I just got Samurai Shodown Sen real cheap, around ten bucks. It’s a 3-D fighting game with characters from the popular Samurai Shodown 2-D brawlers from SNK. I don’t think it’s the first time they’ve made a 3-D Samurai Shodown game, wasn’t Samurai Shodown 64 also 3-D? Anyway, here’s a brief review of the new game and a rundown on all the characters.

Seems like a typical 3-D fighter. It’s really hard, though. I can’t beat the story mode even on the easiest setting (except with one character). I do like the music and the graphics in the menus and character select screens are cool because they remind me of the artwork in Okami.

For a cartoony 2-D fighting series, the Samurai Shodown games have been a little more violent than the rest. And Sen is no exception. For finishing moves, you can behead someone, stab them in the heart, cut them in two, or slice off their hand, leaving them writhing in pain. Blood spurts out everywhere, and it’s pretty gross. Definitely earns the M rating.

All in all, I guess Samurai Shodown Sen is OK if you really like fighters. But if you really want to play a good 3-D brawler on the 360, you’re better off with Soul Calibur 4.. Anyway, since I usually enjoy the characters in fighting games more than the games themselves, here’s a list of the more than two dozen characters you can play as, as well as my trademark silly observations about each one.

Suzu

She’s a new character who I think ties into the story somewhat. I don’t know because I just skip the boring story sections. I figure she’s important to the story, though, because she’s in the center on the box. Anyway, she’s a young lady who wears a pinky girly Japanese dress. Which is a bit misleading because she hefts around this HUGE sword. She must be really strong. I bet she ate her Wheaties that morning.

Takechiyo

New characters usually come in pairs, so I think this guy is tied with that Suzu lady. He’s a Japanese farmer and looks the part. But he must farm spinach as his crop, and then eats it since he’s a fighter, too.

Haomaru

He’s usually the main character in the Samurai Shodown series. I used to call him Musashi because he reminded me of Brave Fencer Musashi, one of my favorite Square games. And I wasn’t too far from the truth, because both characters are based on a real life Japanese swordsman in history named Musashi!

Nakaruru

She’s the main female character in the Samurai Shodown series. She’s also annoyingly adorable and cute. But she’s still cool because she has a pet bird that helps her fight. Except for in this game. But at least you get to see her bird in her win poses. I’m ashamed to say that Nakaruru was the only character I was able to complete in story mode.

Rimururu

She is Nakaruru’s little sister. The ice spirit Konril doesn’t follow her around like in the 2-D games, but she does have ice attacks like that one guy in BlazBlue. Like Nakaruru, she’s sickeningly cute. When she wins a fight, she just jumps around and says “Yay!” Which is, sadly, probably the same thing I’d do, and I’m a grown man. One thing that is disturbing is that you can do the same violent finishing moves on her as you can the grown up fighters, and she’s just a kid! Ick!

Kirian

Not sure if he’s a new character or not. He’s a Spanish swashbuckler with a poofy shirt. Kinda reminds me of a cross between Vega from Street Fighter and Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Jubei

Here’s another guy based on a famous Japanese warrior from history. I wonder how all these real life historical figures would feel about having their names and likenesses in video games today.

Garros

Now this guy is awesome. He’s a fat, boisterous Viking! In one of his special attacks, he just body slams the opponent! In his win quote, he pats his fat belly and says, “Did you see that? Am I awesome or what?” He reminds me of the characters in the video game The Lost Vikings. Now that’s one game deserving of a remake!

Ukyo

He’s been in a lot of the Samurai Shodown games. In this one, he always keeps his sword in its sheath, and whips it out real quick to attack. In his storyline, he has tuberculosis, so he always fights without fear of death. He looks pretty sickly in the game, too. I’m surprised one of his attacks isn’t to throw up on the other player!

Black Hawk

This Native American warrior fights with two tomahawk axes. I guess some would consider him a racial stereotype, but at least he’s not as bad as Street Fighter’s T. Hawk.

Kyoshiro

And he’s a Kabuki guy.

Wan Fu

He’s just a big guy with shot-puts for necklace beads. And he has a sword. Kind of reminds me of Earthquake, one of my favorite Samurai Shodown characters because he’s so huge and takes up half the screen on the 2-D games. Too bad Earthquake’s not in this one.

Genjuro

He’s just another sword guy. He doesn’t wear a shirt, though.

Galford

In the 2-D games, I play as Galford a lot, so people may think he’s my favorite character. Well, he isn’t, but his pet dog Poppy is! In fact, Poppy is probably my favorite SNK character overall. Unfortunately, like Nakaruru’s bird, you don’t see Poppy following you around while you fight in this game. But you do see her in Galford’s win pose. Since the graphics are really good here, Poppy looks just like a Husky or Malamute dog like the ones I used to have. Awwww, I just want to jump in the game and pet her. I liked how in Samurai Shodown 6, you could play as the side characters and pets like Poppy. It was a bit of a joke, but still fun to play as just her.

Kazuki

He looks like Goku and uses fire element attacks.

Sogetsu

This pretty boy with long, blue hair uses water elemental attacks. I learned about most of SNK’s characters from Card Fighters Clash on the Neo Geo Pocket Color. I thought that game was better than Pokemon! Too bad the DS version sucked.

Claude

This guy likes to smack his face before battle and scream a lot when he wins.

Angelica

I think she’s a new character. She’s an assassin working for the bad guy like Cammy, Juli, and Juni from SF Alpha, or Juri from SSF4.

J

Yup, just J. His name is easy to spell at least. Isn’t there an anime called Afro Samurai? I bet this guy was inspired by that in his creation. He’s a black guy with an afro and Samurai gear. He’ll even fiddle with his hairdo and make sure it’s all straight before fighting.

Kim Hae-Ryeong

He’s just a regular fighter guy with a spear stick thing. Kind of reminds me of Kilik from the Soul Calibur games. But other than that, not much really stands out about this guy.

Charlotte

Another mainstay in the series, Charlotte is a female French warrior who fights with an Epee sword. I guess she’s cool; she’s at least smart enough to wear armor while fighting! And she usually kicks my butt, too.

Hanzo

He’s just a typical ninja guy.

Walter

This knight guy is clad in full armor with a sword and shield. He reminds me of Siegfried from Soul Calibur. I bet he and Charlotte would get along well.

Jinbei

Just an old guy. I swear it sounds like he could say, “Get off my lawn” at any minute. Who would want to play as him?

Draco

Hey, you got your Red Dead Redemption mixed up in my Samurai Shodown! This outlaw cowboy is the second to last boss in the game. His weapon of choice isn’t a sword or other blade, but a rifle. Now that hardly seems fair, does it?

Golba

The last boss is a military general guy building up an army of heartless warriors. I’m not sure why his stage is set in the US, though. He could be M. Bison’s great-great grandfather. I thought he was easier than the cowboy boss, but then, I only beat the game with one character.

Samurai Conclusions

And that’s all the characters in Samurai Shodown Sen. Who are your favorite Samurai Shodown characters? I like Poppy, of course. Cham-Cham is also funny. But another favorite of mine is from the newer Samurai Shodown games: Mina Majikina. She’s cool because she has a little pet demon Pokemon, uh…thing. And it’s really annoying and cute. Two criteria I like in my video game characters. You can play as that thing in Samurai Shodown 6 like Poppy as well. Too bad Mina and her pet critter aren’t in Samurai Shodown Sen. Also, in the comments section, tell me what other SNK characters you like. My favorites are Poppy, Ralf and Clark (the Ikari Warriors), Blue Mary, Leona, Athena, and Shermie. And that’s all for now! Later!

Tags: Game Reviews