There is something about SNK fighting games that makes them stand out among others. There is almost always a sense of polish and familiarity to them, that makes them very appealing to experience. I had a great time with King of Fighters XIV on PS4, and while SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy was not the best game and instead was a big step down, SNK bounced back quickly with their return to Samurai Shodown. Released last year for Xbox One and PS4, the game has now come to Nintendo Switch in all its glory.
Samurai Shodown has all the great refinement of an SNK fighter and more. The controls are responsive whether the game is played on a controller or a fightstick, and there is a tightness to them that is appreciated among the genre. Every movement and attack has purpose and this is a true game of skill. When I said all the control schemes work, I meant it. I tested a fightstick from Hori, the Switch pro controller, the Joy Cons on the Switch and a single Joy Con as well. All of these worked perfectly, and even the single Joy Con worked great. This makes multiplayer using two Joy Cons something to consider, as they are an acceptable means of playing.
Samurai Shodown’s training mode is useful for figuring out the moves for each character, though I like to practice in Vs CPU battles, as I am forced to react quickly there with moves and counterattacks. Once you do learn the moves though, there are a variety of online and offline modes to choose from. For offline modes, there is the story mode that is the arcade ladder of the game, with other modes including the aforementioned Vs CPU and local Vs modes. There is also a Gauntlet Mode that sees you take on every character in the game, a Survival Mode that sees you take on an endless amount of CPU battles, and a Time Trial mode where you have to fight as many opponents as possible in a set amount of time. These modes are fun, and are good for offline players, but you might be left wanting a bit more to do since they get a bit repetitive.
Now for the online modes, we have our standard Ranked Matches and Casual matches, but also Dojo Mode. Dojo Mode is an asynchronous online mode that sees you fight Ghosts that grow in skill and have learned to mimic the players. To be more specific, you are fighting the CPU opponents of other online players, that have adjusted the AI to learn from these players. It is a great addition to a fighting game, and something very different for online matches. There is the standard Ghost Match mode and the Insane Challenge that sees you take on 100 CPU Ghosts in a row. I really like this mode and encourage you all to try it.
The gameplay of Samurai Shodown is an interesting one. It harkens back to a slowed paced style of fighting game, compared to what is commonly seen today, and is more methodical. The game also goes back to the single-stroke battle mechanics, where one hit can take away a lot of health, so you must be very careful how you make your moves. In addition, there is a Rage Burst attack that you can use to cause a lot of damage on the opponent. It is not an instant kill move and takes time to set up, while also being a bit predictable, but pulling it off will shift the fight in your favor. The game is a refreshing return to the classic feel of fighting games, and Samurai Shodown’s glory days. Even the blood is here, with gory attacks and characters shedding lots of blood. In fact, the characters’ clothes will get bloodier as the fight goes on and they take more damage. Don’t take this for a Japanese Mortal Kombat though, as it is a very different beast with its own unique feel.
But now you might be wondering, how does the game look and feel on Switch. While playing, I had a rather consistent framerate with only minor bumps here and there. Visually, the game is not as impressive as the PS4 and Xbox One versions, but that doesn’t hold the Switch port back. Due to the art style of the game, the slightly washed out visuals actually end up looking a bit more stylized and it fits very well with the aesthetic the developers were going for. The music of course is amazing, and I touched on the controls above.
The last thing I will mention, is the port of Samurai Shodown! 2 by Code Mystics. This is an excellent port of the Neo Geo Pocket Color game and was included as a bonus with the Switch version. The game is not only emulated perfectly, but some nice touches have been added as well. Almost every aspect of the Neo Geo Pocket Color was replicated, including the options for a system set up if you want, and a Neo geo Pocket Color appears on screen for you to play the game on. You can adjust the controls as you want, adjust display options, and there is even a rewind function included. In addition, there are a variety of skins for the on screen Neo geo Pocket Color in the form of the various different models of the system. The manual for the game is also digital replicated here and that is a nice touch. This gives me hope we will see more Neo Geo Pocket Color games come to Switch, because this emulator being used is amazing.
All in all, Samurai Shodown on Switch is an amazing package and I encourage you all to check it out. You will not regret it, as it is an excellent game and an excellent port that uses the Switch hardware well.