Samurai Shodown VI

Samurai Spirits IV (サムライスピリッツ天下一剣客伝, Samurai Supirittsu Tenkaichi Kenkakuden,Tale of the World's Greatest Swordsmen), is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. This game features all characters from the 2D games and is a dream match installment.

The game's storyline is a standalone parallel world based on the events of Samurai Shodown V and previous games in the series (ie: Gaira is bald, Genan has his children from his second ending). The producer gives it the nickname "festival game".

Set in an unknown year, Yoshitora makes a proclamation to decide the strongest fighter in the world. Each battle takes place at various festivals from countries all over the world. Every stage represents a different festival or holiday, for example Halloween in Ireland, or the Lunar New Years in China.

Overview
Samurai Shodown VI is the next installment to the Samurai Shodown series after Samurai Shodown V Special. The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, as well as all 7 characters from Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II that didn't appear in later games, and 4 new characters. It also features a "spirit select" system, which allows players to choose between six different fighting styles based on all previous installments.

Despite normal Samurai Shodown releases and distribution outside of Japan, the game has been released outside of the country on the Atomiswave system sponsored in the United States by Sega but had limited distribution. The game was released for the Playstation 2 in Japan on January 25th, 2006. The PS2 release added even more playable characters, and three more spirit select systems to go along with them. With the PS2 release, virtually every character to have ever appeared in the 2D Neo Geo games, including the referee, Kuroko, and the animal characters, are all playable. The sole exception is the courier man Hikyaku. Due to the controversy surrounding the graphic nature of its predecessor and Sega sponsorship, the violence is toned down. The ability to perform fatalities is removed from the game, and blood effects are replaced with fireworks.

The character Iroha was well-received by fans in Japan and will go to star in her own adventure game, tentatively titled "Lover Iroha" (恋のいろは) for the Nintendo DS. No release date has been scheduled yet.

The Samurai Shodown Anthology was released in the US on March 24, 2009 for the PS2 and Wii consoles, making it more available among stateside fans.

Returning from Samurai Shodown V & V Special

 * Haohmaru
 * Ukyo Tachibana
 * Hanzo Hattori
 * Nakoruru
 * Genjuro Kibagami
 * Kyoshiro Senryo
 * Shizumaru Hisame
 * Gaira Caffeine
 * Rimururu
 * Basara
 * Sogetsu Kazama
 * Kazuki Kazama
 * Tam Tam
 * Charlotte Christine Colde
 * Galford D. Weller
 * Jubei Yagyu
 * Rera
 * Rasetsumaru
 * Suija
 * Enja
 * Yoshitora Tokugawa
 * Youkai Kusaregedo
 * Mina Majikina
 * Yumeji Kurokouchi
 * Zankuro Minazuki
 * Liu Yunfei
 * Mizuki Rashojin
 * Shiro Tokisada Amakusa
 * Gaoh Kyougoku Hinowanokami
 * Sankuro Yorozu

Returning from Samurai Shodown I & II

 * Genan Shiranui
 * Cham Cham
 * Earthquake
 * Nicotine Caffeine
 * Neinhalt Sieger
 * Wan-fu
 * Kuroko

Newcomers

 * Andrew
 * Iroha
 * Sugoroku Matsuribayashi
 * Ocha-Maro Karakuri

Mascots

 * Chample
 * Poppy
 * Shikuru & Mamahaha
 * Paku Paku

Alternative versions

 * Purple Nakoruru (Rasetsu/Bust version)
 * Galford (Rasetsu/Bust version)
 * Kim Ung Che
 * Demon Gaoh
 * EX Yoshitora
 * EX Mina
 * EX Yunfei
 * EX Kusaregedo