Samurai Shodown (series)

Samurai Shodown (Samurai Spirits in Japan) is the name of a versus fighting game series by SNK. It is considered to be the premier 2D weapons fighter, and is one of the best-known video games created by SNK.

Despite the name of the series, most of the characters are not samurai in the true sense of the word. In Japan, the name of the series is officially in katakana, but is often written in kanji (侍魂, samurai damashii), with the second character pronounced supiritsu, "spirits," to better reflect the game's setting.

The earlier arcade games are also notorious for their Engrish, such as the word 'victoly' which appears at the end of each match. In fact, even the title is misspelled. As with many game titles developed in Japan, Samurai Spirits had its name changed for other regions.

Overview
The stories in the series takes place in 18th century Japan, during the Sakoku or seclusion period of Japan, (the first four games run across 1788 and 1789) with great artistic license so that foreign-born characters (including some from places that didn't exist as such in 1788) and fictional monsters can also be part of the story. The plot of each game is quite different, but they circle a central group of characters and a region in Japan.

Samurai Shodown consequently portrays snippets of the Japanese culture and language internationally with little edits. For instance, unlike most American versions of Japanese video games, the characters in the series (including the announcer) generally speak only in Japanese, with dialects ranging from archaic formalities and theatricalism to modern-day slang. Win quotes and other cut scenes provide subtitles in several languages, including but not limited to English, Portuguese, and German. Much of the music includes traditional Japanese instruments (predominately the shakuhachi) and later enka. Several characters are loosely based on real people from Japanese history.

There are two main artists responsible for the character designs and illustrations. For the early games (Part 1 to 4), the characters are created and illustrated by Eiji Shiroi. His illustrations featured a distinctive, traditional Japanese calligraphy style. While he continues to design for a few of the later games, they are illustrated by another artist named Senri Kita until the fifth title.

The Samurai Shodown games are most famous for their "rage gauge", a super combo gauge that only increases as a player receives damage. Earlier games also have a referee in the background, officiating the match.

Plot
Here is the official timeline taken from the official Samurai Shodown V website[1]:


 * 1786 (January through late summer) – Samurai Shodown V
 * 1788 (early spring through early summer) – Samurai Shodown
 * 1788 (summer through early autumn) – Samurai Shodown III
 * 1788 (autumn through early winter) – Samurai Shodown IV
 * 1789 (spring through summer) – Samurai Shodown II
 * 1789 (autumn) through 1790 (summer) – Samurai Shodown 64
 * 1790 (late autumn through winter) – Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
 * 1811 – Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage

The series begins during the Tenmei famine in Japan, which lead to a severe depression and near chaos throughout the country. Upset by his country men's lamentations and the shogun's indifference to their plight, former Tokugawa general, Kyogoku Hinowanokami Gaoh, stages a rebellion in his land, Hinowa, against the reigning Tokugawa. He also hopes that his revolt will make the next shogun in line, Yoshitora Tokugawa, realize his responsibilities to his country. The war caused by the conflict gains the interest from several warriors. At the war's end, Gaoh is defeated and Yoshitora is made the next shogun.

More than a decade before the series begins, Amakusa Shiro Tokisada (loosely based on the historical figure), once leader to Christian rebellion, made a pact with an evil entity named Ambrosia moments before his execution. Using the body of Shinzo, one of Hanzo Hattori's sons, he resurrects himself two years after the events of Hinowa. He plans to get revenge on those who reigned against him, intending to resurrect Ambrosia into the mortal realm upon his release. He steals the sacred item, the Palenke Stone, from Grenhell (a fictional country in South America) to gain the necessary power he needs for the ritual.

The sorcerer's activity stirs evil phenomena across the globe, stretching from Japan to China to Europe and America, drawing several brave warriors to their calamities' source. Amongst these warriors is Haohmaru, a ronin, who recently left his tutelage from his master, Caffine Nicotine. He sees the foe as a chance to sharpen his swordsmanship. An Ainu priestess, Nakoruru, though a pacifist, takes up her blade to save Mother Nature from further pain. Though several fighters attempt to slay the fiend, these two are successful in defeating him, apparently killing him in the process.

Months later, another "demon" rises in Japan. However, he is not related to Amakusa or Ambrosia. He is a man named Zankuro Minazuki, a powerful warrior who has earned the label "demon" for his merciless slaughter of innocent people, village after village. Zankuro eventually finds the error of his ways and retires to hermitage, only agreeing to kill skillful warriors in duels. One of the victims he spared was a child whom Haohmaru finds and raises. The child's name is Shizumaru Hisame, who seeks revenge for his family's murder under Zankuro's hands. He sets out with Haohmaru to test their strength against Zankuro, challenging other fighters along the way. Eventually, they meet and duel, Shizumaru being the victor. Though Zankuro was heavily wounded, he tries to deliver a final blow only to be struck down by the heavens. He dies complementing the victor and his body is entombed.

