Samurai Shodown Sen

Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny, known as Samurai Spirits Sen (サムライスピリッツ閃) in Japan, is the fourth 3D game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games and the eleventh title in the series. The developer K2 LLC is best known in America to have developed various installments to the stealth game series Tenchu, beginning with Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven, the series' third installment. The main artist for the Samurai Shodown 64 series and Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, Senri Kita, returns for official illustrations. It was released for Japanese arcades on April 17, 2008.

Development
The game was first announced in development to the public at the All Nippon Amusement Machine Operator's Union (AOU) 2006 event where it was given a tentative release date of sometime by the end of 2007. However, at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, the date was pushed back, but was mentioned to be nearly ready for future release in Japanese arcades. Since late October 2007, the game has been undergoing severe beta testing around arcades in Japan. On December 13, 2007, the official website to the game was created, along with a bulletin of four locations sites which are in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, and Chiba. Testing begins on December 20th and ends on December 24th. The official site also confirms an eventual release in 2008. The first overseas testing location took place in Hong Kong during December 20~21. Along with this announcement came the game's international title. Aoi Nanase, character designer to the series' first OVA, has reported in her personal blog that the official staff intend to take a great departure from the Makai and are going for a sengoku-jidai effect.

On February 9, 2008 the third location testing ad was listed on the Japanese official site at four different locations. Testing begins February 14th and ends on February 19th. The ad also says that this is meant to be the final round of testing. Also at this time, a tentative release date listed as "Spring 2008" (later to the release date) in Japanese arcades is scheduled on the Hong Kong SNK Playmore site.

As of December 2007, there is little other news of an international release. However, on March 3, 2008 an English location test was announced for the US. The testing is to be a one day event starting from noon until 6:00 on March 8th. The bulletin also mentions testing for THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 Ultimate Match would also be taking place. Director of SNK Playmore USA's Marketing Department, Mark Rudolph, says eventual home release is anticipated to be made on current next gen consoles. Similar beta testing was also made in Mexico on March 14.

There is also no news yet when the game takes place in the series storyline.

Gameplay
The assignment for the four buttons are horizontal slash (A), vertical slash (B), kick (C), and special maneuvers button (R), whereas Strong Slashes are accessed by (A+B) and (B+C) combinations (horizontal and vertical Strong Slash respectively). The R button can allow players to perform a grab, deflect, and an unblockable slash attack (with all of the other buttons). Elements from previous games, such as the Rage Explosion and its fatal slash (Tsurane Giri), have been kept.

The moveset for characters were drastically simplified, input actions being similar to the majority of the 3D game market. Multi-hitting moves that were automated, such as Charlotte's Splash Front, are now more interactive, as players must press the A or B buttons to continue the sequence. Projectiles have been modified to being stylized close range attacks. Characters who have helpers (ie: Galford, Nakoruru, Rimururu) now summon their pets from an off-screen location, pets only seen during winposes or attacks.

Fatalities are also present. Aside from those finishers we saw in 2D titles, there are others, like Arm Cutting fatality returns from previous 3D titles of series, while Decapitation and Impale are brand new ways to kill opponent.

Blood and fatalities are present in the English version of the game only.

Cast
Nearly half of the cast revealed during beta testing are new comers to the series. Characters Killian and Rimururu were revealed to players during the second phase of beta testing in December. On January 17, 2008, two characters were listed on the Japanese official site. Each character has their own stats sheet, sample moveset, and backstory. Since then, the site continued to update in the same fashion on a weekly basis. In the All Nippon Amusement Machine Operator's Union (AOU) 2008 event, a new fighter Claude and Yagyu Jubei were revealed.


 * Takechiyo
 * Suzuhime
 * Angelica
 * Gallows
 * J
 * Kim Hye-Ryen
 * Valter
 * Jinbei Sugamata
 * Black Hawk
 * Killian
 * Claude
 * Golba
 * Draco

Some characters are homages to traditional swordplay (a Korean spear fighter Kim and elderly spear-wielding samurai Jinbei) while other characters take contemporary and artistic liberties (J, an afro samurai and Gallows, an axe wielding Viking). Confirmed characters from previous game titles are:


 * Haohmaru
 * Nakoruru
 * Hanzo Hattori
 * Galford
 * Ukyo Tachibana
 * Wan-fu
 * Kyoshiro Senryo
 * Charlotte
 * Jubei Yagyu
 * Genjuro Kibagami
 * Rimururu
 * Sogetsu Kazama
 * Kazuki Kazama