List of Samurai Shodown characters
Encyclopedia
This is a list of characters appearing in the Samurai Shodown series. Characters included into the list are characters exclusive to the fighting games and not the spin-offs or mobile games.
series, Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, and Samurai Shodown: Sen.
and playable character
in the Samurai Showdown series. He is based on the historical Amakusa Shirō
, who led a Christian
rebellion in the Shimabara region of Japan where the bakufu
army crushed his revolt and executed him.
Prior to the events of Samurai Shodown
, Amakusa is resurrected by the dark goddess Ambrosia; he uses the body of Shinzo Hattori (one of Hanzo's sons). His main plot involves him stealing the Palenke
stone, with which he intended to bring Ambrosia to the mortal world. The player prevents this from happening by defeating him. Upon his resurrection in Samurai Shodown IV
, his spirit splits into two halves: one good and one evil. His evil counterpart is slain by Zankuro in the same game but his good side lives on thanks to Shinzo. During the events in Samurai Shodown II
, he saves certain characters from Mizuki's wrath but is defeated, leaving only Shinzo's body for Hanzo to claim.
Amakusa fights his opponents by attacking them with a levitating gem. He can direct the gem with an impressive range, able to smash his enemies from the air and ground level from nearly any distance easily. At times, his gem may not compensate for opponents close to him so he also has a multi-hitting slap attack when he is close. To confuse his adversaries, he may also teleport and hover above them before diving upon them with a damaging attack. He also projects fiery projectiles in the image of demons to his foes, making him a formidable long-distance fighter.
In Samurai Shodown III
, Samurai Shodown IV
, Samurai Shodown V Special
, and Samurai Shodown VI
Amakusa is a playable character. He returns in Samurai Shodown RPG
as one of the game's main antagonists. According to Gamest Mook (a Japanese mook
created separate from its main publication), he was a possible candidate for the Samurai Shodown 64
lineup but was taken out due to time constraints.
. His character creation most likely takes inspiration from U.S.
president Andrew Jackson
; he shares the name "Andrew", and his stage is in front of the White House
.
He is portrayed as an American soldier who goes to Japan to stop a new menace to his relatively young country. In his ending, he befriends Tokugawa Yoshitora. Andrew likes tea
and reading
; he dislikes tobacco
and is self-conscious about dealing with women.
.
He is the grandson of Nicotine Caffeine and a monk
in training. In his ending to Samurai Shodown V
, he is comically shaved bald at the whim of several other hairless characters. Years later, with his hair grown back, he and his grandfather have an argument, causing Gaira to leave his home and venture out on his own. During his travels, he witnesses Zankuro Minazuki slaughtering an entire village but is too afraid to stop him. Ashamed by his cowardice, he decides to defeat the "demon", but finds Zankuro already slain. He takes the body, buries and then enshrines it. His later appearances in the series continue to have Gaira exorcise demons as training.
Samurai Shodown III
showed the departure of giant and muscular characters (such as Earthquake, Sieger, and Wan-fu) from the cast. Gaira, however, became the "giant" in their place as he boosts incredible strength for close-ranged fighting. He attacks his enemies with a belt of gigantic prayer beads and his fists. With this combination of weaponry, he can grapple and rush into people in his range. He technically may not cut anyone but has the power to rival several bosses in strength. Also, he may "seal" certain actions or "dizzy" his foe, similar to his grandfather.
Gaira has also appeared as a playable character in Samurai Shodown IV
, Samurai Shodown V
, and Samurai Shodown VI
. He also has an EX form in Samurai Shodown VI under his Korean name. His role in Samurai Shodown RPG
was an occasional guest member and he was unplayable.
. Similar to Sieger, he was dropped from the character lineup after his introduction and is then limited to mostly cameos or background story appearances.
He is the chief priest of Koka-in (a pun on "Cocaine"), a temple deep in the mountains of Hida, and former master swordsman who taught Haohmaru and Genjuro. He once exorcised many demons in his prime but became a monk after he was defeated by a "certain evil one" (implied to be Mizuki). He leaves his temple in order to save his disciple from demons. He returns home after Mizuki's defeat and continues to offer sage advise to Haohmaru on his visits. Shiki's child, Mikoto, is raised in his temple.
He fights with a wooden staff and magical sealing cards. Of these cards, he can send projectiles from a high or low angle, confusing players as to which position they should block. The character also possesses a move that can reverse controller movements for a time. Because of his small stature, his attack range is short, though largely effective once in range.
Aside from Samurai Shodown VI
, Nicotine only appears playable in the game he premiered. His role in Samurai Shodown RPG
was an occasional guest member thus was unplayable.
. Curiously, she debuted the same year as another catgirl character, Felicia
; additionally, Cham Cham even has an alternative color palette that looks similar to Felicia's default colors.
She is the younger sister of the character Tam Tam. She secretly took a village heirloom, the , to play with when a goblin snatched it away. She thought her parents would be angry because of it so she sets out with her pet chimpanzee "Paku Paku" (who is actually Tam Tam transformed as punishment for his failure to protect the stone) in order to look for it.
Cham Cham is a catgirl
in appearance and has feline mannerisms; for example, she walks on all fours when disarmed (she holds her weapon in one hand when she has it). Her taunts are also animalistic (in one, she meows and stretches like a cat, while in the other, she sits on her haunches and scratches behind her ear with her foot). Her boomerang can be thrown high into the air or at ground level, leaving her unarmed for a time; however, this may not be a total disadvantage, as her claws and kicks are enough to keep her foes at bay. Paku Paku may also be summoned to attack for her, which includes throwing skulls, emitting fireballs, and a spinning spit-kick attack.
Despite being a popular character, she was not featured in newer games until she appeared in the PSX
port of Samurai Shodown IV
, Samurai Shodown RPG
, and in Samurai Shodown VI
. A pachinko
game was developed surrounding her, adding more friends to be like her.
. She was dropped from the series after Samurai Shodown II
but, like Tam Tam and Jubei, she returns in Samurai Shodown IV
. Her physical design is based on Oscar François de Jarjayes
from the manga
The Rose of Versailles
.
She is a minor French
noble
who prefers the company of commoners. Whilst on her travels through the French countryside, she caught word of a "series of calamities" with no natural pretenses. She leaves her home to investigate and ends up traveling to Japan in order to do battle with Amakusa who is the source of the evil plaguing her home country. Afterwards, she returns home to take part in the French Revolution
. In Samurai Shodown II
, she finds Ambrosia to be the further source of the malice occurring around the world and journeys again to defeat the deity. At this time, she falls in love with Haohmaru, but temporarily ends her affections when she sees his lover, Oshizu. Later (in Samurai Shodown VI
), it is shown that she has a close relationship with Haohmaru. He travels all the way to France from Japan to visit her. She returns to Japan for similar reasons during her other appearances.
Common with most fencers
, most of her slashing attacks revolve around stabbing from a distance, avoiding body contact as much as possible. Her most powerful strike is a three-point slash, forming a triangle when completely drawn. Her standing kicks hop her across a short distance and are capable of avoiding some low ground attacks. When first introduced, her move set only consisted of Splash Front, a button mashing move which traveled her forward, and Power Gradation, a perfectly vertical anti-air attack. Her next appearance in Samurai Shodown II
granted her access to Tri-Slash, a chargeable projectile.
Charlotte also went on to be playable in Samurai Shodown RPG
, Samurai Shodown 4, Samurai Shodown V
, Samurai Shodown VI
, and Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
.
and was dropped from the character lineup after Samurai Shodown II
. He continues to make cameo appearances in characters' endings.
He is a Texan who had trained under the same master as the ex-sailor Galford, Ayame, but quit early due to lack of interest. Thanks to some of this training, however, despite his enormous body, huge in both height and girth, Earthquake became deceptively fast and tricky. His ninjutsu combined with his size makes him a formidable warrior. He uses this to his advantage and becomes a bandit, somehow being the leader of his own bandit gang. When Amakusa starts creating havoc, he decides to steal all of the world's treasure
. A year later, Mizuki telepathically hires him, telling him that if he killed those she told him to, she would reward him with gold
. After the defeat of Mizuki, Earthquake and his henchmen go to the Makai, enchanted by the promise of greater treasure. After they enter, the entrance is sealed and they are never heard from again.
One of Earthquake's earliest advantages over several fighters was the incredible reach of his kusarigama, reaching fighters from nearly the other side of the field without too much trouble. His main move was to spin rapidly and travel across the screen. His attacks are powerful but slow and his height makes him an easy target if he missed. His moves were also limited, making it sometimes difficult to catch quick characters. In Samurai Shodown II
, he gained more ninjutsu techniques to better compensate for his weaknesses such as teleporting, fire breathing, and illusions. He also cannot be tossed into the air like other characters; if the throw command is used against him, a unique attack animation is substituted instead. If needed, he can also fight opponents with his farts
and burps.
Earthquake also appears in Samurai Shodown VI
, Samurai Shodown RPG
(as an unplayable minor villain), and the crossover fighting game SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom
. In one fan's response to SNK's Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
Q&A section, developers admit that they were thinking of implementing Earthquake into the game to balance out all of the "pretty boy" characters. However, they also told the fan to keep playing as another character in the game might replace the gap.
. He fights alongside his pet husky
, Poppy, and is also accompanied by Poppy's puppies, Papa, Pipi, and Pipa.
After the death of his father, Galford left his four older sisters to become a sailor
, where he learned about the ninja
of Japan. Fascinated by their stories of heroics and mysticism, he decided to learn from them. He completes his training in the Koga style
under Ayame, the wife of Hanzo's master (Earthquake trained with him too but quit early). Throughout the series, Galford seeks to uphold justice throughout the land (eventually as a superhero of justice). He has unrequited
feelings for Nakoruru.
During the events of Samurai Shodown: Sen Galford confronts his father's Killer, Draco. He kills Draco and avenges his father and continues to fight in the name of justice.
When first introduced, he and Hanzo nearly mirrored each other in several aspects such as confusing foes with teleportation, illusions, and surprise piledriving
. His main deviation from Hanzo is the addition of his dog, Poppy. With her, players can command her to maul, tackle, teleport above foes, or use illusions to copy Galford. In Samurai Shodown III
, his Slash form integrates a heavier reliance on Poppy, creating a quick, hit-and-run style of fighting. His Bust form, however, relies on grappling and aggressive up-close combat. As the series progresses, Galford becomes faster but slightly less powerful than Hanzo. His lightening projectile, or "plasma" as it is dubbed by the creators, differentiates from Hanzo's fire as it only flies horizontally straight rather than traveling along the ground in a slinky
-like motion.
Galford stage is set in California, in the year 1778, in that year California was part of the New Spain colonial territories, oficially in the game he is from Hero city (port [?]), San Francisco, California, USA. But the USA was a 13 state country in the eastern side of the American continent, thus making him a Spaniard. Galford is playable in all of the games in the series with the exception of Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation). His Bust form appears as a separate character from him in Samurai Shodown VI. In the 1997 Gamest Hero collection, Galford was tied at fifteenth place as the staff's favorite character (along with Street Fighter
s Ken
and Fatal Fury character, Ryuji Yamazaki
).
and continues to appear in every title of the series. His character origin was originally based around the famed swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi
, a duelist who claimed to have never lost a match. Though he is a swordsman
with no loyalties to any lord, Haohmaru has a "samurai spirit" which is often stressed in the series. He is also often accredited to defeating most of the series' villains.
At the age of fifteen, he challenged Jubei to a duel but lost due to lack of experience. Jubei, amused by the youth's bravado, brought Haohmaru to Nicotine so that he may gain proper training. Whilst living there, he also met and befriended Genjuro, fellow student and another orphan like himself. One day, Nicotine told them they would battle to determine who would learn the secrets in a magical scroll to increase their fighting ability. Genjuro wins, but almost kills Haohmaru; in response, Nicotine banishes Genjuro which begins the latter's grudge against Haohmaru and Nicotine. Encouraged by this defeat to further improve himself, Haohmaru travels the lands perfecting his sword skills, and searches for worthy challengers in the name of shura
. During his many travels, Haohmaru also raises Shizumaru and trains him to be a fighter. He is in love with a girl named Oshizu, but in Samurai Shodown VI
, he eventually leaves her for his travels even as she begs him to stay with her. Also in Samurai Shodown VI, it is shown that Haohmaru shares a close relationship with Charlotte, even travelling all the way to France in order to visit her. In Warriors Rage, Haohmaru is a skilled and active swordsman at the age of forty-seven. At this time, he is trying to find his adopted niece, Mikoto and bring her back home.
His trademark moves are Kogetsuzan, a crescent-shaped uppercut, and Seppuretsuzan, a whirlwind projectile. He also has a sake jug, which he uses to "bless" his blade with liquor before he fights. In Samurai Shodown II
, he may swing his jug in battle for a multi-hit short-range attack or alternatively use it to reflect projectiles. He also gained a somersault attack, which could cause massive damage upon crouching foes. When his style splits in Samurai Shodown III
, his Slash form retains several strategies used in previous games, being a balanced and easy-to-master mid-range combatant. By contrast, his Bust form alters several moves, granting him access to aggressive close-combat fighting. His appearance in Warriors Rage (PlayStation) also combined some elements from Genjuro's fighting style such as his stance and crouching strikes.
Haohmaru also makes appearances in the games Capcom vs. SNK 2
, SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium
, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
, the mobile game Neo Geo Tennis Coliseum, and the dating sim Days of Memories
: Oedo Love Scroll. According to the Q&A page for Neo Geo Battle Coliseum, developers admitted that no matter what the fans wanted, they wanted to include Samurai Shodown characters and made Haohmaru's inclusion one of their top priorities in development. In Gamest's 1997 Heroes Collection, Haohmaru was tied with Ukyo for their 29th (out of 50) for the staff's favorite character rank. He also makes regular appearances in the series' merchandise and has at least two action figures.
Haohmaru makes a cameo appearance in Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture
.
that appears in every title of the series. He is based on the historical figure of the same name
, who was a Tokugawa
ninja and head of a clan
in Iga
. Like several other mythical incarnations, he is an old friend to Jubei due to their ties to the Tokugawa clan. He also married a Koga
ninja, Kaede, quelling a long feud between the two ninja clans that is often romanticized in the historical novel The Kouga Ninja Scrolls
.
He is the mightiest of the Iga ninja
, employed under the Tokugawa shogunate. Leading his band of ninja, he specializes in assassination attacks against their enemies. For instance, in Samurai Shodown V
, Hanzo is given the task to execute the traitor to Yoshitora's father. In Samurai Shodown
, he discovers his son, Shinzo, exhibiting mysterious mannerisms due to Amakusa's possession. He fights to save his son but only succeeds in recovering Shinzo's body. Eventually, Hanzo learns that Shinzo's soul is still in the demon world
so he sets out with his wife and his second son, Kanzo, to retrieve it. In his ending to Samurai Shodown II
, they succeed but Kaede sacrifices herself to unite her son's soul to his body. Despite the hardship, he continues to serve his lord with his sons by his side. Shinzo eventually accepts the title "Hanzo" in Warriors Rage.
Comparable to other ninja in fiction, Hanzo's ninjutsu
focuses on the mystical properties of the style rather than its physical fighting techniques
. He possesses the ability to teleport and trick his attackers with a dummy when hit. He can also create multiple illusions of himself in hopes of misleading his opponents for an open strike. He later integrates a heavy emphasis on bone-breaking grappling, a trait that follows him in his newer appearances. When first introduced, he and Galford nearly mirrored each other in most aspects. As the series progresses, however, Hanzo becomes the slightly slower but more powerful of the two ninja. His projectile element is fire, whereas his counterpart, Galford, is lightning. He can also throw shurikens and use a variety of bombs to stun or damage his enemies.
In Samurai Shodown RPG
, he was an occasional guest member controlled by the computer and thus was unplayable. He also appears as a secret character in another SNK-Playmore game, KOF: Maximum Impact 2
. He has one known action figure, based on his appearance in Samurai Shodown 64.
In Gamest's 1997 "Heroes Collection", Hanzo ranked #46 of the staff's favorite characters, sharing the spot with seven other characters, including Art of Fighting
character, Robert Garcia and Darkstalkers character, Demitri Maximoff. He was also featured on several lists of top ten ninja characters in video games, including by 1UP.com
in 2004 (#9), by The Armchair Empire in 2006 (#10), and by CrunchGear in 2008 (#3).
who continues to appear in other titles in the series.
He is a young amnesic boy who believes his parents and his entire family were murdered by a vile demon
. Because he was deemed a "demon's child" since childhood, he lives and survives alone.
During the events of Samurai Shodown V
, he was taken in as a servant by a noble young couple. The husband leaves to fight in the war at Hinowa, leaving his wife, Hakana, under Shizumaru's protection. Pregnant, Hakana wants to return to her father (who Shizumaru doesn't know is Youkai Kusaregedo) for shelter. Shizumaru, assured she is safe, feels obligated to help in the war. When the battles are over, he is rewarded a hefty sum of gold for his efforts. He leaves for home but is stopped by a man who calls him Yaiba. Despite Shizumaru's denial, the man insists that he is Yaiba and that "his family" misses him. Shizumaru chooses to stay with his master and flees. Unfortunately, his master dies in the war and Hakana is eaten by her father. Due to the trauma he has suffered, he labels anything malicious, be it person or mannerisms, as a "demon". He respects Haohmaru, who inspires him and teaches him the philosophy of the sword at an early age. Shizumaru seeks to defeat Zankuro and supposedly avenge his family's death. He and Haohmaru slay Zankuro. After the events of Samurai Shodown IV
, he confuses the remaining blood lust within him as a "rampaging demon". However, he comes to accept his "demon" as a natural part of himself and makes peace with his past.
His fighting style is a unique combination between his umbrella and his sword. When he first premiered, he relies on his umbrella more, using his sword occasionally in special moves. His latter appearances, however, have him using more sword techniques, minimizing his umbrella attacks. His move set incorporates an uppercut move similar to Haohmaru's Kougetstuzan.
In Samurai Shodown IV
, Samurai Shodown V
, and Samurai Shodown VI
, Shizumaru appears as a playable character. In the NeoGeo CD version of Samurai Shodown RPG
, he stars in the bonus portion of the game with his own story. According to Gamest Mook (a Japanese mook
created separate from its main publication), he was one of the potential candidates for the Samurai Shodown 64
lineup but was taken out due to time and modeling constraints. In their 1997 Hero's Collection, Gamest staff voted him as their thirteenth favorite character (tied with The King of Fighters character Benimaru Nikaido, for the same spot).
. Her namesake is taken from the Heian
poem of the same name
which is a pangram
used for learning the hiragana
syllabary.
She is a crane who transforms herself into a Japanese maid. She serves her master and appears to think of him as the most important aspect of her life. Her master is unknown (rumored to be Andrew), but is likely to be the player him/herself as she often bows and speaks to the player before and after her fights.
She fights with two butterfly swords and relies on her speed for close ranged combat. She can also double jump. Several of her moves hint to her original form as a crane such as her projectile (a white feather) and her normal fighting stance. The most obvious reference is her POW move, where she grabs her opponent and, behind shoji doors, disrobes and physically beats her foe. Her silhouette during this sequence briefly changes into a crane.
Iroha is a very popular character in Japan, and stars in her own mobile game called Maid by Iroha. Another game based around her is currently scheduled for release on the Nintendo DS. She makes another appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories
: Oedo Love Scroll. Recently, she has also been added to a roster of usable characters in the Queen's Gate series, which is an extension of the fantasy game series, Lost Worlds. She also has several different figurines, hard cast and otherwise, made in her image.
.