The grave doesn't last long. Amakusa revives his efforts for revenge and steals the fallen warrior as an implement for destruction. This time, his spirit is split into two halves, one good and just; the other corrupt and ambitious. As the evil half brings destruction to Japan from Shimbara, the good half struggles to restores it. The evil Amakusa kidnaps a young kunoichi named Hazuki from the Kazuma ninja clan. Hazuki, adapt with ki and welding a special life force inside her, is used by the sorcerer to control Zankuro's bloodlust. Her brothers, Kazuki and Sougetsu, race to her rescue. Though several outcomes of this battle are interpreted, Kazuki is officially successful in slaying the evil Amakusa and Zankuro is finally put to rest by Sougetsu. Labeled nukenin, or rogue ninja, by their clan, Hazuki and Kazuki go into hiding while Sougetsu lets them escape.

Six months after this conflict, a priestess possessed by the evil demon, Mizuki Rashojin, emerges to send the world into chaos again. Mizuki, as a loyal servant to Ambrosia from 1000 years ago, is awakened by evil Amakusa's powers. Her awakening causes several worldwide disasters, and though her spirit is awake, she has yet to ascend to the human realm. She preys on unlucky warrior's souls and uses the fallen to strengthen her and Ambrosia's powers. The good Amakusa saves Haohmaru and other virtuous souls but he too falls to her bane. Warriors travel to Hell itself to battle her soul before it resurrects. Haohmaru and Nakoruru are able to make the journey to Hell and stop Mizuki, sealing her into the Makai (demon world) after her defeat.

Yuga the Destroyer, another being originating from the Makai realm, moves to conquer the world half a year after Mizuki's defeat. Twenty years prior to Amakusa's resurrection, she enters the human realm and steals various babies from mother's wombs and using her power, bestows superhuman abilities upon them. She silently re-inserts the unborn children, and waits for them to grow into superhuman warriors. Upon their adulthood, she appears before all of them and brainwashed all of them to become her loyal slaves through a magical puppet show. One of her victims is a mysterious woman named Shiki, the perfect female counterpart for Yuga's vessel. Yuga orders Shiki to find the perfect male counterpart, intending to merge the two for her eventual resurrection. Haohmaru is selected but Yuga understimates him in their battle. Haohmaru defeats her and frees Shiki from her mind-control.

A year passes, and Yuga, better prepared, revives herself. With her second appearance, Asura, a destructive being (which wreaks havoc in order to bring about "the unification of this world and the Netherworld...") escapes from his prison from the Netherworld. Yuga, realizing the strength of Asura, clones him and creates her loyal servant Hanmen no Asura. His orders are to reclaim Shiki and return to Yuga with her. However, he falls in love with Shiki and turns against his master. Both Asuras defeat Yuga entirely and merge together, leaving Shiki with a child. She leaves the child to Haohmaru's care, feeling unworthy of motherhood.

Twenty years pass, with the age of samurai and swordsmen drawing to a close. Those not abiding to the peaceful change of era are outlawed to a prisoner island. Zealous inhabitants rise up and try to create a "new world exclusively for the chosen ones", whom are intent on destroying the shogunate. The group they form is called the "League of the Three Blades of Domination" and the island becames known as Ritenkyo. Their leader is an old man named Oboro. A member of the Shinsengumi, Seishiro Kuki, is ordered by his superiors to assassinate the ones responsible for the uprising. An older Haohmaru goes to find his "niece", Mikoto, and to free her from her torn past.

Games

 * Samurai Shodown


 * Samurai Shodown II


 * Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood


 * Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge


 * Samurai Shodown RPG


 * Samurai Shodown 64


 * Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage


 * Samurai Shodown!


 * Samurai Shodown! 2


 * Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (Playstation)


 * Nakoruru ADV


 * Samurai Shodown V


 * Samurai Shodown V Special


 * Samurai Shodown Mobile


 * Samurai Shodown VI


 * Samurai Shodown Mobile II


 * Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny


 * Samurai Shodown Anthology

Anime/Manga

 * Samurai Shodown the Animated Movie
 * Samurai Shodown (graphic novel)
 * Samurai Shodown 2: Asura Zanmaeden (two part OVA)
 * Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono (unfinished OVA)

A television special (later dubbed "the movie" for international release) loosely based on the first game was released in Japan in 1994. It was licensed by ADV Films, once in 1994 and released again in 2005. The plot means to reenact the events of Samurai Shodown, but the characters' roles highly deviated from their original source. One of such bizarre changes made was switching Amakusa's gender from male to female. Another questionable change was the inclusion of the "Seven Holy Warriors", skilled warriors who were resurrected to specifically fight Ambrosia, which is an idea never mentioned in any other continuity. The animation quality was also under budget and characters weren't voiced by their original voice actors from the games (a later trait for all SNK-Playmore anime adaptions). All the characters from the game were present for a cameo, however, several lacked importance to the progression of the plot (i.e: Ukyo appeared only in the credits). Despite being poorly received by critics, it is sought after by fans as a collector's item.

