The Second Samurai

From Sega Retro

n/a

TheSecondSamurai MDTitleScreen.png

The Second Samurai
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Psygnosis, Sony Electronic Publishing
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT)
Sound driver: Krisalis sound driver
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		T-113106-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
PT
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		T-113106-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Non-Sega versions

The Second Samurai is a beat-'em-up developed by Vivid Image and Psygnosis and released exclusively in Europe for the Commodore Amiga in 1993 and for the Sega Mega Drive 1994. It is the sequel to The First Samurai, a beat-'em-up released for various home computers and the Super NES internationally a few years prior.

A Sega Mega-CD port was advertised and was planned to launch alongside the Mega Drive version[1][2], but never released.

Story

Two samurai pursue the Demon King through time.

Gameplay

Second Samurai, 2 Players.png

2-player gameplay

The game is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up that can be played with one or two players. The first player plays as a male samurai, and the second player plays as a female samurai. Two-player games must be started from the title screen; a second player cannot join in the middle of a one-player game. In two-player games, the two samurai are occasionally placed in separate layers, with the male samurai in front and the female samurai in back (though this can be changed around in the game options). The goal of most stages is to free all of the souls trapped in jars, which grants access to the next segment of the stage and eventually to a boss fight. A counter in the bottom-center of the screen shows how many more souls must be freed. Some stages consist of a main path with entry points into shorter sub-stages (indicated by arrows) where more souls can be found. The game has significant platforming elements compared to arcade-style beat-'em-ups.

The samurai walk with Left and Right and crouch with B. They jump with C and jump down from platforms with Down+C. They attack by punching with B. They do a crouching punch with Down+B or a crouching kick with Down-left+B or Down-right+B. The crouching kick has longer reach and can hit some enemies that are too low for the crouching punch. They can uppercut to attack enemies above them with Up+B. They do a high kick with Up-left+B or Up-right+B and a flying kick with B while in midair. They can pick up opponents and some objects by holding B when in close proximity and throw them by releasing B while holding a direction on the D-Pad. While initially unarmed, they can pick up white scrolls, which give them samurai swords and replace their moves with an array of sword slashes. The sword does more damage and defeats enemies in fewer hits. The first standing attack after acquiring a white scroll hurls a fireball across the screen that penetrates through multiple targets. Samurai also obtain throwing knives, which are thrown with A. They can be thrown while crouching with Down+A or directly upward with Up+A.

Health is depicted by six red balls in the bottom corners of the screen. The samurai lose a bit of health when they take damage from opponents. If a samurai falls down a bottomless pit, they jump back out after losing some health (rather than dying). Losing an entire health ball causes a samurai to lose his or her sword, if equipped. Losing all health balls costs the samurai his or her life. The samurai respawns at the last checkpoint (or the beginning of the stage) if the player has lives remaining, or the game ends if the player runs out of lives. In two-player games, both samurai respawn if one samurai is defeated (though only the player who ran out of health loses a life).

Players can select the number of starting lives (3, 5, or 7) and the difficulty level (Easy, Brave, Heroic, and "Samurai!") in the options before starting the game. There is a password system for continuing.

Items

Second Samurai, Items.png
 Gem
Touch to release an item.
Second Samurai, Items.png
 Throwing Knife
Gives the samurai another throwing knife, up to a maximum of 30.
Second Samurai, Items.png
 Extra Energy
Restores half a ball of the samurai's health.
Second Samurai, Items.png
 Full Energy
Restores all six balls of the samurai's health.
Second Samurai, Items.png
 White Scroll
Arms the samurai with a sword and makes their next attack shoot a fireball. Collecting multiple scrolls gives the samurai multiple fireballs.
Second Samurai, Items.png
 Yellow Scroll
Leaves the current sub-stage.
Second Samurai, Items.png
 Red Scroll
Destroys all enemies on screen.
Second Samurai, Items.png
 Blue Scroll
Renders the samurai temporarily invulnerable.
Second Samurai, Items.png
 Blue Vase
Attack to release the soul trapped inside. The samurai must release all of the souls to progress through the stage.
Second Samurai, Items.png
 Yellow Vase
Checkpoint where the samurai respawn when defeated. Attack to activate.
Second Samurai, Items.png
 Barrier
Bars the way. The samurai can pass if they free all the souls in the preceding part of the stage.

Stages

Second Samurai, Stage 1.png

Second Samurai, Stage 1 Boss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 1.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 1 Boss.png

Planet of the Apes

Second Samurai, Stage 2.png

Second Samurai, Stage 2 Boss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 2.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 2 Boss.png

Volcanic Caves

Second Samurai, Stage 3.png

In the Volcano

Second Samurai, Stage 4.png

Dino Race!
This stage autoscrolls as the samurai ride dinosaurs. They speed up with Right, slow down with Left, and jump with C.