Ochamaro is a wooden puppet that was created by an onmyōji
during the Heian period
. Aside from performing Shinto dances for the gods, he is also given the task to be a warrior against demons.
. His demon counterpart, , was first introduced as Kazuki's Bust form in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
but became his own character in Samurai Shodown V
. Developers wanted Enja to be different from Kazuki by making Enja "unable to speak human language."
He is a member of the Kazama ninja clan who specializes in pyrokinetic ninjutsu. In Samurai Shodown V
, he is ordered to execute a powerful fire-demon named Enja. He searches for the demon and eventually encounters him. Enja, however, is too powerful an opponent for Kazuki but, his younger sister, Hazuki saves his and Sogetsu's life by sealing the demons in each brother's respective weapons. In Samurai Shodown IV
, after he learns that Hazuki was kidnapped by Amakusa, Kazuki decides to desert the clan to rescue her, essentially becoming a nukenin, or renegade ninja
. His clan does not tolerate traitors and they send his brother Sogetsu to assassinate him. The two rendezvous at Amakusa's castle. There, Kazuki defeats Amakusa and saves his sister. Sogetsu, on the other hand, stays behind to fight Zankuro. After faking his death to his clan, Kazuki and Hazuki continue to run away together and live a carefree life. His other appearances in the series continue to have him living with Hazuki whilst investigating mysterious calamities across the land.
, he possesses Kazuki's body and becomes his new bust form.
Kazuki is a sharp contrast to his brother in that most of his attacks are short-ranged and risky if performed improperly. His only long ranged attack is a fireball projectile. In his first appearance, his Slash mode can form up to three mini fireballs which may boost his special moves. His Bust mode relies on an aggressive, close combat moves that deals massive damage. It later carries over to be Enja's fighting style. Enja losses Kazuki's ninjato
but fights using punches that mimic Kazuki's sword strikes.
Kazuki is also playable as a character in Samurai Shodown 64
, Samurai Shodown! 2
, Samurai Shodown VI
, and Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
. He makes a cameo appearance in the Neo Geo CD version of Samurai Shodown RPG
. Enja is an individual character from Kazuki in Samurai Shodown V
and Samurai Shodown VI
. Gamest staff voted Kazuki as their 35th favorite character in their 1997 Heroes Collection.
. His demonic form, , was first introduced as his Bust form in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
but became a separate character from him in Samurai Shodown V
. Game developers for Samurai Shodown V wanted Suija to be the "dangerous guy who wants to be a god".
He is a member of the Kazama ninja clan who has the ability to manipulate water and is the older brother to Kazuki. In Samurai Shodown V
, Sogetsu is ordered by his clan to defeat a powerful water demon named Suija. After much searching, he encounters the demon and engages him. Like his younger brother's encounter with Enja, Suija meets him with the intentions of possessing his body. To save them, their younger sister, Hazuki uses a ninjutsu spell to seal both Suija and Enja away in her brothers' weapons (Sogetsu and Kazuki respectfully). When Kazuki leaves the clan to save Hazuki, the elders of the clan order him to execute his brother. Sogetsu eventually finds Kazuki at Amakusa's castle. There, he allows Kazuki to rescue Hazuki, while he stays behind to fight Zankuro. He slays Zankuro and returns to his clan, telling his superiors that Kazuki has been taken care of; in truth, he allows Kazuki to fake his death so he and Hazuki can run away. Sogetsu keeps a watchful eye on them in secret so they may continue to lead a carefree life. He continues to serve his clan, loyally following their orders and meeting his brother by coincidence from time to time.
. He possesses a shinobi
from the Kazama clan, who was investigating evil energies close to the lake where he was sealed. Suija is determined to take the spell of Jinma-Itai from Kuraki-sumeragi. He wants to reunite with his friend, Enja, to steal that spell. Parallel to Enja's fate with Kazuki, however, Suija is sealed in Sogetsu's weapon by Hazuki. Over time, his spirit gradually seeps through the seal and takes possession of Sogetsu's mind and body.
Sogetsu, unlike Kazuki, has several long ranged attacks, most notable of which is his strongest slash attack. His power over water allows him to keep opponents at distance from both the air and ground level as he can raise geysers and throw bubbles to thwart their advances. In his Bust form, later adopted as Suija's fighting style, he becomes an effective close to mid-ranged fighter, able to shield himself from attacks during jumps and splash powerful geysers at close range. In Warriors Rage, his ninjatō
changes to a longer tachi
. Suija fights bare-handed and relies mostly on kicks for normal attacks.
Sougetsu is also playable as a character in Samurai Shodown 64
, Samurai Shodown! 2
, Samurai Shodown VI
, and Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
. He makes an appearance in the Neo Geo CD version of Samurai Shodown RPG
. Suija appears as his own character in Samurai Shodown V
and Samurai Shodown VI
. In the 1997 Gamest Heroes Collection, Sogetsu was ranked the staff's 21st favorite character.
and the official rival to Haohmaru.
He claims to have killed his family and at least a thousand other people. His mother was a prostitute
and, due to her profession, he knows nothing about his father. When he was fifteen, Genjuro killed one of her clients -due to his mother's pleas for protection from her client's drunken rage. As he went to leave, she attacked him, leaving the scar on his back, and he killed her. Orphaned, Nicotine spotted him and took him under his tutelage along with Haohmaru in his dojo. Both students were close friends yet Genjuro's hunger for power worried Nicotine. To test his student, he decided to have them fight to determine who was stronger, with a scroll that promises power as the reward. Genjuro defeats Haohmaru but is banished for his murderous intent. He swore to kill Haohmaru and Nicotine, spiteful for their idealistic beliefs on swordplay. He hates Haohmaru especially, because he resembles the man his mother was with when he killed them (he also was attracted to Shiki at one point, as she resembled his mother). His profession during his travels is a hitokiri or killer-for-hire, often accepting the more "dirty" jobs such as wiping out pirate brigades and bandit hideouts. His former clients include Sankuro and Mizuki. In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
, Genjuro gains the upper hand in his last duel with Haohmaru. Before he could deal the final blow, a boy stabs him in vengeance for his unnamed father. It's heavily implied that Genjuro dies from his wound and, as promised, an older Haohmaru toasts to his friend's honor.
Though they both trained underneath Nicotine, his fighting style greatly differs from Haohmaru in execution. All of his special moves are direct references to the Japanese card game, hanafuda
. Depending on whether a move hits or misses, the move will temporarily project the images of a "winning" combo of cards and/or a "miss" based on the featured hanafuda set. His "pet" of sorts is an unnamed orange frog, a reference to the card, Yanagi ni Ono No Toufuu. His win poses from his first appearance made several heavy references to the deck; his later win poses tone down the references.
Since his introduction, Genjuro is playable in all of the games in the series with the exception of Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation). He also makes playable appearances in SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom
, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
and the dating sim Days of Memories
: Oedo Love Scroll. In Gamest's 1997 Heroes Collection, he was ranked the staff's eighteenth favorite character. He was voted as the number one favorite character at the time of his debut.
.
He is a type of yokai
"reborn" due to an extreme hatred he harbored before his death. In his previous life, Basara lived in peace with his wife, Kagaribi, until the monstrous demonic swordsman Zankuro came through and slaughtered everyone. He blames "the demon" for his wife's demise but, in Samurai Shodown V
, it is revealed that Basara himself killed her. In Samurai Shodown III
, he remembers how he died and thus aimlessly seeks to take revenge on Zankuro. However, Zankuro is already slain by the time he finds him. Having no reason to remain, Basara searches for ways to finally rest in peace. In Samurai Shodown IV
, he discovers that his "rebirth" is caused by Amakusa, so he heads for Shimabara to kill him. After Amakusa's defeat, a vision of Kagaribi lures his soul to be captured and sealed away by Mizuki.
Some of his powers are based in the use of his shuriken, as well as demonic powers like moving and disappearing into the shadows or release balls of energy. His normal attacks are adaptable to execute, easily ranging from close to mid-screen and often hitting for several hits upon impact. His distinguishing feature is a shrill laugh and claiming life to be "a beautiful nightmare".
Basara also appears playable in Samurai Shodown VI
. In Samurai Shodown RPG
he is an occasional guest member and doubles as an optional boss in the second chapter of the game.
games. He starts to challenge players as a hidden boss in Samurai Shodown II
and continues to do so in other games of the series. Kuroko is an alias; his real name is shown in the credits of the second game, but inkeeping with his role as a kuroko
, is blurred. His real name is revealed to English fans nearly a decade later as Dueling Judge: "Slick" Sukihiro. Although he appears as his own character in the series, real life kuroko are meant to be anonymous and "invisible" stage men in Japanese theater.
He dons a red flag and a white flag (used in martial arts competitions to denote when a player hits an opponent) as his weapon. As a playable character, Kuroko parodied moves from other SNK
characters, mainly from those in Fatal Fury or Art of Fighting
, and unlike every other character in the game, it was his outfit that became red as his rage bar filled up. He also can't be thrown normally, like Earthquake in the same game, and apparently his flags, which he uses as weapons, can't be destroyed or lost. He becomes a copy of the player's character in Samurai Shodown III
. In Samurai Shodown VI
, his special moves further parodied King of Fighters
characters.
Kuroko continues to challenge players in Samurai Shodown 64
. He returns as a character and a judge in Samurai Shodown VI
and serves as a save point for players in Samurai Shodown RPG
.
. Yumeji is unique to the roster in that he/she has no definite gender; the developers to the game, Yuki Enterprises, entreated players to "believe whatever you believe Yumeji to be". To add to the confusion, Yumeji speaks in gender neutral Japanese in both his/her official story and in-game text and Yumeji's voice actor has a history of voicing for both genders. Due to the openness of the statement, players still argue over his/her gender to this day. The character designer for the game affectionately nicknamed Yumeji as "Souji" -a reference to the Shinsengumi
captain, Okita Sōji
.
Yumeji is the sole successor of Sakon Kurokouchi, a sensei of iaijutsu
and the previous mentor of Ukyo. However, for a dubious reason concerning issues with his/her body, Yumeji was expelled from his/her father's dojo and living facility. Yumeji follows Gaoh and swears to serve him as his "right arm". In the end, Yumeji is defeated by Ukyo, and, to save his/her family name from disgrace, begs him to take his/her life. Ukyo, however, only cuts off his/her ponytail and orders Yumeji to go home. Instead, Yumeji becomes a nun
. One year after Gaoh's defeat, he/she tricks and beheads Rasetsumaru. Her father and the rest of his disciples were later slain by Zankuro.
As Yumeji shares the same fighting style as Ukyo, Yumeji borrows several poses and animations from him. The main deviation between them, however, is his/her ability to morph into aspirations of other characters to perform their signature moves (Haohmaru with Kougetsuzan, Hanzo with Mos Otoshi, Genjuro with Inoshikacho, Nakoruru with Ainu Mutsube, etc.).
Yumeji makes a playable appearance in Samurai Shodown VI
.
. Gaoh was fashioned as a character to concisely reflect the times of the era
that the game takes place, speaking in the same dialect and dressing himself in similar fashion.
He was once a loyal general to the Tokugawa clan
and lord to the land of Hinowa. He is one of the previous mentors to the clan's heir, Yoshitora. However, Yoshitora and his father became indifferent to the land during the Tenmei
famine and the country was thrown into more chaos as a result. Concerned about the well being of his countrymen, he decides to rebel against his lord with an army of powerful warriors until he is defeated by Yoshitora. He begs for his pupil to become shogun
for the sake of the people, which Yoshitora finally accepts as his responsibility.
When he is in POW, he transforms into a demon in armor, an evil entity that once possessed another character, Yunfei. This form is killed by Gaoh with the assistance of Yunfei.
Gaoh also appears in Samurai Shodown V Special
and Samurai Shodown VI
as a playable character.
. In their commentary for fans, it was one of the director's request to make another overseas character. During his designing process, they were afraid of making him too similar to Chinese actor, Chow Yun-fat
. Since they were already making a "new young lady" (Mina), Yunfei was eventually modeled to be the "cool old guy".
He lived at one point in 800 A.D. with his wife. Desiring to gain more power, he made a deal with a being calling himself "The Dark Emperor" and apparently becomes immortal due to an evil entity. However, he went insane and berserk until he was sealed in a boulder by his students, Enja and Suija. A millennium later, he is freed due to the entity leaving him to possess someone else. Wanting to redeem himself, he tracks down the entity's source with intents to exorcise it. In his ending, the entity is found in Gaoh and it begins to overwhelm its host. In order to help Gaoh, Yunfei takes possession of the monster's body and urges the free Gaoh to slay the demon. He is struck down and is reunited with his wife (presumably in heaven
).
Yunfei takes most of his mannerisms from typical wuxia
traits. Parallel to other wuxia borrowing some elements from real-life martial arts, his fighting style is a rough deviation of the Wing Chun
martial arts. He also possesses the ability to fly, best exampled in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
.
Yunfei also appears in Samurai Shodown VI
.
. According to the game's creators, Mina was created to be the "polar opposite to Nakoruru" and as the "new heroine" to the series. They extended these keywords to everything, including fighting style, weaponry, and clothing. Though she drifted slightly away from her original image, Mina became a favorite to them and they expressed an interest to implement her into more games.
She is blessed since birth with powerful spiritual energy and was sent away from her home to train in the art of exorcising demons. Her village revered her as a kaminchu (goddess) but also shunned her as they were in fear of her powers. As a result of her isolation, Mina is unable to express emotions. One day, she departs her village to destroy an ayakashi (a certain kind of yokai
). Upon her victory, she senses a powerful and evil force in her village but returns to see everything in ruins and all the inhabitants dead. In the wreckage, she finds a seemingly harmless being named Chample to whom she grew to endear. Taking her new friend in her arms, she is determined to eliminate as many demons as possible, starting with Gaoh. However, she eventually comes to the conclusion that Chample is the demon that destroyed her village when he transforms to his true form and attacks a by-stander. In her ending, she kills Chample to avenge the villagers; it's then implied that she commits suicide
afterwards.
Mina is the first archer character to grace the character lineup.
Mina is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI
and makes another appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories
: Oedo Love Scroll. Since her introduction, she has several figurines made in her image.
and recurs as a boss character throughout the series.
He is a fearsome warrior who once traveled from village to village slaughtering people with no regard or disambiguation. During this time, he earns the title "the demon" in testament to his terrifying skill and battle prowess. He encounters a young girl who he couldn't bring himself to kill and realizes the error of his ways. He retires his massacring and enters hermitage, only drawing his blade to kill worthy opponents in duels. Eventually, he is defeated by Shizumaru and Haohmaru and his body is buried and sealed later by Gaira. His appearances after Samurai Shodown III continue to revive him as an unlockable boss for the players to defeat.
Zankuro wields a zanbatō
which he uses to attack with amazing speed and strength. In his first boss appearance, he could easily defeat his foe in three strikes. In Samurai Shodown IV, his strongest slash can take away half a lifebar.
In the PSX port of Samurai Shodown IV
, Samurai Shodown V Special
, and Samurai Shodown VI
Zankuro is a playable character. According to Gamest Mook (a Japanese mook
created separate from its main publication), he was originally planned for the Samurai Shodown 64
lineup but was taken out due to time constraints.
. His character design and mannerisms are based on the Naked Festival
that occurs in Japan. He is another character in the series who brings comic relief.
He wields a fireworks cannon as his weapon and can summon an entire parade on an opponent.
, she appears in every title of the series, but is not playable in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage. Her alter ego, , premiered in the PC
and Dreamcast video game and single OVA Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono and was later incorporated into the fighting games in Samurai Shodown V
.
Nakoruru's role in the game is of a defender of Mother Nature
as a priest
ess of the Ainu religion. This idea came from a Japanese perception of the indigenous Ainu people
, who live around Hokkaido, Japan. In this case, Ainu are depicted in a way analogous to the Native Americans in the United States
are in other media, in that they revere nature and peacefully coexist with it. Keeping in key with her persona, Nakoruru was also used as a mascot for SNK's environmental awareness campaigns in 1994. She became the Kamui
warrior of Kamui Kotan after the death of her father and continues to fulfill this role throughout the series (even assuming a human form after her death). In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
, she becomes "the holy spirit who wanders through time" in a form that resembles a Koro-pok-guru
. Unable to assume her original form, she asks the player to awaken the Maiden of Light, Rimururu, who has been sealed by Oboro.
is based on the alternate palette swap of Nakoruru (noted for her evil grin during her victory images since Samurai Shodown
). The developers admit basing her mannerism on Nakoruru's Bust form. It is said that Nakoruru suppressed this side of herself as Rera saw killing as a necessity to protect nature. She merges with her host after she realizes that fighting doesn't solve everything and peaceful solutions can be made. She can physically take over Nakoruru, but has only done so when Nakoruru is reluctant to kill her enemies.
She fights with a kodachi
, and, depending on the form, a hawk
named Mamahaha (in Slash) or a wolf named Shikuru (in Bust form and later Rera). To compensate for her short weapon range, players must rely on her speed to punish her opponents' mistakes. She can also recover from her moves a little quicker than other characters, making it easier for her to hit-and-run during fights. To balance her out with the rest of the cast, her attack strength is slightly weaker than most fighters. Her move set usually incorporates slightly longer ranged attacks that project her or her animal companions to her foes so her attack range isn't limited to her sword. She can also reflect projectiles with the move, Kamui Ryusei. The girl that appears during her entrances in Capcom vs SNK is one of her childhood friends introduced in Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono, Manari.
Nakoruru also stars in her own game, Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono. She makes outside series appearances in the Game Boy port of The King of Fighters '95
, King of Fighters 2000 (as a special Striker), Capcom vs SNK, Capcom vs. SNK 2
, SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium
, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
, SNK Gals' Fighters
, the mobile game Neo Geo Tennis Coliseum, and the dating sim Days of Memories
: Oedo Love Scroll. Rera appears again in Samurai Shodown VI
as well as an alternate version konwn as Purple Nakoruru who pays tribute on the concept that later evolved into Rera. This version however still fights with Mamahaha. SNK-Playmore also created a social action program for children using Nakoruru and Fatal Fury star, Terry Bogard
, as their mascots. She is a featured character in several of the series' drama cds and stars in her own character image cd. She also is a member in SNK's character image band, Band of Fighters. As a popular moe character, Nakoruru also has several figurines made in her image from various game appearances.
. Like Nicotine, he was dropped after his introduction and is limited to cameo appearances throughout the series.
He is a Prussia
n warrior and the leader of the Red Lion Knights. He went to Japan to deal with the threat of Mizuki. In his ending, he saves his country from demons and is married to Elizabeth, the daughter of the Prussian King.
In the spin-off, Samurai Spirits RPG, he married Queen Victoria
and is protecting France against any demon attacks. He assists the party battling Mizuki whilst they are in Paris and Green Hell. However, Mizuki traps him within one of the Dark Bells, a medium which increases Ambrosia's powers and siphons evil spirits. Knowing the dangers of the Bell, he allows the party to destroy it, killing himself in the process.
His fighting style consists of unique grappling and punching techniques, better amplified by the power of his weapon. His gauntlet, which is easily capable of shielding his entire body, also possesses the ability to shoot ammunition when he expands his fist. For some time, he was one of the few characters in the series who is capable of chaining different special commands together to create a specific combo.
Sieger is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI
.
but is introduced in Samurai Shodown V
as his own character. In the creators' commentary regarding his introduction, it was revealed that he was a design created by series illustrator, Shiroi Eiji, as a "dark Haohmaru".
