Samurai Shodown NeoGeo Collection

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 122 reviews
  • graphics
  • music
  • story
Samurai Shodown NeoGeo Collection Game Cover
The Samurai Shodown is not a thing with a big wheel that determines who goes on to the Samurai.
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The "Samurai Shodown NEOGEO Collection" contains 7 games from the classic weapon-based fighting series, including the never-before-released "Samurai Shodown V Perfect." Each game features online battle modes, a museum mode, and a music player, making it a must-have for fans of the series.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 122 reviews
character development3 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • Great collection of classic Samurai Shodown games, providing nostalgia and a trip down memory lane for fans.
  • Includes a wealth of extra content such as artwork, soundtracks, and developer interviews in the museum mode.
  • Games are well-emulated and run smoothly, making it a convenient way to experience the series on modern platforms.
  • Lacks essential features like a training mode and has poor online multiplayer functionality, making it less appealing for competitive play.
  • The collection is considered overpriced, especially given that it was available for free on another platform.
  • Some games in the collection suffer from balance issues and high difficulty, which may frustrate new players.
  • graphics17 mentions

    The graphics in the Samurai Shodown collection reflect mid to late 1990s standards, maintaining the original visuals of the arcade games without significant improvements or filter options. While the character designs and artwork are praised for their nostalgic appeal, the overall graphical presentation is considered dated, with some users noting clunky controls. The collection also features a rich museum section showcasing character artwork, soundtracks, and developer interviews, enhancing the experience for fans.

    • “Cool visuals, cool characters, good fighting mechanics but sadly almost no story to speak of.”
    • “The arcade filter, the museum with the interviews, the detailed character info and artwork are amazing.”
    • “As a treasure trove for Samurai Shodown fans, it is a good collection packed with unreleased artwork and dev interviews.”
    • “No graphic improvement, little to no graphic/filter settings, and most of all, the clunky control!”
    • “One minor note, the graphics are mid to late 1990s standards.”
    • “A collection of Samurai Shodown titles, using the original graphics, sometimes bordered.”
  • music11 mentions

    The music aspect of the game is praised for its originality and variety, featuring a rich soundtrack that complements the diverse character designs and stages. While the inclusion of extra content like soundtracks, artwork, and interviews is appreciated, some users express disappointment over the absence of arranged soundtracks from classic versions, particularly the Neo Geo CD. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the nostalgic experience, but some fans feel it could have been more comprehensive given the game's legacy.

    • “Perhaps the most original fighting game in terms of soundtrack, storytelling, character design, and even fighting style.”
    • “The games themselves are, for the most part, classic fighting games that earned quite the reputation among fighting game fans thanks to their solid cast of characters, inspired visuals and soundtracks, as well as solid gameplay that encourages a more defensive and tactical approach to matches instead of rushing opponents with combos like most of its competition.”
    • “There are tons of extra content, like soundtracks, artworks, and even interviews.”
    • “Another major complaint of mine about these re-editions of classic SNK hit games is that they never include the Neo Geo CD versions of soundtracks, which I love too much to describe with words.”
    • “The main downsides for me personally are the steep price and lack of arranged soundtracks for any of the games (c'mon, it's 2022... even the PS2 Samurai Shodown Anthology had the inclusion of the arranged soundtracks).”
    • “I never could find a satisfying version of KOF '94, for example; old graphics plus arranged soundtracks is what I want for all the oldest KOF games.”
  • story7 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is noted for its originality in character design and martial arts themes, but it suffers from a lack of depth, with minimal narrative content available. While the game features a unique soundtrack and cool visuals, the absence of a fully translated story mode in the international version detracts from the overall experience. Players appreciate the ability to save during matches, allowing them to engage with character stories at their own pace, but ultimately, the storytelling feels underdeveloped.

    • “Perhaps the most original fighting game in terms of soundtrack, storytelling, character design, and even fighting style.”
    • “Its martial arts and storytelling in a fighter game.”
    • “It's a shame Samurai Shodown V here doesn't include its story mode's official English translation, but it's still a nice collection if you're looking to play the NeoGeo Samurai Shodown games on PC.”
    • “Cool visuals, cool characters, good fighting mechanics but sadly almost no story to speak of.”
    • “Another thing that would have been great to see is the audio from the Neo Geo CD versions, as well as the fully translated dialogues in Samurai Shodown V and V Special, which are 1:1 dumps of the original MVS cartridge, meaning you won't have access to the story mode in the international version.”
    • “It's a shame Samurai Shodown V here doesn't include its story mode's official English translation, but it's still a nice collection if you're looking to play the Neo Geo Samurai Shodown games on PC.”
  • gameplay5 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by solid fighting mechanics and a tactical approach, appealing to fans of classic fighting games. While the visuals and character design are praised, the collection primarily offers arcade versions of the games with minimal story content, and the polish varies between titles. Additionally, it includes extra content like artwork and soundtracks, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The games themselves are, for the most part, classic fighting games that earned quite the reputation among fighting game fans thanks to their solid cast of characters, inspired visuals and soundtracks, as well as solid gameplay that encourages a more defensive and tactical approach to matches instead of rushing opponents with combos like most of its competition.”
    • “Cool visuals, cool characters, good fighting mechanics, but sadly almost no story to speak of.”
    • “+ gameplay-wise, the collection gives you the arcade versions of the games and that's it.”
    • “+ it can be quite obvious to see some games were better polished gameplay-wise than others.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the classic Samurai Shodown collection is generally well-received, with decent emulation across the games. However, some users have reported occasional stuttering, particularly in Samurai Shodown V.

    • “Optimization is really good.”
    • “Having all the classic Samurai Shodown games (besides RPG) in a single convenient package is great. The emulation is pretty decent; however, I noticed some instances of stuttering here and there, particularly in Samurai Shodown V.”
    • “The game is pretty well-optimized.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for being exploitative, with users feeling that the developers prioritize profit over quality, leading to a poor port and dismissive responses to legitimate concerns.

    • “Another cash grab, poor quality port!”
    • “If you try to report a bug, the community managers will erase your comments and call you a liar, making insane claims that are disproven by their own advertising.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The game is praised for its unique approach to character development, showcasing originality in storytelling, character design, and fighting styles, which contribute to a rich and engaging experience.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character's unique backstory and motivations.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their arcs feeling both natural and impactful.”
    • “Each character has a distinct personality and growth path, making every choice feel significant in shaping their journey.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The stability of the game has been criticized, with users reporting multiple buggy ports of console games, indicating that a significant portion of the titles experienced issues on certain hardware configurations, such as the RTX 2060 gaming laptop.

    • “For me, this was four buggy ports of console games out of about 200 games that were perfect buys for my RTX 2060 Omen 15 gaming laptop.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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