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 Samurai
Shodown Anthlogy (Wii)
Offering six classic SNK fighting titles on a single value priced disc, Samurai
Shodown Anthology delivers solid arcade fighting action to your living
room. Each of these titles has a unique battle system and switching
between the game offers players the chance to watch the series evolve. Its
unique and uncompromising gameplay mechanics give the Samurai Shodown
titles a different feel than other fighting games and the unique cast of
characters is memorable in terms of design and attack strategy. There are
several other SNK compilations on Wii, and this solid release is a solid
purchase if you want to enhance or add to your existing collection. |
While SNK's Samurai Shodown (known as
Samurai Spirits in Japan) has always had a devoted following, it's never
received the critical praise lavished on other fighting series. This
compilation for Wii is as good an opportunity as any for a fresh look at
the games and their impressive evolution over the years. At its start, the
series began as a slightly more eastern flavored version of Street Fighter
II, with an admittedly derivative approach most evident in the first game.
However, as time moved along and SNK tweaked the game, it began to show a
unique gameplay personality all its own. Playing through these classic
fighting games, you can see the trademark SNK style develop over time,
becoming a unique counter-part to the systems and style of Capcom's
titles. To take SS on specifically, it's reliance on swordplay over kicks
and punches always separated it from the pack, and as its fighting systems
became more elaborate and complicated, it developed a feel all its own.
The game's vibrantly animated 2D design was refreshingly pure, and for
this reason the games have help up well over the years. While the Wii
versions animations might not be as smooth as the old AES machines, these
translations still look razor sharp on the console. Overall, the
developers have done an excellent job bringing these classics games home
without losing too much in the translation.
SNK's uncompromising approach to the
series saw very few gimmicks seep through, giving the Samurai titles a
gameplay purity that the flashier KOF games couldn't achieve. This
consistent design made these games feel quite authentic. One key element
in its 'otaku' appeal is its use of traditional Japanese instrumentation,
which makes for somewhat quieter soundtrack than other fighters and one
that sets the atmosphere perfectly. Its this approach that elegantly
complimented the action in these titles and make them stand out. It's
1800's time frame also helped to give SS a unique feel, and its antiquated
character designs and retro levels made it feel much less modern, and more
timeless than other fighting games. A key part of the appeal of SS has
always been its characters, who are much more memorable than the somewhat
generic fighters that populate other series. Each character in the SS
universe radiates a unique personality and fighting technique that makes
playing and mastering them more a joy than a chore. As the games evolved,
more sophisticated attacks and combos became available, such as slash and
burst modes that added layers of strategy to the battles. You have to
master each of these techniques and the art of the counter in order to
defeat your opponents. The different attacks and gauges in each game can
become a bit confusing if you try and play them all at once, but confining
yourself to a single game on the compilation helps to reduce this. As you
get into its flowing classically styled gameplay, the depth of Samurai
Shodown becomes more apparent. It's smoothly flowing, fast-paced action
differs dramatically from other fighting games and required more thought
and strategy. Figuring out how to counter an opponents attacks, knowing
when to unleash special attacks and learning to wait until the rival is
vulnerable can be tricky if you're used to the more traditional button
mashing style of fighting, but the sense of satisfaction and
accomplishment makes any of the included games more rewarding.
The compilation itself is smartly put
together, beginning with its streamlined menu system that's easy to
navigate and use. Players can select from any of the six titles on the
main menu and can also go into the training and practice modes to sharpen
their fighting skills. The Wii versions of each game allow you to use the
standard Wii-mote or the classic controller if you're so inclined. The
game plays fine with the standard wii controller, and SNK deserves credit
for not falling into the Wii trap, as they did with the Metal Slug
compilation. You don't have to shake your wii-mote to perform special
moves, which allows the games' straightforward mechanics to show without
becoming overshadowed by gimmicks. For those who want to maximize their
gameplay authenticity, using the classic controller allows for smoother
movement using the controllers analog pad. This makes performing
half-circle moves and special attacks much easier. For players lucky
enough to own one, the Wii Joystick is obviously ideal since it's the most
accurate way to recreate the original arcade controls. Each game on the
disc loads relatively quickly, which allows you to jump right into the
action. Samurai Shodown's emulation quality is surprisingly accurate,
recreating the fluid pace of the action faithfully. There are a few minor
issues with lost frames here and there, but the overall job is quite
impressive. As an added bonus, several mini-games are included where you
tilt the Wiimote in different directions to catch objects. These are nice
diversions but nothing to get excited about. Overall, this is a solid compilation
that accurately recreates the arcade classics, offering plenty of action
and challenge and serving as a mini-course in the evolution of one of
SNK's under-rated franchises. It's a solid purchase for any fans of the
arcade games or those looking for the experience without having to shell
out a small fortune for the original Neo-Geo carts.
- Michael Palisano
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