He is a bloodthirsty demon from the dark world of Makai
, which was opened up by Amakusa many years ago. Rasetsumaru can never assuage his thirst for killing. Because he doesn't clean his blade, it has turned the color of blood from the hundreds of people he has killed. He learns the existence of Haohmaru, an incredibly strong samurai who looks like him, and tries to find him in Hinowa to kill him. He finds Haohmaru at a temple a year later, but it is really a nun (implied to be Yumeji) disguised as an illusion of him. Claiming him to be his/her final opponent, Yumeji decapitates him.
Parallel to Rera's fighting style with Nakoruru, Rasetsumaru is the former Bust form of Haohmaru. Unlike Rera, he is a separate entity from Haohmaru and shouldn't be confused as a part of Haohmaru's subconsciouses. He mirrors several of his counterpart's normal attacks but has a different move set.
Rasetsumaru is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI
.
. She is the also the first and only boss to have assistance from a pet.
Mizuki was a rural Japanese child abandoned by her family due to severe poverty. Bitter with hatred and consumed with revenge, she made a pact with the evil god Ambrosia roughly a thousand years before the series begins, turning herself into a demon
. Since this acquisition of demonic power, she proceeds to cause worldwide disasters and calamities around the globe. However, roughly 800 years after her pact, she was challenged by a priestess named Bizuki. Despite her best efforts, Bizuki was possessed by Mizuki and sent into hibernation. She was awakened by Amakusa's powers and invokes Ambrosia's mortal resurrection. Haohmaru and Nakoruru stop her before she could succeed. Upon her defeat, both Mizuki and Ambrosia were sealed in the Makai (demon world) while Bizuki was free to live in the mortal realm as Kyoshiro's assistant.
Mizuki has a wide arsenal of attacks to choose from. In some ways, she is similar to Nicotine in that they can both shoot upper and lower angled projectiles and also reverse their foes movements. Like her predecessor, Amakusa, she also possesses the ability of teleportaion and a multi-hitting slap attack. She can also command a demon pet to charge and maul her opponent. Her pet also has the ability to transform foes into animals, disabling their attacks for a time. Her desperation attack is a unique projectile that will boomerang back to her if her opponent jumps over it. She is also quick on her feet, easily able to close distances between her foe in quick dashes with little trouble.
She appears as the second main antagonist in Samurai Shodown RPG
and is a playable character in Samurai Shodown V Special
and Samurai Shodown VI
.
. She made her first appearance in the series as a background character in Nakoruru's stage during Samurai Shodown II. Her prototype design in this game was formerly a scrapped concept for one of the heroines from another SNK game, Robo Army.
She is the younger sister of Nakoruru, and lives in an Ainu
village on Hokkaidō
. She greatly admires her older sister, and like her, strives to protect nature. Rimururu has also been referred to as a priest
ess of the Ainu religion. In her ending to Samurai Shodown V
, it is revealed to players that Nakoruru adopts her at a young age. Although she is still training and not as adept as her sister at fighting, she repels evil from the forest for her elder sister. When her sister departs, Rimururu often follows her in hopes of offering assistance. Nakoruru originally forbids her younger sister's attempts to be a priestess but relents once she recognizes Rimururu's resolve. In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation), Rimururu is a "Maiden of Light" like her sister. She was imprisoned by Oboro and cannot awaken to help her sister. The players need to rescue Rimururu for Nakoruru. When the sisters unite, they seal Oboro and his weaponry after his defeat.
With her ice spirit Konru, sometimes translated as "Konril", she has the ability to freeze her foes. Her normal attacks are similar to her sister with some modifications in execution. Unlike her sister, many of her moves are short range, giving her a narrower range of efficiency than her sister. However, this may not be a disadvantage as the swiftness in most of her moves make up for it. Like her sister, she may also reflect projectiles with proper timing. In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
, her Slash form relies more on Konru, making her playing style more defensive. Her Bust form, however, is more aggressive and the more close-ranged of the two.
Rimururu continues to appear in every game of the series after her introduction. However, in Warriors Rage (for the PlayStation
), she is not playable. She appears with her sister in the dating sim, Days of Memories
: Oedo Love Scroll. She also has character image album made after her. According to the creators' commentary for Samurai Shodown V
, she is one of the main programmers' favorite characters.
and continues to appear in later titles of the series. His name derives from Japanese words with theatrical undercurrents: literally means "1000 ryō", but it can also refer to star actors (i.e., the full phrase refers to actors with a rather high salary); means "dying insane"; the is a merely common suffix for male names. He most likely takes inspiration from film character, Nemuri Kyoshiro
, a sleepy-eyed samurai who travels around Japan.
He is a master of the ancient art of kabuki
, utilizing its artful interpretations and majestic actions to construct a "beautiful fighting art". In Samurai Shodown V
, convinced people are sad because of the current state in Japan, Kyoshiro decides to cheer people up with his acts. He decides to go on the road, in the hopes of perhaps finding a new Kabuki style and using his adventure as the story for his Kabuki act. He achieves this in his ending and fights someone who resembles SNK character, Sho Hayate, to determine who has the more aesthetic and effective fighting style. He continues his travels across the land, determined to spread the wonder of his art throughout the series. Unexpectedly, his companion becomes possessed by a demon. Determined to prove his strength, he slays him/her and sets out on a vendetta against others. After Mizuki is sealed a second time in the Makai, he speaks to the now-free priestess Bizuki and restores her faith by making her his new assistant.
He fights with a naginata and fans. True to his profession, he speaks in a theatrical dialect as though he were in a play, letting his audience and opponent know how or what he is doing. For instance, when he is defeated, he cries "I feel regretful!" or when he jumps, he cries, "And here (I am)!".
Kyoshiro is also playable in Samurai Shodown III
, Samurai Shodown IV
, Samurai Shodown RPG
, Samurai Shodown VI
, and Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
.
. He is a demon with green skin. Like Earthquake, he is a character that was dropped after Samurai Shodown II
and only makes cameos in other characters' endings in other games. Both of his endings feature characters from other SNK games (Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting
).
He is a member of the enigmatic Shiranui Clan, one that follows the "way of the darkness". He seeks to enligten his progress in the "way of evil". To this end, he travels Japan, killing anyone he can. However, in his travels, he encounters an unknown female ninja (who greatly resembles Mai Shiranui
) and is slain. In Samurai Shodown II
, his soul is revived by a being calling himself "leader of the Demon World" along with a proposition of servitude. Gen-an agrees but plots to one day slay his benefactor then rule the Demon World himself. In his ending to the same game, he is convinced by his wife, Azami, to return home and live in peace.
He fights with a claw, which can also be extended with a hidden chain. He can also spew poison gas to his opponents.
Genan also appears in Samurai Shodown RPG
as a minor villain and as a playable character in Samurai Shodown VI
.
who continues to appear in most titles of the series. He is originally based on the famed swordsman, Sasaki Kojirō
, one of Musashi's
most famous rivals. Parallel to their historical counterparts, Ukyo was Haohmaru's rival in the first game but this idea is dropped upon Genjuro's introduction in Samurai Shodown II
.
Ukyo is an expert iaijutsu
swordsman with a body stricken with tuberculosis
. Despite having several women chasing for his affections, he treasures only his lone confidante, Kei Odagiri. He resists developing further feelings for her (due to his limited lifespan and her noble status) but continues to fight for her as a show of devotion. In Samurai Shodown
, he hears news that the ultimate flower resides in Makai and decides to present it to Kei in gratitude. He continues to fight for Kei throughout the series until she marries another man. Beginning in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
, Ukyo moves on to another woman named Saki who also suffers from the same disease. In his ending, he finds a cure for both of their illnesses but chooses to give it to Saki rather than take it for himself. He dies shortly after.
Ukyo is relatively defensive, relying on his quick sword strikes to punish his opponents' mistakes. Though his sprite is of average size, Ukyo jumps slowly –almost as slow as bigger characters like Earthquake or Tam Tam – and may be an open target if used too unwisely. One of his moves, Tsubame Gaeshi, is a direct reference to his historical inspiration. Players may use this move whilst in the air to counter most aerial or ground assaults. He was first perceived by players to be overpowered in Samurai Shodown II, but he has been toned down since then. He is the embodiment of a Japanese gentleman back in the 18th century. As an archaic show of romanticism, he often composes haiku
to best describe his thoughts during and after fights to avoid sounding brash. His poetry, however, is often omitted in most of the English translations, save for his ending in Samurai Shodown IV
and Samurai Shodown 64
iterations.
Ukyo is playable in all the tiles of the series excluding Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation). He also makes an appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories
: Oedo Love Scroll. In Gamest's 1997 Heroes Collection, Ukyo was tied with Haohmaru for 29th (out of 50) the staff's favorite character rank. He was also a highly fan requested character for Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
. Developers, however, decided to not place him in as Haohmaru already had his rival, Genjuro, present thus there was no need for Ukyo.
. He was dropped from the series after his appearance in Samurai Shodown
but, like Jubei and Charlotte, he returns in Samurai Shodown IV
.
He is the greatest warrior and hero of his village, Green Hell. Hearing from the village elders that their sacred artifact is missing, he takes the responsibility of retrieving their stolen treasure, the mysterious jewel called the "Palenke Stone" (named after Palenque
). He retrieves it and returns peace to his village. He also protects his village from Amakusa a second time, but fails to prevent the thievery of the village's second artifact, the "Tanjil Stone". As divine punishment, he is transformed into a chimpanzee, Paku Paku. In this form, he helps his younger sister Cham Cham recover both stones for his village.
The Tam Tam in Samurai Shodown V is a different warrior, using his legendary mask in his stead. After the original failed, the second Tam Tam sets out to save the original. In his ending, the second Tam Tam places the magical mask on the deceased first. Once the mask is back on, the original Tam Tam comes back to life.
Tam Tam is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI
. He also makes an appearance in Samurai Shodown RPG
, briefly as a human before remaining the rest of the game as Cham Cham's monkey companion, Paku Paku.
. As the new protagonist, the creators wanted him to be different than Haohmaru. Instead of a "samurai who travels as freely as the wind" they wanted him to be an "elite military genius" with a sword. Character designer, Nobuhiro Watsuki
, came up with Yoshitora's array of katana when he saw a similar image on a DVD cover to a sengoku based film. Based on the year the game occurs, his character origin is loosely based on historical figure, Tokugawa Ienari
, the eleventh Tokugawa shogun
who ruled a decadent era akin to the Roaring Twenties
.
He is the sole heir to the reigning shogun and former student of Gaoh and Jubei. More interested in women and partying than politics, he runs away from his home, refusing to be the next ruler. Gaoh, believing Japan would only prosper if Yoshitora were to rule, starts a rebellion in hopes of luring his student back. In his ending, he questions his former master's motives. Gaoh explains that the shogun ruling before Yoshitora is uncaring to the people and continuing under his rule would only bring famine and desecration to the people. He pleas with his pupil to become shogun. Realizing the responsibility of his role for the first time, Yoshitora finally agrees to his former master's request. As shogun, he then challenges Haohmaru to a duel, asking the latter to join him and help him build a new country. Haohmaru replies that if he loses, he'll join Yoshitora. They fight but the result of their match is uncertain.
He has seven swords; six are named after women except for the one named after himself. Each sword has its own unique ability, which he can use to confuse and corner his opponents. Analogous to his historical inspiration, he is a playboy
. In one of his winning poses, he is followed by a crowd of young ladies.
He also appears in Samurai Shodown VI
as a playable character
: ; Pinyin
: ; Cantonese Yale: ; Japanese: 王虎 Wanfū) is a character who was introduced in Samurai Shodown
. He was removed from the series' lineup after Samurai Shodown II
but is revived for his role in the upcoming game Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
. He is one of the few characters in the series to have a "joke" ending that breaks the fourth wall. Comically, he admits to the player that "there is no ending to [his] story".
He hails from a powerful family that resides in China and acts as a general in the Qing Dynasty. With his cunning battle strategies and powerful army, Wan-fu seeks to unify all of China. Hearing news of "powerful warriors" gathering in Japan, he sets out in hopes of recruiting them. After Amakusa's defeat, he fails to find any "powerful warriors". A prophet appears before the furious Wan-Fu and informs him of the existence of the "Seed of Destruction", which, in exchange for one's soul, can allow its possessors to rule the world. Determined to find it all costs, as his hope of uniting China would no longer be a mere dream, he leaves his homeland again to obtain it. Wan-Fu's status after Samurai Shodown II
is unknown.
He is still recruiting for warriors for his army in Samurai Shodown RPG
. In the second chapter, he protects Beijing
along with his brother, Wan-Ron. Together, they are fine warriors and are loved by the people in the capital. However, demons infiltrate their home and brainwash both brothers to be their slaves. The neglect from their protectors brings famine to the city, and protesting citizens are imprisoned to be eaten by the demons. With the party's help, Wan-Fu breaks free of his mind control and saves his brother and people.
A peculiar trait with Wan-Fu is his ever-changing weaponry with every new game appearance. When he firsts appears, he fights with a dao
, or a Chinese great sword, which later becomes his weapon again in Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
. His next appearance in Samurai Shodown II
changes his weapon of choice to a stone pillar that is apparently ripped off from a temple. Finally, his weapon changes again to a chúi
, or a metallic mace, in Samurai Shodown VI
.
Wan-Fu appears playable again in Samurai Shodown VI
. His role in Samurai Shodown RPG
is a minor guest member and his actions are controlled by the computer.
. He was dropped from the series after Samurai Shodown II
but, like Tam Tam and Charlotte, returns to the series in Samurai Shodown IV
. He did; however, appeared as an exclusive unlockable final boss alongside Zankuro Minazuki in the Game Boy
port of Nettou Samurai Spirits: Zankuro Musouken (a handheld port of Samurai Shodown III
) which was released only in Japan. He is another interpretation of the often romanticized samurai, Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
. Like other mythical incarnations, he is the one-eyed master of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū
and friends with Hanzo. Before Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation) debut, he was the only true samurai in the series.
In Samurai Shodown V
, he teaches swordsmanship to the Tokugawa clan
, with Yoshitora as his last disciple. He goes to retrieve the delinquent heir after Yoshitora's father (implied to be Tokugawa Ieharu
) passes away. He decides to become a ronin
by the time Samurai Shodown
takes place, abandoning the strict and regulated life of the dojo and Japanese nobility, to pursue personal enlightenment. Throughout the series, Jubei is hired by the shogunate to kill the demons that wander Japan.
His role in Samurai Shodown RPG doubles as a sensei to his own dojo and an agent to the bakufu
. He asks the party to further his investigation for him since he has to teach the lord's sons swordsmanship. In the second chapter, he suffers a mortal blow from one of Mizuki's minions, Agon, and his spirit gets sucked into one of the Evil Bells.
He fights with twin katana with slow, powerful strikes. Early in the series, he became well known by players for his armed parrying move, a command that could counter certain strikes from his foes if timed correctly. He has three other special commands that follow him in later appearances: – a rushing uppercut, – a ground projectile, and – a multi-hitting slash technique. In Samurai Shodown IV
, his Slash form retains most of his old moveset. His Bust form's moveset, however, centers around parrying his opponents' attacks and breaking their guard. Due to the down-to-earth principles in most of his attacks, Jubei is best used by players who can easily predict their challenger's attacks. The food he eats during his winposes and taunts in Samurai Shodown II
is dango
(a kind of Japanese dumpling).
Jubei is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI
, and Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
. According to a Gamest Mook (a Japanese mook
created separate from its main publication), he was planned to appear in Samurai Shodown 64
but was taken out due to time constraints.
. His given name literally means "rotten bastard". During his concept stages, the creators wanted to add a "giant bald character" who was a "yōkai
" to replace the character Earthquake. Creators wanted his character to make the line "Itadakimasu" very memorable. In the end, the design they created was "a mix of Genan and Earthquake".
Kusaregedo was once a very kind man, but is transformed after his death into a gaki because of his habit of cannibalism
. In his present demonic form, he is cursed with an insatiable appetite. One day, he smells a young girl (Rimururu) not too far away and he quickly gives chase. He fails to capture and devour her, and instead finds a girl named, Hakana, his daughter. She pleads for him to stop and to come back home. He instead devours her.
As his character is a cannibal, a great deal of his attacks center on eating his opponent. His final attack, which was censored for international release, has him completely devouring his opponent whole save for their skull or hair. His weapon of choice is an exposed bone on his arm (presumably the ulna
or radius
) sharpened approximately at the wrist to form a spike. Kusaregedo's sprite also uses a hefty amount of space to fit on the screen (similar to other characters like Earthquake and the upright Tam Tam), weighing down his speed and jumps, as well as making him an easy target if his attacks miss.
Kusaregedo returns as a playable character in Samurai Shodown VI
.
. He was originally designed to be a devilish "no-good person" and is thought by the creators to fit the image.
He is an ambitious leader to a trio of minions named Gosichi, Fuyo, and Ippachi. Wanting to become the lord of Hinowa without much effort, he hires Genjuro to dispatch Gaoh. Upon Gaoh's defeat, he offers Genjuro another job which is promptly refused. After Sankuro bribes with him information about his parents and membership to his gang, Genjuro attempts to kill his employer. Sankuro is saved by his gang and, apparently uninterested with killing women, Genjuro demands that he leave. Sankuro, however, chooses to shoot Genjuro's back and brags about his new title. Genjuro slashes him while he is distracted, leading to a hasty retreat.
Like Yumeji and Rasetsumaru, Sankuro borrows several poses and animations from another character. In this case, the lower half of his body and some of his attacks are nearly identical to Genjuro's sprite. He fights swinging a huge mallet and has the ability to call members of his gang to help him. While his gang distracts his opponent, he may also eat food to heal himself. He later gains accessibility to a revolver and bombs in Samurai Shodown VI
.
He makes a playable appearance in Samurai Shodown VI
.
series of Samurai Shodown
fighting games are aided by animals or friends during gameplay. These animals can be used for attacking purposes, or sometimes other uses, such as improving character's jumps and defense. Poppy becomes playable in Samurai Shodown V
; several others become playable in Samurai Shodown VI
.
. It is voiced by Hitomi Nabatame
in Samurai Shodown V and by Rie Kugimiya
in Samurai Shodown VI
.
When Mina's village
is destroyed, Mina senses a problem emanating from the land of Helios, or Hinowa. She believes that Gaoh Kyogoku Hinowanokami is responsible, so she sets off with Chample to defeat him. It turns out, however, that Chample is the demon
that destroyed her village. He goes on a rampage and Mina is forced to kill him. It's implied that after killing him, she commits suicide
.
Unlike other animal companions, Chample is used less for attacking purposes and mostly remains as a mascot character, participating in battle through background animations and noises. Several moves do include him though, like 'Good night Chample' in which Mina puts him to sleep, stopping his movement and sounds. Because he seldom helps Mina in her fights, he has been called "annoyingly cute" by critics.
and remains the only animal to assist a boss character in the series. He is officially unnamed but in Samurai Shodown RPG
he was named Haon.
In the game he premiered, Haon is by Mizuki's side. Like Poppy, he can be commanded by the player to bash into and maul opponents. However, he can also fire an electric ball that can turn foes into animals -the most common result being a pig- rendering the player's opponents unable to input special commands and defenseless against Mizuki for one attack before reverting to normal (alternatively, transformed opponents can also wait a few seconds before the effects wear off). Appearance-wise, he is an alternative color palette of Poppy when he is idle, but morphs into a giant demonic creature when he is commanded, making him able to catch most opponents who try to jump over his attacks. Though instances are rare, he can be injured and his attacks can be interrupted. Players must also keep an eye on which direction he is facing whilst commanded, as he may attack in the opposite direction of their opponent. In Samurai Shodown V Special
, he is summoned in his demonic form by Mizuki via teleportation and is not visible by the player until then.
and acts as her animal companion in her Slash form in Samurai Shodown III
.
