Basara

Basara, known better as "Basara the Executioner" , is a character who was introduced in Samurai Shodown III.

Story
He is a type of yūrei "reborn" due to an extreme hatred he harbored before his death. In his previous life, Basara lived in peace with his lover, Kagaribi, until the monstrous demonic swordsman Zankuro came through and slaughtered everyone. He blames "the demon" for Kagaribi's demise but, in Samurai Shodown V, it is revealed that Basara himself killed her.

In Samurai Shodown III, he remembers how he died and thus aimlessly seeks to take revenge on Zankuro. In Samurai Shodown IV, he discovers that his "rebirth" is caused by Amakusa, so he heads for Shimabara to kill him. In his ending, Amakusa seals him away by using a vision of Kagaribi to lure him into a pillar. He is not expected to be released anytime in the future.

Personality
Basara was a man happy with his life of peace. All that remained from his previous life, however, was his love for Kagaribi and his hatred for Zankuro. Aside from these attributes, he is a left-handed mindless killer who doesn't discriminate among the victims he murders.

Powers

 * Soul of Nue - Basara can release a Will-o'-the-wisp (a ghost light) from his chest that tracks his opponents. Nue is a Japanese chimera that causes nightmares.
 * Shadow Powers - Basara can disappear and reappear into his own shadow, using this ability for transportation and unexpected attacks. He also can drag others with him.
 * Illusions - Basara can emit a mirror image of himself for a short time, which eventually dissipates into a swarm of bats.

Although Basara's powers are explained mainly through his ghost abilities, they also resemble powers usually identified with ninja. This is complimented by Basara's weaponry and design which are also associated with ninja.

Fighting Style
Some of his powers are based in the use of his shuriken, as well as demonic powers like moving and disappearing into the shadows or release balls of energy. His normal attacks are adaptable to execute, easily ranging from close to mid-screen and often hitting for several hits upon impact. His distinguishing features are his shrill laugh and claiming life to be "a beautiful nightmare".

Music

 * Lament of Sanzu River  - Samurai Shodown III (Occasionally is translated as "Lament of Styx").
 * Shrieking Abyss - Samurai Shodown (2019)

Voice Actors

 * Masahiro Nonaka - Samurai Shodown III~Samurai Shodown V Special
 * Motoki Takagi - Samurai Shodown VI
 * Yūji Murai - Samurai Shodown (2019)

Appearances
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Games

 * Samurai Shodown III
 * Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits: Bushidou Retsuden - as an optional boss and guest character
 * Samurai Shodown IV
 * Samurai Shodown!
 * Samurai Shodown V
 * Samurai Shodown V Special
 * Samurai Shodown V Perfect
 * Samurai Shodown VI
 * Samurai Shodown (2019) - DLC character (also in Retro 3D graphics)

Mobile

 * Samurai Spirits - Shimensouka (enemy character)
 * Samurai Shodown Tenkadaiichi Kenkakuden
 * Samurai Shodown: Oborozuki Densetsu
 * SNK Fighting Age

Cameos
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 * Samurai Shodown! - cameo in background of bamboo forest arena, together with Nicotine and Gaira
 * Samurai Spirits (pachinko)
 * Samurai Spirits Oni

Trivia

 * SNK's creators and composers Yasushi Adachi and Tate Norio reply in one of their interviews that Basara is their favorite character from the Samurai Shodown series.
 * Basara is the only character of the series who lives in the afterlife, but can physically materialize in the world at any time, due to his status of Yūrei.
 * In the The King of Fighters series, Mature and Vice are the only characters with this condition, due to their status of Hakkesshu.

Basara