the opponents during the fight. Animation and character detail was top notch and the game play was fast and violent. Characters wielded weapons unlike other fighting games of the time. The action was more in tune with Kurosawa samurai films in that strikes were swift and dramatic. The music was also based on traditional Japanese period films and fit nicely with the general feel of the game. With an array of varied characters and a style all to its own, Samurai Shodown II found an audience that still swears by the game to this day.
SNK was also in the unique position of bringing home arcade perfect versions of their games due to their home/arcade system, the NeoGeo. No sacrifice was made for players willing to foot the bill for the expensive machine or the expensive game cart. All totaled, it was around eight or nine hundred dollars for both the NeoGeo Gold system and for the Samurai Shodown II cartridge.
Now that it has been released on Xbox Live Arcade, the experience can be fully realized at home once again and for a mere ten bucks. What's better is the game can be played online with opponents just like the arcades in the 1990's. What you have here is a perfect port of a fighting game classic that is bound to captivate anyone that frequented the arcade scene and of fighting game fans. The graphics, frame rate, and the voices are all as you'd remember from the original. For any 2D fighting fan, this game is a must own and a must play.
The only complaint is not one of the game but of the Xbox 360 controller. The D-pad is simply atrocious and using an analog stick for a 2D fighting game is just as ludicrous as it is blasphemous. Worry not though. All hope is not lost. There are off brand controllers with better D-pads to help with games like this. MadCatz makes a nice controller that is officially recognized by Microsoft. It sports a comfortable and pronounced D-pan that is quite suitable for 2D fighting games. Also, and much more fitting, is the arcade stick made by Hori. This game was built to be played with an arcade stick and it's the only way to truly become a hardcore fighting game master. The button layout works beautifully for this NeoGeo classic and the feel of the stick will truly replicate the arcade experience in full. Still, fronting the extra money for a different controller or an arcade stick will be a turn off for most so this game may not find the audience it deserves.
If you fancy yourself a hardcore fighting enthusiast, then this game is a no-brainer. Everything you know and love about the classic is all here just as you remember it. If you are new to fighting games, this is going to be hit of miss. Some people just may not be able to appreciate an old school game like this when Soul Calibur IV and Virtua Fighter V are the norm. Others will find the addictive quality of playing with others online enough to justify such an old game and will gain an appreciation for this classic. Lastly, for the casual gamers or first person shooter nuts, you should pass on this one. It's not something you'll enjoy. The graphics are old school; the game play is old school. Sadly, there's really nothing for you here.
It's been far too long since we've seen some Samurai Shodown II action. What a treat that a classic game like this has been brought back from the dead. This is a great fit for Xbox Live Arcade and it's nice to be able to relive the arcade fighting experience once again. With this release and Street Fighter IV on the horizon, we could be seeing a fighting game resurrection. One can only hope.