Mamahaha can be used by the player to attack opponents in a diagonal aerial attack. When used effectively, he acts as Nakoruru's projectile and anti-air defense. The player may also command Nakoruru to use him as a mount for a limited time. Whilst she is in the air, players can command the pair to hover higher, drop, or use Nakoruru to attack foes. She may do so normally from Mamahaha's height or players may choose to drop her in a swirl attacking motion or use a diagonal nosedive attack. This allows players to confuse opponents on the proper direction needed to block, leading the way for an open hit.
. Cham Cham mistakes Tam Tam's form for him when she leaves her home. In Samurai Shodown II, he was voiced by Chiba Reiko's manager at the time.
Although he cannot perform normal attacks, Paku Paku essentially fights as a miniaturized Tam Tam in Samurai Shodown VI
. He acts as a defensive mechanism for Cham Cham. He can be commanded to a variety of long-distance projectiles, including skulls, anti-air fireballs, and himself through a spinning-split kick attack.
who acts as an exclusive helper to Galford's Slash form in Samurai Shodown III
. During the course of the series she gives birth to at least three other puppies: Pahpa, Pippy, and Pippa. In Samurai Shodown V
, players can play as her by inputing a special command on the character selection screen. In her ending, she sacrifices herself to save Galford. In honor of her memory, Galford renames one of her puppies in her name.
With a special input, the player can order her to headbutt, bite, or drop from above on their opponents. She may also piledrive her foes during Galford's desperation move -which relies entirely on her- in Samurai Shodown II
. In Samurai Shodown III
, Galford's Slash form relies on Poppy for a vast majority of his special moves. She retains her attacks from before but can also be kicked as a projectile and replicate Galford's movements in his desperation move. When utilized strategically, she can distract opponents whilst the player moves Galford into a more favorable position or act as a counter against most projectiles. However, she is not invulnerable to attacks as opponents can strike her down to defuse her advances, leaving her unusable by the player until she recovers. Players also have to be aware of which direction she is facing when summoned as she may charge in a direction opposite than intended.
as her animal helper for her Bust form. He later becomes Rera's companion upon her arrival in Samurai Shodown V
.
Unlike other pets, Shikuru serves primarily as Nakoruru/Rera's battle mount. Shikuru is a necessity for several of his master's special moves, as having her travel on him is a great emphasis to mastering her form of gameplay. Whilst Nakoruru/Rera mounts him, the player can run faster and jump longer distances -at the sacrifice of a lower height. If their opponents attempt to attack, the player can quickly counter with Shikuru's rush attack, which may also launch Nakoruru/Rera after the blow for increased damage. Players may be handicapped, however, due to the heavy reliance put on mounting Shikuru. For instance, Nakoruru/Rera cannot mount him if he is too far away from her and when she is in the process of mounting him, she remains temporarily vulnerable to any attack.
creator Yasuhiro Nightow
and Toshinden
character designer and illustrator Tsukasa Kotobuki
. Other known fans, such as Aoi Nanase and Nobuhiro Watsuki
, were eventually hired to create character designs for later entries in the series' franchise.
References to certain characters have also continued to appear as easter eggs in MMOG
such as World of Warcraft
and Guild Wars: Eye of the North
.
3D series characters
Characters included into this list originated from the Samurai Shodown 64Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64, known simply as in Japan, is a 3D fighting game produced by SNK for its Hyper Neo-Geo 64 system. It was SNK's first attempt to bring one of their franchises into the 3D realm...
series, Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, and Samurai Shodown: Sen.
Shiro Tokisada Amakusa
is a recurring bossBoss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
and playable character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
in the Samurai Showdown series. He is based on the historical Amakusa Shirō
Amakusa Shiro
also known as was the teenage leader of the Shimabara Rebellion.- Biography :The son of former Konishi clan retainer , Shirō was born in modern-day Kami-Amakusa, Kumamoto in a Catholic family...
, who led a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
rebellion in the Shimabara region of Japan where the bakufu
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
army crushed his revolt and executed him.
Prior to the events of Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
, Amakusa is resurrected by the dark goddess Ambrosia; he uses the body of Shinzo Hattori (one of Hanzo's sons). His main plot involves him stealing the Palenke
Palenque
Palenque was a Maya city state in southern Mexico that flourished in the 7th century. The Palenque ruins date back to 100 BC to its fall around 800 AD...
stone, with which he intended to bring Ambrosia to the mortal world. The player prevents this from happening by defeating him. Upon his resurrection in Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
, his spirit splits into two halves: one good and one evil. His evil counterpart is slain by Zankuro in the same game but his good side lives on thanks to Shinzo. During the events in Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
, he saves certain characters from Mizuki's wrath but is defeated, leaving only Shinzo's body for Hanzo to claim.
Amakusa fights his opponents by attacking them with a levitating gem. He can direct the gem with an impressive range, able to smash his enemies from the air and ground level from nearly any distance easily. At times, his gem may not compensate for opponents close to him so he also has a multi-hitting slap attack when he is close. To confuse his adversaries, he may also teleport and hover above them before diving upon them with a damaging attack. He also projects fiery projectiles in the image of demons to his foes, making him a formidable long-distance fighter.
In Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
, Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
, Samurai Shodown V Special
Samurai Shodown V Special
Samurai Shodown V Special, known as in Japan, is the ninth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. This game is an upgraded version of the game titled Samurai Shodown V, and is the last official game for the Neo Geo platform...
, and Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
Amakusa is a playable character. He returns in Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
as one of the game's main antagonists. According to Gamest Mook (a Japanese mook
Mook
Mook may refer to:* Mook * Mook en Middelaar, a municipality in the Netherlands* MOOK DLE, a Japanese animation studio* "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer", an episode of The Simpsons cartoon TV series...
created separate from its main publication), he was a possible candidate for the Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64, known simply as in Japan, is a 3D fighting game produced by SNK for its Hyper Neo-Geo 64 system. It was SNK's first attempt to bring one of their franchises into the 3D realm...
lineup but was taken out due to time constraints.
Andrew
is one of the main protagonists and new characters from Samurai Shodown VISamurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
. His character creation most likely takes inspiration from U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
president Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
; he shares the name "Andrew", and his stage is in front of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
.
He is portrayed as an American soldier who goes to Japan to stop a new menace to his relatively young country. In his ending, he befriends Tokugawa Yoshitora. Andrew likes tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
and reading
Reading (process)
Reading is a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols for the intention of constructing or deriving meaning . It is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information and ideas...
; he dislikes tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and is self-conscious about dealing with women.
Gaira Caffeine
is a recurring character and is one of the few characters introduced in Samurai Shodown IIISamurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
.
He is the grandson of Nicotine Caffeine and a monk
Bhikkhu
A Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
in training. In his ending to Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, he is comically shaved bald at the whim of several other hairless characters. Years later, with his hair grown back, he and his grandfather have an argument, causing Gaira to leave his home and venture out on his own. During his travels, he witnesses Zankuro Minazuki slaughtering an entire village but is too afraid to stop him. Ashamed by his cowardice, he decides to defeat the "demon", but finds Zankuro already slain. He takes the body, buries and then enshrines it. His later appearances in the series continue to have Gaira exorcise demons as training.
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
showed the departure of giant and muscular characters (such as Earthquake, Sieger, and Wan-fu) from the cast. Gaira, however, became the "giant" in their place as he boosts incredible strength for close-ranged fighting. He attacks his enemies with a belt of gigantic prayer beads and his fists. With this combination of weaponry, he can grapple and rush into people in his range. He technically may not cut anyone but has the power to rival several bosses in strength. Also, he may "seal" certain actions or "dizzy" his foe, similar to his grandfather.
Gaira has also appeared as a playable character in Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
, Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, and Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
. He also has an EX form in Samurai Shodown VI under his Korean name. His role in Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
was an occasional guest member and he was unplayable.
Nicotine Caffeine
is a character introduced into the series in Samurai Shodown IISamurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
. Similar to Sieger, he was dropped from the character lineup after his introduction and is then limited to mostly cameos or background story appearances.
He is the chief priest of Koka-in (a pun on "Cocaine"), a temple deep in the mountains of Hida, and former master swordsman who taught Haohmaru and Genjuro. He once exorcised many demons in his prime but became a monk after he was defeated by a "certain evil one" (implied to be Mizuki). He leaves his temple in order to save his disciple from demons. He returns home after Mizuki's defeat and continues to offer sage advise to Haohmaru on his visits. Shiki's child, Mikoto, is raised in his temple.
He fights with a wooden staff and magical sealing cards. Of these cards, he can send projectiles from a high or low angle, confusing players as to which position they should block. The character also possesses a move that can reverse controller movements for a time. Because of his small stature, his attack range is short, though largely effective once in range.
Aside from Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
, Nicotine only appears playable in the game he premiered. His role in Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
was an occasional guest member thus was unplayable.
Cham Cham
is a recurring character who was introduced into the series in Samurai Shodown IISamurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
. Curiously, she debuted the same year as another catgirl character, Felicia
Felicia (Darkstalkers)
is a fictional character in the Darkstalkers series of fighting game by Capcom She first appeared in the 1994 game Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors and its subsequent sequels, later appearing in other Capcom games outside of the Darkstalkers series and related media and merchandise.-Conception and...
; additionally, Cham Cham even has an alternative color palette that looks similar to Felicia's default colors.
She is the younger sister of the character Tam Tam. She secretly took a village heirloom, the , to play with when a goblin snatched it away. She thought her parents would be angry because of it so she sets out with her pet chimpanzee "Paku Paku" (who is actually Tam Tam transformed as punishment for his failure to protect the stone) in order to look for it.
Cham Cham is a catgirl
Catgirl
A catgirl is a female character with cat traits, such as cat ears, a cat tail, or other feline characteristics on an otherwise human body. Catgirls are found in various fiction genres, and in particular Japanese anime and manga where they are more commonly referred to as Neko or Nekomimi , in...
in appearance and has feline mannerisms; for example, she walks on all fours when disarmed (she holds her weapon in one hand when she has it). Her taunts are also animalistic (in one, she meows and stretches like a cat, while in the other, she sits on her haunches and scratches behind her ear with her foot). Her boomerang can be thrown high into the air or at ground level, leaving her unarmed for a time; however, this may not be a total disadvantage, as her claws and kicks are enough to keep her foes at bay. Paku Paku may also be summoned to attack for her, which includes throwing skulls, emitting fireballs, and a spinning spit-kick attack.
Despite being a popular character, she was not featured in newer games until she appeared in the PSX
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
port of Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
, Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
, and in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
. A pachinko
Pachinko
is a type of game originating in Japan, and used as both a form of recreational arcade game and much more frequently as a gambling device, filling a niche in gambling in Japan comparable to that of the slot machine in Western gambling. A pachinko machine resembles a vertical pinball machine, but...
game was developed surrounding her, adding more friends to be like her.
Charlotte Christine de Colde
is a recurring character who was introduced in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
. She was dropped from the series after Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
but, like Tam Tam and Jubei, she returns in Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
. Her physical design is based on Oscar François de Jarjayes
Oscar François de Jarjayes
is one of the main characters in the manga/anime series The Rose of Versailles, created by Riyoko Ikeda.-Character history:Born the last of five daughters to the Commander of the Royal Guards, General François Augustin Regnier de Jarjayes she is raised by her father as if she were a boy in order...
from the manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
The Rose of Versailles
The Rose of Versailles
, also known as Lady Oscar or La Rose de Versailles, is one of the best-known titles in shōjo manga and a media franchise created by Riyoko Ikeda. It has been adapted into several Takarazuka Revue musicals, as well an anime television series, produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha and broadcast by the...
.
She is a minor French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
who prefers the company of commoners. Whilst on her travels through the French countryside, she caught word of a "series of calamities" with no natural pretenses. She leaves her home to investigate and ends up traveling to Japan in order to do battle with Amakusa who is the source of the evil plaguing her home country. Afterwards, she returns home to take part in the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. In Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
, she finds Ambrosia to be the further source of the malice occurring around the world and journeys again to defeat the deity. At this time, she falls in love with Haohmaru, but temporarily ends her affections when she sees his lover, Oshizu. Later (in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
), it is shown that she has a close relationship with Haohmaru. He travels all the way to France from Japan to visit her. She returns to Japan for similar reasons during her other appearances.
Common with most fencers
Classical fencing
Classical fencing is the styles of modern fencing as they existed during the 19th and early 20th century. According to the 19th-century fencing master Louis Rondelle,...
, most of her slashing attacks revolve around stabbing from a distance, avoiding body contact as much as possible. Her most powerful strike is a three-point slash, forming a triangle when completely drawn. Her standing kicks hop her across a short distance and are capable of avoiding some low ground attacks. When first introduced, her move set only consisted of Splash Front, a button mashing move which traveled her forward, and Power Gradation, a perfectly vertical anti-air attack. Her next appearance in Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
granted her access to Tri-Slash, a chargeable projectile.
Charlotte also went on to be playable in Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
, Samurai Shodown 4, Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
, and Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
, known as Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny or Samurai Spirits: Flash in Japan, is the fourth 3D game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games and the eleventh overall title in the series. It is the first game in the series to be rated Mature...
.
Earthquake
is a character who was introduced in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
and was dropped from the character lineup after Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
. He continues to make cameo appearances in characters' endings.
He is a Texan who had trained under the same master as the ex-sailor Galford, Ayame, but quit early due to lack of interest. Thanks to some of this training, however, despite his enormous body, huge in both height and girth, Earthquake became deceptively fast and tricky. His ninjutsu combined with his size makes him a formidable warrior. He uses this to his advantage and becomes a bandit, somehow being the leader of his own bandit gang. When Amakusa starts creating havoc, he decides to steal all of the world's treasure
Treasure
Treasure is a concentration of riches, often one which is considered lost or forgotten until being rediscovered...
. A year later, Mizuki telepathically hires him, telling him that if he killed those she told him to, she would reward him with gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. After the defeat of Mizuki, Earthquake and his henchmen go to the Makai, enchanted by the promise of greater treasure. After they enter, the entrance is sealed and they are never heard from again.
One of Earthquake's earliest advantages over several fighters was the incredible reach of his kusarigama, reaching fighters from nearly the other side of the field without too much trouble. His main move was to spin rapidly and travel across the screen. His attacks are powerful but slow and his height makes him an easy target if he missed. His moves were also limited, making it sometimes difficult to catch quick characters. In Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
, he gained more ninjutsu techniques to better compensate for his weaknesses such as teleporting, fire breathing, and illusions. He also cannot be tossed into the air like other characters; if the throw command is used against him, a unique attack animation is substituted instead. If needed, he can also fight opponents with his farts
Flatulence
Flatulence is the expulsion through the rectum of a mixture of gases that are byproducts of the digestion process of mammals and other animals. The medical term for the mixture of gases is flatus, informally known as a fart, or simply gas...
and burps.
Earthquake also appears in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
, Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
(as an unplayable minor villain), and the crossover fighting game SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom
SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom
is a competitive fighting game produced by Playmore for the Neo Geo arcade and home platform. The game is a crossover featuring characters from SNKs and Capcoms respective fighting game properties such as The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, Street Fighter, and Darkstalkers...
. In one fan's response to SNK's Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is a 2 on 2 tag team fighting game for the Atomiswave arcade board. The game features characters from several SNK and ADK titles. The PlayStation 2 version of the game has been released in Japan, North America and Europe...
Q&A section, developers admit that they were thinking of implementing Earthquake into the game to balance out all of the "pretty boy" characters. However, they also told the fan to keep playing as another character in the game might replace the gap.
Galford D. Weller
is a recurring character since his introduction in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
. He fights alongside his pet husky
Husky
Husky is a general name for a type of dog originally used to pull sleds in northern regions, differentiated from other sled dog types by their fast hard pulling style...
, Poppy, and is also accompanied by Poppy's puppies, Papa, Pipi, and Pipa.
After the death of his father, Galford left his four older sisters to become a sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
, where he learned about the ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
of Japan. Fascinated by their stories of heroics and mysticism, he decided to learn from them. He completes his training in the Koga style
Koga-ryu
Kōka-ryū is a historical school of ninjutsu. It originated from the region of Kōka...
under Ayame, the wife of Hanzo's master (Earthquake trained with him too but quit early). Throughout the series, Galford seeks to uphold justice throughout the land (eventually as a superhero of justice). He has unrequited
Unrequited love
Unrequited love is love that is not openly reciprocated or understood as such, even though reciprocation is usually deeply desired. The beloved may or may not be aware of the admirer's deep affections...
feelings for Nakoruru.
During the events of Samurai Shodown: Sen Galford confronts his father's Killer, Draco. He kills Draco and avenges his father and continues to fight in the name of justice.
When first introduced, he and Hanzo nearly mirrored each other in several aspects such as confusing foes with teleportation, illusions, and surprise piledriving
Piledriver (professional wrestling)
A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his opponent, turns him upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponent head-first into the mat. The most common piledrivers are the basic belly-to-back, or Texas piledriver, and the...
. His main deviation from Hanzo is the addition of his dog, Poppy. With her, players can command her to maul, tackle, teleport above foes, or use illusions to copy Galford. In Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
, his Slash form integrates a heavier reliance on Poppy, creating a quick, hit-and-run style of fighting. His Bust form, however, relies on grappling and aggressive up-close combat. As the series progresses, Galford becomes faster but slightly less powerful than Hanzo. His lightening projectile, or "plasma" as it is dubbed by the creators, differentiates from Hanzo's fire as it only flies horizontally straight rather than traveling along the ground in a slinky
Slinky
Slinky or "Lazy Spring" is a toy consisting of a helical spring that stretches and can bounce up and down. It can perform a number of tricks, including traveling down a flight of steps end-over-end as it stretches and re-forms itself with the aid of gravity and its own momentum.-History:The toy was...
-like motion.
Galford stage is set in California, in the year 1778, in that year California was part of the New Spain colonial territories, oficially in the game he is from Hero city (port [?]), San Francisco, California, USA. But the USA was a 13 state country in the eastern side of the American continent, thus making him a Spaniard. Galford is playable in all of the games in the series with the exception of Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation). His Bust form appears as a separate character from him in Samurai Shodown VI. In the 1997 Gamest Hero collection, Galford was tied at fifteenth place as the staff's favorite character (along with Street Fighter
Street Fighter
, commonly abbreviated as SF, is a series of Fighting Games developed in Japan in which the players pit the video games' competitive fighters from around the world, each with his or her own unique fighting style, against one another...
s Ken
Ken Masters
, originally spelled in Japanese as , is a video game character created by Capcom. As a main character, he has appeared in all of the Street Fighter games along with his best friend and rival, Ryu...
and Fatal Fury character, Ryuji Yamazaki
Ryuji Yamazaki
is a video game character appearing in Fatal Fury series and The King of Fighters developed by SNK Playmore . Yamazaki is first introduced as the sub-boss character of Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory, where he is a criminal known as "Dark Broker"...
).
Haohmaru
is the star character of the series and is one of the series' most known characters (the other being Nakoruru). He is introduced in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
and continues to appear in every title of the series. His character origin was originally based around the famed swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi
, also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age...
, a duelist who claimed to have never lost a match. Though he is a swordsman
Swordsmanship
Swordsmanship refers to the skills of a swordsman, a person versed in the art of the sword. The term is modern, and as such was mainly used to refer to smallsword fencing, but by extension it can also be applied to any martial art involving the use of a sword...
with no loyalties to any lord, Haohmaru has a "samurai spirit" which is often stressed in the series. He is also often accredited to defeating most of the series' villains.
