Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood

Als Fazit bleibt nur noch hinzuzufügen, dass jeder der auf Waffen-beat-em-Ups steht, mit SS3 ein technisch einwandfreies sowie ein optisch wie akustisch berauschendes Meisterwerk erhält.

However, the new (improved?) gameplay features a level of depth that hasn't been present before and there seems to be a lot more to learn.

While Shodown III won't disappoint fans of the series, it isn't the jump that Shodown II was over I. It's a decent fight, but the magic of the other two games is hard to find.

I've been a big fan of this series, but this game just plain overwhelmed me. Not only is there a huge conglomeration of characters, but they have alter egos that play differently as well. As a result, the graphics seem to be compromised with fewer colors than before. Samurai Shodown III plays well, but it has too many of those moves that require impossible joystick motions. I have mixed feelings about this game. I like what it has, but wasn't impressed.

Due to the character balance problems and the occasional bug, Samurai Shodown 3 is the weakest game in the Samurai Shodown series. It's still a fairly good game though, and first timers to Samurai Shodown series will get a taste of why the series is so respected by fighting fans. But longtime Samurai Shodown loyalists will be disappointed by the title's failure to live up to the standards of its predecessors.

The only possible way to describe Samurai Shodown III is to call it the bastard child of the series. Moving away from what many consider one of the greatest fighting games ever made in Samurai Shodown II, this third edition is a radical departure. It's the one no one will admit they like; yet it's still a decent fighting game, unfortunately caught in the aura of the first sequel.

Unfortunately, there are only twelve characters to choose from this time around, and some old favorites are inexplicably missing, particularly Earthquake. Each fighter must now choose between a "slash" or "bust" technique at the beginning each match, as well as select a level from beginner to master. Depending on the technique you choose, an entirely different set of moves is at your disposal. For most players, one set of moves is more than enough - do we really need two? I can't see a casual player wanting this feature. In terms of gameplay, the action is faster and more chaotic than previous Shodowns, but some of the matches seem awfully short. The backgrounds are less spectacular but still attractive. The trees and foliage burst with vibrant color, but there's nothing particularly interesting to catch your eye. All in all, Samurai Shodown 3 is still a good fighter with plenty of depth, but it's not as fun as its predecessor.

Those who loved the arcade game version of Samurai Shodown III will be happy with this conversion. Those who have never played the game should give it a try - they'll probably like it, provided they can stand the loading time.

Given that it is the third version of a series that is, at its root, the same as the first, it still manages to come up with new, visually exciting ways to defend your honor. Top to bottom, this game is tight. From the beautiful, intricate, well designed (not to mention interactive) backgrounds, to the deadly weaponry and exciting fighting styles of all the characters, Samurai Shodown gets the job done.

You are not ready...for this awful game. Samurai Shodown III is a lousy port of an equally bad Neo Geo game. The graphics are one-dimensional (and they're missing frames of animation), the moves are slowed down horribly and the fights aren't over fast enough. This port should never have been made.