Samurai Shodown II / Shin Samurai Spirits - Haohmaru Jigokuhen (NGM-063 ~ NGH-063)

SNK Neo-Geo MVS cart. published 31 years ago:

真 SAMURAI SPIRITS 覇王丸地獄変 (c) 1994 SNK Corporation.
(Shin Samurai Spirits - Haohmaru Jigoku Hen)

Shin Samurai Spirits is a one-on-one fighting game featuring 15 weapon-wielding combatants, fighting to earn the right to face the game's powerful and difficult end boss.

Building upon the success of the first game, SNK added several new characters and more moves. This is particularly evident in the addition of the POW meter, which acts as a super special-move meter. These moves not only cause severe damage to opponents but also break their weapons, forcing them to fight unarmed for a short time before a replacement weapon is issued.

Gameplay was further expanded to include several new movement options, including the ability to roll forwards and backwards, to duck to avoid high attacks, or to do small hops to avoid low strikes. This was also the first game to incorporate an offensive blocking technique, or 'parry'. Via a command issued at the last second, players can deflect an incoming attack and leave their adversary open to counter-attack.

Shin Samurai Spirits featured cameo appearances from other SNK characters, as well as a hidden boss who would occasionally come out to challenge players.

- TECHNICAL -

Runs on the SNK "Neo-Geo MVS" hardware.
Game ID : NGM-063

Players : 2
Control : 8-Way Joystick
Buttons : 4
=> [A] Light Attack with weapon, [B] Medium Attack with weapon, [C] Light Kick, [D] Medium Kick

- TRIVIA -

Shin Samurai Spirits was released in October 1994.

The title of the game translates from Japanese as 'True Samurai Spirits - Haohmaru's Incident In Hell'.

This game is known outside Japan as 'Samurai Shodown II'.

Kafuin Nicotine (Anglicized as 'Caffiene') is based somewhat on the Ninja Scroll character Dakuan who shares outfit and is armed with similar weapons. The 'papers' that Nicotine throws are called 'o-fuda', which are talismans inscribed with a prayer to endow them with certain powers. Japanese occultism and lore at work.

Neinhalt Sieger's name translates from German as 'non-stop victory'.

Genjuro Kibagami is a huge reference to a Japanese hanafuda deck. Hanafuda is a Japanese card game in which all cards represent a certain flower and time of the year. The hanafuda cards can be seen when Genjuro hits his opponent with special moves. Among the cards seen are wistaria, maple and peony. All cards shown are from an actual hanafuda deck.

Ryuhaku Todo (of AOF) appears in Gen-An's ending.

If you wait a long time, Hikyaku will throw food and/or bombs to the screen. Every so often, Kim Kaphwan (of Fatal Fury) will come out instead.

Kuroko's moves are largely borrowed from other characters.

Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Shin Samurai Spirits - PCCB-00164) on 02/11/1994.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Alternate Costumes Colors : Press D instead of A to choose your character.

- SERIES -

1. Samurai Spirits [Model NGM-045] (1993)
2. Shin Samurai Spirits - Haohmaru Jigoku Hen [Model NGM-063] (1994)
3. Samurai Spirits - Zankurou Musouken [Model NGM-087] (1995)
4. Samurai Spirits - Amakusa Kourin [Model NGM-222] (1996)
5. Samurai Spirits 64 (1997)
6. Samurai Spirits 2 - Asura Zanmaden (1998)
7. Kenkaku Ibunroku Yomigaerishi Soukou no Ha - Samurai Spirits Shinshou (1999, PSX)
8. Samurai Spirits Zero [Model NGM-270] (2003)
9. Samurai Spirits Zero Special [Model NGM-272] (2004)
10. Samurai Spirits - Tenkaichi Kenkakuden (2005)
11. Samurai Shodown - Edge of Destiny (2008)

- STAFF -

Producer : Bad Apples
Executive producer : Eikichi Kawasaki
Main planner : K.Y. Hayate
Programmers : Nishidon, Oh!Butch, Abe, Cyber Kondo
Sound : Tate Norio, Yamapy-1
Narration : Kiyoshi Kobayashi
Submissions : Babilu, Ryu!, Rodem.Yam, Kakugo.Koji, Junichi, Koba.B, Yozora
Fixs : Keisen (as Tokimeki Keisen), Cyber Kondo, Y. Nishiguchi, Satomi.S