At the age of fifteen, he challenged Jubei to a duel but lost due to lack of experience. Jubei, amused by the youth's bravado, brought Haohmaru to Nicotine so that he may gain proper training. Whilst living there, he also met and befriended Genjuro, fellow student and another orphan like himself. One day, Nicotine told them they would battle to determine who would learn the secrets in a magical scroll to increase their fighting ability. Genjuro wins, but almost kills Haohmaru; in response, Nicotine banishes Genjuro which begins the latter's grudge against Haohmaru and Nicotine. Encouraged by this defeat to further improve himself, Haohmaru travels the lands perfecting his sword skills, and searches for worthy challengers in the name of shura
Asura (Buddhism)
Asura in Buddhism is the name of the lowest ranks of the deities or demigods of the Kāmadhātu.-Origins and etymology:...
. During his many travels, Haohmaru also raises Shizumaru and trains him to be a fighter. He is in love with a girl named Oshizu, but in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
, he eventually leaves her for his travels even as she begs him to stay with her. Also in Samurai Shodown VI, it is shown that Haohmaru shares a close relationship with Charlotte, even travelling all the way to France in order to visit her. In Warriors Rage, Haohmaru is a skilled and active swordsman at the age of forty-seven. At this time, he is trying to find his adopted niece, Mikoto and bring her back home.
His trademark moves are Kogetsuzan, a crescent-shaped uppercut, and Seppuretsuzan, a whirlwind projectile. He also has a sake jug, which he uses to "bless" his blade with liquor before he fights. In Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
, he may swing his jug in battle for a multi-hit short-range attack or alternatively use it to reflect projectiles. He also gained a somersault attack, which could cause massive damage upon crouching foes. When his style splits in Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
, his Slash form retains several strategies used in previous games, being a balanced and easy-to-master mid-range combatant. By contrast, his Bust form alters several moves, granting him access to aggressive close-combat fighting. His appearance in Warriors Rage (PlayStation) also combined some elements from Genjuro's fighting style such as his stance and crouching strikes.
Haohmaru also makes appearances in the games Capcom vs. SNK 2
Capcom vs. SNK 2
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001, known as Millionaire Fighting 2001 in Japan, is a sequel to the fighting game Capcom vs. SNK. This game was released on NAOMI hardware in the arcade...
, SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium
SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium
is a fighting game for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. It features a total of 26 characters from SNK and Capcom, eight of which are hidden. Play options includes 2-fighter tag teams, 3-fighter queue teams, and of course, one-on-one...
, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is a 2 on 2 tag team fighting game for the Atomiswave arcade board. The game features characters from several SNK and ADK titles. The PlayStation 2 version of the game has been released in Japan, North America and Europe...
, the mobile game Neo Geo Tennis Coliseum, and the dating sim Days of Memories
Days of Memories
Days of Memories is a series of dating sims that SNK Playmore has been making for cell phones since 2005. They have recently released a compilation of the first three games for the Nintendo DS, with new graphics and an extra viewing mode.-Summary:The games are dating sims starring SNK, ADK, and...
: Oedo Love Scroll. According to the Q&A page for Neo Geo Battle Coliseum, developers admitted that no matter what the fans wanted, they wanted to include Samurai Shodown characters and made Haohmaru's inclusion one of their top priorities in development. In Gamest's 1997 Heroes Collection, Haohmaru was tied with Ukyo for their 29th (out of 50) for the staff's favorite character rank. He also makes regular appearances in the series' merchandise and has at least two action figures.
Haohmaru makes a cameo appearance in Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture
Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture
is a 1994 Japanese animated feature film based on the SNK video game series Fatal Fury originally released in Japan on July 16, 1994. It was directed by character designer Masami Ōbari and follows the same continuity as the preceding two TV specials, Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf and Fatal...
.
Hanzo Hattori
is one of the few characters introduced in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
that appears in every title of the series. He is based on the historical figure of the same name
Hattori Hanzo
, also known as , was a famous samurai and ninja master of the Sengoku era, credited with saving the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu and then helping him to become the ruler of united Japan. Today, he is often a subject of modern popular culture.-Biography:...
, who was a Tokugawa
Tokugawa clan
The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...
ninja and head of a clan
Iga-ryu
Iga-ryū 伊賀流 is a historical school of ninjutsu. It became one of the two most well-known ninja schools in Japan, along with the Kōga-ryū. The Iga-ryū originated in the Iga Province in the area around the towns of Iga and Ueno...
in Iga
Iga Province
was an old province of Japan in the area that is today western Mie Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Iga bordered on Ise, Ōmi, Yamato, and Yamashiro Provinces.-Geography:...
. Like several other mythical incarnations, he is an old friend to Jubei due to their ties to the Tokugawa clan. He also married a Koga
Koga-ryu
Kōka-ryū is a historical school of ninjutsu. It originated from the region of Kōka...
ninja, Kaede, quelling a long feud between the two ninja clans that is often romanticized in the historical novel The Kouga Ninja Scrolls
The Kouga Ninja Scrolls
is a historical fantasy novel written in 1958-1959 by the Japanese author Futaro Yamada. The novel was adapted into several comics, a live-acion film and an animated series. It been translated into English by Geoff Sant, and was published by Del Rey in December 2006....
.
He is the mightiest of the Iga ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
, employed under the Tokugawa shogunate. Leading his band of ninja, he specializes in assassination attacks against their enemies. For instance, in Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, Hanzo is given the task to execute the traitor to Yoshitora's father. In Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
, he discovers his son, Shinzo, exhibiting mysterious mannerisms due to Amakusa's possession. He fights to save his son but only succeeds in recovering Shinzo's body. Eventually, Hanzo learns that Shinzo's soul is still in the demon world
Makai
Makai is a Japanese house DJ. It is well known for his collaborations with Japanese vocalists, such as "Garden of Love" with Thelma Aoyama, which topped the iTunes Japan internal charts.-Studio albums:...
so he sets out with his wife and his second son, Kanzo, to retrieve it. In his ending to Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
, they succeed but Kaede sacrifices herself to unite her son's soul to his body. Despite the hardship, he continues to serve his lord with his sons by his side. Shinzo eventually accepts the title "Hanzo" in Warriors Rage.
Comparable to other ninja in fiction, Hanzo's ninjutsu
Ninjutsu
or may be:*the arts associated with espionage and assassination in feudal Japan, see Ninja*modern schools of martial arts claiming to be based in these traditions, see Modern Schools of Ninjutsu*fictional depictions, see Ninja in popular culture...
focuses on the mystical properties of the style rather than its physical fighting techniques
Ninjutsu
or may be:*the arts associated with espionage and assassination in feudal Japan, see Ninja*modern schools of martial arts claiming to be based in these traditions, see Modern Schools of Ninjutsu*fictional depictions, see Ninja in popular culture...
. He possesses the ability to teleport and trick his attackers with a dummy when hit. He can also create multiple illusions of himself in hopes of misleading his opponents for an open strike. He later integrates a heavy emphasis on bone-breaking grappling, a trait that follows him in his newer appearances. When first introduced, he and Galford nearly mirrored each other in most aspects. As the series progresses, however, Hanzo becomes the slightly slower but more powerful of the two ninja. His projectile element is fire, whereas his counterpart, Galford, is lightning. He can also throw shurikens and use a variety of bombs to stun or damage his enemies.
In Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
, he was an occasional guest member controlled by the computer and thus was unplayable. He also appears as a secret character in another SNK-Playmore game, KOF: Maximum Impact 2
KOF: Maximum Impact 2
KOF: Maximum Impact 2, released in North America as The King of Fighters 2006, is a 3D competitive fighting game produced by SNK Playmore and released for the PlayStation 2 in...
. He has one known action figure, based on his appearance in Samurai Shodown 64.
In Gamest's 1997 "Heroes Collection", Hanzo ranked #46 of the staff's favorite characters, sharing the spot with seven other characters, including Art of Fighting
Art of Fighting
is a trilogy of competitive fighting game titles that were released for the Neo Geo platform in the early 1990s. It was the second fighting game franchise created by SNK, following the Fatal Fury series and is set in the same fictional universe...
character, Robert Garcia and Darkstalkers character, Demitri Maximoff. He was also featured on several lists of top ten ninja characters in video games, including by 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
in 2004 (#9), by The Armchair Empire in 2006 (#10), and by CrunchGear in 2008 (#3).
Shizumaru Hisame
is the main protagonist in Samurai Shodown IIISamurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
who continues to appear in other titles in the series.
He is a young amnesic boy who believes his parents and his entire family were murdered by a vile demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
. Because he was deemed a "demon's child" since childhood, he lives and survives alone.
During the events of Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, he was taken in as a servant by a noble young couple. The husband leaves to fight in the war at Hinowa, leaving his wife, Hakana, under Shizumaru's protection. Pregnant, Hakana wants to return to her father (who Shizumaru doesn't know is Youkai Kusaregedo) for shelter. Shizumaru, assured she is safe, feels obligated to help in the war. When the battles are over, he is rewarded a hefty sum of gold for his efforts. He leaves for home but is stopped by a man who calls him Yaiba. Despite Shizumaru's denial, the man insists that he is Yaiba and that "his family" misses him. Shizumaru chooses to stay with his master and flees. Unfortunately, his master dies in the war and Hakana is eaten by her father. Due to the trauma he has suffered, he labels anything malicious, be it person or mannerisms, as a "demon". He respects Haohmaru, who inspires him and teaches him the philosophy of the sword at an early age. Shizumaru seeks to defeat Zankuro and supposedly avenge his family's death. He and Haohmaru slay Zankuro. After the events of Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
, he confuses the remaining blood lust within him as a "rampaging demon". However, he comes to accept his "demon" as a natural part of himself and makes peace with his past.
His fighting style is a unique combination between his umbrella and his sword. When he first premiered, he relies on his umbrella more, using his sword occasionally in special moves. His latter appearances, however, have him using more sword techniques, minimizing his umbrella attacks. His move set incorporates an uppercut move similar to Haohmaru's Kougetstuzan.
In Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
, Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, and Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
, Shizumaru appears as a playable character. In the NeoGeo CD version of Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
, he stars in the bonus portion of the game with his own story. According to Gamest Mook (a Japanese mook
Mook
Mook may refer to:* Mook * Mook en Middelaar, a municipality in the Netherlands* MOOK DLE, a Japanese animation studio* "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer", an episode of The Simpsons cartoon TV series...
created separate from its main publication), he was one of the potential candidates for the Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64, known simply as in Japan, is a 3D fighting game produced by SNK for its Hyper Neo-Geo 64 system. It was SNK's first attempt to bring one of their franchises into the 3D realm...
lineup but was taken out due to time and modeling constraints. In their 1997 Hero's Collection, Gamest staff voted him as their thirteenth favorite character (tied with The King of Fighters character Benimaru Nikaido, for the same spot).
Iroha
is one of the main protagonists and new characters from Samurai Shodown VISamurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
. Her namesake is taken from the Heian
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
poem of the same name
Iroha
The is a Japanese poem, probably written in the Heian era . Originally the poem was attributed to the founder of the Shingon Esoteric sect of Buddhism in Japan, Kūkai, but more modern research has found the date of composition to be later in the Heian Period. The first record of its existence...
which is a pangram
Pangram
A pangram , or holoalphabetic sentence, is a sentence using every letter of the alphabet at least once. Pangrams have been used to display typefaces, test equipment, and develop skills in handwriting, calligraphy, and keyboarding...
used for learning the hiragana
Hiragana
is a Japanese syllabary, one basic component of the Japanese writing system, along with katakana, kanji, and the Latin alphabet . Hiragana and katakana are both kana systems, in which each character represents one mora...
syllabary.
She is a crane who transforms herself into a Japanese maid. She serves her master and appears to think of him as the most important aspect of her life. Her master is unknown (rumored to be Andrew), but is likely to be the player him/herself as she often bows and speaks to the player before and after her fights.
She fights with two butterfly swords and relies on her speed for close ranged combat. She can also double jump. Several of her moves hint to her original form as a crane such as her projectile (a white feather) and her normal fighting stance. The most obvious reference is her POW move, where she grabs her opponent and, behind shoji doors, disrobes and physically beats her foe. Her silhouette during this sequence briefly changes into a crane.
Iroha is a very popular character in Japan, and stars in her own mobile game called Maid by Iroha. Another game based around her is currently scheduled for release on the Nintendo DS. She makes another appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories
Days of Memories
Days of Memories is a series of dating sims that SNK Playmore has been making for cell phones since 2005. They have recently released a compilation of the first three games for the Nintendo DS, with new graphics and an extra viewing mode.-Summary:The games are dating sims starring SNK, ADK, and...
: Oedo Love Scroll. Recently, she has also been added to a roster of usable characters in the Queen's Gate series, which is an extension of the fantasy game series, Lost Worlds. She also has several different figurines, hard cast and otherwise, made in her image.
Ocha-Maro Karakuri
is a character who premieres in Samurai Shodown VISamurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
Ochamaro is a wooden puppet that was created by an onmyōji
Onmyodo
is a traditional Japanese esoteric cosmology, a mixture of natural science and occultism. It is based on the Chinese philosophies of Wu Xing and Yin and yang, introduced into Japan at the turn of the 6th century, and accepted as a practical system of divination...
during the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
. Aside from performing Shinto dances for the gods, he is also given the task to be a warrior against demons.
Kazuki Kazama
is a recurring character and one of the main protagonists introduced in Samurai Shodown IVSamurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
. His demon counterpart, , was first introduced as Kazuki's Bust form in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, known as in Japan, is the seventh game in SNK's Samurai Shodown series of fighting games.-Story:The official story, as given by SNK, is as follows:...
but became his own character in Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
. Developers wanted Enja to be different from Kazuki by making Enja "unable to speak human language."
He is a member of the Kazama ninja clan who specializes in pyrokinetic ninjutsu. In Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, he is ordered to execute a powerful fire-demon named Enja. He searches for the demon and eventually encounters him. Enja, however, is too powerful an opponent for Kazuki but, his younger sister, Hazuki saves his and Sogetsu's life by sealing the demons in each brother's respective weapons. In Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
, after he learns that Hazuki was kidnapped by Amakusa, Kazuki decides to desert the clan to rescue her, essentially becoming a nukenin, or renegade ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
. His clan does not tolerate traitors and they send his brother Sogetsu to assassinate him. The two rendezvous at Amakusa's castle. There, Kazuki defeats Amakusa and saves his sister. Sogetsu, on the other hand, stays behind to fight Zankuro. After faking his death to his clan, Kazuki and Hazuki continue to run away together and live a carefree life. His other appearances in the series continue to have him living with Hazuki whilst investigating mysterious calamities across the land.
Enja
is a powerful demon who once ravaged the lands. With the power of fire, he flew from village to village setting them aflame and slaughtering innocent bystanders by the thousands. Upon hearing of this atrocious demon, the Kazama ninja clan took action. They ambush Enja in a small, rural village and without fear, quickly set to the laborious task of attempting to seal the beast. However, Enja's might proved too powerful, and within moments, Enja had burned them all to cinders. Enja meant to reunite with his old friend, Suija, and steal the spell of Jinma-Itai from Kuraki-sumeragi. However, he was sealed by Hazuki into Kazuki's weapon. In Samurai Shodown: Warriors RageSamurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, known as in Japan, is the seventh game in SNK's Samurai Shodown series of fighting games.-Story:The official story, as given by SNK, is as follows:...
, he possesses Kazuki's body and becomes his new bust form.
Kazuki is a sharp contrast to his brother in that most of his attacks are short-ranged and risky if performed improperly. His only long ranged attack is a fireball projectile. In his first appearance, his Slash mode can form up to three mini fireballs which may boost his special moves. His Bust mode relies on an aggressive, close combat moves that deals massive damage. It later carries over to be Enja's fighting style. Enja losses Kazuki's ninjato
Ninjato
The , also known as or , is the most common name for the sword that the ninja are portrayed to have carried by ninja in television and movies. Historically, there is no physical evidence for the existance of this weapon. In reality, the katana was probably the ninja's weapon of choice...
but fights using punches that mimic Kazuki's sword strikes.
Kazuki is also playable as a character in Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64, known simply as in Japan, is a 3D fighting game produced by SNK for its Hyper Neo-Geo 64 system. It was SNK's first attempt to bring one of their franchises into the 3D realm...
, Samurai Shodown! 2
Samurai Shodown! 2
Samurai Shodown! 2 is a handheld game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games...
, Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
, and Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
, known as Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny or Samurai Spirits: Flash in Japan, is the fourth 3D game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games and the eleventh overall title in the series. It is the first game in the series to be rated Mature...
. He makes a cameo appearance in the Neo Geo CD version of Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
. Enja is an individual character from Kazuki in Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
and Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
. Gamest staff voted Kazuki as their 35th favorite character in their 1997 Heroes Collection.
Sogetsu Kazama
is a recurring character and one of the main protagonists introduced in Samurai Shodown IVSamurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
. His demonic form, , was first introduced as his Bust form in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, known as in Japan, is the seventh game in SNK's Samurai Shodown series of fighting games.-Story:The official story, as given by SNK, is as follows:...
but became a separate character from him in Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
. Game developers for Samurai Shodown V wanted Suija to be the "dangerous guy who wants to be a god".
He is a member of the Kazama ninja clan who has the ability to manipulate water and is the older brother to Kazuki. In Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, Sogetsu is ordered by his clan to defeat a powerful water demon named Suija. After much searching, he encounters the demon and engages him. Like his younger brother's encounter with Enja, Suija meets him with the intentions of possessing his body. To save them, their younger sister, Hazuki uses a ninjutsu spell to seal both Suija and Enja away in her brothers' weapons (Sogetsu and Kazuki respectfully). When Kazuki leaves the clan to save Hazuki, the elders of the clan order him to execute his brother. Sogetsu eventually finds Kazuki at Amakusa's castle. There, he allows Kazuki to rescue Hazuki, while he stays behind to fight Zankuro. He slays Zankuro and returns to his clan, telling his superiors that Kazuki has been taken care of; in truth, he allows Kazuki to fake his death so he and Hazuki can run away. Sogetsu keeps a watchful eye on them in secret so they may continue to lead a carefree life. He continues to serve his clan, loyally following their orders and meeting his brother by coincidence from time to time.
Suija
is a powerful demon who was freed in Samurai Shodown VSamurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
. He possesses a shinobi
Shinobi
Shinobi is the Japanese word for male ninja. It may also refer to:*Shinobi , a series of video games**Shinobi , the original video game in the series developed by Sega**Shinobi , the PlayStation 2 sequel...
from the Kazama clan, who was investigating evil energies close to the lake where he was sealed. Suija is determined to take the spell of Jinma-Itai from Kuraki-sumeragi. He wants to reunite with his friend, Enja, to steal that spell. Parallel to Enja's fate with Kazuki, however, Suija is sealed in Sogetsu's weapon by Hazuki. Over time, his spirit gradually seeps through the seal and takes possession of Sogetsu's mind and body.
Sogetsu, unlike Kazuki, has several long ranged attacks, most notable of which is his strongest slash attack. His power over water allows him to keep opponents at distance from both the air and ground level as he can raise geysers and throw bubbles to thwart their advances. In his Bust form, later adopted as Suija's fighting style, he becomes an effective close to mid-ranged fighter, able to shield himself from attacks during jumps and splash powerful geysers at close range. In Warriors Rage, his ninjatō
Ninjato
The , also known as or , is the most common name for the sword that the ninja are portrayed to have carried by ninja in television and movies. Historically, there is no physical evidence for the existance of this weapon. In reality, the katana was probably the ninja's weapon of choice...
changes to a longer tachi
Tachi
The is one type of traditional Japanese sword worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan.-History and description:With a few exceptions katana and tachi can be distinguished from each other if signed, by the location of the signature on the tang...
