Samurai Shodown

From Sega Retro

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SamuraiShodown Title.png

Samurai Shodown
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD, Sega Game Gear
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Sega/Takara,
Sega Mega-CD
JVC,
Sega Game Gear
Takara
Developer:
Developer(s) of original games: SNK
Peripherals supported:
Sega Mega Drive
Six button pad
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥8,8008,800 G-4127
Sega Mega Drive
US
T-103066
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1184-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU
$99.9599.95[1] FSAM01SMC
Sega Game Gear
JP
¥4,8004,800 T-146027
Sega Game Gear
US
T-103018
Sega Mega-CD
US
T-60175
Sega Mega-CD
EU
T-60175-50
Sega Mega-CD
AU
Sega Mega-CD
BR
R$69,9969,99 063696

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Samurai Shodown, known as Samurai Spirits (サムライスピリッツ) in Japan, is a versus fighting game by SNK, originally developed for Neo Geo AES/MVS hardware. It is the first in the series, and is notable for using weapons rather than relying on hand-to-hand combat during battles - one of the first fighting games of its type to do so.

After being released for the Neo Geo in 1993, ports were made to a variety of platforms, including the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD and Sega Game Gear.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Samurai Shodown Samurai Shodown
English (US) Samurai Shodown Samurai Shodown
Japanese サムライスピリッツ Samurai Spirits

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Excective Producer: Nobuyuki Tanaka
  • Producer: Yasushi Okahara, Takahiro Shima
  • Direction: Zizi
  • Main Programmer: Haccyan
  • Assistant Programmer: Yama
  • Graphic System: Hideki
  • Graphic Design: Original from SNK
  • Graphic Design Modify: M.Toshiro, T.Koyama
  • Sound Design: Original from SNK
  • Sound System: Den
  • Sound Arrangement: Shinichi Yamazaki, Kazuhiko Oshikiri, Hideki Nagai, Hiroyuki Takei
  • Collision Tuning: Kuzira, Shikanosuke, Koyaman 3D
Takara Staff and Takara USA Staff
  • Producers: S.Suzuki
  • Director: T.Ikenoue
  • Production Composers: T.Hocho, K.Kijima, S.Takagi, D.Fowler
  • USA Marketing Planner: T.Kinya
  • Art Work Composers: INTAC I.T.C. Staff
  • Special Thanks to: All SNK Staff, Rika
  • Translated by: Saurus Co., Ltd.
  • Presented by: Takara Co., Ltd.


Mega-CD version

JVC Musical Industries Inc
  • Executive Producer: Makato Orii
  • Producer: Yoji Takenaka
  • Game Testers: Aki Akaike, Julio C Arreygue, Jeremy Klein
JVC Victor Entertainment Inc
  • Executive Producer: Harunobu Komori
  • Producer: Toshiyuki Nagai
  • Director: Kazuya Tominaga
  • Co Director: Gaku Sato
  • Assistant: Ryo Misawa
Funcom
  • Main Programmer: Roar Flølo
  • Cruncher and Realtime Animation Decruncher: Eivind Hagen, Johan Köhler, Morten B Ofstad
  • Other Programming: Anders Dybdahl, Eivind Eklund, Morten B Ofstad, Carl-Henrik Skårstedt
  • Graphic Artists: Joachim Barrum, Torkell Bernsen, Colin McMahon, Tommy Svensson
  • Music and Sound: Kim Jensen
  • Animation Editing: Vebjørn Strømmen
  • Producer: Trond W Larsen
Source:
In-game credits


Funcom
  • Artist: Colin McMahon, Torkell Bernsen, Joachim Barrum, Vebjørn Strømmen, Glenn Kristofferson, Jack Kristoffersen
Source:
"Manual"


Magazine articles

Main article: Samurai Shodown/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Mega Drive ES print advert 1
ES Print Advert 2
Logo-pdf.svg
Mega-CD print advert in EGM² (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
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Mega-CD print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #65: "December 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:Expand
Logo-pdf.svg
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Mega-CD print advert in Game Players (US) #0802: "Vol. 8 No. 2 February 1995" (1995-0x-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg

Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
93 №39, p110/111
85 №27, p72
86 №10, p13
75 №1995/02, p96[7]
61 №29, p76/77[8]
94 №51, p82/83/84
62 №14, p94/95
75 №64, p40/41/42
85 №41, p34/35
70 №71, p101[9]
Sega Mega Drive
79
Based on
10 reviews
ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[10]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[11]
Console Mania (IT) PAL
91
[12]
Consoles + (FR)
93
[13]
Cool Gamer (RU)
80
[14]
Digitiser (UK)
82
[15]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
76
[16]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
60
[17]
Freak (IL)
88
[18]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
88
[19]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
86
[20]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
89
[21]
Joypad (FR) PAL
85
[22]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
67
[23]
Mega (UK) PAL
79
[24]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
75
[7]
Micro Kid's Multimédia (FR)
75
[25]
Micromanía (tercera época) (ES)
75
[26]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
61
[8]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[27]
Player One (FR)
94
[28]
Play Time (DE)
85
[29]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
69
[30]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
62
[31]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
75
[32]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
85
[33]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
72
[34]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
69
[35]
Todo Sega (ES)
88
[36]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
85
[37]
Video Games (DE) PAL
86
[38]
VideoGames (US)
70
[9]
Sega Mega Drive
77
Based on
32 reviews

Samurai Shodown

Mega Drive, US
SamuraiShodown MD US Box.jpg
Cover
SamuraiShodown MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Samuraishodown md us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
SamuraiShodown MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
SamuraiShodown MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
SamuraiShodown MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
SamuraiShodown MD JP CartTop.jpg
SamuraiSpirits MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Samuraispirits md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU
SamuraiShodown MD AU Box.jpg
Cover
SamuraiShodown MD AU Cart Silver.jpg
Cart

