''Samurai Shodown V Special'' is the ninth entry in
SNK
is a Japanese video game hardware and software company. It is the successor to the company Shin Nihon Kikaku and presently owns the SNK video game brand and the Neo Geo video game platform. SNK's predecessor Shin Nihon Kikaku was founded in 1978 ...
's ''
Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits'' series of
fighting games
A fighting game, also known as a versus fighting game, is a genre of video game that involves combat between two or more players. Fighting game combat often features mechanics such as blocking, grappling, counter-attacking, and chaining attac ...
. It is an upgraded version of the game ''
Samurai Shodown V
''Samurai Shodown V'' is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last games to be released on the Neo Geo. This title takes place before the first ''Samurai Shodown''.
Gameplay
Fo ...
'' and is the last official game for the
Neo Geo
Neo Geo is a family of video game hardware developed by SNK. On the market from 1990 to 2004, the brand originated with the release of an arcade system, the Neo Geo MVS and its home console counterpart, the Neo Geo AES.
The Neo Geo MVS was su ...
platform. A further upgraded version of the game called ''Samurai Shodown V Perfect'' was location-tested in late 2004, but not officially released until it was included in the ''Samurai Shodown NeoGeo Collection'' in 2020.
Gameplay
The essential mechanics remained largely unchanged from previous games, with the update being directed towards graphical and audio changes. The updated visuals include portraits by artist Satoshi Ito, which convey a dark atmosphere similar to that of ''
Samurai Shodown III
''Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood'' is an arcade game developed by SNK and released on November 15, 1995. It is the third game in SNK's ''Samurai Shodown'' series of fighting games. While it is the third game in the main series, it is the ...
''.
A significant number of changes exist between ''
Samurai Shodown V
''Samurai Shodown V'' is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last games to be released on the Neo Geo. This title takes place before the first ''Samurai Shodown''.
Gameplay
Fo ...
'' and ''Samurai Shodown V Special''. Among them, the characters Sankuro and Yumeji were replaced with ''
Samurai Shodown
''Samurai Shodown'', known in Japan as is a fighting game series by SNK. The series began in 1993 and is known for being one of the earliest in the genre with a primary focus on weapon-based combat.
Plot
The stories in the series take place in ...
'' boss, Amakusa Shiro Tokisada, and ''Samurai Shodown III'' boss, Zankuro Minazuki. Also, the hidden character Poppy was replaced with ''
Samurai Shodown II
''Samurai Shodown II'', known in Japan as is a 1994 fighting game released as the second entry in SNK Playmore, SNK's ''Samurai Shodown'' series. Like the original Samurai Shodown (1993 video game), ''Samurai Shodown'', the sequel was initially ...
'' boss, Mizuki Rashojin, and was playable without the need of a hidden code. In addition to the roster change, many graphics and sound changes were made to give the game a fresh feel, even though most of the returning characters used their old voices, dating from ''
Samurai Shodown IV
''Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge'' is the fourth in SNK's flagship ''Samurai Shodown'' series of fighting games. Chronologically, it is the second and final chapter of a story between ''Samurai Shodown'' and ''Samurai Shodown II'', with ...
''. Existing ''Samurai Shodown V'' character stages were modified, and new stages were made for the arrival of Amakusa, Zankuro, and Mizuki.
This game also received many gameplay tweaks, making this version much more balanced than its predecessor. However, the biggest gameplay change was the introduction of the Zetsumei Ougi, or the Overkill Move. When performed correctly, it instantly ends the match for its victim, regardless of how much life he/she has remaining. This concept is similar to that of the ''
Guilty Gear
is a series of fighting games by Arc System Works, created and designed by artist Daisuke Ishiwatari. Guilty Gear (first video game), The first game was published in 1998, and has spawned several sequels. It has also adapted to other media suc ...
'' series, except that the conditions for the move are much stricter. The character must be in a rage, and the opponent's life must be below the point where they could have entered Concentration One, introduced in ''Samurai Shodown V'' as a special slow-motion mode powered up by meditating (holding D while standing still). The start-up motion is the same for each character, but if it hits the attacking character, it can finish off their victim in their own unique fashion.
In addition to the overkill moves, generic
fatality effects from ''
Samurai Shodown IV
''Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge'' is the fourth in SNK's flagship ''Samurai Shodown'' series of fighting games. Chronologically, it is the second and final chapter of a story between ''Samurai Shodown'' and ''Samurai Shodown II'', with ...
'' were brought back for this game, such as being slashed in half horizontally. New fatality effects were also added, such as being split in half vertically with the victim drenching their opponent in blood. In addition, Nakoruru and Rimururu, who were both made "immune" to fatal effects in ''
Samurai Shodown III
''Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood'' is an arcade game developed by SNK and released on November 15, 1995. It is the third game in SNK's ''Samurai Shodown'' series of fighting games. While it is the third game in the main series, it is the ...
