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Samurai Shodown, known in Japan as Samurai Spirits (サムライスピリッツ) is the name of a versus fighting game series by the original SNK established in 1978, then by SNK (current company). It is considered to be the premier 2D (now 3D) 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 alternately 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

Samurai Shodown - SNK 40th Special Art

Special Illustration by Senri Kita for the SNK Brand 40th Anniversary.

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.

Samuraishodown30thanniversary

Illustration for the 30th anniversary of the series, by Yumi Saji

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.

Development

"The Samurai-Gumi"

Samurai Gumi Members

From Left to Right: creator Yasushi Adachi, composer Tate Norio, director Tomoaki Fukui and designer Kiyoji Tomita.

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 Shiroi Eiji. Her illustrations featured a distinctive, traditional Japanese calligraphy style. While she continues to design for a few of the later games, they are illustrated by another artist named Kita Senri until the fifth title. Early development team had about 20 people, later games had the team expand to 50 people. According to Yasushi Adachi, there are four games in particular inspired him when developing Samurai Shodown: [1]

  • Street Fighter 2 (CAPCOM), “because of the system’s collision handling”;
  • Mortal Kombat (Midway), “because of the moody setting in a serious battle”;
  • KLAX (Atari): “I liked the effects and impact from blows”;
  • Dragon Spirit (Namco), “the inspiration for the [Japanese] title Samurai Spirits”.

The Samurai Shodown games are most famous for their "POW" or "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 Timeline

Year/Period Table

Here is the official timeline taken from the official Samurai Shodown V website.[2] All the series' chronology takes place during the Edo period and uses the seasons experienced in the Northern Hemisphere. The table shows both the Gregorian calendar's year and the Japanese era names; while the series does make use of the Gregorian calendar (historically speaking) the former would not be officially adopted by Japan until 1872,[3] and the latter is still used in Japan.

Year/Period Japanese Era Game
1786 (January through late summer) Tenmei Era (6th Year) Samurai Shodown V
1787 Tenmei Era (7th Year) Samurai Shodown (2019)
1788 (early spring through early summer) Tenmei Era (8th Year) Samurai Shodown (1993)
1788 (summer through early autumn) Tenmei Era (8th Year) Samurai Shodown III
1788[Note 1] (autumn through early winter) Tenmei Era (8th Year) Samurai Shodown IV
1789 (spring through summer) Tenmei Era (9th Year) Samurai Shodown II
1789 (autumn) through 1790 (summer) Tenmei Era (9th Year) and Kansei Era (1st Year) Samurai Shodown 64
1789 (mid-autumn) Tenmei Era (9th Year) Samurai Shodown V Special & Samurai Shodown V Perfect (non-canon entries)
1790 (late autumn through winter) Kansei Era (1st Year) Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage
1791 Kansei Era (2nd Year) Samurai Shodown Sen
1799 (new century start) Kansei Era (10th Year) Samurai Shodown VI (non-canon entry)
1811 Bunka Era (7th Year) Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage

Overview

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, the 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 elected the new Shogun.

A year later, the entire country is beset by a terrible and looming evil. Fire, ruin and famine ran rampant throughout Japan. Meanwhile, as these events unfold, a sinister cloud envelops the air with a foreboding sense of dread. Shizuka Gozen (loosely based on the historical figure), the deceased spirit of a young woman who is possessed and trapped in Yomi (labeled Eternity in the game itself) threatens to destroy Japan. Warriors from all across Japan and beyond the ocean, driven by their own needs and desires, converge to investigate these evil forces and vanquish them.

Amakusa Shiro Tokisada (loosely based on the historical figure), once leader to a Christian rebellion, made a pact with an evil entity named Ambrosia moments before his execution, resurrected as an undead specter. Amakusa defeated Haohmaru, a ronin, who recently left his tutelage from his master, Caffeine Nicotine. After absorbing amount of evil energy within Shizuka until her death, Amakusa took over the body of Shinzo, one of Hanzo Hattori's sons, and completing his resurrection two years after the events of Hinowa.

