Title: Samurai Showdown Anthology
Release: April 14, 2009
Genre: Fighting
Developer: SNK Playmore
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Platform: Wii
Rating: T (Teen)
Website: http://samuraianiv.snkplaymore.co.jp/english/index.html
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The venerable SNK roster of classic 2-D fighting games have launched an all-out invasion on our homes. They have once again seeped their way into our consoles, portable consoles, downloadable marketplaces and even our cell phones. Due to the sheer number of titles, SNK Playmore has packaged their franchises into compilation discs for Fatal Fury, Art or Fighting, World Heroes and The King of Fighters. Their latest collection, Samurai Showdown Anthology, is by far the most enjoyable package.
From the moment the game starts, you have the option to choose which of the six titles you wish to play. The main problem with compilation packs is that the earlier fare is a novelty at best. Most people will decide on one favorite title to focus primarily on while the other games are played once or twice or forgotten completely. Samurai showdown, however, has aged better than most of the SNK library. The first two titles, which are arguably the most popular, are still beautifully animated. Samurai Showdown III introduces completely redrawn animations and stages that are on par with any current 2-D fighter on the market. It is a noticeable upgrade comparable to the recent Street Fighter II HD upgrade last year. The Sound quality is a different beast altogether. The music and effects are steadily mediocre from Samurai Showdown to Samurai Showdown V with loud clanking swords and stereotypical Japanese instruments playing constantly. It does not hurt the enjoyment of these games, but it certainly does not augment anything either. Samurai Showdown VI is the culmination of everything Showdown with the largest roster, best graphics and slightly improved sound. The music sounds radically different from the other titles and adds life to the usually drab score.
The developers experimented with many different control layouts and styles. Half-way through the anthology, players are asked after they choose their character whether they want BEGINNER, MEDIUM or UPPER CLASS which changes certain innate game play variables. BEGINNER causes you to automatically block but your attacks do less damage, MEDIUM is the standard game play without any changes and UPPER CLASS grants you a filled super meter but you lose the ability to block. Other options include SLASH or BUST. These modes offer different super attacks effectively generating two distinct versions of the same fighter. The controls work well with the Nintendo classic controller but an arcade stick is ideal. The early games suffer from slowdown and some collision detection issues. Thankfully the fluidity of attacking gets progressively better with each game and reaches near perfection with the sixth title. Samurai Showdown VI also gives players the option of choosing which of the previous five game’s style to use if the player particularly enjoys to play as Jubei as he was from Samurai Showdown II. The biggest issue with the series as a whole is the balancing of certain fighter’s strengths. Tam Tam is aggravating to play against while some characters are purposefully weaker making you wonder why they were added to the roster at all i.e. the entire last page of fighters from Samurai Showdown VI.
As a retrospective package, Samurai Showdown Anthology offers nostalgia but also fortifies it with games worth remembering. Many people will no doubt hover around the sixth title due to its roster, graphics and sound, but the other five titles are just as remarkable and deserve your time as well. 2-D fighting fans may have already purchased these games separately in one form or another, but this is the definitive collection that is well worth the price.
Overall Rating: * * * / 5
M. Michael Chwedyk "The Gamekok"- MuzikReviews.com Sr. Video Game Reviewer
May 12, 2009
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