Second Samurai, Stage 5.png

Second Samurai, Stage 5 Subboss.png

Second Samurai, Stage 5 Boss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 5.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 5 Subboss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 5 Boss.png

Cave

Second Samurai, Stage 6.png

Second Samurai, Stage 6 Boss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 6.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 6 Boss.png

Jungle

Second Samurai, Stage 7.png

Second Samurai, Stage 7 Boss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 7.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 7 Boss.png

River

Second Samurai, Stage 8.png

Second Samurai, Stage 8 Boss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 8.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 8 Boss.png

High Tec

Second Samurai, Stage 9.png

Second Samurai, Stage 9 Subboss.png

Second Samurai, Stage 9 Boss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 9.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 9 Subboss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 9 Boss.png

Holograms

Second Samurai, Stage 10.png

Second Samurai, Stage 10 Boss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 10.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 10 Boss.png

Labs

Second Samurai, Stage 11.png

Second Samurai, Stage 11 Boss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 11.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 11 Boss.png

Jetpac
This stage autoscrolls as the samurai fly with jet packs. The samurai move using the D-Pad, shoot lasers with B, and turn around to face the opposite direction with C.

Second Samurai, Stage 12 Boss.png

Space Ship

Second Samurai, Stage 13.png

Second Samurai, Stage 13 Subboss 1.png

Second Samurai, Stage 13 Subboss 2.png

Second Samurai, Stage 13 Boss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 13.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 13 Subboss 1.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 13 Subboss 2.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 13 Boss.png

Old Japan

Second Samurai, Stage 14 Boss.png

Rock Jaw

Second Samurai, Stage 15.png

Second Samurai, Stage 15 Subboss 1.png

Second Samurai, Stage 15 Subboss 2.png

Second Samurai, Stage 15 Boss.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 15.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 15 Subboss 1.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 15 Subboss 2.png

  • Second Samurai, Stage 15 Boss.png

Demon's Castle!

History

Legacy

The Mega Drive version of the game was re-released on Steam in 2022 by Piko Interactive.

Versions

The Mega Drive version differs significantly from the Amiga original. It has different stage layouts, graphics, and music. The "second samurai" is a bald-headed monk in the Amiga version but a female warrior in the Mega Drive version.

Production credits

  • Programming: Raffaele Cecco
  • Graphics and Animation: Saurav Sarkar
  • Audio: Krisalis Software
  • Musical Composition & Sound Effects: Matt Furniss
  • Audio Software Programming: Shaun Hollingworth
  • Game Design: Raffaele Cecco, Mev Dinc, Saurav Sarker
  • Map Layouts: Raffaele Cecco, Saurav Sarkar
  • Development Tools: PsyQ by S.N. Systems/Psygnosis, Jaguar Software Consultants, Raffaele Cecco, Warren Mills, Rob Northern Computing
  • Vivid Image Project Management: Stephane Koenig
  • Psygnosis Project Management: Nick Wilde
  • Vivid Image Game Tester: Stefan 'The Herb' Marjoram, Nejati Dinc
  • Psygnosis Game Testers: Chris Graham, Paul Holmes, Paul Wallace
  • Special Thanks to...: Bill Hajee, Chris West, Tony West, Harris Bernardez, John Twiddy, The Infamous PCW Disk Wallet
Source:
In-game credits
Second Samurai MD credits.pdf
[3]

Magazine articles

Main article: The Second Samurai/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Mega Force (FR) #34: "Décembre 1994" (1994-12-02)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in AS Magazin-Video Igrice (YU) #13: "Jul-Avgust 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Velikiy Drakon (RU) #60: "xxxx xxxx" (2002-09-05)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
79
77 [5]
Sega Mega Drive
 78
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[6]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
85
[7]
Cool Gamer (RU)
70
[8]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[9]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3 (RU)
60
[10]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
68
[11]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
80
[12]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
40
[13]
Player One (FR)
65
[14]
Play Time (DE) PAL
48
[15]
Sega Magazin (DE)
70
[16]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
86
[17]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
88
[18]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
82
[19]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
60
[20]
Todo Sega (ES)
74
[21]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
82
[22]
Video Games (DE) PAL
58
[23]
Sega Mega Drive
 69
Based on
18 reviews

The Second Samurai

Mega Drive, EU
SecondSamurai MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
SecondSamurai MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Second Samurai MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, FR (Blister pack)
SecondSamurai MD FR blister front.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, PT
SecondSamurai MD PT Box.jpg
Cover
SecondSamurai MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Second Samurai MD PT Manual.jpg
Manual
Second Samurai MD EU Manual.jpg
EU Manual
Mega Drive, AU

Technical information

Main article: The Second Samurai/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mega Power, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 7
  2. ↑ Sega Pro, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 10
  3. ↑ File:Second Samurai MD credits.pdf
  4. ↑ Velikiy Drakon, "xxxx xxxx" (RU; 2003-02-07), page 68
  5. ↑ GamesMaster, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-17), page 77
  6. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 201
  7. ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 73
  8. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 182
  9. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 356
  10. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 237
  11. ↑ MAN!AC, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-09), page 82
  12. ↑ Mega Force, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 54
  13. ↑ Mega Fun, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-23), page 124
  14. ↑ Player One, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 118
  15. ↑ Play Time, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-09), page 109
  16. ↑ Sega Magazin, "Dezember 1994" (DE; 1994-11-17), page 69
  17. ↑ Sega Magazine, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-15), page 97
  18. ↑ Sega Power, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-09-29), page 55
  19. ↑ Sega Pro, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-03), page 42
  20. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Review, "2" (RU; 1996-01-03), page 123
  21. ↑ Todo Sega, "Enero 1995" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 55
  22. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 153
  23. ↑ Video Games, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-23), page 111


The Second Samurai

TheSecondSamurai MDTitleScreen.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


No results

Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=The_Second_Samurai&oldid=1014972"