W WW WWW WW WW WW WWWW W WWWWW+ WW WWWWW WWWW WWWWW WWW WWW W@@@ WW W@@@@ @@@@@ @@@W@@@@WW @@ @@@ @@ W W +#### . W ## W W@### @#####W@# W@# # +@#W ### W# WW WW## WW ...+####### **W W** @*W*@*W@*W @* @** #*@*WW* #W#++#W##+##W WWWWWW .W.. ++###W++W#### + ####*+ # + W###*+ #+ *W+######@W@W W WW##WW W@#W.... #@....@# ...@ .. ##.# WWWWWWWWWWWW W@@@##W@WW@# WWWWW@#WWWW## WWW@#WWWW##W# WWW W @@@ @@ @@ @ W@@ @@@@W@@W+@@ @ W@@ @@WW WWWW W WWWW +WWWWWWWWW WWW WWWW W W W WWW WW W W@@ WW@ W @W@@@ W @@@W W@@@@W W W WW W W@@##W@@@ W@@W @@@@ @@@+@@@@@W@####W@@ @W @@W @@ @###WW## WW@W+##W #WW #######WW##WW#W## W #W### W@# @**** WW#* WW#W:* WW#WW *** W@*W **WW+W@*. W@WW#**W W@* #***WWWW#* WWWW:* WW WW **+WWW#W * W+W@* WWW@WW#** W@*W WW **#W W@* WWWW#*W W WW * W WWWW#* W+W ** #*WW#*W@*:# W@*W WWWW **W W#+ W*WWW#*W WWWW + WWW*+W WWWW*+W ++WW++W#*++WW#+W WWW :WW+ :+ WW: WWWW : WWW+ W WWWW W* WW W+ : :W+ W WWW+ +W: WWW: WWWW WWW+ W WWWW W+ W W+ + W WWW: W+ WWW: WWWW : WW* W WWWW: W+ : +:W+: W:+ :W W WW+*W#: WWWWW+*W WWWW * +WW++ WW*W#*W+W#*** W@* W#*+*W W W W +*W@* WWWWW#*W W WW#* + ***W#* W+*W@* *W ***WW@+ WW@:*W W W#@ ###W#* WWWW#* W WW@*W@****W ** W+*W@***W ***WW#* WWW**W WW@######W## WWWW:## W@WW@# #####WW##WW##W ###W ### W## WW##W WW@@@@@@W@@@ WW@WW@@W @WW@@ @@@@WWW@@@@@@W @@@WW@@# W@@ W@@W WW@@@@@@W@@@ WW@WW @@@@W @@ +@@W WW@@@@ WW@@@WW@@ W@@ WW@@W W @@@@WW W W WWWW@@@@W@@WWW@W WWW@@ WWW@ WWW@ WW@@ WW@ W WW WWWWWWW WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWW WWWW WWW WWWW WWWW WWWW W WWW W + WW WW W WW WW Samurai Shodown Mega Drive/Genesis guide By FFOGalvatron Welcome to my Samurai Shodown guide. It is for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive version by the way, but I expect you already know that. And yes, that logo really is the ASCII version of the logo, I promise you. ---------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS 1) INTRODUCTION 2) CONTROLS 3) STORY 4) GAME MODES -Game start -V.S. mode -Option 5) GAME PLAY 6) GENERAL MOVES -Running -Jump backs -Throws -Locking swords -Fighting with no weapon -Sword stopping -Weapon break -Triangle jumps 7) MOVES LIST -Haohmaru -Nakoruru -Ukyo -Galford -Kyoshiro -Wan Fu -Charlotte -Tam Tam -Hanzo -Amakusa 8) BONUS GAMES 9) CHEATS 10) DISCLAIMER ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- 1) INTRODUCTION In 1993, SNK released Samurai Shodown (Samurai Spirits in Japan) in the arcades. It quickly became SNK's most popular game as it was not seen as another Street Fighter 2 clone thanks to it's weapons based fighting action. Due to it being so popular, the game was announced for several home consoles, and in 1994 the Mega Drive/Genesis version was released, as well as for several other consoles. Takara, who did a lot of SNK game conversions, ported the game and they did a fairly good job, with them using the large version of sprites instead of the small ones the SNES version had. Most people generally regard this as a good conversion of the game, although the character "Earthquake" and his stage was removed from this version. Like most late SNK/Takara titles, the PAL version of Samurai Shodown is difficult to find. The US version is much easier to get, and I don't know about any other version. ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- 2) CONTROLS Samurai Shodown supports both the SEGA 3 button pad and 6 button pad. However, the 6 button variant is vastly superior to the 3 button one and I certainly say you should get a couple of 6 button pads before buying this game. However, I will list both the control lay out for either pad type, starting with the 3 button version. 