Update (29th Aug, 06:45 BST): SNK has now uploaded the first Switch trailer of the game to its official YouTube channel. See it for yourself in the video above.
Original Article (28th Aug, 17:00 BST): Originally launching on PS4 and Xbox One in June this year, SNK's Samurai Shodown reboot now has a release date locked in for Switch. It'll be arriving on the Japanese eShop on 12th December.
The news comes from the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu magazine in Japan (thanks, Gematsu), where it has also been confirmed that it'll run at 60 frames per second and support single Joy-Con play, should you want to fight against a friend.
Gematsu also reports that those who pick up an early copy of the game will be treated to a Switch version of Samurai Shodown! 2, a 1999 title which originally appeared on the Neo-Geo Pocket Color. Here are some key features of the new release:
Key Features:
- Exhilarating Weapons-Based Combat – Samurai Shodown carries on the legacy of the tense battles the series is known for, where players are always one strike away from death, and one powerful attack away from victory.
- Evolving the Presentation – Using the power of Unreal Engine 4, SNK is able to modernize the unique atmosphere and setting of past titles in a gorgeously artistic package that achieves a detail and graphical quality like never before.
- Unique Cast of Returning and New Warriors – Samurai Shodown welcomes back iconic characters from past iterations, including the swordsman Haohmaru, his rivals Ukyo and Genjuro, the shrine maiden Nakoruru, and fan-favorite Galford. The starting roster will include a total of 16 characters—13 veterans and three newcomers to the franchise.
- All New Gameplay – Carrying on some of the key fighting mechanics that made the series popular, such as the Rage Gauge, Rage Explosion, Sword Clash and more, Samurai Shodown will also include several new techniques, including a powerful, one-time use attack from each character called the Super Special Move.
- Revolutionary New AI System – Titled Dojo Mode, SNK has developed a proprietary AI system that learns from player patterns and creates a specific Ghost clone from that data. With this system, players can fight against their own Ghost or take on the Ghosts of top players in mock battles.
The game's director Nobuyuki Kuroki recently spoke about his views on balancing in fighting games, saying that if Samurai Shodown's balancing was too "flat", it would be "boring".
Excited for this one? Hoping for a similar release date in the west? Tell us below.
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 38
I know a certain NLifer that’s going to love the tag line.
just might b getting this
Man, so chuffed SNK are supporting Switch
Please, PUHLEASE @NintendoLife tell me that tag line was purely for the benefit of our very own 60fps advocate?
Yes can't wait, hopefully some of the DLC characters are on the cart.
Please have wireless play. If so I'll buy 2 copies 😀
Haha. That 60fps lad is gonna love this.
Can't wait. Been playing at my Fighting Game Meetup...it's sooo good.
Only 60 FPS in a 120 FPS world?!
Heresy.
December, as I expected. I'd guess it'll be available worldwide around the same time. I'm sure it'll be worth the wait. Just got my Art of Samurai Shodown book last week. Great book. I was glad to see it included some unused characters and stages as well, even though they weren't anything too special. Still have to read the interviews.
Finally! Our patience has paid off.
There's going to be an up-hill battle for us online warriors, though, seeing as the rest of the playerbase has already had their hands on the game for months.
Best fighting game in years this is!! So good to see SNK return to form, they’re absolutely KILLING it with this game!! I seriously can’t freakin wait for King of Fighters 15 too!!
Resolution please?
Unless a September Direct says otherwise, a December EU release would work for me too, as there’s not much I want that it’ll compete with.
Awesome! Just got to play it on my friends ps4 and was so stoked - it’s a true SS experience. 2 was my favorite fighting game back in the day. Hope they include that in the western release as well.
Oh yes that means the Steam version will release around the same time! Glad to hear the Switch version prioritizes performance, although I shall opt for the PC version for the better online play netcode
@Paraka ThAt'S wHy We'Re Pc MaStEr RaCe BaBy!
Nice!!! Very good news!!
@mrmememan - Nah, they're at 240 FPS.
Inb4 "unbalanced roster" jokes. Thankfully, all of that got patched in 1.11 a couple weeks ago. If this game shows up again at EVO2020, we'll have a strong chance of getting a more varied Top 8. A recent tourney here in the States even had a non-repeating Top 8 which had characters that were bottom-tier pre-patch. Kyoshiro, Shiki, and Wu Ruixiong.