More than a decade before the series begins, after taking over Shinzo's body, Amakusa begin his plan 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 Green Hell 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, who wants a rematch against Amakusa. 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 Minazuki Zankuro, 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 Hisame 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, as Amakusa revives his efforts for revenge and steals the fallen warrior as an implement for destruction. This time, Amakusa's spirit is split into two halves; the original, 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 Kazama 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 elder brothers, Kazuki and Sogetsu, 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 Sogetsu. Labeled nukenin, or rogue ninja, by their clan, Hazuki and Kazuki go into hiding while Sogetsu lets them escape. So that the clan won't go after them, Sogetsu pretended to kill Kazuki.

Six months after this conflict, a priestess possessed by the evil demon, Rashojin Mizuki, emerges to send the world into chaos again. Mizuki, as a loyal servant to Ambrosia from 1000 years ago, is awakened by evil from Amakusa's malevolent half. 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, it enters the human realm and steals various babies from mother's wombs and using its power, bestows superhuman abilities upon them. It silently re-inserts the unborn children, and waits for them to grow into superhuman warriors. Upon their adulthood, it appears before all of them and brainwashed all of them to become its loyal slaves through a magical puppet show. One of its 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 its eventual resurrection. Haohmaru is selected but Yuga underestimates him in their battle. Haohmaru defeats it and frees Shiki from its mind-control.

A year passes, and Yuga, better prepared, revives itself. With its 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 its 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 becomes known as Ritenkyo. Their leader is an old man named Oboro. A member of the Shogunate, 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

Mainline Titles

Dream Match Games

Compilations

Spin-off Games

Neo Geo Pocket/Color Games

Mobile Games

In Other Media

Anime/OVAs

Mangas/Novels

Additionally, various manhua have been printed for the series. One of them is currently being released in Hong Kong.

  • Samurai Shodown (Dengeki)
  • Samurai Shodown II (Dengeki)

OSTs/Drama CDs

Pachinko/Pachislot Games

Card Games

Samurai spirits hanafuda deck

Full SamSho Hanafuda card deck.

In December 2006, Sabertooth Games released a Samurai Shodown V collectable card game set along with King of Fighters 2006 for its Universal Fighting System (UFS) game. UFS is meant to be a universal system, as other games like Street Fighter and Soulcalibur 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 the characters Nakoruru and Hanzo Hattori.

The series also had a hanafuda deck printed with the series' characters.

Characters Introduction

SamSho

SamSho II

SamSho III

SamSho IV

SamSho RPG

SamSho 64

SamSho 64: Warriors Rage (A.K.A. 64-2)

SamSho Warriors Rage

SamSho V

SamSho VI

SamSho Sen

SamSho (2019)

Original Characters

Crossover Characters (Only as DLC)

SNK Original Character
Crossover Guest Characters
  • Warden (Ubisoft's For Honor series)
  • Gongsun Li (Tencent's Honor of Kings mobile series)
  • Baiken (Arc System Works' Guilty Gear series)

NPC Characters

Characters' Participation

Participation of the characters in the mainline games of the series, either they canonical or not.

Note 1: The order of the tables are based on the appearances on the first mainline game of the series.
Note 2: The list below shows what each colour of the table represents:
  • Yellow: for table titles, to be announced entries (TBA) and undefined/dual status.
  • Green: Appears in the game.
  • Red: Does not appear in the game.
  • Forest Green: indicates the characters who participated in all games of the series.
  • Fire Brick Red: indicates the characters who were absent from at least one game in the series.

