Samurai Shodown Anthology (Playstation 2)

Pros:(1)Overall, the collection is a perfect arcade port perfect transfer from NeoGeo engine and Arcade systems, inc engines. Brilliant color and graphics and fast action like never before making the individual Samurai games"(Console version -based) terrible now. The main menu system is very nice and easy to access and save your progress. While in idle mode, the game displays multiple scenes of each dual from each series, which is very cool.

(2)Specifics on the game: the feel of the controls are pretty much the same compared to joystick action, except for the special moves and rage engage, but that is easily relearned. The sound is crisp and the custom mode is super cool, changing thier color outfits and choosing which spirit you want to use for any of the first 5 games, really cool.

(3)Special bonus: Samurai Shodown 6 is top notch and makes part 5 like part 3. Not only are the special moves easier to manuever, but the special finishing moves and power gauge is totally "BOSS"and so beautifully painted! Great playability and couldn't stop playing part 6 until I defeated the Main Boss three times in different levels, a great game.

Cons: (1)It was a real pity that they didn't include Samurai Shodown 5 Special, despite the slight difference, special was better. (2)How come they didn't include the option to change it to the original Japanese mode? Sometimes its cool to see those Japanese characters on fire when fighting!

(3)I felt the introduction music and video sucked! Since this game represents a long timeline of the games, I was expecting a real authentic Japanese and in depth and personal introduction, whereas the video intro appears to be a cheap method of putting together clips of each series with the Earthquake theme from part 1, which I felt was crap.

(4) The way they made the index was weird, making part 6 standing on its own, probably because of the original format(PAL) and the game size they had to apply it as a stand alone title on the disc, still they could have used a better indexing system or even a cool intro video similar to Soul Calibur intro video.

Special news: I am happy to say that Samurai Shodown has not died just yet, and a new game release is coming out on the PS-3, called THE SPIRIT OF DESTINY. Looks awesome and very real, and can't wait to play it.

Overall I give it 5 gold stars!!

Thanks for reading.

• from

This remake/port is one of the best (if not the best) NeoGeo made (for either Wii or PS2).

Still great fun and has good replay value.

• from

I love this series. Samurai Shodown is not well known except for 1 and 2.

However, playing this game is sheer fun. My only complaint, and I do mean only complaint, is there is NO ONLINE PLAY!!!

If they ever made an online play, I would only imagine the replay would shoot up tremendously!

Support this series and buy a copy!

Please no illegal roms.

• from