3 BUTTON PAD A= weak slash B= normal slash C= hard slash A+B= weak kick B+C= normal kick A+C= hard kick START= pause 6 BUTTON PAD X= weak slash Y= normal slash Z= hard slash A= weak kick B= normal kick C= hard kick START= pause The D-Pad functions are the same for either pad: U= Up Press to jump upward. UF= Up forward Press to jump forward towards the opponent. F= Forward Press to move right D= Down Press to duck DB= Down back Press to block whilst ducking B= Back Press to move left or block UB= Up backwards Press to jump backwards These above functions are for when your character is facing right. Reverse them when facing left. ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- 3) STORY Across the world the best samurai warriors come together to fight it out and see who is worthy enough to fight the evil Shiro Tokisada Amakusa who is threatening to destroy Japan and then take over the world for his master. ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- 4) GAME MODES Smaurai Shodown offers a few different modes of play. When you get past the "press start" title screen you'll move on to the main select screen which has the following options: GAME START V.S. MODE OPTION I'll give a description of each below: GAME START This is the arcade mode where you choose a character and then fight all of the other CPU controlled opponents. Beat all of the normal characters and you wil face Amakusa himself in a final fight. Beat him to see your fighter's ending sequence. A second player can challenge you at any time by pressing start on pad 2. V.S. MODE For 2 players only, where you and a friend can fight each other. All of the characters, including Amakusa, are available to choose. When you select this mode the following options will appear: V.S. MODE SHODOWN V.S. mode is the standard 2 player vs. fight I've already explained, whilst SHODOWN is where each player chooses 5 characters each and then fight it out team battle style. Before you start a match on either mode you can mess around at an options screen that appears which lets you change your health bar, the time in a round, the items appearance and the level you want to fight on. OPTION When you enter this screen, several options will appear: LEVEL TIME ITEM KEY CONFIGURATION B.G.M S.E. LEVEL Choose the level for the CPU opponents, level 1 is the easiest whilst level 8 is the hardest. The default is level 4. TIME How many seconds in each round can be chosen from here. You can have either 30, 60, 99 or infinite time from here. The default is 99. ITEM This changes how many times the item guy appears. You can have either none, min, med or max. The default is med. KEY CONFIGUARTION Change the button lay out for the pad here. B.G.M. Listen to any of the game's 27 music tracks here. S.E. Listen to any of the game's 108 sound effects here. ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- 5) GAME PLAY THE RAGE METER This is the bar at the bottom of the screen, each fighter has one. When you are attacked, it will fill up. When it fills up fully your character will turn red and his/her moves will do much more damage for a short amount of time before the rage meter depletes. The game itself is a one on one weapons based beat 'em up. You simply have to K.O. the opponent to win the fight. Use slashes, kicks, special moves and throws to win. ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- 6) GENERAL MOVES RUNNING Press right (left if you are facing the other way) twice and hold it to run. Running means you will move a lot faster than usual and is great to suddenly dash up and slice your opponent. JUMP BACKS Press left (or right if you are facing the other way) twice to jump backwards. This is useful to evade opponent attacks. THROWS Hold right or left and press HS or HK to throw the opponent. LOCKING SWORDS If both characters run into each other at the same time, they lock swords. Rapidly press the slash attack buttons to try and win. If you do, you'll either push the opponent back, slash the opponent with a weak