SNK Characters

Character Former SNK Era 64 Series Playmore Era Current SNK Era
SamSho SamSho II SamSho III: Blades of Blood SamSho IV: Amakusa's Revenge SamSho 64 SamSho 64: Warriors Rage SamSho Warriors Rage SamSho V SamSho V Special SamSho V Perfect SamSho VI SamSho Sen SamSho (2019)
Haohmaru Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character
Nakoruru Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Unplayable Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character
Ukyo Tachibana Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character
Charlotte Christine de Colde Regular Character Regular Character Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character
Galford D. Weller Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character
Jubei Yagyu Regular Character Regular Character GameBoy Exclusive Boss Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character
Earthquake Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Regular Character
Hanzo Hattori Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character
Kyoshiro Senryo Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character
Tam Tam Regular Character Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Regular Character (in a new version) Regular Character (in a new version) Regular Character (in a new version) Regular Character Absent Regular Character
Wan-Fu Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character DLC Character (Season 1)
Genan Shiranui Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent
Genjuro Kibagami Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character
Cham Cham Absent Regular Character Absent PlayStation Exclusive Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent DLC Character (Season 3)
Neinhalt Sieger Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent
Nicotine Caffeine Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent
Shizumaru Hisame Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Free DLC Character (Season 1)
Rimururu Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Unplayable Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character DLC Character (Season 1)
Basara Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent DLC Character (Season 1)
Gaira Caffeine Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent
Kim Ung Che Absent Absent Korean Exclusive Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent
Kazuki Kazama Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character DLC Character (Season 1)
Sogetsu Kazama Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character DLC Character (Season 2)
Shiki Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character
Hanma Yagyu Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Asura Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Shadow Asura Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Half-Shaded Shiki Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Taizan Morozumi Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Karakuri Hanma Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Enja Kazuki Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Suija Sogetsu Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Seishiro Kuki Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Jin-Emon Hanafusa Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Jushiro Sakaki Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Rinka Yoshino Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Saya Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Haito Kanakura Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Yaci Izanagi Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Garyo the Whirlwind Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Ran Po Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Minto Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Mikoto Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Tohma Kuki Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Tashon Mao Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Daruma Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Mugenji Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Yuda Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Samurai Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Hanzo Hattori (WR) Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Iga Ninjas Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Brute Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Kunou Seishiro Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Yoshitora Tokugawa Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Regular Character
Mina Majikina Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent DLC Character (Season 2)
Rasetsumaru Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent
Rera Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent
Enja Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent
Suija Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent
Liu Yunfei Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent
Youkai Kusaregedo Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Regular Character Absent Absent
Andrew Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent
Iroha Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent DLC Character (Season 2)
Sugoroku Matsuribayashi Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent
Ocha-Maro Karakuri Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent
Purple Nakoruru Absent Absent Alternative Character Alternative Character Alternative Character Alternative Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Alternative Character Absent Alternative Character
Galford (Rasetsu) Absent Absent Alternative Character Alternative Character Alternative Character Alternative Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Alternative Character Absent Absent
Suzuhime Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent
Angelica Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent
Takechiyo Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent
Garros Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent
J. Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent
Kim Hae-Ryeong Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent
Walter Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent
Jinbei Sugamata Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent
Black Hawk Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent
Kirian Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent
Claude Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character Absent
Yashamaru Kurama Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character
Darli Dagger Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character
Wu-Ruixiang Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Regular Character
Hibiki Takane Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Crossover DLC Character (Season 3)
Kuroko Game Boy Exclusive Character Console Exclusive Boss Mid-Boss Absent Hidden Character Regular Character Absent Absent Absent NPC Character Regular Character Absent NPC Character
Hikyaku Game Boy Exclusive Character NPC Character NPC Character Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent NPC Character NPC Character Absent Absent
Gandara Absent Absent Absent Absent Mid-Boss Sub-Boss Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Deku & Dekuina Absent Absent Absent Absent Mid-Bosses Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Oboro's Amazons Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Mid-Bosses Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Yumeji Kurokouchi Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Sub-Boss Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent
Sankuro Yorozu Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Mid-Boss Absent Absent Regular Character Absent Absent
Shiro Tokisada Amakusa Final Boss Absent Regular Character Regular Character & Final Boss (His Normal & Aku Version) Absent Absent Absent Absent Mid-Boss Mid-Boss Regular Character Absent DLC Character (Season 3)
Mizuki Rashojin Absent Final Boss Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Final Boss Final Boss Regular Character Absent Absent
Zankuro Minazuki Absent Absent Final Boss Final Boss Absent Absent Absent Absent Mid-Boss Mid-Boss Regular Character Absent Absent
Yuga the Destroyer Absent Absent Absent Absent Final Boss Final Boss Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Oboro Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Final Boss Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent
Gaoh Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Final Boss Mid-Boss Mid-Boss Regular Character Absent Absent
Demon Gaoh Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Final Boss Absent Absent
Draco Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Sub-Boss Absent
Golba Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Final Boss Absent
Shizuka Gozen Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Final Boss

