SNK Playmore
has made a career out of the two-dimensional side-scrolling fighters that
feature arcade style action. The King of Fighters series is a prime example.
Apparently the formula is so successful that it warrants yet another iteration
with the arrival of Samurai Shodown V.
Ok, not the
arrival, for SNK NEOGEO is not actually slated to ship this title to retailers
until December 20, but GameZone.com was able to get a preview build for the Xbox
and spend some time with the title.
If you have
played the KOF titles, then you know what to expect. You pick a fighter and then
engage in side-scrolling combat against a stagnant backdrop. Rounds are timed
and it is usually best two-out-of-three to determine a winner. Win and you
advance to the next fight.
There is a
storyline, not that it really matters that much in regards to the gameplay. One
samurai vies against the shogun, which in turn leads to a gathering of 26
fighters. That’s it. You fight, you win, and you may get to meet the boss.
The game
will have full Xbox Live support for tournament modes and there are 11 new
characters in the mix of this upgraded version of the original arcade release.
Each character has a ‘rage gauge’ that can be charged up to unleash even more
devastation than the regular combos can manage. The game also adds a spirit
strength that slows down your opponent and a sword spirit gauge to enable
players to do a little planning of moves.
And when it
comes to moves, this game has plenty. The button combinations are similar for
each character’s attacks, but each character has special moves depending on the
character. You can enable Mina Majikima’s bow attacks for devastating ranged
damage, or get in tight for fiery attacks of Kazuki Kazama. According to the
press release, there are a total of 23 combo moves available, though players may
likely find certain button-mashing combos work best depending on the opponent.
The game’s
graphics are very much in line with what players have come to know from the KOF
series as well, though a few characters have been designed by Noburhiro Wazuki.
But when it comes to the fighting itself, you move horizontally, duck, leap out
of attack range and launch your own offensive moves or counters, building up
your meters. The concept of the game is very simple.
The controls
are easy to use, and the sound effects are serviceable.
While not
noticeably different from other SNK/NEOGEO titles, where the draw for Samurai
Shodown V will likely occur is in the online tourney mode. Still, this is a pure
arcade fighter title that draws on the rich backdrop of the genre and presents a
lot of the old with a smattering of the new.
