Video Game Gazette
The release of Capcom’s Street Fighter II marked the beginning of a new era in fighting games. Many different companies scrambled to produce their own fighters hoping to cash in on the craze. Some of these were clones like World Heroes, and others like Mortal Kombat used drastically different fighting systems and graphics. Amongst all of these series only a few rose to the top. One of these was SNK’s Samurai Showdown. It set itself apart from the pack by being the first fighter of the era in which you could use weapons. It also had some cool sidekick animals. However, this had little to do with its success. It had an excellent fighting system, beautiful graphics, a classic setting, and just the right amount of gore.
Back in the day the only way to play Samurai Showdown was on a Neo Geo. A light-weight version was then released on the Genesis. Fortunately, the game was finally done some justice with the release on the 3DO.
The game had a similar fighting system to Street Fighter II, with three types of kicks and three types of slashes, dashes, and throws. This was a good thing, as you may as well stick with what works. It also had the obligatory bonus stages. It added a button mashing battle right out of wrestling games to lock swords. It also incorporated a power meter for super moves. Items also appeared in stages, and could change the course of a battle. Although it did not have special finishing moves per say, you could kill your opponent with a super slash that caused arterial spray.
The game boasted twelve playable characters, which was the standard number for its time. They included all of the stereotypical blokes, the rivals Haohmaru and Ukyo Tachibana, the cocky American Galford, the hot chicks Charlotte and Nakoruru, and the the big dude Earthquake. Many of the special attacks were derived from Street Fighter II, so you had things like Haohmaru’s Cyclone Slash and Charlotte’s Splash Fount.
So, if you can’t get enough of classic Street Fighter II, love Samurai, or just dig anime, pick up a copy and let the rivers run red.
The following is a list of the character’s special moves.
D means down
DF means down forward
B + slash means to push back and slash at the same time.
Haohmaru
Cyclone Slash: D, DF, F + slash
Crescent Moon Slash: F, BD, B, FD + slash
Nakoruru
Annu Mutsube: B, BD, D + slash
Lela Mutsube: D, DF, F + slash
Amube Yatoro: F, FD, D, DB, B + slash
Mamahaha Flight: D, DB, B + Shift + A
Yatoro Poku: while flying, D, or DF, or DB + slash or kick
Kamui Mutsuube: while flying, slash or kick
Mamahaha Call: when disarmed, D, DB, B + Shift A or F, DB, D, DF, B + slash
Ukyo Tachibana
Snowfall Slash: D, DB, B + slash
Swallow Swipe: while jumping. DB, D, DF, F + slash
Jubei Yagyu
Tsunami Saber: F, D, DF + slash
Geyser Thrust: D, DF, F + slash
Saber Thrash: Repeatedly push slash
Galford
Head Strike: while near opponent, F, D, FD + kick
Rush Dog: D, DB, B + slash
Triangle Jump: When jumping near the side of the screen, press D pad in opposite direction of the jump.
Ninja Teleportation: F, B, DB, D, DF + A, B, or shift + A + B
Head Replica Attack: when attack, away from opponent + shift B, C
Rear Replica Attack: F, FD, D, FB, B + B, C, shift + B, C
Machine Gun Dog: D, DB, B + shift A
Diving Dog: D, DB, B + shift B
Charlotte
Splash Fount: repeatedly press slash
Power Gradation: DB, D, DF + slash
Tam Tam
Moora Gaboora: D, DF, F + slash
Paguna Dios: D, DB, B + kick
Paguna Paguna: hold B then F + slash
Ahow Gaboori: F, DF, D, DB, B + slash
Wan Fu
Confucius Thunder Bomb: D, DB, B + slash
Confucius Whirlwing: F, D, DF + slash
Kyoshiro Senryo
Jumping Lion: D, DB, B + kick
Kabuki Crunch Dance: F, DB, D, DF + slash
Twirling Flame: DB, D, DF, F + slash
Wheel of Blood Smoke: while jumping, D + C
Whirlwind Fan: D, DB, B + slash
Hanzo Hattori
Flying Spikeball: D, DF, F + kick
Ninja Teleportation Jig: B, FD, D, DB, F + shift B, C
Shrike Dash: when near opponent, F, D, DF + kick
Triangle Jump: When jumping near the side of the screen, press D pad in opposite direction of the jump.
Ninja Shadow Replicates: F, B, BD, D, DF + A, B, C
Ninja Exploding Dragon: Hold B then F + slash
Earthquake
Fat Hound: while jumping, D + kick repeatedly
Fat Chainsaw: Slash repeatedly
Triangle Jump: When jumping near the side of the screen, press D pad in opposite direction of the jump.
Ganman Shiranui
Poison Cloud Puff: D, DF, F + slash
Slaughter House Tumble: F, D, DF + slash