Crossover Characters

Character Former SNK Era 64 Series Playmore Era Current SNK Era
SamSho I SamSho II SamSho III: Blades of Blood SamSho IV: Amakusa's Revenge SamSho 64 SamSho 64: Warriors Rage SamSho Warriors Rage SamSho V SamSho V Special SamSho V Perfect SamSho VI SamSho Sen SamSho (2019)
Warden Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Crossover Guest DLC Character (Season 2)
Gongsun Li Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Crossover Guest Free DLC Character (Season 2)
Baiken Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Crossover Guest DLC Character (Season 3)

Mascots & Pets

Character Former SNK Era 64 Series Playmore Era Current SNK Era
SamSho SamSho II SamSho III: Blades of Blood SamSho IV: Amakusa's Revenge SamSho 64 SamSho 64: Warriors Rage SamSho Warriors Rage SamSho V SamSho V Special SamSho V Perfect SamSho VI SamSho Sen SamSho (2019)
Mamahaha Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Absent Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet
Poppy Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Absent Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet
Paku Paku Absent Playable Mascot/Pet Absent PlayStation Exclusive Playable Mascot/Pet Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Playable Mascot/Pet Absent Absent
Shikuru Absent Absent Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Absent Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Absent Absent
Chample Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Absent Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Playable Mascot/Pet Absent DLC Playable Mascot/Pet (Season 2)

Trivia

  • The first seven mainline games of the series were produced and released by the original SNK Corporation that was founded in 1978, with the 64 series of games being released before its bankruptcy. Samurai Shodown V up to Samurai Shodown Sen were released by SNK Playmore, a company established in 2001 that acquired all the intellectual rights and properties of the older company. The latest entry of the series, Samurai Shodown (2019), was also released by SNK Playmore, although the company had since changed its name in 2016 to SNK Corporation.
  • The Samurai Shodown series, the Fatal Fury series, the Art of Fighting series and the Metal Slug series are the only non-crossover SNK series to receive characters from other franchises, from both the company itself and from other third-party companies.
    • For the Samurai Shodown series, this happened with Samurai Shodown (2019), with it receiving four DLC crossover characters (three of them being from other companies).
  • Even today, the word "Showdown" is still misspelled as "Shodown". According to Yasushi Adachi, this was because SNK’s U.S. distributor thought that "Spirits" (from the Japanese title of the series, "Samurai Spirits") did not properly explain to consumers what the game was about, and suggested that it be replaced with "Showdown" instead. The 1980 miniseries, Shōgun, was still popular at the time, so they suggested that the word should be spelt as "Shodown" as a reference to it.[1]
  • Ironically, very few of the samurai characters in the series are proper samurai and are rōnin instead.

