Samurai Shodown IV

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Samurai Shodown IV
Neo Geo CD cover for Samurai Shodown IV.
Developer(s)	SNK
Publisher(s)	SNK
Designer(s)	Galapagos Team
Release date(s)	October 25, 1996
Genre(s)	Versus Fighting
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players simultaneously
Platform(s)	Arcade, PlayStation, Sega Saturn
Input	8-way Joystick, 4 Buttons
Arcade cabinet	Upright
Arcade system(s)	Neo-Geo (378 Mbit cartridge)
Arcade display	Raster, 304 x 224 pixels (Horizontal), 4096 colors

Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge (サムライスピリッツ天草降臨, Samurai Suppiritsu Amakusa Kōrin^?, released as Samurai Spirits: Amakusa's Descent in Japan) is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games.

1 Overview
2 Critical and Fan Reception
3 Story
4 External links

[edit] Overview

Sogetsu vs. Nakoruru

After Samurai Shodown III was received more or less poorly by the fighting game community, SNK again went back to address the complaints, and tried to deliver a followup that would hopefully regain some of the magic that had made Samurai Shodown II such a hit.

The most obvious change is visual, with dramatically adjusted color palettes for the individual characters, generally brightening them up and reducing contrast, in the attempt to make the game more cartoonish. Aerial blocking was removed entirely, and the switcharound move, which enabled a player to shift quickly behind the other's back, as well as the dodge (Evade; side-step), in which the move virtually brings a semi-3D environment to the defense in attempt to use each sword more effectively.

Following the same philosophy, some of the older characters were restored, such as Charlotte, Tam Tam and Yagyu Jubei. Joining the cast were the two ninja brothers, Kazama Kazuki and Kazama Sogetsu. The entire cast of the previous game also returns, though some have been retouched to further enhance the cartoonish look.

Overall, the game plays not terribly unlike SS3, but the feel is considerably different. Control has been loosened and more accurately modified, controller motions have been improved, overall damage has been reduced, the inner-frame has been added which brings visual affect realistically and one can no longer charge his/her own POW gauge. The biggest addition is probably the "CD Combo," wherein a player can press the C and D buttons together, triggering a strike that can be followed up by a sequence of button taps. The single-player mode now has a timer, as well. Only by reaching the final boss within a specified time limit can one see a character's ending.

In a slightly paradoxical move when compared to the brighter aesthetic, SNK also added in a "suicide" move (known in English-speaking fan circles as the "Honorable Death"), wherein one's character sacrifices his/her own life, thus forfeiting the round. The bonus to this is that the one committing suicide will start the next round with a full POW gauge. Certain finishes will also enable a "fatality" move in the vein of Mortal Kombat. This feature has been much-debated for its violent nature.

[edit] Critical and Fan Reception

By and large, the game was regarded as an improvement from the obviously-rushed SS3, though it has its share of detractors. Though the game is better balanced, the flow of it is still often regarded as lopsided for some characters, such as Nakoruru, Galford and Hanzo.

Common complaints include:

There are animation cuts from the previous game(as a common which can be also found in SS5SP.)
The Upper Grade mode was almost as useless and the Beginner Grade mode was abusive for some characters.
The lack of individual music themes for each character.
Many moves from SS3 were inexplicably removed.
For the first time in the series, the sprites were not redrawn from one game to the next.

In spite of this, it is still well-regarded, and debate over its quality continues in fan circles to this day.

[edit] Story

The year, 1789.

As frost, floods, fires, and famine play havoc with the world, a sinister castle appears in the land of Shimabara. The lord of that castle is Shiro Tokisada Amakusa.

Having previously been resurrected from the realm of the dead, Amakusa was supposed to have been slain in the midst of his evil designs, but now he returns to subjugate the world of the living.

Having already engulfed the Shimabara peninsula, this castle of evil grows larger day by day. People soon call it "Amakusa Castle" and in their terror begin to revere it, hoping this will save them.

But little did they know that this act of desperation would only summon further misfortune....

Amakusa has returned for more trouble, this time taking over a castle in a jagged wasteland and kidnapping the sorceress-in-training Kazama Hazuki, Kazuki and Sogetsu's beloved younger sister, in order to use her as a power source. The power spreading from Amakusa's work catches the attention of various warriors who head in for a variety of purposes... and even Minazuki Zankuro also has a hand in the story.