Samurai Shodown: Sen, known as Samurai Spirits: Flash, is the fourth 3D game in SNK’s popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games and the eleventh overall title in the series. Developed by SNK Playmore and published by XSEED Games, Samurai Shodown Sen is the latest installment in this 17 year-old franchise with roots way back in the Neo-Geo. This localized version has been in limbo for two years, and it almost didn’t make it to an American release.
Here are ten reviews from the web:
1, Review From Independent.co.uk
£39.99
Format Xbox 360
Publisher Rising Star Games
The long-standing and critically acclaimed Samurai Shodown sword-fighting series finally makes its way on to current technology, but it’s been a bumpy ride. Gone are the boldly animated characters, replaced by sluggish polygonal fighters, which would have appeared substandard even on last generation consoles. Sen’s gameplay is a departure from previous installments too, swordplay feeling sluggish, unresponsive and devoid of any real skill. It’s difficult to recommend this to anyone except hardcore Sen fans.
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2, Review From GameZone
After hours upon hours of competitive gameplay, Samurai Shodown: Sen didn’t serve enough entertainment value to satisfy my tastes. It’s a shame since the series has long been one of the more popular franchises among hardcore fighting fans.
3, Review From ING.com
For those gamers that already purchased Samurai Shodown Sen or religiously follow the franchise, you will find some enjoyable strategy nestled in the gameplay. Sen, like the other Samurai Shodown games, requires a lot of planning and a tight defensive game. But these entertaining elements do little to alleviate the game’s nearly unbearable stiffness and atrocious visuals. Although the online support works well, I could only find two people to play against — days after Sen hit retail. If this is any indication of the online community, it’s not a good one.
With so many fantastic fighters on current-gen consoles today (both 2D and 3D), there’s really no reason to spend money on Samurai Shodown Sen. I’d honestly prefer playing Samurai Shodown Anthology and reliving the franchise’s glory days.
4, Review From GamePro.com
Despite the improved character roster and so-bad-it’s-funny decapitations, Samurai Showdown Sen has very little to offer you except easy Achievement Points.
PROS: Large character roster, hilariously cliché violence
CONS: Clunky combat, unpolished graphics, unbalanced fighters, weak story mode, uneven online matchmaking
5, Review From EuroGamer
SNK have once again failed to make a genuinely good 3D fighter. Although there’s a glimmer of hope that it could build upon this rough template for a sequel, that time would arguably be better spent coming up with a new 3D fighter, or sorting out either Mark of the Wolves 2 or The Last Blade 3. Right now, the Samurai Shodown series is like a wandering ronin bereft of its former honour; with its sake-sodden stare and rusty katana, it doesn’t stand a chance against the superlative Super Street Fighter IV or BlazBlue: Continuum Shift.
6, GamesRadar
The closest comparison to Samurai Shodown Sen would be Soul Calibur, with a very similar control set up and combos of similar length, demanding similar inputs – and even a character roster that feels rather familiar along- side Namco’s fighter. Here you’ll find a woman who plays a bit like Raphael, or a lass that looks and plays with touches of Talim, and, of course, the usual predictable line-up of fleet-footed all-rounders, meaty brutes and complete oddballs, ticking all the right boxes in all the traditional fighter categories.
7 1up
Shodown Sen is caught between trying to emulate other 3D fighters and attempting to create a true “samurai” game, where you kill your opponent with just a couple powerful strikes — but it fails to deliver an enjoyable game from either perspective. SNK Playmore has developed a game that fails to live up to its superior competition: casual players will have a hard time jumping in and having some quick fun due to the game’s rigid combo system, unforgiving CPU, and lackluster training mode, and the competitive fighting community has expressed no interest in this game at all. I just wish SNK Playmore would revive the series with high-definition, 2D graphics. That doesn’t seem like too much to ask, since it’s the same treatment they’re currently giving the King of Fighters series.
8, Guardian.co.uk
Best played with friends, SNK’s effort delivers a bold, action-heavy experience quite distinct from more mainstream beat-’em-ups. At a time when sober adventure titles still dominate the gaming charts, Samurai Shodown Sen offers a lively, pick-up-and-play alternative.
9 GameInformer.com
Some fans will consider Sen a diamond in the rough, and if you’re playing with friends and can overlook its problems, there’s some decent action to be had. The more I played the game the more it grew on me, but I never shook the feeling that fans deserve a lot better than what Sen has to offer.
10 kokugamer.com
For Samurai Shodown fans and fighting gamers, SS:S a decent playable all-around fighting game. Faithful to its Japanese roots, though it offers nothing to distinguish itself. Approach this title as you would an arcade game: the emphasis is on quick gameplay If you’re a non fighting game player this is not the game that will convert you, but if you’re into the genre it’s worth picking up and playing around with for a while. It’s worth noting that this game ships new for $50 rather than the full $60 you’re used to for most 360 releases. If you shop hard you can already find it for around $40.