External links

Notes

  1. The Samurai Shodown website states that the game is set in 1789. The game's opening states that it is 1789 (「一七八九年 寛政の改革が人々を圧迫せし頃」)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Mielke, James (April 10, 2017). "The making of Samurai Shodown". Polygon. Vox Media.
  2. 侍魂の系譜 (in Japanese). SNK PLAYMORE. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  3. "The Japanese Calendar History". National Diet Library, Japan. 2002. Archived from the original on December 3, 2002. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
SNK games
Major series Fatal FurySamurai ShodownThe King of FightersMetal Slug
Minor series Micon KitIkari WarriorsAthenaBeast BustersBaseball StarsSengokuWorld HeroesArt of FightingSuper SidekicksTwinkle Star SpritesThe Last BladeNeoSNK vs. CapcomDragon GalDays of MemoriesSuper OtousanSky LoveSister QuestDoki MajoKamitamaSNK Gals Island
Duologies VanguardAlpha MissionJongbouPrehistoric IsleKing of the MonstersQuizCrossed SwordsStarStakes WinnerPuzzle de Pon!Shock TroopersPuzzle LinkUnitronCool CoolKentei Mezase!KyujiNanairo MiraiSavage Reign
Crossovers ADK WorldSNK Gals' FightersNeo Geo Battle ColiseumNeo Geo Heroes: Ultimate ShootingSNK Dream BattleThe Rhythm of FightersSNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy
Standalone developed YosakuSafari RallySasuke vs. CommanderThe Monkey / Monkey FriendSatan of SaturnFantasyPioneer BalloonLassoMunch MobileMarvin's MazeMahjong ClassroomGladiatorJumping CrossMain EventMad CrasherHAL 21T.N.K. IIICanvas CroquisBermuda TriangleGuerrilla WarWorld WarsPaddle ManiaFighting SoccerFighting GolfChopper IIron TankP.O.W. - Prisoners of WarGold MedalistCountry ClubMechanized AttackStreet SmartThe Next SpaceSAR: Search and RescueCrystalisNAM-1975Mahjong KyōretsudenTop Player's GolfDexterityLittle League BaseballRiding HeroThe Super SpyCyber-LipPuzzledLeague BowlingGhost PilotsRobo ArmyFootball FrenzySoccer BrawlMutation NationLast Resort3 Count BoutTop Hunter: Roddy & CathyRoads EdgeXtreme RallySonic the Hedgehog Pocket AdventureMezase! Kanji OuGanbare Neo Poke-KunOgre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia PrinceBig Bang Pro WrestlingZupapa!HanasakariVait LordKimino YushaTouch Down FeverTsukibitoKimi Wa Hero
Standalone published Ozma WarsAtom SmasherMeijinsenTime SoldiersSky SoldiersGang WarsSky AdventureSatomi HakkendenSuper Champion BaseballMagician LordNinja CombatBlue's JourneyEight Man2020 Super BaseballBurning FightThrash RallyNinja CommandoAggressors of Dark KombatMaster of SyougiNeo Turf MastersOver TopNinja Master'sRagnagardPleasure Goal: 5 on 5 Mini SoccerIroncladZintrickThe Irritating MazeMelon Chan's Growth DiaryPocket TennisCrush RollerDoko Demo MahjongNeo Poke Pro YakyuuParty MailShigeru Mizuki's Yokai Photo AlbumDynamite Slugger
Console published Legend of Success JoeMinnasan no Okagesama DesuBakatono-sama Mahjong Man'yukiAndro DunosViewpointSpin MasterWindjammersGururinFight FeverFighter's History DynamiteJanshin Densetsu: Quest of JongmasterAero Fighters 2/3Puzzle Bobble/Puzzle Bobble 2Zed BladePower Spikes IIStreet HoopGoal! Goal! Goal!Bomberman: Panic BomberGalaxy Fight: Universal WarriorsDouble DragonKabuki KlashIdol Mahjong Final Romance 2Voltage Fighter GowcaizerChibi Maruko-chan Deluxe QuizSuper Dodge BallTecmo World Soccer '96Magical Drop II/III/PocketNeo Drift Out: New TechnologyWaku Waku 7BreakersMoney Puzzle ExchangerNeo BombermanNeo Mr. Do!Battle Flip ShotBang BeadGanryuCaptain TomadayShanghai MiniDive AlertPac-ManPuyo PopDensha de Go! 2KoudelkaFaselei!Strikers 1945 PlusPocket ReversiNightmare in the DarkCool Boarders PocketFantastic Night Dreams: CottonPicture PuzzleEvolution: Eternal DungeonsSuper Real Mahjong Premium CollectionRage of the DragonsPower Instinct MatrimeleePochi and Nyaa
Other Neo CarnivalNeo Geo CD SpecialSNK World-iSNK Slot Panic iN•A•K•E•R•UNeo Geo Online CollectionNeoGeo Pocket Color SelectionXuan Dou Zhi WangSuper Smash Bros. UltimateStreet Fighter 6
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