* Front character :
Haohmaru : V Shintani, Masami Tanaka, Y. Koyasu
Nakoruru : Puutaro Katori, Masami Tanaka, Riding Monkey, Kouji Takaya, Y. Koyasu, E. Ohira, Mamahira
Hanzo Hattori : Makino Sakana, Pon. Yashamaru, Keisen (as Tokimeki Keisen)
Galford : Makino Sakana, Pon. Yashamaru
Poppy : Kuwa.Bee
Wan-Fu : Babilu, Ryu!, Keisen (as K. Tokimeki Keisen), Y. Koyasu, Yuhki.N, Rodem.Yam, Kakugo.Koji
Ukyo Tachibana : Harleydavidson, Sleeping, Wolf, Kouji Takaya, Chu
Kyoshiro Senryo : Harleydavidson, Sleeping, Wolf, Kouji Takaya
Gen-An Shiranui : V Shintani, Masami Tanaka, Y. Koyasu, Yuhki.N, Rodem.Yam, Yozora
Earthquake : Riding Monkey, K., Chu
Yubei Yagyu : Makino Sakana, Pon. Yashamaru, Keisen (as Tokimeki Keisen), Masami Tanaka, Y. Koyasu, Rodem.Yam, Yozora
Charlotte : Kuwa.Bee, Yoshi.M.Kaneko
Genjuro Kibagami : Takachan.O, Masami Tanaka, Harleydavidson, Yoshimitsu, Kouji Takaya, Chu, E. Ohira
Cham Cham : V Shintani, Masami Tanaka, Riding Monkey, Takachan.O, Kouji Takaya, E. Ohira, Y. Nishiguchi, Satomi.S
Paku Paku : Kuwa.Bee
Neinhalt Sieger : Harleydavidson, Sleeping, Wolf, Kouji Takaya, Yoshimitsu, Yuhki.N
Nicotine Caffeine : Makino Sakana, Pon. Yashamaru, Mayu K., Y. Koyasu, Yozora, Koba.B
Rashoujin Mizuki : Kuwa.Bee, Masami Tanaka, riding Monkey, Y. Koyasu
Ambrosia : Riding Monkey, K.
Kuroko : Yoshi.M.Kaneko, Kuwa.Bee, K., Riding Monkey, Y. Koyasu

* Back character :
Haohmaru : Yasupuu, Yuhki.N, Chu, Satomi.S
Nakoruru : N. Azumi, Y. Nishiguchi, Satomi.S
Hanzo Hattori : Yasupuu, K., Mayu K., Y. Nishiguchi
Galford : Mayu K., Chu
Wan-Fu : Okadasan
Ukyo Tachibana : Yasupuu, Yuhki.N, Satomi.S
Kyoshiro Senryo : N. Azumi, Kouji Takaya, Chu, E. Ohira
Gen-An Shiranui : Okadasan, Harleydavidson, Mayu K., Yuhki.N
Earthquake : Okadasan, Yoshimitsu
Yubei Yagyu : N. Azumi
Charlotte : Mayu K., Yuhki.N, Y. Nishiguchi
Genjuro Kibagami : Mayu K.
Cham Cham : Yasupuu, Yoshimitsu, Chu, Y. Nishiguchi
Neinhalt Sieger : Yoshimitsu, Chu
Nicotine Caffeine : Yoshimitsu, Keisen (as Tokimeki Keisen)
Rashoujin Mizuki : Okadasan, E. Ohira
Kuroko : Yuhki.N, Rodem.Yam, Chu

* Planner :
Haohmaru : Tomi Yan
Nakoruru : Tomi Yan
Hanzo Hattori : K.Y. Hayate
Galford : Chu
Wan-Fu : Yukika
Ukyo Tachibana : Bad Apples
Kyoshiro Senryo : Yukika
Gen-An Shiranui : Bad Apples
Earthquake : Yukika
Yubei Yagyu : K.Y. Hayate
Charlotte : Bad Apples
Genjuro Kibagami : Yukika
Cham Cham : Bad Apples
Neinhalt Sieger : K.Y. Hayate
Nicotine Caffeine : Tomi Yan
Rashoujin Mizuki : Kouji Takaya
Kuroko : Yoshimitsu

