Samurai Shodow (yes Shodown, not ShoWdown) is a multi-faceted creation of epic proportions. Samurai Spirits (as the series is known in Japan) originally started as an arcade game produced by Neo*Geo and has since spawned three sequals (on many gaming platforms), an animated movie, comics, two 3D fighters, a roleplaying version, and a couple installments for the Neo*Geo pocket system. It contains many colorful and interesting characters, many of which are based on real life samurai (or, in one case, a card game).

  The original arcade game was the first to feature an all samurai cast, and a game in which every character had and used a weapon. The game has beautifully drawn 2D sprite characters and backgrounds. The arcade also took a step away from the conventinal fighter (which as the time was Capcom's Street Fighter II), focusing more on swordplay and actual tactics rather than a "fireball game".

  Each installment is unique in its own way, some better than others...each with their own highpoints. If you're interested in samurai, anime, or fighting games, then you'll probably like Samurai Shodow/Spirits. It's worth picking up, and with but a few exceptions shouldn't be too hard to get your hands on a copy of something.

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