During the popularity of the second game, a graphic novel was produced by writer, Kyoichi Nanatsuki, and artist, Yuki Miyoshi. It had a serialized run in the now discontinued Game On! magazine and later finished in Animerica. It was then compiled and published into novel form by Viz Media. The graphic novel is meant to take place before the events of Samurai Shodown II, establishing an original character, Yui Minbunosuke Shosetsu, as the main antagonist. Game characters Haohmaru, Nakoruru, Hanzo, Charlotte, and Genan remain the focal characters to the plot. They often interacted with several original characters in the story; the most prominent perhaps is the Koga kunoichi, Nagiri, who believed Haohmaru had killed her father during his travels and sought to avenge him.

The first OVA, serves as a preface to the events of Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage. Character designs were done by Aoi Nanase, a long time fan of SNK. Unlike most game-based anime, the voices were supplied by the same actors as in the game. It is relatively obscure, never having been released in the U.S., and the prospect of licensing is dim at best, as it offers no introduction to any of the characters, assuming (not unreasonably) that anyone watching it is likely to be familiar with the series and its cast already. The story mainly revolves on Nakoruru and her humanistic ideals: she believes that anyone with a heart has the right to live peacefully. Shiki, though apparently free from Yuga's influence, is recognized as a threat for the sorceress' return and it was through Nakoruru's reasonings that previously saved her life from Haohmaru. Nakoruru finds her and then struggles to peacefully defend her from her pursuers, which include Haohmaru, Galford, and Asura. Though torn because of her morals and pacifistic nature, Nakoruru eventually agrees to draw her blade and fight for those who need protecting. Despite being wounded in his final skirmish with Nakoruru, Asura stabs Shiki and they both sink into a portal to the underworld. Making peace with her blood-thirsty alter ego, the Ainu priestess leaves Kamui Kotan, hoping to find news of Shiki's safety.

The second thirty minute OVA centers around the Nakoruru ADV game, again using Nakoruru as the main heroine. Character designs were done by Yasuomi Umetsu, who also did the designs in Mezzo Forte and Kite. The events of the story are meant to take place during the time of peace between the first and second games of the series. The story introduces her childhood friends, Yamtamu and Manari, along with her younger sister, Rimururu, and the relentless enigma, Rera. Nakoruru, though glad that there is serenity, experiences several premonitions of devastation and is haunted by the thought of further bloodshed. The climax of the episode has Nakoruru protecting a deer from a rock slide, implied to be caused by evil entities. For undisclosed reasons, the OVA never released another episode and the story remains unfinished.

Card Game
In December 2006, Sabertooth Games released a Samurai Shodown V collectable card game set along with King of Fighters 2006 for it's Universal Fighting System (UFS) game. UFS is meant to be a universal system, as other games like Street Fighter and Soul Calibur III are also included into the series. Featured character starter decks were also released for Haohmaru and Ukyo Tachibana. STG staff favorites from the Samurai Shodown side tend to favor towards characters Nakoruru and Hanzo Hattori.

Introduced in Samurai Shodown

 * Haohmaru
 * Nakoruru
 * Ukyo Tachibana
 * Wan-Fu
 * Tam Tam
 * Charlotte Christine Colde
 * Galford D. Weiler
 * Kyoshiro Senryo
 * Earthquake
 * Hanzo Hattori
 * Jubei Yagyu
 * Genan Shiranui
 * Amakusa Shiro Tokisada

Introduced in Samurai Shodown II

 * Genjuro Kibagami
 * Cham Cham
 * Neinhalt Sieger
 * Nicotine Kaffuin
 * Kuroko
 * Mizuki Rashojin

Introduced in Samurai Shodown III

 * Shizumaru Hisame
 * Rimururu
 * Gaira Kaffuin
 * Basara Kubikiri
 * Zankuro Minazuki

Introduced in Samurai Shodown IV

 * Kazuki Kazama
 * Sogetsu Kazama

Introduced in Samurai Shodown 64

 * Hanma Yagyu
 * Shiki

Introduced in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage

 * Asura

Introduced in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (Playstation)

 * Seishiro Kuki
 * Jin-Emon Hanafusa
 * Jushiro Sakaki
 * Rinka Yoshino
 * Saya
 * Haito Kanakura
 * Yaci Izanagi
 * Ganryo the Whirlwind
 * Ran Po
 * Mikoto
 * Tohma Kuki
 * Oboro
 * Tashon Mao
 * Daruma
 * Minto
 * Mugenji
 * Yuda
 * Samurai
 * Iga ninjas
 * Oboro's amazons
 * Brute

Introduced in Samurai Shodown V

 * Yumeji Kurokouchi
 * Sankuro Yorozu
 * Rasetsumaru
 * Rera
 * Enja
 * Suija
 * Yoshitora Tokugawa
 * Yunfei
 * Mina Majikina
 * Kusaregedo
 * Gaoh

Introduced in Samurai Shodown VI

 * Andrew
 * Iroha
 * Sugoroku Mitsuribayashi
 * Karakuri Ocha-Maro
 * Champuru
 * Poppy
 * Shikuru and Mamahaha
 * Paku Paku

Introduced in Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny

 * Takechiyo
 * Suzuhime
 * Angelica
 * Gallows
 * J
 * Kim Hye-Ren
 * Walter
 * Sugamata Jinbei
 * Black Hawk
 * Killian