- Samurai Shodown IV
Infobox VG
title = Samurai Shodown IV
caption =Neo Geo CD cover for Samurai Shodown IV.
developer = SNK
publisher = SNK
designer = Galapagos Team
release = October 25, 1996
genre = 2D Weapon Based Versus fighting
modes = Up to 2 players simultaneously
cabinet = Upright
arcade system = Neo-Geo (378 Mbit cartridge)
display = Raster, 304 x 224 pixels (Horizontal), 4096 colors
input = 8-wayJoystick , 4 Buttons
platforms = Arcade,PlayStation ,Sega Saturn "Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge", known as nihongo|"Samurai Spirits: Amakusa's Descent"|サムライスピリッツ天草降臨|Samurai Supirittsu Amakusa Kōrin in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship "Samurai Shodown" series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between "
Samurai Shodown " and "Samurai Shodown II ", being "Samurai Shodown III " the first chapter.tory
The
year ,1789 .As
frost ,floods ,fires , andfamine playhavoc with the world, a sinistercastle appears in the land ofShimabara . Thelord of that castle isShiro Tokisada Amakusa .Having previously been resurrected from the realm of the dead, Amakusa was supposed to have been slain in the midst of his evil designs, but now he returns to subjugate the world of the living.
Having already engulfed the Shimabara peninsula, this castle of evil grows larger day by day. People soon call it "Amakusa Castle" and in their terror begin to revere it, hoping this will save them.
But little did they know that this act of desperation would only summon further misfortune....
Amakusa has returned for more trouble, this time taking over a castle in a jagged wasteland and kidnapping the sorceress-in-training
Kazama Hazuki ,Kazuki andSogetsu 's beloved youngersister , in order to use her as a power source. The power spreading from Amakusa's work catches the attention of various warriors who head in for a variety of purposes... and evenMinazuki Zankuro also has a hand in the story.cite web | author=SNK Playmore | title="Series Titles: "Samurai Shodown IV" | url=http://samuraianiv.snkplaymore.co.jp/english/title/samurai-shodown4/index.php | work= [http://samuraianiv.snkplaymore.co.jp/english/index.html "Samurai Shodown" Official Website] | accessmonthday=December 12 | accessyear=2007]Overview
After "Samurai Shodown III" was received more or less poorly by the fighting game community, SNK again went back to address the complaints, and tried to deliver a followup that would hopefully regain some of the magic that had made "Samurai Shodown II" such a hit.
The most obvious change is visual, with dramatically adjusted color palettes for the individual characters, generally brightening them up and reducing contrast, in the attempt to make the game more
cartoonish . Aerial blocking was removed entirely, and the switcharound move, which enabled a player to shift quickly behind the other's back, as well as the dodge (Evade; side-step), in which the move virtually brings a semi-3D environment to the defense in attempt to use each sword more effectively.Following the same philosophy, some of the older characters were restored, such as
Charlotte ,Tam Tam andYagyu Jubei . The entire cast of the previous game also returns, though some have been retouched to further enhance the cartoonish look.Joining the cast were the two
ninja brothers:*Kazama Kazuki - member of the
Kazama ninja clan specializing in firejutsu , he deserts to rescue his younger sister, Hazuki, from Amakusa's clutches.
*Kazama Sogetsu - older brother to Kazuki and Hazuki who uses water jutsu; unlike Kazuki, he stays with the clan and is ordered to assassinate his brother for leaving.Overall, the game plays not terribly unlike "SS3", but the feel is considerably different. Control has been loosened and more accurately modified, controller motions have been improved, overall damage has been reduced and one can no longer charge his/her own POW gauge. The off-screen delivery man was omitted entirely from the game. The biggest addition is probably the "CD Combo," wherein a player can press the C and D buttons together, triggering a strike that can be followed up by a sequence of button taps. The single-player mode now has a timer, as well. Only by reaching the final boss within a specified time limit can one see a character's ending.
In a slightly paradoxical move when compared to the brighter aesthetic, SNK also added in a "suicide" move (known in English-speaking fan circles as the "Honorable Death"), wherein one's character sacrifices his/her own life, thus forfeiting the round. The bonus to this is that the one committing suicide will start the next round with a full POW gauge.cite web | author=Boombada |title=Samurai Shodown IV Review | url=http://www.neogeoforlife.com/viewpage.php?page_id=186 |work= [http://www.neogeoforlife.com/ Neogeoforlife.com - A SNK Fan Site] | accessmonthday=December 21 | accessyear=2007] Certain finishes will also enable a "fatality" move in the vein of "Mortal Kombat". This feature has been much-debated for its violent nature.
Critical and Fan Reception
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