Samurai Shodown! 2

"SNK Delivers"

The Samurai Shodown series has long been a favourite among arcade gamers, and especially among fighting - gamers because of its unique Weapons - Fighter format. Samurai Shodown 2! for the Neo - Geo Pocket Color is no exception. While it may not be an instant favourite for some stay - at - home gamers, It will definitely do well with any gamers familiar with the arcade series.

Gameplay - 9/10
While many Fighting games incorporate lots of button - mashing, this, along with most other weapons fighters will make for calmer, yet faster game. The game does not push you to press buttons rapidly, but encourages much more strategic maneuvering and much more occasional attacks than most fighters. This game could be played for a long time without the gamer losing any interest, but for prolonged times it can become monotonous.

Story 2/10
Not much is really explained here, and cryptic messages are given about a revolution and an evil empire, but this genre of games certainly isn't about story. Any avid fan will know that it is based on the same characters as Ninja Scroll, however, which may add some fun to the game.

Audio / Visuals 8/10
The songs are beautiful, setting perfect moods for forest and ominous scenes, and it knows when to settle down, too. The Graphics are very detailed, and the character animations are smooth and convincing. The sprites change lots of details, but not too much to distract the player from playing well. The backgrounds are very indispensable to the atmosphere of the game. They look almost as if they were painted at points. The card art Will give you better ideas of the character's looks.

Replay - Ability 9/10
I find myself returning to this game constantly. It is perfect for passing the time while monotonous propaganda - spewing teachers babble on about mindless poppycock... or any other time when you find yourself bored. You can play this for hours without getting bored, and It wont get tiring even after you complete the collection of cards.

Buy / Rent
I doubt that you will find a place to rent this, but buying it would certainly be a better choice anyway. If you are a fan of anime, fighting games, or fantasy than you will love this... And you won't want to play it just once after renting it! There is limited availability for the English version, so you should get it as soon as possible if you want it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/09/02, Updated 07/09/02