'' and ''
Samurai Shodown IV
''Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge'' is the fourth in SNK's flagship ''Samurai Shodown'' series of fighting games. Chronologically, it is the second and final chapter of a story between ''Samurai Shodown'' and ''Samurai Shodown II'', with ...
'', are able to experience these fatal effects at the end of the match, and in some situations, they scream violently.
This combination of violent acts in ''Samurai Shodown V Special'' generated much controversy and resulted in SNKP censoring the Neo Geo AES cartridge shortly after the
Sasebo slashing
The , also known as the Nevada-tan murder, was the murder of a 12-year-old Japanese schoolgirl, , by an 11-year-old female classmate referred to as "Girl A" (a common placeholder name used for female criminals in Japan). The murder occurred on ...
.
Plot
An ordained meeting of 28 fierce warriors begins, to precede a series of duels to the death. These individuals entrust their fates to their skill and their weapons. For those not up to the task, a cherished end in battle is their only hope.
The twenty-eight Samurai characters clash in one epic title.
Release
As the AES version of the game was approaching its release date on July 8, 2004, it was mysteriously delayed a week, moving its release date to the 15th. When it came out, the generic fatalities were removed and the Zetsumei Ougi was watered down to a loosely based version of the issen for the characters. This act of censorship affected the entire worldwide release, not just the non-Japanese speaking audience. Not only did these modifications censor the game, but the censorship also created bugs, such as that of the AES's exclusive training mode, and upon hearing fan outcry, SNK did a cart recall shortly after that which fixed the bugs brought about by the censoring acts, and also to partially restore the character specific Zetsumei Ougis. The acts of body splitting were still completely gone. This meant some of the Zetsumei Ougis made no sense. However, some of the more violent content still remained, such as the more violent death screams and being able to be smashed into a wall.
SSVS AES recall
/ref> The only way for players outside of an arcade to experience the Zetsumei Ougis was either through emulation
Emulation may refer to:
*Emulation (computing), imitation of behavior of a computer or other electronic system with the help of another type of system
:*Video game console emulator, software which emulates video game consoles
*Gaussian process em ...
or to get an unfixed version of the game and apply Razoola's Universe Bios to it, which allows access to the uncensored versions of the moves and fixes the bugs that the censorship created.
Over a decade later, the game was released by SNK and Code Mystics for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on September 12, 2017. The game is fully intact with the uncensored content in addition to settings to change the violence and blood in the Options mode. Unlike the previous ''Samurai Shodown V
''Samurai Shodown V'' is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last games to be released on the Neo Geo. This title takes place before the first ''Samurai Shodown''.
Gameplay
Fo ...
'' that receives a "T" rating, the upgraded version receives an "M" rating by the ESRB
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings to consumer video games in the United States and Canada. The ESRB was established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Asso ...
in North America. It also included online multiplayer modes, a Gallery mode featuring the artwork of the characters, trophies and ranking modes. It was released on PC on January 9, 2016 and Xbox One and Nintendo Switch
on April 18, 2019 through '' ACA NeoGeo'' series.
''Samurai Shodown V Perfect'' featured a non-canon storyline that would tie in with ''Samurai Shodown VI
''Samurai Shodown VI'', known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the ''Samurai Shodown'' series.
On December 17, 2014, the game was released as a PS2 Classic for the PlayStation 3 through the PlayStation Network, although only on the Japan ...
'', a dream match. Like the uncensored ''V Special'', ''V Perfect'' retained the Zetsumei Ougis but removed the resulting body dismemberment and mutilations.
Notes
References
External links
*
''Samurai Shodown V Special''
at GameFAQs
GameFAQs is a website that hosts FAQs and walkthroughs for video games. It was created in November 1995 by Jeff Veasey and was bought by CNET Networks in May 2003. It is currently owned by Fandom, Inc. since October 2022. The site has a databa ...
''Samurai Shodown V Special''
at Giant Bomb
''Giant Bomb'' is an American video game website and wiki that includes personality-driven gaming videos, commentary, news, and reviews, created by former ''GameSpot'' editors Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis. The website was voted by ''Time'' mag ...
''Samurai Shodown V Special''
at Killer List of Videogames
Killer List of Videogames (KLOV) is a website featuring an online encyclopedia devoted to cataloging arcade games past and present. It is the video game department of the International Arcade Museum, and has been referred to as "the IMDb for pla ...
''Samurai Shodown V Special''
at MobyGames
MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes nearly 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms. The site is supported by banner ads and a small ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Samurai Shodown V Special
2004 video games
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Arcade video games
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Multiplayer and single-player video games
Neo Geo games
Nintendo Switch games
PlayStation Network games
PlayStation 4 games
Samurai Shodown video games
SNK games
SNK Playmore games
2D fighting games
Video games about samurai
Video games set in the 18th century
Windows games
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Video games developed in Japan
Hamster Corporation games
Code Mystics games
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