Samurai Shodown

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Samurai Shodown

Developer(s)	SNK
Publisher(s)	SNK
Japanese title	サムライスピリッツ (Samurai Spirits)
Release date(s)	August 11, 1993 Wii Virtual Console October 16, 2007
Genre(s)	Fighting
System(s)	Arcade, SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, 3DO, Game Gear, Sega CD, Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, Wii Virtual Console, GameTap
Players	1-2
Mode(s)	Arcade, Versus
Rating(s)	CERO: Ages 12 and up ESRB: Teen PEGI: Ages 12+ USK: Ages 12+ OFLC: Mature Accompanied & Restricted OFLC: Mature OFLC/NZ: R15 ELSPA: Ages 12+ RSAC: V3S/N1L1 (1)
Media	Cartridge, CD
Website	snkplaymore.co.uk
Input	Controller, Arcade Stick
Followed by	Samurai Shodown II

This is the first game in the Samurai Shodown series. For other games in the series see the Samurai Shodown category.

For the Neo Geo Pocket version, see Samurai Shodown!.

Samurai Shodown, known as Samurai Spirits (サムライスピリッツ) in Japan, is the first game in SNK Playmore's popular series of fighting games.

It is set in the late 18th century and all of its characters wield weapons. It also bears comparatively authentic music from the time period and a refined version of the camera zoom first found in Art of Fighting. True to its use of bladed weapons, the game also includes copious amounts of blood.

The game was set in the late 18th century and all of its characters wielded weapons. It also bore comparatively authentic music from the time period and a refined version of the camera zoom first found in Art of Fighting. True to its use of bladed weapons, the game also included copious amounts of blood. Its overall aesthetic drew in the curious, and made SNK many fans.

Samurai Shodown quickly became renowned for its fast pace, focused more on quick, powerful strikes than combos. As to emphasize the distinction of this gameplay system, slow motion was added to intensify damage dealt from hard hits. Also during a match, a referee held flags representing each player (player 1 was white; player 2 red). When a player landed a successful hit, the referee would lift the corresponding flag, letting everyone watching know who dealt the blow. To lessen the repetition of fights, a delivery man running in the background threw items such as chicken (that healed) or bombs, which could significantly change the outcome of a play.