3DO

Samurai Shodown

Graphics are dead-on perfect, right down to the spurting blood; the music is clear and direct from the arcade, although the speech is inexplicably fuzzy. Disc loading time is minimal, five seconds max, and the control is nice and tight (though a joystick would complete that arcade feel). Just one more game that makes the 3DO worth it.

The colors and rich and vivid, and the Street Fighter-style graphics look fantastic. There are 12 very interesting characters to choose from, and they all brandish swords or other sharp weapons. The game plays much like Street Fighter 2, with three kicks, three punches and an assortment of special moves. One unique feature is how the screen scales out when the fighters are spread apart, although this gimmick really doesn't add much to the gameplay. The gorgeous backgrounds are Asian-inspired, and none of the voice dialogue has been translated, which is probably for the best. I had a great time playing this game. There's some slow-down, but the action and animation is first-rate. Unfortunately, the six-button controller is not supported, and you need to hold a shoulder button to activate your kicks, which works fine. Samurai Shodown made me wish ALL 3DO games were in 2D!

Techniquement irréprochable, sauf au niveau des sons qui merdent vraiment énormément. A croire que le programmeur chiait des singes volants au moment où il a digitalisé les sons à partir du jeu original. Un achat indispensable, donc, pour les fans de la baston qui ne sont pas trop regardants sur la qualité sonore, ou qui sont carrément sourds.

Shodown doesn't show well for arcade purists. If you don't use the standard 3DO controller, playing is bearable thanks to the redeeming qualities of the cool graphics. But if you're a true fan of the Neo Geo masterpiece, you may want to go to the arcade to get your fix.

Crystal Dynamics's first fighting game, Samurai Shodown, is a brilliant realization. Aside the NEO-GEO version from SNK Corp, makers of the arcade game, there is no other version that can be compared to what exists now on the 3DO. The developers achieved an near-arcade quality game with large characters, colorful backgrounds identical to the arcade (seashore, desert, waterfall, etc..), the same Japanese music and a good game play.

This cult arcade hit for Neo Geo has finally hit the home systems with version for SNES, Genesis and soon, Sega CD. It's not without it's problems, but without a doubt, the 3DO version is the best of them.

There's no doubt that this is a good version of Samurai Shodown. It's definitely worth buying as long as you've already got Super Street Fighter II Turbo.

A very faithful home version of the arcade fighter, the only drawback being the voices for some of the characters aren't exactly right (like with Galford). The scaling effect is well done, with easy execution of the moves.

The closest thing to a saving grace that I could find with the game was the fact that I was determined to overcome its poor control scheme and forge onward, to moderate success. But when I went back to play the REAL game -- since it flowed so much smoother and could be controlled properly -- I found that I had improved! It's like giving yourself a handicap, and when you master playing with the handicap, you're that much better when you play without it. Samurai Shodown is an outstanding game that I recommend playing ... just not on the 3DO.

What happened here? We have a more powerful console, the magical CD format, and this pales in comparison to the standard AES/MVS cart?? It plays accurately, but there is no excuse (or logical explanation) for everything else wrong with this port.