. Suija fights bare-handed and relies mostly on kicks for normal attacks.
Sougetsu is also playable as a character in Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64, known simply as in Japan, is a 3D fighting game produced by SNK for its Hyper Neo-Geo 64 system. It was SNK's first attempt to bring one of their franchises into the 3D realm...
, Samurai Shodown! 2
Samurai Shodown! 2
Samurai Shodown! 2 is a handheld game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games...
, Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
, and Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
, known as Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny or Samurai Spirits: Flash in Japan, is the fourth 3D game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games and the eleventh overall title in the series. It is the first game in the series to be rated Mature...
. He makes an appearance in the Neo Geo CD version of Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
. Suija appears as his own character in Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
and Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
. In the 1997 Gamest Heroes Collection, Sogetsu was ranked the staff's 21st favorite character.
Genjuro Kibagami
, with Genjūrō meaning Mystic Tenth Son in Japanese) is a recurring character introduced in Samurai Shodown IISamurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
and the official rival to Haohmaru.
He claims to have killed his family and at least a thousand other people. His mother was a prostitute
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
and, due to her profession, he knows nothing about his father. When he was fifteen, Genjuro killed one of her clients -due to his mother's pleas for protection from her client's drunken rage. As he went to leave, she attacked him, leaving the scar on his back, and he killed her. Orphaned, Nicotine spotted him and took him under his tutelage along with Haohmaru in his dojo. Both students were close friends yet Genjuro's hunger for power worried Nicotine. To test his student, he decided to have them fight to determine who was stronger, with a scroll that promises power as the reward. Genjuro defeats Haohmaru but is banished for his murderous intent. He swore to kill Haohmaru and Nicotine, spiteful for their idealistic beliefs on swordplay. He hates Haohmaru especially, because he resembles the man his mother was with when he killed them (he also was attracted to Shiki at one point, as she resembled his mother). His profession during his travels is a hitokiri or killer-for-hire, often accepting the more "dirty" jobs such as wiping out pirate brigades and bandit hideouts. His former clients include Sankuro and Mizuki. In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, known as in Japan, is the seventh game in SNK's Samurai Shodown series of fighting games.-Story:The official story, as given by SNK, is as follows:...
, Genjuro gains the upper hand in his last duel with Haohmaru. Before he could deal the final blow, a boy stabs him in vengeance for his unnamed father. It's heavily implied that Genjuro dies from his wound and, as promised, an older Haohmaru toasts to his friend's honor.
Though they both trained underneath Nicotine, his fighting style greatly differs from Haohmaru in execution. All of his special moves are direct references to the Japanese card game, hanafuda
Hanafuda
are playing cards of Japanese origin that are used to play a number of games. The name literally translates as "flower cards". The name also refers to games played with those cards.-History:...
. Depending on whether a move hits or misses, the move will temporarily project the images of a "winning" combo of cards and/or a "miss" based on the featured hanafuda set. His "pet" of sorts is an unnamed orange frog, a reference to the card, Yanagi ni Ono No Toufuu. His win poses from his first appearance made several heavy references to the deck; his later win poses tone down the references.
Since his introduction, Genjuro is playable in all of the games in the series with the exception of Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation). He also makes playable appearances in SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom
SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom
is a competitive fighting game produced by Playmore for the Neo Geo arcade and home platform. The game is a crossover featuring characters from SNKs and Capcoms respective fighting game properties such as The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, Street Fighter, and Darkstalkers...
, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is a 2 on 2 tag team fighting game for the Atomiswave arcade board. The game features characters from several SNK and ADK titles. The PlayStation 2 version of the game has been released in Japan, North America and Europe...
and the dating sim Days of Memories
Days of Memories
Days of Memories is a series of dating sims that SNK Playmore has been making for cell phones since 2005. They have recently released a compilation of the first three games for the Nintendo DS, with new graphics and an extra viewing mode.-Summary:The games are dating sims starring SNK, ADK, and...
: Oedo Love Scroll. In Gamest's 1997 Heroes Collection, he was ranked the staff's eighteenth favorite character. He was voted as the number one favorite character at the time of his debut.
Basara Kubikiri
, sometimes known as "Basara the Executioner", is a recurring character introduced to the series in Samurai Shodown IIISamurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
.
He is a type of yokai
Yokai
are a class of supernatural monsters in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "otherworldly" and "weird". Yōkai range eclectically from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them...
"reborn" due to an extreme hatred he harbored before his death. In his previous life, Basara lived in peace with his wife, Kagaribi, until the monstrous demonic swordsman Zankuro came through and slaughtered everyone. He blames "the demon" for his wife's demise but, in Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, it is revealed that Basara himself killed her. In Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
, he remembers how he died and thus aimlessly seeks to take revenge on Zankuro. However, Zankuro is already slain by the time he finds him. Having no reason to remain, Basara searches for ways to finally rest in peace. In Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
, he discovers that his "rebirth" is caused by Amakusa, so he heads for Shimabara to kill him. After Amakusa's defeat, a vision of Kagaribi lures his soul to be captured and sealed away by Mizuki.
Some of his powers are based in the use of his shuriken, as well as demonic powers like moving and disappearing into the shadows or release balls of energy. His normal attacks are adaptable to execute, easily ranging from close to mid-screen and often hitting for several hits upon impact. His distinguishing feature is a shrill laugh and claiming life to be "a beautiful nightmare".
Basara also appears playable in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
. In Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
he is an occasional guest member and doubles as an optional boss in the second chapter of the game.
Kuroko
was used as an official who officiated the match in early Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown series
Samurai Shodown is the name of a fighting game series by SNK.Despite the name of the series, most of the characters are not samurai in the true sense of the word...
games. He starts to challenge players as a hidden boss in Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
and continues to do so in other games of the series. Kuroko is an alias; his real name is shown in the credits of the second game, but inkeeping with his role as a kuroko
Kuroko
are stagehands in traditional Japanese theatre, who dress all in black.In kabuki, the kuroko serve many of the same purposes as running crew. They move scenery and props on stage, aiding in scene changes and costume changes. They will also often play the role of animals, will-o-the-wisps, or other...
, is blurred. His real name is revealed to English fans nearly a decade later as Dueling Judge: "Slick" Sukihiro. Although he appears as his own character in the series, real life kuroko are meant to be anonymous and "invisible" stage men in Japanese theater.
He dons a red flag and a white flag (used in martial arts competitions to denote when a player hits an opponent) as his weapon. As a playable character, Kuroko parodied moves from other SNK
SNK Playmore
SNK Playmore Corporation is a Japanese video game hardware and software company. SNK is an acronym of , which was SNK's original name. The company's legal and trading name became SNK in 1986....
characters, mainly from those in Fatal Fury or Art of Fighting
Art of Fighting
is a trilogy of competitive fighting game titles that were released for the Neo Geo platform in the early 1990s. It was the second fighting game franchise created by SNK, following the Fatal Fury series and is set in the same fictional universe...
, and unlike every other character in the game, it was his outfit that became red as his rage bar filled up. He also can't be thrown normally, like Earthquake in the same game, and apparently his flags, which he uses as weapons, can't be destroyed or lost. He becomes a copy of the player's character in Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
. In Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
, his special moves further parodied King of Fighters
King of Fighters
, officially abbreviated KOF, is a series of fighting games by SNK Playmore . The series was originally developed for SNK's Neo Geo MVS arcade hardware, which served as the main platform for the series until 2004, when SNK retired the MVS in favor of the Atomiswave arcade board...
characters.
Kuroko continues to challenge players in Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64, known simply as in Japan, is a 3D fighting game produced by SNK for its Hyper Neo-Geo 64 system. It was SNK's first attempt to bring one of their franchises into the 3D realm...
. He returns as a character and a judge in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
and serves as a save point for players in Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
.
Yumeji Kurokouchi
is the sub boss in Samurai Shodown VSamurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
. Yumeji is unique to the roster in that he/she has no definite gender; the developers to the game, Yuki Enterprises, entreated players to "believe whatever you believe Yumeji to be". To add to the confusion, Yumeji speaks in gender neutral Japanese in both his/her official story and in-game text and Yumeji's voice actor has a history of voicing for both genders. Due to the openness of the statement, players still argue over his/her gender to this day. The character designer for the game affectionately nicknamed Yumeji as "Souji" -a reference to the Shinsengumi
Shinsengumi
The were a special police force of the late shogunate period.-Historical background:After Japan opened up to the West following U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's visits in 1853, its political situation gradually became more and more chaotic...
captain, Okita Sōji
Okita Soji
, was the captain of the first unit of the Shinsengumi, a special police force in Kyoto during the late shogunate period. He was one of the best swordsmen of the Shinsengumi, along with Saito Hajime and Nagakura Shinpachi....
.
Yumeji is the sole successor of Sakon Kurokouchi, a sensei of iaijutsu
Iaijutsu
, the art of drawing the Japanese sword. One of Japanese martial disciplines in education of the classical warrior .-Etymology:"Iaijutsu" was known before the Tokugawa period but it is unclear exactly when the term "iaijutsu" first came into use, or when exactly drawing the katana from its...
and the previous mentor of Ukyo. However, for a dubious reason concerning issues with his/her body, Yumeji was expelled from his/her father's dojo and living facility. Yumeji follows Gaoh and swears to serve him as his "right arm". In the end, Yumeji is defeated by Ukyo, and, to save his/her family name from disgrace, begs him to take his/her life. Ukyo, however, only cuts off his/her ponytail and orders Yumeji to go home. Instead, Yumeji becomes a nun
Bhikkhuni
A bhikkhuni or bhikṣuṇī is a fully ordained female Buddhist monastic. Male monastics are called bhikkhus. Both bhikkhunis and bhikkhus live by the vinaya...
. One year after Gaoh's defeat, he/she tricks and beheads Rasetsumaru. Her father and the rest of his disciples were later slain by Zankuro.
As Yumeji shares the same fighting style as Ukyo, Yumeji borrows several poses and animations from him. The main deviation between them, however, is his/her ability to morph into aspirations of other characters to perform their signature moves (Haohmaru with Kougetsuzan, Hanzo with Mos Otoshi, Genjuro with Inoshikacho, Nakoruru with Ainu Mutsube, etc.).
Yumeji makes a playable appearance in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
Kyougoku Hinowanokami Gaoh
is the final boss in Samurai Shodown VSamurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
. Gaoh was fashioned as a character to concisely reflect the times of the era
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
that the game takes place, speaking in the same dialect and dressing himself in similar fashion.
He was once a loyal general to the Tokugawa clan
Tokugawa clan
The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...
and lord to the land of Hinowa. He is one of the previous mentors to the clan's heir, Yoshitora. However, Yoshitora and his father became indifferent to the land during the Tenmei
Tenmei
was a Japanese era name , also known as Temmei, after An'ei and before Kansei. This period spanned the years from April 1781 through January 1789. The reigning emperor was .-Change of era:...
famine and the country was thrown into more chaos as a result. Concerned about the well being of his countrymen, he decides to rebel against his lord with an army of powerful warriors until he is defeated by Yoshitora. He begs for his pupil to become shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
for the sake of the people, which Yoshitora finally accepts as his responsibility.
When he is in POW, he transforms into a demon in armor, an evil entity that once possessed another character, Yunfei. This form is killed by Gaoh with the assistance of Yunfei.
Gaoh also appears in Samurai Shodown V Special
Samurai Shodown V Special
Samurai Shodown V Special, known as in Japan, is the ninth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. This game is an upgraded version of the game titled Samurai Shodown V, and is the last official game for the Neo Geo platform...
and Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
as a playable character.
Liu Yunfei
Liu Yunfei , also known just as Yunfei, is a character introduced in Samurai Shodown VSamurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
. In their commentary for fans, it was one of the director's request to make another overseas character. During his designing process, they were afraid of making him too similar to Chinese actor, Chow Yun-fat
Chow Yun-Fat
Chow Yun-fat, SBS is an actor from Hong Kong. He is best known in Asia for his collaboration with filmmaker John Woo in heroic bloodshed genre films A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard Boiled; and to the West for his role as Li Mu-bai in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...
. Since they were already making a "new young lady" (Mina), Yunfei was eventually modeled to be the "cool old guy".
He lived at one point in 800 A.D. with his wife. Desiring to gain more power, he made a deal with a being calling himself "The Dark Emperor" and apparently becomes immortal due to an evil entity. However, he went insane and berserk until he was sealed in a boulder by his students, Enja and Suija. A millennium later, he is freed due to the entity leaving him to possess someone else. Wanting to redeem himself, he tracks down the entity's source with intents to exorcise it. In his ending, the entity is found in Gaoh and it begins to overwhelm its host. In order to help Gaoh, Yunfei takes possession of the monster's body and urges the free Gaoh to slay the demon. He is struck down and is reunited with his wife (presumably in heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
).
Yunfei takes most of his mannerisms from typical wuxia
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
traits. Parallel to other wuxia borrowing some elements from real-life martial arts, his fighting style is a rough deviation of the Wing Chun
Wing Chun
Wing Chun , also romanised as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, ; ; is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.The alternative characters 永春 "eternal spring" are also...
martial arts. He also possesses the ability to fly, best exampled in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film. An American-Chinese-Hong Kong-Taiwanese co-production, the film was directed by Ang Lee and featured an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors, including Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen...
.
Yunfei also appears in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
Mina Majikina
is one of the new characters introduced in Samurai Shodown VSamurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
. According to the game's creators, Mina was created to be the "polar opposite to Nakoruru" and as the "new heroine" to the series. They extended these keywords to everything, including fighting style, weaponry, and clothing. Though she drifted slightly away from her original image, Mina became a favorite to them and they expressed an interest to implement her into more games.
She is blessed since birth with powerful spiritual energy and was sent away from her home to train in the art of exorcising demons. Her village revered her as a kaminchu (goddess) but also shunned her as they were in fear of her powers. As a result of her isolation, Mina is unable to express emotions. One day, she departs her village to destroy an ayakashi (a certain kind of yokai
Yokai
are a class of supernatural monsters in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "otherworldly" and "weird". Yōkai range eclectically from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them...
). Upon her victory, she senses a powerful and evil force in her village but returns to see everything in ruins and all the inhabitants dead. In the wreckage, she finds a seemingly harmless being named Chample to whom she grew to endear. Taking her new friend in her arms, she is determined to eliminate as many demons as possible, starting with Gaoh. However, she eventually comes to the conclusion that Chample is the demon that destroyed her village when he transforms to his true form and attacks a by-stander. In her ending, she kills Chample to avenge the villagers; it's then implied that she commits suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
afterwards.
Mina is the first archer character to grace the character lineup.
Mina is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
and makes another appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories
Days of Memories
Days of Memories is a series of dating sims that SNK Playmore has been making for cell phones since 2005. They have recently released a compilation of the first three games for the Nintendo DS, with new graphics and an extra viewing mode.-Summary:The games are dating sims starring SNK, ADK, and...
: Oedo Love Scroll. Since her introduction, she has several figurines made in her image.
Zankuro Minazuki
is the final boss from Samurai Shodown IIISamurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
and recurs as a boss character throughout the series.
He is a fearsome warrior who once traveled from village to village slaughtering people with no regard or disambiguation. During this time, he earns the title "the demon" in testament to his terrifying skill and battle prowess. He encounters a young girl who he couldn't bring himself to kill and realizes the error of his ways. He retires his massacring and enters hermitage, only drawing his blade to kill worthy opponents in duels. Eventually, he is defeated by Shizumaru and Haohmaru and his body is buried and sealed later by Gaira. His appearances after Samurai Shodown III continue to revive him as an unlockable boss for the players to defeat.
Zankuro wields a zanbatō
Zanbato
A is an especially large type of Japanese sword, the historical use of which is disputed. The sword closely resembles the Nodachi or ōdachi, however it differs from the Nodachi by having a ricasso of approximately 12 to 18 inches . This lends more credence to the theory of the sword having a...
which he uses to attack with amazing speed and strength. In his first boss appearance, he could easily defeat his foe in three strikes. In Samurai Shodown IV, his strongest slash can take away half a lifebar.
In the PSX port of Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
, Samurai Shodown V Special
Samurai Shodown V Special
Samurai Shodown V Special, known as in Japan, is the ninth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. This game is an upgraded version of the game titled Samurai Shodown V, and is the last official game for the Neo Geo platform...
, and Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
Zankuro is a playable character. According to Gamest Mook (a Japanese mook
Mook
Mook may refer to:* Mook * Mook en Middelaar, a municipality in the Netherlands* MOOK DLE, a Japanese animation studio* "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer", an episode of The Simpsons cartoon TV series...
created separate from its main publication), he was originally planned for the Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64, known simply as in Japan, is a 3D fighting game produced by SNK for its Hyper Neo-Geo 64 system. It was SNK's first attempt to bring one of their franchises into the 3D realm...
lineup but was taken out due to time constraints.
Sugoroku Matsuribayashi
is a character who premieres in Samurai Shodown VISamurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
. His character design and mannerisms are based on the Naked Festival
Hadaka Matsuri
A is a type of Japanese festival, or matsuri, in which participants wear a minimum amount of clothing; usually just a Japanese loincloth , sometimes with a short happi coat, and rarely completely naked. Whatever the clothing, it is considered to be above vulgar, or everyday, undergarments, and on...
that occurs in Japan. He is another character in the series who brings comic relief.
He wields a fireworks cannon as his weapon and can summon an entire parade on an opponent.
Nakoruru
is one of the most recognized characters from the series and "mascot" (alongside Haohmaru). Since her introduction in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
, she appears in every title of the series, but is not playable in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage. Her alter ego, , premiered in the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
and Dreamcast video game and single OVA Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono and was later incorporated into the fighting games in Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
.
Nakoruru's role in the game is of a defender of Mother Nature
Mother Nature
Mother Nature is a common personification of nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it in the form of the mother. Images of women representing mother earth, and mother nature, are timeless...
as a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
ess of the Ainu religion. This idea came from a Japanese perception of the indigenous Ainu people
Ainu people
The , also called Aynu, Aino , and in historical texts Ezo , are indigenous people or groups in Japan and Russia. Historically they spoke the Ainu language and related varieties and lived in Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands, and much of Sakhalin...
, who live around Hokkaido, Japan. In this case, Ainu are depicted in a way analogous to the Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
are in other media, in that they revere nature and peacefully coexist with it. Keeping in key with her persona, Nakoruru was also used as a mascot for SNK's environmental awareness campaigns in 1994. She became the Kamui
Kamui
Kamuy are divine spirits in the mythology of the Japanese Ainu culture.Kamui may also refer to:-People and groups:* Kamui Fujiwara , Japanese game designer & cartoonist...
warrior of Kamui Kotan after the death of her father and continues to fulfill this role throughout the series (even assuming a human form after her death). In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, known as in Japan, is the seventh game in SNK's Samurai Shodown series of fighting games.-Story:The official story, as given by SNK, is as follows:...
, she becomes "the holy spirit who wanders through time" in a form that resembles a Koro-pok-guru
Koro-pok-guru
, also written Koro-pok-kuru, korobokkuru, or koropokkur, are a race of small people in Ainu folklore. The name is traditionally analysed as a tripartite compound of kor or koro , pok , and kur or kuru and interpreted to mean "people below the leaves of the butterbur plant" in the Ainu...
. Unable to assume her original form, she asks the player to awaken the Maiden of Light, Rimururu, who has been sealed by Oboro.
is based on the alternate palette swap of Nakoruru (noted for her evil grin during her victory images since Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
). The developers admit basing her mannerism on Nakoruru's Bust form. It is said that Nakoruru suppressed this side of herself as Rera saw killing as a necessity to protect nature. She merges with her host after she realizes that fighting doesn't solve everything and peaceful solutions can be made. She can physically take over Nakoruru, but has only done so when Nakoruru is reluctant to kill her enemies.
