Samurai Shodown
Few hits, huge damage, and one well-timed slash decides the match.
Coming soon to UsuArcade
Votes to bring it to the arcade: 0
In the meantime, head into the arcade and play the cabinets that are already there
- Year
- 1993
- Manufacturer
- SNK
- Players
- 2 players at once
- Genres
- Fighting games
- Decade
- '90s arcade games
At the height of the fighting game boom, when everybody was chasing combos and fireballs, Samurai Shodown came in with a different philosophy: swords, slow hits that take off half your life bar, and matches decided in a couple of seconds of pure tension. On the arcade's Neo Geo cabinet, whichever week it was in rotation, it pulled a crowd.
It isn't in the UsuArcade arcade yet, but it's on our wishlist. If you're itching to draw your blade again, vote for it.
History
SNK released it in 1993 for the Neo Geo; in Japan it's called Samurai Spirits. Set in feudal Japan in the late 1700s, it mixed fighters from different cultures with a look inspired by traditional Japanese art.
It became a long-running series with plenty of sequels, and characters like Haohmaru and Nakoruru turned into SNK icons who popped up in other games from the company.
How to play
It's one-on-one weapon fighting. The buttons give you light, medium and heavy slashes plus kicks, and the heavy slash hits so hard that a couple of clean ones can win the round. That makes patience king: wait for your opponent to slip up, then punish.
The rage meter fills as you take damage, and when it maxes out your attacks hit even harder for a while. When two blades clash you get a struggle that can leave someone disarmed. Meanwhile, a figure in the background tosses items into the arena, like food that restores health, or bombs.
Fun facts
- In Japan it's called Samurai Spirits.
- Nakoruru, the Ainu girl with her hawk Mamahaha, is one of SNK's most beloved characters.
- The camera zooms in and out depending on how far apart the fighters are.
In the arcade
Samurai Shodown is coming soon to UsuArcade. It's on the arcade wishlist and you can vote for it with the “I want to play it” button; the most-wanted games come first.
Until then, you can settle one-on-one rivalries in Street Fighter II, or jump into other Neo Geo classics like Metal Slug and Shock Troopers for co-op. Free in your browser, with chat, spectators and arcade high scores.
Once Samurai Shodown lands in the arcade, you'll be able to play it online two-player, each on your own phone or PC, in the same game.
FAQ
Can I play Samurai Shodown on UsuArcade?
Not yet. It's on the wishlist and you can vote for it with “I want to play it.”
What year did Samurai Shodown come out?
1993, from SNK, on the Neo Geo.
How many players is Samurai Shodown?
Two players at the same time, head-to-head.
Are Samurai Shodown and Samurai Spirits the same game?
Yes. Samurai Spirits is the Japanese title.
What similar games are in the arcade?
Street Fighter II for one-on-one fights, plus Neo Geo classics Metal Slug and Shock Troopers, are already free to play on UsuArcade.