slash or flip the opponent's sword/weapon out of their hands. You can both lose your swords at the same time sometimes. FIGHTING WITH NO WEAPON If you lose your weapon, the slash attacks now become punches. If you can get your weapon back, move over it and press a slash button to pick it back up. SWORD STOPPING If you have no sword, and the opponent tries to slash you, press any slash button to grab the opponent's weapon and push the opponent back. This has to be timed right for it to work. WEAPON BREAK If your weapon takes to much damage from you blocking to often, it will break and you won't get it repaired until the next round/fight. TRIANGLE JUMPS Some characters can jump off walls. Jump up to a wall then press the opposite direction to the wall to jump off it. ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- 7) MOVES LIST All move commands are for when the player is facing right, reverse the commands when facing the other way. Remember, if you don't have your weapon you won't be able to do most of your character's special moves. LEGEND: QCF: Quarter circle forward QCB: Quarter circle backward DPM: Dragon Punch motion (F,D,DF) HCF: Half circle forward (B,DB,D,DF,F) HCB: Half circle backward (F,DF,D,DB,B) Charge: Charge direction for 2 seconds. S= Slash (any) K= Kick (any) Remember, if you lose your weapon you won't be able to do most if not all of a characters special moves. HAOHMARU "The samurai with nerves of steel" Age: 25 Weapon: The Fugu Blade Birthplace: Japan SPECIAL MOVES Cyclone slash: QCF+S This is a projectile attack which looks like a cyclone and when it hits the opponent, it will send them spinning high into the air. Crescent moon slash: DPM+S A super sword uppercut attack which is great to do against opponents that frequently jump at you. NAKORURU "The defender of the natural world" Age: 17 Weapon: Nature's wrath/short sword/Mamahaha Birthplace: Japan SPECIAL MOVES Annu mutsube: QCB+S Nakoruru dashes across the ground surrounded by energy and slashes the opponent. Leai Mutsube: QCF+S Like the above move, but she rises upward into the air this time. Amube Yatoro: HCB+S Nakoruru calls in Mamahaha to strike the opponent, who dives straight at them. Mamahaha flight: QCB+K Nakoruru jumps up and grabs onto Mamahaha. From here she can do any of the following: Yatror Poku: Down with any kick or slash button Nakoruru dives down at the opponent. UKYO "The samurai heart-throb" Age: 24 Weapon: Unnamed (he made his sword by himself though) Birthplace: Japan SPECIAL MOVES: Swallow swipe: HCF+S A low super slash attack. Snowfall slash: QCB+S A rapid attack of many sword slashes to cut the opponent up with at close range. JUBEI "The secret agent of the Japanese empire" Age: 39 Weapon: Tokugawa defender and Orin tiger sabre Birthplace: Japan SPECIAL MOVES: Tsunami Saber: DPM+S A dashing uppercut attack. Saber thrash: Press slash buttons rapidly This attack is where Jubei quickly does lots of slashes to cut the opponent up. Geyser thrust: QCF+P A ground wave projectile attack. GALFORD "The ninja golden boy" Age: 20 Weapon: Blade of justice/Poppy Birthplace: U.S.A SPECIAL MOVES: Rush Poppy: QCB+S Galford sends Poppy forward to strike the opponent. Plasma blade: QCF+P A projectile attack of 2 large plasma injected shurikens. Head strike: DPM+K (Close to opponent) Galford grabs the opponent and slams them. Ninja shadows: R, HCF+ any attack button apart from HS or HK Galford jumps up and makes 3 replicas of himself which move around and spin. This is a move that confuses the opponent most of the time. Rear replica attack: HCB+K A replica shadow attack move. Diving Poppy: QCB+WK A variant of the rush version. Machine-gun Poppy: QCB+NK Another dog attack variant. KYOSHIRO "The Showbiz Samurai" Age: 30 Weapon: Kabuki slasher Birthplace: Japan SPECIAL MOVES: Kabuki