Samurai Shodown II

"Such finesse is -almost- beyond words"

Believe it or not, ”beautiful” is not an adjective used often to describe the overall feel of a game. Beautiful graphics? Sure. Beautiful music? Of course. Beautiful game? No. However, that’s undeniably the best way to describe timeless classics --such as SNK’s Samurai Shodown II.

In a two-dimensional world of never-ending sequels, static gameplay concepts and rare innovations that can only be appreciated by the core of the hardcore, this game stands out as a diamond in the rough, unmatched in terms of design and originality. It’s one of those games that haunt you throughout your every day and night. You know what I’m talking about: these games that you can’t get out of your mind when you’re lying awake at night, ultimately feeling the urge to test out new combos and the like. Yes indeed, if the superb yet under-hyped Samurai Showdown II brings to mind old clichés, it’s because it gave birth to the aforementioned clichés.

Back in the heated age of 1994, when the Houston Rockets were still dominating the NBA and Coolio was doing his thing in ''true gangsta fashion'', this unheralded weapon-based fighter was the hottest **** in the arcades. While it didn’t benefit from the same surprise effect as its predecessor, it dropped more jaws than an orthodontist for the sole reason that it skillfully blended together gorgeous visuals, intuitive gameplay and a coherent universe: something that had remained unseen since a certain Street Fighter 2.

A legendary battlefield.

As expected, the premise is fairly simple: shortly after the demise of Amakusa’s dark empire told in the first opus, a new evil arises. A mysterious femme fatale called Mizuki has been attributed ambitions to take over the continent and only a select few warriors may be able to save the people. Think Star Wars meets Once Upon a Time in China. Just add horrendously translated endings to the mix and what you’re watching is a memorable -if not exciting- oriental drama.

But has any other fighter truly ever showcased scenes of such quality?

Just how could one possibly not be in awe in front of this bright and vivid depiction of a remote Japanese meadow? The freezing air and blowing wind may be almost tangible but silent murderers don’t flinch. Although the tuberculosis-infected Ukyo certainly is a handsome swordsman, he’s not one to show his feelings --even when he just defeated the mysterious ninja formerly known as Hanzo. This fallen foe vanished once again, leaving only a worthless log where he was still standing, critically wounded, half a second ago.

Under the moonlight, our dying hero throws a reddish apple in the air before slicing it into hundreds of microscopic pieces with the help of his trustworthy blade. Then Ukyo seemingly calls the player for help as he coughs up blood while several geishas gleefully celebrate his noble victory in the background.

Samurai Shodown II is an emotionally-driven game that transcends conventional wisdom. It feels very old school, mainly because its mechanics are so straightforward. There are no parries, no fancy variable combos or alternative fighting styles here. You either attack or defend using an array of normal (just three different kinds of slash and two kick attacks) and special moves, but there’s very little middle ground. Consequently when you lose your weapon, you’re simply left at the mercy of your foe for approximately ten seconds, like a Whopper™ in Rosie O’Donnell’s chubby hands.

A versatile production.

On the other hand, the gameplay becomes particularly deep as the player is offered a plethora of strategic options to develop his own combinations, such as running or lying on the floor. This apparent paradox provides the fights with a dynamic pace that seems to be missing from most of today’s fighters, and while it only takes mere seconds to feel immersed into this game, it takes numerous years to fully master it. Samurai Shodown 2 is like an ancient martial art.

Meet Haohmaru, mythical sake-drinking samurai. Before looking slick in Capcom vs SNK 2, he was instilled in this game. Although his fiery, charismatic personality perfectly embodies the spirit of the company responsible for his creation, Haohmaru looks like a grain of salt lost in the depth of such a unique cast. Typical American ninja Galford and his canine companion are back, while fan favorite Nakoruru and her cute bird Mamaha are ready to kick some butt with style. Similarly, the new characters (namely the evil swordsman Genjuro, the Chinese stick master Nicotine, the German knight Neinhalt and last but not least, everyone’s favorite jungle girl Cham Cham) have been designed with a cartoonish feel that forces the player to instantly try –and love- them.

Yet another interesting innovation, the Ikari meter is a kind of anger gauge that fills up when your character takes damage or blocks which allows you not only to deal more powerful attacks, but also to use devastating deathblows when full. Who cares if this isn’t one bit realistic? It’s the epitome of fun! Naturally, such a clever engine is served by flawless and responsive controls, making Samurai Shodown II a more than enjoyable experience. One motto here and again: practice makes perfect --even though it’s worth noticing that the computer’s artificial intelligence is defiantly old-fashioned* at times.

*Read: frustrating as hell.

Yet, it’s a shame to see such a breathtaking picture tainted by a minor annoyance: character balance. As you already know, Ukyo is the man. But in fact he’s almost too virile gameplay-wise, since he can beat most characters with little effort and by repeating simple patterns, a problem either caused by a lack of playtest or a move conception flaws. Alas, newcomer Cham Cham joins him to form an overpowered ‘top-tier team’.

An evocative masterpiece.

Sure, the level of detail on the characters is simply outstanding, but wait until you actually witness some of this relentless action relayed through the insanely great number of animations God blessed them with! Samurai Shodown II truly is a marvel to look at. It’s true that the entire series was given awesome character design since its creation, nevertheless this second episode has substantially more charm than its three siblings, thanks to the perfect compromise between sheer style and variety eventually found by the company responsible for this virtual riot.

Much like good wine, Samurai Shodown II is an acquired taste that only gets better as time passes by. Where young guns will see a slightly pixilated Soul Calibur ancestor, mature gamers will see an impressionist representation of medieval Japan. The screen-scaling effects bring much dynamism to the fights, but it’s really the overall aesthetic of the entire game that renders it an unforgettable piece of true artistry. Simply sumptuous.

Sadly, the music is not on par with the rest of the game. Bad SNK. It’s not by any means terrible, but apart from a few epic tunes –such as Nakoruru’s mythical song- the soundtrack only consists of run-of-the-mill themes characterized by soul-lacking compositions and a complete lack of rhythm. They’re so unimpressive that calling them disappointing is an understatement. In fact, their only merit is to clearly set the tone of the game: expect fierce fighting and nothing else. Fortunately, a prime example of the previous statement is the quality (and forceful enthusiasm) of the guttural voices. They’re barbarian, they’re Japanese and they’re extraordinary.

A beautiful game.

Sharp as a katana, Samurai Showdown II remains by far the best game in the series even eight years after its original release. Despite developer SNK’s late attempts to resurrect its unique spirit with the eerily similar Last Blade, no fighter has even come close to matching its excellence –no, SNK is Samurai Shodown II.

In other words, this bushido-esque game has yet to be topped in terms of creative latitude. Quite frankly and without a wisp of pretense, I don’t think any game ever will.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/26/02, Updated 02/02/03