#SAMURAI SHODOWN II HUNTER SOFTWARE#
#SAMURAI SHODOWN II HUNTER SERIES#

Last Blade feels more classy, like SNK devs were trying to achieve something more than just making a good fighting game. The CD soundtrack is one of the best ever composed. The music goes to last blade though, I mean god damn. I still play Shodown 2, while I barely play Last Blade even though I have it on PS4. Last Blade is more Soul Calibur like with light strikes, standard damage and combos. Its a more methodical game and one well timed strike can turn the tide of battle in an instant. Its controls were rougher and the games were a fair bit older than even LB1 but a sword strike in shodown hurts like it should. I also started to appreciate Shodown's swordplay more, especially from SS1 and 2. I couldn't do shit with some LB characters. I also felt shodown was more balanced, but I could be wrong. Shodown has some seriously iconic characters. I liked the Shinsengumi guys, Setsuna and a few others but I feel Shodown has the game beat here. The characters of LB, they aren't as good on average. Last Blade had this perfect gameplay, very good controls. I've been a Last Blade fan for a long time, even owned both on AES at some point (while also owning the first 4 Shodown games). But for a revival Last Blade since its been absent for far too long. If your move left an opening, and the opponent responded properly, the dread that your poor character was going to suffer was tangible. It's also one of the few things I thought Samurai Shodown Sen did pretty well: People would lose a hand, arm, get cleaved in half, get a severed artery, or beheaded (which was slightly different from back and front) with a frightening immediacy.

Already damaging moves + the extra damage of 'Rage Burst' modes, all the different fatal slash systems, having normals do chip when blocking weapons with bare hands, all suggest how fearsome weapon fighting should be. SamSho still never reached that point, either, but it's a lot closer. Or at least seriously hurt the opponent, in a way that hampers their abilities. Soul Calibur can be blamed in the same way there's so much stuff that happens in these games, that should end fights right then and there. The idea that strikes with a weapon are about as damaging as fierce punches is. Last Blade has great looking moves, but it ends up making sword strikes feel like punches, half the time. It always disappoints me how often fighting game players show they are unwilling to try and develop new gameplay flow and speed. Past SS2, though, they're all close enough to where feelings can easily change depending on who I'm playing either game with.

#SAMURAI SHODOWN II HUNTER SERIES#

So for me, I probably find SamSho II a bit more unique and important than Last Blade 1 and 2, but I MIGHT find both of those better than any other SamSho, just because the rest of the series always has something weird, missing, or that could have used more development. I think both of these things give it a wider appeal. It's style isn't as bold and striking as SamSho, but it's extremely competent and well made. It's systems give it the combo and 'desire for speed' flows that many seem to think makes games 'better'.

Last Blade shocks me in how much it feels like a game that'd be made now.

It puts such an emphasis on button presses, the punishability of weapon strikes, and really finding and exploiting openings. It's loaded with systems and considerations that no other fighter takes anyway near as seriously. Known for such franchises as THE KING OF FIGHTERS, METAL SLUG, and SAMURAI SHODOWN, SNK continues to be an industry leader by focusing on its rich arcade history.SamSho changes so much between games, that it's kind of a shock to me, even now. SNK is one of the largest privately held interactive entertainment content providers in the world.

#SAMURAI SHODOWN II HUNTER SOFTWARE#

Headquartered in Osaka, Japan, SNK CORPORATION (SNK) develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Furthermore, all games included are the Japanese versions. This console does not include the 2019 new SAMURAI SHODOWN title.

Samurai shodown ii hunter