I'll definitely double dip, but I might go for the Japanese version to get that SS!2 (if it's not available in the West). But more for not having to lug my fight stick AND XBox with me when I gotta travel for work.
"Yeah, I've been waiting for this."
So happy to finally hear it's on the way. Summer was too busy of a time for me anyways so a winter release sounds perfect. Can't wait to return to this series.
This series has always looked really appealing to me. I've been watching a lot of fighting game videos lately, and games like Street Fighter, Tekken, SoulCaliber, Samurai Shodown, Fatal Fury, Marvel vs. Capcom, to name a few, all look like a lot of fun. Anyone got any suggestions for which games to play first? I know most of the games are available via ACA NeoGeo, it's mostly just a matter of Switch vs PS4, as I prefer to have all the games of one series on one system/system series. (e.g., I own every Devil May Cry game on PS4, I have every Dark Souls game on PS4, etc.)
Edit: I don't have much interest in competitive play, I just enjoy playing them as something for me to get good at, for the single player if they have them, and the occasional online match.
@Paraka who's side are you on
Nice, but to late for me. I wanted this for my Switch so bad, but I couldn't wait and I will not Double Dip. But it's absolutely nice that it will have a release on the superb Switch!
Yes!!!
Love the fps
Nice that they are giving away a free NeoGeo Pocket Color version of Samurai Shodown! 2 for Switch owner which is basically a portable 2D version of Samurai Shodown 64 II though I would had been okay if they just include the early 3 DLC characters on the cart instead.
Kinda odd that you had to buy the game early just to get that exclusive download code for Samurai Shodown! 2 which like the Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden download code can only be obtain through these kind of deal and not the eShop.
It actually looks really nice! I hear the game is pretty good, so I'll have to keep an eye on it.
Weird artstyle.
It is looking nice BUT it has almost no BLOOD ?!? Why??? Mortal Kombat has a lot of it and Doom also and Wolfenstein, etc. We are not on 90s anymore. It doesn't make sense..
Day one for me
Looks nice and since I'll be picking up the Neogeo Collection for Switch next year (as they said it's releasing in Winter in Japan despite the fact that it was originally a Fall release), I might get it on Switch too. I already have too many fighting games on Xbox One.
But this proves Street Fighter IV could be done on Switch, and given as a bonus for early buyers of Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection as it was done in PS4 and Xbox One versions of that collection.
@nkarafo Most Japanese fighters avoid a lot of blood and gore. Maybe it's attitudes on what's acceptable in arcades?
But anyway, I have this game on PS4 already. It's fun... At first. To be honest, it really feels like a bare bones fighter. It's well made, but there's very little their to keep you playing.
@TheFox @nkarafo Yeah, as is the case with most Japanese trailers for games like this, there will likely not be any excessive violence shown in said trailer. And if there is blood, they usually color it black. Rest assured though, I saw the CERO 'D' rating on the game at the end (which is equal to M or PEGI 18 or similar) which basically guarantees blood and excessive violence. How much blood though? That's yet to be seen.
@masterLEON In the PS4 version (and I'm assuming the Switch will be the same way), big hits result in a cartoonishly large spray of blood. And while it seems to happen at random (maybe I'm accidentally triggering a fatality move?), matches occasionally end with the loser getting cut in half. So in a way, it's gratuitous violence, but the over-the-top cartoonishness keeps it from actually being gory and gross.
I saw little to no blood. Was that just me or is this game not as bloody as the last ones?
@TheFox They're probably going to try for the same amount of blood. The only reason I see if they were to cut back on the blood effects is if it bogs down the framerate. I guess if the game engine can handle a Yoshitora mirror match, then we're good to go, LOL.
If the match-ending attack is at least a heavy slash, or a damaging special (or) counter, then it has a chance to either spout blood or chop the opponent in half. It may also depend on the character, the attack used, and what the opponent was doing at the moment. Like, Wu Ruixiang's compass (shield) doesn't cause bleeding at all unless you use the Issen/Lightning Blade attack, for example.
@whanvee It's super bloody, more than any of the other games. There is also an option to turn off blood and dismemberment, which was probably what was done for this trailer.
Hope they will not reduce the blood effects. Also, any word on a physical release for switch yet?
Did anyone notice that part of the music playing sounded like DMX's Ruff Ryder's Anthem?
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