She fights with a kodachi
Kodachi
A , literally translating into "small or short tachi ", is a Japanese sword that is too long to be considered a dagger but too short to be a long sword...
, and, depending on the form, a hawk
Hawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
named Mamahaha (in Slash) or a wolf named Shikuru (in Bust form and later Rera). To compensate for her short weapon range, players must rely on her speed to punish her opponents' mistakes. She can also recover from her moves a little quicker than other characters, making it easier for her to hit-and-run during fights. To balance her out with the rest of the cast, her attack strength is slightly weaker than most fighters. Her move set usually incorporates slightly longer ranged attacks that project her or her animal companions to her foes so her attack range isn't limited to her sword. She can also reflect projectiles with the move, Kamui Ryusei. The girl that appears during her entrances in Capcom vs SNK is one of her childhood friends introduced in Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono, Manari.
Nakoruru also stars in her own game, Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono. She makes outside series appearances in the Game Boy port of The King of Fighters '95
The King of Fighters '95
The King of Fighters '95 is a fighting game produced by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home console. It is the sequel to The King of Fighters '94 and the second game in The King of Fighters series...
, King of Fighters 2000 (as a special Striker), Capcom vs SNK, Capcom vs. SNK 2
Capcom vs. SNK 2
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001, known as Millionaire Fighting 2001 in Japan, is a sequel to the fighting game Capcom vs. SNK. This game was released on NAOMI hardware in the arcade...
, SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium
SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium
is a fighting game for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. It features a total of 26 characters from SNK and Capcom, eight of which are hidden. Play options includes 2-fighter tag teams, 3-fighter queue teams, and of course, one-on-one...
, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is a 2 on 2 tag team fighting game for the Atomiswave arcade board. The game features characters from several SNK and ADK titles. The PlayStation 2 version of the game has been released in Japan, North America and Europe...
, SNK Gals' Fighters
SNK Gals' Fighters
SNK Gals' Fighters is a 2-dimensional 1-on-1 versus fighting game which appeared on the Neo Geo Pocket Color in 2000. It featured female characters from various SNK franchises, where the characters compete in the aptly named The Queen of Fighters tournament, organized by a mysterious "Miss X", with...
, the mobile game Neo Geo Tennis Coliseum, and the dating sim Days of Memories
Days of Memories
Days of Memories is a series of dating sims that SNK Playmore has been making for cell phones since 2005. They have recently released a compilation of the first three games for the Nintendo DS, with new graphics and an extra viewing mode.-Summary:The games are dating sims starring SNK, ADK, and...
: Oedo Love Scroll. Rera appears again in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
as well as an alternate version konwn as Purple Nakoruru who pays tribute on the concept that later evolved into Rera. This version however still fights with Mamahaha. SNK-Playmore also created a social action program for children using Nakoruru and Fatal Fury star, Terry Bogard
Terry Bogard
is a video game character created by SNK Playmore , and is the main character of the Fatal Fury series. In the series, he is an American fighter who enters the worldwide tournaments called The King of Fighters to kill Geese Howard, a criminal who killed Terry's father. Terry becomes a formidable...
, as their mascots. She is a featured character in several of the series' drama cds and stars in her own character image cd. She also is a member in SNK's character image band, Band of Fighters. As a popular moe character, Nakoruru also has several figurines made in her image from various game appearances.
Neinhalt Sieger
was introduced in Samurai Shodown IISamurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
. Like Nicotine, he was dropped after his introduction and is limited to cameo appearances throughout the series.
He is a Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n warrior and the leader of the Red Lion Knights. He went to Japan to deal with the threat of Mizuki. In his ending, he saves his country from demons and is married to Elizabeth, the daughter of the Prussian King.
In the spin-off, Samurai Spirits RPG, he married Queen Victoria
Victoria of Baden
Victoria of Baden was a Queen consort of Sweden by her marriage to King Gustaf V of Sweden. She was politically active in a conservative fashion during the development of democracy and known as a pro-German during the First World War.-Birth:Princess Viktoria was born on 7 August 1862 at the castle...
and is protecting France against any demon attacks. He assists the party battling Mizuki whilst they are in Paris and Green Hell. However, Mizuki traps him within one of the Dark Bells, a medium which increases Ambrosia's powers and siphons evil spirits. Knowing the dangers of the Bell, he allows the party to destroy it, killing himself in the process.
His fighting style consists of unique grappling and punching techniques, better amplified by the power of his weapon. His gauntlet, which is easily capable of shielding his entire body, also possesses the ability to shoot ammunition when he expands his fist. For some time, he was one of the few characters in the series who is capable of chaining different special commands together to create a specific combo.
Sieger is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
Rasetsumaru
is hinted to exist in Samurai Shodown: Warriors RageSamurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, known as in Japan, is the seventh game in SNK's Samurai Shodown series of fighting games.-Story:The official story, as given by SNK, is as follows:...
but is introduced in Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
as his own character. In the creators' commentary regarding his introduction, it was revealed that he was a design created by series illustrator, Shiroi Eiji, as a "dark Haohmaru".
He is a bloodthirsty demon from the dark world of Makai
Makai
Makai is a Japanese house DJ. It is well known for his collaborations with Japanese vocalists, such as "Garden of Love" with Thelma Aoyama, which topped the iTunes Japan internal charts.-Studio albums:...
, which was opened up by Amakusa many years ago. Rasetsumaru can never assuage his thirst for killing. Because he doesn't clean his blade, it has turned the color of blood from the hundreds of people he has killed. He learns the existence of Haohmaru, an incredibly strong samurai who looks like him, and tries to find him in Hinowa to kill him. He finds Haohmaru at a temple a year later, but it is really a nun (implied to be Yumeji) disguised as an illusion of him. Claiming him to be his/her final opponent, Yumeji decapitates him.
Parallel to Rera's fighting style with Nakoruru, Rasetsumaru is the former Bust form of Haohmaru. Unlike Rera, he is a separate entity from Haohmaru and shouldn't be confused as a part of Haohmaru's subconsciouses. He mirrors several of his counterpart's normal attacks but has a different move set.
Rasetsumaru is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
Mizuki Rashoujin
, known as "The Marauding Deity", is the final boss in Samurai Shodown IISamurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
. She is the also the first and only boss to have assistance from a pet.
Mizuki was a rural Japanese child abandoned by her family due to severe poverty. Bitter with hatred and consumed with revenge, she made a pact with the evil god Ambrosia roughly a thousand years before the series begins, turning herself into a demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
. Since this acquisition of demonic power, she proceeds to cause worldwide disasters and calamities around the globe. However, roughly 800 years after her pact, she was challenged by a priestess named Bizuki. Despite her best efforts, Bizuki was possessed by Mizuki and sent into hibernation. She was awakened by Amakusa's powers and invokes Ambrosia's mortal resurrection. Haohmaru and Nakoruru stop her before she could succeed. Upon her defeat, both Mizuki and Ambrosia were sealed in the Makai (demon world) while Bizuki was free to live in the mortal realm as Kyoshiro's assistant.
Mizuki has a wide arsenal of attacks to choose from. In some ways, she is similar to Nicotine in that they can both shoot upper and lower angled projectiles and also reverse their foes movements. Like her predecessor, Amakusa, she also possesses the ability of teleportaion and a multi-hitting slap attack. She can also command a demon pet to charge and maul her opponent. Her pet also has the ability to transform foes into animals, disabling their attacks for a time. Her desperation attack is a unique projectile that will boomerang back to her if her opponent jumps over it. She is also quick on her feet, easily able to close distances between her foe in quick dashes with little trouble.
She appears as the second main antagonist in Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
and is a playable character in Samurai Shodown V Special
Samurai Shodown V Special
Samurai Shodown V Special, known as in Japan, is the ninth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. This game is an upgraded version of the game titled Samurai Shodown V, and is the last official game for the Neo Geo platform...
and Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
Rimururu
, called "Rimnerel" by some translations, is a recurring character in the series and was formerly introduced as a new character in Samurai Shodown IIISamurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
. She made her first appearance in the series as a background character in Nakoruru's stage during Samurai Shodown II. Her prototype design in this game was formerly a scrapped concept for one of the heroines from another SNK game, Robo Army.
She is the younger sister of Nakoruru, and lives in an Ainu
Ainu people
The , also called Aynu, Aino , and in historical texts Ezo , are indigenous people or groups in Japan and Russia. Historically they spoke the Ainu language and related varieties and lived in Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands, and much of Sakhalin...
village on Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. She greatly admires her older sister, and like her, strives to protect nature. Rimururu has also been referred to as a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
ess of the Ainu religion. In her ending to Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, it is revealed to players that Nakoruru adopts her at a young age. Although she is still training and not as adept as her sister at fighting, she repels evil from the forest for her elder sister. When her sister departs, Rimururu often follows her in hopes of offering assistance. Nakoruru originally forbids her younger sister's attempts to be a priestess but relents once she recognizes Rimururu's resolve. In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation), Rimururu is a "Maiden of Light" like her sister. She was imprisoned by Oboro and cannot awaken to help her sister. The players need to rescue Rimururu for Nakoruru. When the sisters unite, they seal Oboro and his weaponry after his defeat.
With her ice spirit Konru, sometimes translated as "Konril", she has the ability to freeze her foes. Her normal attacks are similar to her sister with some modifications in execution. Unlike her sister, many of her moves are short range, giving her a narrower range of efficiency than her sister. However, this may not be a disadvantage as the swiftness in most of her moves make up for it. Like her sister, she may also reflect projectiles with proper timing. In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, known as in Japan, is the seventh game in SNK's Samurai Shodown series of fighting games.-Story:The official story, as given by SNK, is as follows:...
, her Slash form relies more on Konru, making her playing style more defensive. Her Bust form, however, is more aggressive and the more close-ranged of the two.
Rimururu continues to appear in every game of the series after her introduction. However, in Warriors Rage (for the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
), she is not playable. She appears with her sister in the dating sim, Days of Memories
Days of Memories
Days of Memories is a series of dating sims that SNK Playmore has been making for cell phones since 2005. They have recently released a compilation of the first three games for the Nintendo DS, with new graphics and an extra viewing mode.-Summary:The games are dating sims starring SNK, ADK, and...
: Oedo Love Scroll. She also has character image album made after her. According to the creators' commentary for Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, she is one of the main programmers' favorite characters.
Kyoshiro Senryo
is a character introduced in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
and continues to appear in later titles of the series. His name derives from Japanese words with theatrical undercurrents: literally means "1000 ryō", but it can also refer to star actors (i.e., the full phrase refers to actors with a rather high salary); means "dying insane"; the is a merely common suffix for male names. He most likely takes inspiration from film character, Nemuri Kyoshiro
Sleepy Eyes of Death
is a series of jidaigeki novels written by Renzaburo Shibata. The stories were originally serialized on May 1956 in the Shūkan Shinchō.The stories take place during Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate and the rule of Tokugawa Ienari and center around the title character, a sleepy-eyed, outlaw...
, a sleepy-eyed samurai who travels around Japan.
He is a master of the ancient art of kabuki
Kabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
, utilizing its artful interpretations and majestic actions to construct a "beautiful fighting art". In Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, convinced people are sad because of the current state in Japan, Kyoshiro decides to cheer people up with his acts. He decides to go on the road, in the hopes of perhaps finding a new Kabuki style and using his adventure as the story for his Kabuki act. He achieves this in his ending and fights someone who resembles SNK character, Sho Hayate, to determine who has the more aesthetic and effective fighting style. He continues his travels across the land, determined to spread the wonder of his art throughout the series. Unexpectedly, his companion becomes possessed by a demon. Determined to prove his strength, he slays him/her and sets out on a vendetta against others. After Mizuki is sealed a second time in the Makai, he speaks to the now-free priestess Bizuki and restores her faith by making her his new assistant.
He fights with a naginata and fans. True to his profession, he speaks in a theatrical dialect as though he were in a play, letting his audience and opponent know how or what he is doing. For instance, when he is defeated, he cries "I feel regretful!" or when he jumps, he cries, "And here (I am)!".
Kyoshiro is also playable in Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
, Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
, Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
, Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
, and Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
, known as Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny or Samurai Spirits: Flash in Japan, is the fourth 3D game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games and the eleventh overall title in the series. It is the first game in the series to be rated Mature...
.
Genan Shiranui
is introduced to the series in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
. He is a demon with green skin. Like Earthquake, he is a character that was dropped after Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
and only makes cameos in other characters' endings in other games. Both of his endings feature characters from other SNK games (Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting
Art of Fighting
is a trilogy of competitive fighting game titles that were released for the Neo Geo platform in the early 1990s. It was the second fighting game franchise created by SNK, following the Fatal Fury series and is set in the same fictional universe...
).
He is a member of the enigmatic Shiranui Clan, one that follows the "way of the darkness". He seeks to enligten his progress in the "way of evil". To this end, he travels Japan, killing anyone he can. However, in his travels, he encounters an unknown female ninja (who greatly resembles Mai Shiranui
Mai Shiranui
is a player character in both the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series of fighting games by SNK and in related media, also appearing in a large number of other games...
) and is slain. In Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
, his soul is revived by a being calling himself "leader of the Demon World" along with a proposition of servitude. Gen-an agrees but plots to one day slay his benefactor then rule the Demon World himself. In his ending to the same game, he is convinced by his wife, Azami, to return home and live in peace.
He fights with a claw, which can also be extended with a hidden chain. He can also spew poison gas to his opponents.
Genan also appears in Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
as a minor villain and as a playable character in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
Ukyo Tachibana
is a character introduced in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
who continues to appear in most titles of the series. He is originally based on the famed swordsman, Sasaki Kojirō
Sasaki Kojiro
was a prominent Japanese swordsman widely considered as a Kensei, born in Fukui Prefecture. He lived during the Sengoku and early Edo periods and is most remembered for his death while battling Miyamoto Musashi in 1612.-History:...
, one of Musashi's
Miyamoto Musashi
, also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age...
most famous rivals. Parallel to their historical counterparts, Ukyo was Haohmaru's rival in the first game but this idea is dropped upon Genjuro's introduction in Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
.
Ukyo is an expert iaijutsu
Iaijutsu
, the art of drawing the Japanese sword. One of Japanese martial disciplines in education of the classical warrior .-Etymology:"Iaijutsu" was known before the Tokugawa period but it is unclear exactly when the term "iaijutsu" first came into use, or when exactly drawing the katana from its...
swordsman with a body stricken with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. Despite having several women chasing for his affections, he treasures only his lone confidante, Kei Odagiri. He resists developing further feelings for her (due to his limited lifespan and her noble status) but continues to fight for her as a show of devotion. In Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
, he hears news that the ultimate flower resides in Makai and decides to present it to Kei in gratitude. He continues to fight for Kei throughout the series until she marries another man. Beginning in Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, known as in Japan, is the seventh game in SNK's Samurai Shodown series of fighting games.-Story:The official story, as given by SNK, is as follows:...
, Ukyo moves on to another woman named Saki who also suffers from the same disease. In his ending, he finds a cure for both of their illnesses but chooses to give it to Saki rather than take it for himself. He dies shortly after.
Ukyo is relatively defensive, relying on his quick sword strikes to punish his opponents' mistakes. Though his sprite is of average size, Ukyo jumps slowly –almost as slow as bigger characters like Earthquake or Tam Tam – and may be an open target if used too unwisely. One of his moves, Tsubame Gaeshi, is a direct reference to his historical inspiration. Players may use this move whilst in the air to counter most aerial or ground assaults. He was first perceived by players to be overpowered in Samurai Shodown II, but he has been toned down since then. He is the embodiment of a Japanese gentleman back in the 18th century. As an archaic show of romanticism, he often composes haiku
Haiku
' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
to best describe his thoughts during and after fights to avoid sounding brash. His poetry, however, is often omitted in most of the English translations, save for his ending in Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
and Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64, known simply as in Japan, is a 3D fighting game produced by SNK for its Hyper Neo-Geo 64 system. It was SNK's first attempt to bring one of their franchises into the 3D realm...
iterations.
Ukyo is playable in all the tiles of the series excluding Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation). He also makes an appearance in the dating sim Days of Memories
Days of Memories
Days of Memories is a series of dating sims that SNK Playmore has been making for cell phones since 2005. They have recently released a compilation of the first three games for the Nintendo DS, with new graphics and an extra viewing mode.-Summary:The games are dating sims starring SNK, ADK, and...
: Oedo Love Scroll. In Gamest's 1997 Heroes Collection, Ukyo was tied with Haohmaru for 29th (out of 50) the staff's favorite character rank. He was also a highly fan requested character for Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is a 2 on 2 tag team fighting game for the Atomiswave arcade board. The game features characters from several SNK and ADK titles. The PlayStation 2 version of the game has been released in Japan, North America and Europe...
. Developers, however, decided to not place him in as Haohmaru already had his rival, Genjuro, present thus there was no need for Ukyo.
Tam Tam
is a recurring character who was introduced in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
. He was dropped from the series after his appearance in Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
but, like Jubei and Charlotte, he returns in Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
.
He is the greatest warrior and hero of his village, Green Hell. Hearing from the village elders that their sacred artifact is missing, he takes the responsibility of retrieving their stolen treasure, the mysterious jewel called the "Palenke Stone" (named after Palenque
Palenque
Palenque was a Maya city state in southern Mexico that flourished in the 7th century. The Palenque ruins date back to 100 BC to its fall around 800 AD...
). He retrieves it and returns peace to his village. He also protects his village from Amakusa a second time, but fails to prevent the thievery of the village's second artifact, the "Tanjil Stone". As divine punishment, he is transformed into a chimpanzee, Paku Paku. In this form, he helps his younger sister Cham Cham recover both stones for his village.
The Tam Tam in Samurai Shodown V is a different warrior, using his legendary mask in his stead. After the original failed, the second Tam Tam sets out to save the original. In his ending, the second Tam Tam places the magical mask on the deceased first. Once the mask is back on, the original Tam Tam comes back to life.
Tam Tam is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
. He also makes an appearance in Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
, briefly as a human before remaining the rest of the game as Cham Cham's monkey companion, Paku Paku.
Yoshitora Tokugawa
is the main protagonist of Samurai Shodown VSamurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
. As the new protagonist, the creators wanted him to be different than Haohmaru. Instead of a "samurai who travels as freely as the wind" they wanted him to be an "elite military genius" with a sword. Character designer, Nobuhiro Watsuki
Nobuhiro Watsuki
is a Japanese manga artist, best known for his samurai-themed series Rurouni Kenshin. He once worked as an assistant for his favorite author Takeshi Obata.-Biography:...
, came up with Yoshitora's array of katana when he saw a similar image on a DVD cover to a sengoku based film. Based on the year the game occurs, his character origin is loosely based on historical figure, Tokugawa Ienari
Tokugawa Ienari
Tokugawa Ienari; 徳川 家斉 was the eleventh and longest serving shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan who held office from 1787 to 1837.-First wife:...
, the eleventh Tokugawa shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
who ruled a decadent era akin to the Roaring Twenties
Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America, but also in London, Berlin and Paris for a period of sustained economic prosperity. The phrase was meant to emphasize the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism...
.
He is the sole heir to the reigning shogun and former student of Gaoh and Jubei. More interested in women and partying than politics, he runs away from his home, refusing to be the next ruler. Gaoh, believing Japan would only prosper if Yoshitora were to rule, starts a rebellion in hopes of luring his student back. In his ending, he questions his former master's motives. Gaoh explains that the shogun ruling before Yoshitora is uncaring to the people and continuing under his rule would only bring famine and desecration to the people. He pleas with his pupil to become shogun. Realizing the responsibility of his role for the first time, Yoshitora finally agrees to his former master's request. As shogun, he then challenges Haohmaru to a duel, asking the latter to join him and help him build a new country. Haohmaru replies that if he loses, he'll join Yoshitora. They fight but the result of their match is uncertain.