Mega-CD version

ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
71 №164, p60/61[3]
90 №58, p140
53 №68, p52/53
68 №48, p65
Sega Mega-CD
71
Based on
4 reviews
ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Computer & Video Games (UK)
71
[3]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
75
[39]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
73
[40]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
68
[41]
Gamers (DE)
87
[42]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
75
[43]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
85
[44]
Mega (UK) PAL
47
[45]
Player One (FR)
90
[46]
Sega Magazin (DE)
79
[47]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
67
[48]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
53
[49]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
68
[50]
Videogame Advisor (US) NTSC-U
42
[51]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[52]
Sega Mega-CD
71
Based on
15 reviews

Samurai Shodown

Mega-CD, US
SamuraiShodown MCD US Box Back.JPGSamuraiShodown MCD US Box Front.JPG
Cover
SamuraiShodown MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Samuraishodown mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega-CD, EU
SamuraiShodown MCD EU Box Back.jpgSamuraiShodown MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Mega-CD, BR
SamuraiShodown MCD BR front.jpg
Cover

Game Gear version

Game Gear, US
SamuraiShodown GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngSamuraiShodown GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
SamuraiShodown GG US cart.jpg
Cart
Samurai Shodown GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, JP
SamuraiShodown GG JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngSamuraiShodown GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
SamuraiSpirits GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Game Gear
 ?
Expand
512kB Cartridge (JP)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
Expand
512kB Cartridge (US)

References

  1. Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 File:NewReleasesCatalogueApril-May1995AU.pdf, page 12
  2. File:EGM US 066.pdf, page 230
  3. Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 3.2 File:CVG UK 164.pdf, page 60 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 164.pdf_p60" defined multiple times with different content
  4. Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 File:SegaPower 68 jul 95.pdf, page 52
  5. Sega Visions, "December/January 1994/1995" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 131
  6. GamePro, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 23
  7. Jump up to: 7.0 7.1 File:MegaFun DE 1995-02.pdf, page 96 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaFun DE 1995-02.pdf_p96" defined multiple times with different content
  8. Jump up to: 8.0 8.1 File:MeanMachinesSega29UK.pdf, page 76 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega29UK.pdf_p76" defined multiple times with different content
  9. Jump up to: 9.0 9.1 File:VideoGames US 71.pdf, page 101 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:VideoGames US 71.pdf_p101" defined multiple times with different content
  10. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 198
  11. Beep! MegaDrive, "December 1994" (JP; 1994-11-08), page 23
  12. Console Mania, "Maggio 1995" (IT; 1995-0x-xx), page 68
  13. Consoles +, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 110
  14. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 180
  15. Digitiser (UK) (1995-04-12)
  16. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 46
  17. Famitsu, "1994-11-25" (JP; 1994-11-11), page 40
  18. Freak, "1/95" (IL; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
  19. GamePro, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 44
  20. Games World: The Magazine, "April 1995" (UK; 1995-0x-xx), page 13
  21. Hobby Consolas, "Marzo 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 60
  22. Joypad, "Mars 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 88
  23. MAN!AC, "03/95" (DE; 1995-02-08), page 61
  24. Mega, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-04-30), page 16
  25. Micro Kid's Multimédia, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 62
  26. Micromanía (tercera época), "Febrero 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 106
  27. Next Generation, "Premiere Issue 1995" (US; 1994-12-08), page 108
  28. Player One, "Mars 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 82
  29. Play Time, "3/95" (DE; 1995-02-08), page 110
  30. Saturn Fan, "1995 February" (JP; 1995-01-07), page 33
  31. Sega Magazine, "February 1995" (UK; 1995-01-15), page 94
  32. Sega Power, "March 1995" (UK; 1995-01-19), page 40
  33. Sega Pro, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-29), page 34
  34. Sega Mega Drive Review, "2" (RU; 1996-01-03), page 115
  35. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
  36. Todo Sega, "Marzo 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 30
  37. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 151
  38. Video Games, "3/95" (DE; 1995-02-23), page 91
  39. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 36
  40. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 36
  41. GamePro, "September 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 48
  42. Gamers, "November 1995" (DE; 1995-10-11), page 55
  43. Game Informer, "June 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 54
  44. Hobby Consolas, "Agosto 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 78
  45. Mega, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-08-31), page 20
  46. Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 142
  47. Sega Magazin, "Februar 1996" (DE; 1996-01-10), page 10
  48. Sega Magazine, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 82
  49. Sega Power, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-05-18), page 52
  50. Sega Pro, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-07-13), page 65
  51. Videogame Advisor, "Volume 1, Number 3: July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 32
  52. VideoGames, "September 1995" (US; 1995-08-22), page 81



CollapseSamurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits games for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
Samurai Shodown (1994)
Sega Game Gear
Samurai Shodown (1994)
Sega Mega-CD
Samurai Shodown (1995)
Sega Saturn
Samurai Spirits Zankurou Musouken (1996) | Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits Bushidou Retsuden (1997) | Samurai Spirits Amakusa Kourin (1997) | Samurai Spirits Best Collection (1998)
Sega Dreamcast
Nakoruru: Anohito Kara no Okurimono (2002)
Arcade
Samurai Spirits Tenkaichi Kenkakuden (2005)
Unlicensed Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits games for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
Soul Edge vs. Samurai Spirits (1997) | Shin Samurai Spirits Haohmaru Jigokuhen (1998)