Samurai Shodown Sen
Developer(s)SNK Playmore
Publisher(s)
[1]
Director(s)Mitsuo Kodama
Designer(s)Masahito Inoue
Programmer(s)Takahiro Inoue
Artist(s)Senri Kita
Writer(s)Katsuhiro Mitsuyasu
Composer(s)NECOS
SeriesSamurai Shodown
Platform(s)Arcade
Xbox 360
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: April 17, 2008
  • NA: November 2009[2]
Xbox 360
  • JP: December 10, 2009
  • NA: March 30, 2010
  • EU: April 16, 2010[1]
Genre(s)Versus fighting
Mode(s)Up to 2 players simultaneously
Arcade systemTaito Type X²

Samurai Spirits Sen (サムライスピリッツ閃) is the fourth 3D game in SNK Playmore's Samurai Shodown series of fighting games, and the eleventh overall title in the series. The arcade version was released in most countries as Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny, and Shi Hun: Mingyun zhi Ren (侍魂 -命運之刃-, lit. Samurai Spirits: Edge of Destiny) in China. The Xbox 360 version was released as Samurai Shodown Sen.

Plot

The game takes place between the events of Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage and Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage.

Characters

The game features 24 playable characters, plus two boss characters made playable in the console release. New characters to the series are marked in bold.

  • Angelica
  • Black Hawk
  • Charlotte Christine de Colde
  • Claude
  • Draco[lower-alpha 1]
  • Galford D. Weller
  • Garros
  • Genjuro Kibagami
  • Golba[lower-alpha 1]
  • Hanzo Hattori
  • Haohmaru
  • J.
  • Jinbei Sugamata
  • Jubei Yagyu
  • Kazuki Kazama
  • Kim Hae-Ryeong
  • Kirian
  • Kyoshiro Senryo
  • Nakoruru
  • Rimururu
  • Sogetsu Kazama
  • Suzuhime
  • Takechiyo
  • Ukyo Tachibana
  • Walter
  • Wan-Fu
  1. 1 2 Boss character; playable in console version

Development

Development of this game was announced publicly at All Nippon Amusement Machine Operator's Union (AOU).[3][4] A tentative release date was set for the end of 2007.[5] However, at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, the date was pushed back, although it was suggested that it was almost ready for release in Japanese arcades.[6]

After late October 2007, the game was subjected to rigorous beta testing around arcades in Japan.[7]

On December 13, 2007, the official website to accompany the game was created, along with a bulletin of four locations sites: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, and Chiba. Testing began on December 20 and ended on December 24. The official website also confirmed an eventual release in 2008.[8] The first overseas location testing took place in Hong Kong during December 20–21.[9] Along with this announcement came the game's international title.[10] Aoi Nanase, character designer to the series' first original video animation, reported in her personal blog that the official staff intended to make a great departure from the Makai and were aiming for a Sengoku period effect.[11]

On February 9, 2008 the third location testing ad was listed on the Japanese official site at four different locations. Testing began February 14 and ended on February 19, intended to be the final round of testing. Also at this time, a tentative release date was listed as "Spring 2008" (later than the previously stated release date) in Japanese arcades on the Hong Kong SNK Playmore site.

On March 3, 2008 an English location test was announced for the US. The test was a one-day event from noon until 6:00 on March 8.[12] Director of SNK Neogeo USA Consumer's Marketing Department, Mark Rudolph, said eventual home release was anticipated to be made on current next gen consoles.[13] Similar beta testing was also performed in Mexico on March 14.

The main artist for the Samurai Shodown 64 series and Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, Senri Kita, is the official illustrator for this game.

Reception

GameZone's Dakota Grabowski gave the game a 4.5 out of 10, opining that "after hours upon hours of competitive gameplay, Samurai Shodown: Sen didn’t serve enough entertainment value to satisfy my tastes. It’s a shame since the series has long been one of the most popular franchises among hardcore fighting fans."[14]

References

  1. 1 2 "Samurai Shodown Sen Secures European Release". GamingUnion.net. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  2. ↑ Spencer (August 5, 2009). "Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny Unsheathed In November". Siliconera.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-10. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  3. ↑ Niizumi, Hirohiko. "TGS 06: King of Fighters to get face-lift". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved March 3, 2008.
  4. ↑ 「第44回アミューズメントマシンショー」ブースレポート ～タイトー編～. Impress Watch (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 1, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2008.
  5. ↑ Gamespy. "Samurai Shodown Hirameku". GameSpy. Archived from the original on March 22, 2008. Retrieved March 3, 2008.
  6. ↑ Kollar, Philip. "Tokyo Game Show 2007: Samurai Shodown 2 to XBLA, Wii: SNK reveals a bunch of new goodies including arcade stuff in Tokyo". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
  7. ↑ Hyperneogeo64. "Samurai Spirits Sen Beta Testing". Pao Pao Cafe (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 31, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ SNK Playmore. "Samurai Spirits Sen Official Website". SNK Playmore Official Homepage (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 9, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2007.
  9. ↑ SNK Playmore. "SNK Playmore's News Page". SNK Playmore Official Hong Kong Homepage. Archived from the original on November 20, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
  10. ↑ SNK Playmore. "Samurai Spirits Sen Official Website". SNK Playmore Official Hong Kong Homepage. Archived from the original on July 14, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2007.
  11. ↑ Aoi Nanase. "Aoi Nanase Nanalog". Seventh Heaven (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2008.
  12. ↑ SNK Playmore. "SNK Playmore's News Page". SNK Playmore Official Hong Kong Homepage. Archived from the original on November 20, 2007. Retrieved March 3, 2008.
  13. ↑ Brad Shoemaker (interviewer), Mark Rudolph (SNK Playmore Director of Marketing) (2000-02-20). GDC 08 SNK Playmore Video Report (mp4, mpeg). GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  14. ↑ "SAMURAI SHODOWN SEN Review - Xbox 360". Archived from the original on 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
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