crush dance: F, HCF+ S An anti air attack. Twirling fan: HCF, DF+S A fan projectile attack. Jumping lion: QCB+K using his sword Kyoshiro leaps forward slightly, surrounded by fire to torch the opponent. Whirlwind slash: QCB+S Easier to do version of the twirling fan. WAN FU "The gargantuan military hero" Age: 35 Weapon: Sword of the emperor Birthplace: China SPECIAL MOVES Thunder bomb: QCB+S This move makes Wan Fu lose his sword. He actually throws it at the opponent, but most of the time you can get it back before the opponent has a chance to attack you. Whirlwind DPM+S A flying uppercut attack. CHARLOTTE "The revolutionary leader" Age: 27 Weapon: Laroche Birthplace: France SPECIAL MOVES Power gradation: HCF+S A flying uppercut attack. SPLASH FOUNT: Press any slash button rapidly Charlotte dashes forward with her weapon slashing rapidly. TAM TAM "The Mayan avenger" Age: 19 Weapon: Hengei-Hengei-Zangei Birthplace: Ixlpalotal SPECIAL MOVES Pagnua deose: QCB+K With his weapon spinning beneath him, Tam Tam travels across the ground to deal damage to low opponents. Moora Gaboora: QCF+S A projectile attack where a skull is thrown at the opponent. Paguna Paguna: B (Charge) F+S A spinning sword attack. You can move Tam Tam by pressing right of left during this special attack. Ahow Gaboori: R,DR,D+S Tam Tam leaps up then spurts out a fireball that goes diagonally downwards. GENAN "The scissor-handed slasher" Age: 26 Weapon: Azami Birthplace: Japan SPECIAL MOVES Slasher spin: DPM+S Genan rolls and spins towards the opponent. Poison cloud puff: QCF+S A Projectile of poison. HANZO "The master of the shadows" Age: 34 Weapon: Unnamed Birthplace: Japan SPECIAL MOVES Ninja teleport: HCB+K Hanzo teleports then re-appears above the opponent and stabs down with his sword. Shrike dash: DPM+K (Close to opponent) Hanzo grabs the opponent and slams them head first into the ground. Flying spike: QCF+S A large ninja star projectile attack. Ninja shadows: R, HCF+ any attack button apart from HS or HK Hanzo jumps up and makes 3 replicas of himself which move around and spin. This is a move that confuses the opponent most of the time. AMAKUSA "The unknown warrior" Age: Unknown Weapon: Gadama Jewel Birthplace: Unknown SPECIAL MOVES Forward warp: QCF+S A teleportation move forwards. Backward warp: QCF+K Another teleport, this time backwards. Underworld apparition attack: QCB+S A projectile attack. Spectre sphere: Triangle jump, then S Amakusa strikes down surrounded in a ball of energy. Dark thunder: Hold WK for 2 seconds, then release Another projectile attack ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- 8) BONUS GAMES At various points in the one player mode you'll get to do a bonus game. It basically involves trying to slash straw men before they vanish. They pop up at various points on screen, destroy them by attacking them. Destroy enough in the time limit for a points bonus. The more bonus games you do, the harder it gets. ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- 9) CHEATS Turn off music in first round of any match: For this rather useless "cheat", let the characters lock swords just before the fight, and when the screen goes white hold down the start button to turn off the music for the first round only. Alternative colours: For another boring and fairly useless cheat, high light the character you want and then press the hard slash or hard kick button to get a different colour for your character. Excuse me as I die from excitement. ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- 10) DISCLAIMER Only GameFAQs and Neoseeker can use this FAQ. Anyone else must e-mail me. My e-mail is ffogalvatron@hotmail.co.uk This may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. So I mean business. Haw. 2005 FFOGalvatron ------------------------------------------