He has seven swords; six are named after women except for the one named after himself. Each sword has its own unique ability, which he can use to confuse and corner his opponents. Analogous to his historical inspiration, he is a playboy
Playboy (disambiguation)
Playboy is a men's magazine.Playboy may also refer to:* Playboy * The Playboys, 1992 film starring Robin Wright* Jeremy Klein, nicknamed Playboy, American professional skateboarder...
. In one of his winning poses, he is followed by a crowd of young ladies.
He also appears in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
as a playable character
Wan-fu
Wan-fu (ChineseChinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: ; Pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: ; Cantonese Yale: ; Japanese: 王虎 Wanfū) is a character who was introduced in Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
. He was removed from the series' lineup after Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
but is revived for his role in the upcoming game Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
, known as Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny or Samurai Spirits: Flash in Japan, is the fourth 3D game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games and the eleventh overall title in the series. It is the first game in the series to be rated Mature...
. He is one of the few characters in the series to have a "joke" ending that breaks the fourth wall. Comically, he admits to the player that "there is no ending to [his] story".
He hails from a powerful family that resides in China and acts as a general in the Qing Dynasty. With his cunning battle strategies and powerful army, Wan-fu seeks to unify all of China. Hearing news of "powerful warriors" gathering in Japan, he sets out in hopes of recruiting them. After Amakusa's defeat, he fails to find any "powerful warriors". A prophet appears before the furious Wan-Fu and informs him of the existence of the "Seed of Destruction", which, in exchange for one's soul, can allow its possessors to rule the world. Determined to find it all costs, as his hope of uniting China would no longer be a mere dream, he leaves his homeland again to obtain it. Wan-Fu's status after Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
is unknown.
He is still recruiting for warriors for his army in Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
. In the second chapter, he protects Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
along with his brother, Wan-Ron. Together, they are fine warriors and are loved by the people in the capital. However, demons infiltrate their home and brainwash both brothers to be their slaves. The neglect from their protectors brings famine to the city, and protesting citizens are imprisoned to be eaten by the demons. With the party's help, Wan-Fu breaks free of his mind control and saves his brother and people.
A peculiar trait with Wan-Fu is his ever-changing weaponry with every new game appearance. When he firsts appears, he fights with a dao
Dao (sword)
Daois a category of single-edge Chinese swords primarily used for slashing and chopping , often called a broadsword in English translation because some varieties have wide blades. In China, the dao is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the gun , qiang , and the jian , and referred...
, or a Chinese great sword, which later becomes his weapon again in Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
, known as Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny or Samurai Spirits: Flash in Japan, is the fourth 3D game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games and the eleventh overall title in the series. It is the first game in the series to be rated Mature...
. His next appearance in Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
changes his weapon of choice to a stone pillar that is apparently ripped off from a temple. Finally, his weapon changes again to a chúi
Chúi
Chúi is a Chinese mêlée weapon that consists of a large, solid metal sphere on the end of a medium-long handle.This weapon was traditionally used with brute force, as the strength needed to heft such weapons was considerable. As a result, this weapon is not often practiced by kung fu enthusiasts,...
, or a metallic mace, in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
Wan-Fu appears playable again in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
. His role in Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
is a minor guest member and his actions are controlled by the computer.
Jubei Yagyu
is a recurring character who was introduced in the first Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
. He was dropped from the series after Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
but, like Tam Tam and Charlotte, returns to the series in Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
. He did; however, appeared as an exclusive unlockable final boss alongside Zankuro Minazuki in the Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
port of Nettou Samurai Spirits: Zankuro Musouken (a handheld port of Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
) which was released only in Japan. He is another interpretation of the often romanticized samurai, Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi is one of the most famous and romanticized of the samurai in Japan's feudal era.Very little is known about the actual life of Yagyū Mitsuyoshi as the official records of his life are very sparse. Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi grew up in his family's ancestral lands, Yagyū no Sato,...
. Like other mythical incarnations, he is the one-eyed master of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū
Yagyu Shinkage-ryu
is one of the oldest Japanese schools of swordsmanship . Its primary founder was Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, who called the school Shinkage-ryū. In 1565, Nobutsuna bequeathed the school to his greatest student, Yagyū Munetoshi, who added his own name to the school. Today, the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū remains...
and friends with Hanzo. Before Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage (PlayStation) debut, he was the only true samurai in the series.
In Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, he teaches swordsmanship to the Tokugawa clan
Tokugawa clan
The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...
, with Yoshitora as his last disciple. He goes to retrieve the delinquent heir after Yoshitora's father (implied to be Tokugawa Ieharu
Tokugawa Ieharu
Tokugawa Ieharu Tokugawa Ieharu Tokugawa Ieharu (徳川家治 (June 20, 1737 – September 17, 1786) was the tenth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, who held office from 1760 to 1786.Ieharu was the eldest son of Tokugawa Ieshige, the ninth shogun.-Events of the Ieharu's bakufu:...
) passes away. He decides to become a ronin
Ronin
A or rounin was a Bushi with no lord or master during the feudal period of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege....
by the time Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
takes place, abandoning the strict and regulated life of the dojo and Japanese nobility, to pursue personal enlightenment. Throughout the series, Jubei is hired by the shogunate to kill the demons that wander Japan.
His role in Samurai Shodown RPG doubles as a sensei to his own dojo and an agent to the bakufu
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
. He asks the party to further his investigation for him since he has to teach the lord's sons swordsmanship. In the second chapter, he suffers a mortal blow from one of Mizuki's minions, Agon, and his spirit gets sucked into one of the Evil Bells.
He fights with twin katana with slow, powerful strikes. Early in the series, he became well known by players for his armed parrying move, a command that could counter certain strikes from his foes if timed correctly. He has three other special commands that follow him in later appearances: – a rushing uppercut, – a ground projectile, and – a multi-hitting slash technique. In Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, known as in Japan, is the fourth in SNK's flagship Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. Chronologically, is the second and final chapter of an interquel between Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown III being the first...
, his Slash form retains most of his old moveset. His Bust form's moveset, however, centers around parrying his opponents' attacks and breaking their guard. Due to the down-to-earth principles in most of his attacks, Jubei is best used by players who can easily predict their challenger's attacks. The food he eats during his winposes and taunts in Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
is dango
Dango
is a Japanese dumpling made from mochiko , related to mochi. It is often served with green tea.Dango are eaten year-round, but the different varieties are traditionally eaten in given seasons...
(a kind of Japanese dumpling).
Jubei is also playable in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
, and Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny
, known as Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny or Samurai Spirits: Flash in Japan, is the fourth 3D game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games and the eleventh overall title in the series. It is the first game in the series to be rated Mature...
. According to a Gamest Mook (a Japanese mook
Mook
Mook may refer to:* Mook * Mook en Middelaar, a municipality in the Netherlands* MOOK DLE, a Japanese animation studio* "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer", an episode of The Simpsons cartoon TV series...
created separate from its main publication), he was planned to appear in Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64
Samurai Shodown 64, known simply as in Japan, is a 3D fighting game produced by SNK for its Hyper Neo-Geo 64 system. It was SNK's first attempt to bring one of their franchises into the 3D realm...
but was taken out due to time constraints.
Kusaregedo Youkai
, also sometimes called "Gedo Kusaregedo", appears for the first time in Samurai Shodown VSamurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
. His given name literally means "rotten bastard". During his concept stages, the creators wanted to add a "giant bald character" who was a "yōkai
Yōkai
are a class of supernatural monsters in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "otherworldly" and "weird". Yōkai range eclectically from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them...
" to replace the character Earthquake. Creators wanted his character to make the line "Itadakimasu" very memorable. In the end, the design they created was "a mix of Genan and Earthquake".
Kusaregedo was once a very kind man, but is transformed after his death into a gaki because of his habit of cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
. In his present demonic form, he is cursed with an insatiable appetite. One day, he smells a young girl (Rimururu) not too far away and he quickly gives chase. He fails to capture and devour her, and instead finds a girl named, Hakana, his daughter. She pleads for him to stop and to come back home. He instead devours her.
As his character is a cannibal, a great deal of his attacks center on eating his opponent. His final attack, which was censored for international release, has him completely devouring his opponent whole save for their skull or hair. His weapon of choice is an exposed bone on his arm (presumably the ulna
Ulna
The ulna is one of the two long bones in the forearm, the other being the radius. It is prismatic in form and runs parallel to the radius, which is shorter and smaller. In anatomical position The ulna is one of the two long bones in the forearm, the other being the radius. It is prismatic in form...
or radius
Radius (bone)
The radius is one of the two large bones of the forearm, the other being the ulna. It extends from the lateral side of the elbow to the thumb side of the wrist and runs parallel to the ulna, which exceeds it in length and size. It is a long bone, prism-shaped and slightly curved longitudinally...
) sharpened approximately at the wrist to form a spike. Kusaregedo's sprite also uses a hefty amount of space to fit on the screen (similar to other characters like Earthquake and the upright Tam Tam), weighing down his speed and jumps, as well as making him an easy target if his attacks miss.
Kusaregedo returns as a playable character in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
Sankuro Yorozu
is a character who appears in Samurai Shodown VSamurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
. He was originally designed to be a devilish "no-good person" and is thought by the creators to fit the image.
He is an ambitious leader to a trio of minions named Gosichi, Fuyo, and Ippachi. Wanting to become the lord of Hinowa without much effort, he hires Genjuro to dispatch Gaoh. Upon Gaoh's defeat, he offers Genjuro another job which is promptly refused. After Sankuro bribes with him information about his parents and membership to his gang, Genjuro attempts to kill his employer. Sankuro is saved by his gang and, apparently uninterested with killing women, Genjuro demands that he leave. Sankuro, however, chooses to shoot Genjuro's back and brags about his new title. Genjuro slashes him while he is distracted, leading to a hasty retreat.
Like Yumeji and Rasetsumaru, Sankuro borrows several poses and animations from another character. In this case, the lower half of his body and some of his attacks are nearly identical to Genjuro's sprite. He fights swinging a huge mallet and has the ability to call members of his gang to help him. While his gang distracts his opponent, he may also eat food to heal himself. He later gains accessibility to a revolver and bombs in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
He makes a playable appearance in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
Animals
Several of the characters on the SNKSNK
SNK is a former name of SNK Playmore, a Japanese video game company . This may also refer to:* SNK European Democrats* SNK Union of Independents* Southeast Airlines ICAO code...
series of Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
fighting games are aided by animals or friends during gameplay. These animals can be used for attacking purposes, or sometimes other uses, such as improving character's jumps and defense. Poppy becomes playable in Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
; several others become playable in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
Chample
, sometimes called "Ceaser", is the lone friend and companion of Mina Majikina in Samurai Shodown VSamurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
. It is voiced by Hitomi Nabatame
Hitomi Nabatame
is a Japanese voice actress. She is affiliated with Ken Production. When voicing adult games, she is known as , , , or . She also sings opening themes for Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu under the name Miran Himemiya and Chocolate Rockers.-Anime:...
in Samurai Shodown V and by Rie Kugimiya
Rie Kugimiya
is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with I'm Enterprise.Kugimiya's most famous roles include Alphonse Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Happy in Fairy Tail, Kagura in Gintama, Nagi Sanzenin in Hayate no Gotoku!, Shana in Shakugan no Shana, Louise in Zero no Tsukaima, Taiga Aisaka in Toradora!, and...
in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
.
When Mina's village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
is destroyed, Mina senses a problem emanating from the land of Helios, or Hinowa. She believes that Gaoh Kyogoku Hinowanokami is responsible, so she sets off with Chample to defeat him. It turns out, however, that Chample is the demon
Shisa
Shisa is a traditional Ryukyuan decoration, often in pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog, from Okinawan mythology. People place pairs of shisa on their rooftops or flanking the gates to their houses. Shisa are wards, believed to protect from some evils...
that destroyed her village. He goes on a rampage and Mina is forced to kill him. It's implied that after killing him, she commits suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
Unlike other animal companions, Chample is used less for attacking purposes and mostly remains as a mascot character, participating in battle through background animations and noises. Several moves do include him though, like 'Good night Chample' in which Mina puts him to sleep, stopping his movement and sounds. Because he seldom helps Mina in her fights, he has been called "annoyingly cute" by critics.
Haon
is Mizuki's demon pet who was introduced in Samurai Shodown IISamurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
and remains the only animal to assist a boss character in the series. He is officially unnamed but in Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG
Samurai Shodown RPG, known as in Japan, is a console role-playing game for the SNK's Neo Geo CD system, and was also ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. It was never released outside of Japan....
he was named Haon.
In the game he premiered, Haon is by Mizuki's side. Like Poppy, he can be commanded by the player to bash into and maul opponents. However, he can also fire an electric ball that can turn foes into animals -the most common result being a pig- rendering the player's opponents unable to input special commands and defenseless against Mizuki for one attack before reverting to normal (alternatively, transformed opponents can also wait a few seconds before the effects wear off). Appearance-wise, he is an alternative color palette of Poppy when he is idle, but morphs into a giant demonic creature when he is commanded, making him able to catch most opponents who try to jump over his attacks. Though instances are rare, he can be injured and his attacks can be interrupted. Players must also keep an eye on which direction he is facing whilst commanded, as he may attack in the opposite direction of their opponent. In Samurai Shodown V Special
Samurai Shodown V Special
Samurai Shodown V Special, known as in Japan, is the ninth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. This game is an upgraded version of the game titled Samurai Shodown V, and is the last official game for the Neo Geo platform...
, he is summoned in his demonic form by Mizuki via teleportation and is not visible by the player until then.
Mamahaha
is Nakoruru's hawk who hovers above Nakoruru during play. He was introduced in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
and acts as her animal companion in her Slash form in Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
.
Mamahaha can be used by the player to attack opponents in a diagonal aerial attack. When used effectively, he acts as Nakoruru's projectile and anti-air defense. The player may also command Nakoruru to use him as a mount for a limited time. Whilst she is in the air, players can command the pair to hover higher, drop, or use Nakoruru to attack foes. She may do so normally from Mamahaha's height or players may choose to drop her in a swirl attacking motion or use a diagonal nosedive attack. This allows players to confuse opponents on the proper direction needed to block, leading the way for an open hit.
Paku Paku
is Cham Cham's chimpanzee companion introduced in Samurai Shodown IISamurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
. Cham Cham mistakes Tam Tam's form for him when she leaves her home. In Samurai Shodown II, he was voiced by Chiba Reiko's manager at the time.
Although he cannot perform normal attacks, Paku Paku essentially fights as a miniaturized Tam Tam in Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI
Samurai Shodown VI, known as in Japan, is the tenth iteration in the Samurai Shodown series.- Gameplay :The game features new backgrounds with 2D and 3D elements, as well as a returning cast of all 28 characters from Samurai Shodown V Special, 2 sub-boss from "Samurai Shodown V", as well as all 7...
. He acts as a defensive mechanism for Cham Cham. He can be commanded to a variety of long-distance projectiles, including skulls, anti-air fireballs, and himself through a spinning-split kick attack.
Poppy
is Galford's husky companion introduced in Samurai ShodownSamurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown, known as in Japan, is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK for their Neo Geo arcade and home platform. In contrast to other fighting games at the time which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan ...
who acts as an exclusive helper to Galford's Slash form in Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
. During the course of the series she gives birth to at least three other puppies: Pahpa, Pippy, and Pippa. In Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
, players can play as her by inputing a special command on the character selection screen. In her ending, she sacrifices herself to save Galford. In honor of her memory, Galford renames one of her puppies in her name.
With a special input, the player can order her to headbutt, bite, or drop from above on their opponents. She may also piledrive her foes during Galford's desperation move -which relies entirely on her- in Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown II
, is the second game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of versus fighting games. This game has been released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on August 8, 2008 and in North America on August 25, 2008 at a cost of 900 Wii Points...
. In Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
, Galford's Slash form relies on Poppy for a vast majority of his special moves. She retains her attacks from before but can also be kicked as a projectile and replicate Galford's movements in his desperation move. When utilized strategically, she can distract opponents whilst the player moves Galford into a more favorable position or act as a counter against most projectiles. However, she is not invulnerable to attacks as opponents can strike her down to defuse her advances, leaving her unusable by the player until she recovers. Players also have to be aware of which direction she is facing when summoned as she may charge in a direction opposite than intended.
Shikuru
is Nakoruru's wolf who is first introduced in Samurai Shodown IIISamurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
as her animal helper for her Bust form. He later becomes Rera's companion upon her arrival in Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V
Samurai Shodown V, known as in Japan, is the eighth game in SNK's Samurai Shodown/Samurai Spirits series of fighting games. It was one of the last ever games to be released on the Neo Geo. The original Japanese version of the game also has a great deal of dialogue in single-player mode, but all...
.
Unlike other pets, Shikuru serves primarily as Nakoruru/Rera's battle mount. Shikuru is a necessity for several of his master's special moves, as having her travel on him is a great emphasis to mastering her form of gameplay. Whilst Nakoruru/Rera mounts him, the player can run faster and jump longer distances -at the sacrifice of a lower height. If their opponents attempt to attack, the player can quickly counter with Shikuru's rush attack, which may also launch Nakoruru/Rera after the blow for increased damage. Players may be handicapped, however, due to the heavy reliance put on mounting Shikuru. For instance, Nakoruru/Rera cannot mount him if he is too far away from her and when she is in the process of mounting him, she remains temporarily vulnerable to any attack.
Reception and Legacy
Characters introduced from the first two games received generally positive reviews from critics. A handful of professionals in the gaming industry are fans to the games' balanced cast, such as Denis Dyack from Silicon Knights. Several professional manga artists were also fans to the series' characters and once created doujinshi for the series, like TrigunTrigun
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yasuhiro Nightow, published from 1996 to 2008 and spanning 17 collected volumes....
creator Yasuhiro Nightow
Yasuhiro Nightow
is a Japanese manga artist and game creator who created the anime and manga Trigun. Nightow was born on April 8, 1967 in Yokohama, Japan. He moved to Yokosuka when he was in elementary school, and spent the junior high and high school years in Shizuoka....
and Toshinden
Battle Arena Toshinden
is a weapons-based fighting game for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and PC in 1994. It was one of the first fighting games to boast polygonal characters in a 3D environment, and it is credited for taking the genre into "true 3-D" due to its introduction of the sidestep maneuver.It was an early killer...
character designer and illustrator Tsukasa Kotobuki
Tsukasa Kotobuki
is a Japanese character designer for various games and anime series such as Saber Marionette J, VS Knight Lamune & 40 Fire, Cyber Team in Akihabara and Battle Arena Toshinden. He also did the art for Sword of the Dark Ones.-External links:* with a Tsukasa Kotobuki...
. Other known fans, such as Aoi Nanase and Nobuhiro Watsuki
Nobuhiro Watsuki
is a Japanese manga artist, best known for his samurai-themed series Rurouni Kenshin. He once worked as an assistant for his favorite author Takeshi Obata.-Biography:...
, were eventually hired to create character designs for later entries in the series' franchise.
References to certain characters have also continued to appear as easter eggs in MMOG
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
such as World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
and Guild Wars: Eye of the North
Guild Wars: Eye of the North
Guild Wars: Eye of the North is an expansion pack to the Action RPG Guild Wars made by the Seattle-based ArenaNet studio, a subsidiary of NCSoft. It was released worldwide on August 31, 2007. Unlike other games in the Guild Wars sequence, Eye of the North requires players to own one of the earlier...
.