* Programm :
Haohmaru : Abe
Nakoruru : Oh!Butch
Hanzo Hattori : Abe
Galford : Abe
Wan-Fu : Abe
Ukyo Tachibana : Abe
Kyoshiro Senryo : Abe
Gen-An Shiranui : Oh!Butch
Earthquake : Oh!Butch
Yubei Yagyu : Abe
Charlotte : Abe
Genjuro Kibagami : Oh!Butch
Cham Cham : Abe
Neinhalt Sieger : Oh!Butch
Nicotine Caffeine : Oh!Butch
Rashoujin Mizuki : Oh!Butch, Abe
Kuroko : Oh!Butch

* Voice actors :
Haohmaru : Masaki Usui
Nakoruru : Harumi Ikoma
Hanzo Hattori : Toshimitsu Arai
Galford : Kazuhiro Inage
Wan-Fu : Toshikazu Nishimura
Ukyo Tachibana : Eiji Yano
Kyoshiro Senryo : Monster Maetsuka (as Atsushi Maezuka)
Gen-An Shiranui : Eiji Yano
Earthquake : Masaki Usui
Yubei Yagyu : Kiyoshi Kobayashi
Charlotte : Harumi Ikoma
Genjuro Kibagami : Kong Kuwata
Cham Cham : Reiko Chiba
Paku Paku : Kenji Ikeda
Neinhalt Sieger : Kong Kuwata
Nicotine Caffeine : Monster Maetsuka (as Atsushi Maezuka)
Rashoujin Mizuki : Harumi Ikoma
Kuroko : Toshikazu Nishimura

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo AES (Dec. 02, 1994) "Shin Samurai Spirits - Haohmaru Jigoku Hen [Model NGH-063]"
[US] SNK Neo-Geo AES (Dec. 02, 1994) "Samurai Shodown II [Model NGH-063]"
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo CD (Dec. 15, 1994) "Shin Samurai Spirits - Haohmaru Jigoku Hen [Model NGCD-063]"
[US] SNK Neo-Geo CD (Dec. 15, 1994) "Samurai Shodown II [Model NGCD-063E]"
[JP] Sony PlayStation (Mar. 26, 1998) "Samurai Spirits - Kenkaku Yubinan Pack [Model SLPS-00647]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (jul.24, 2008) "NeoGeo Online Collection Vol.12: Samurai Spirits - Rokuban Shobu [Model SLPS-25839]"
[JP] Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] (jul.23, 2008) "Shin Samurai Spirits - Haohmaru Jigoku Hen [Model EAEJ]"
[JP] Nintendo Wii (jul.24, 2008) "Samurai Spirits - Rokuban Shobu [Model RVL-RSSJ-JPN]"
[EU] Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] (Aug. 07, 2008) "Samurai Shodown II [Model EAEP]"
[US] Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] (Aug. 25, 2008) "Samurai Shodown II [Model EAEE]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (june.18, 2009) "NeoGeo Online Collection The Best: Samurai Spirits - Rokuban Shobu [Model SLPS-25934]"

* HANDHELDS:
[US] SNK Neo-Geo Pocket Color (Apr. 30, 1999) "Samurai Shodown! 2 [Model NEOP00301]"
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo Pocket Color (june.10, 1999) "Samurai Spirits! 2 [Model NEOP00300]"
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo Pocket Color (june.20, 2000) "NGP Best Collection: Samurai Spirits! 2 [Model NEOP00307]"

* COMPUTERS:
[JP] PC [MS Windows 9x] (1996) "Shin Samurai Spirits - Haohmaru Jigoku Hen"
[US] PC [MS Windows 9x] (2000) "Samurai Shodown II"

- CONTRIBUTE -

Edit this entry: https://www.arcade-history.com/?&page=detail&id=2304&o=2