Samurai Shodown III / Samurai Spirits - Zankurou Musouken (NGM-087)

SNK Neo-Geo MVS cart. published 30 years ago:

Samurai Spirits - Zankurou Musouken (c) 1995 SNK.

To have no fear, to slice and die! To survive! Continuing the aesthetic tradition and high quality of the very successful series featuring 12 selectable characters to fight Zankuro, a very powerful demon samurai.

- TECHNICAL -

Runs on the SNK "Neo-Geo MVS" hardware.
Game ID : 0087

Main CPU : Motorola 68000 (@ 12 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Zilog Z80 (@ 4 Mhz)
Sound Chips : Yamaha YM2610 (@ 8 Mhz)

Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 4
=> [A] Light attack with weapon, [B] Medium attack with weapon, [C] Strong attack with weapon, [D] Kick

- TRIVIA -

Samurai Spirits - Zankurou Musouken was released in October 1995 in Japan. Literally 'Samurai Spirits - Zankuro's Matchless Sword'.

This game is known outside Japan as 'Samurai Shodown III' and in Korea as "Fighters Swords". The full US name for the game is "Samurai Shodown III - Blades of Blood".

Kafuin Gaira is a Buddhist monk whose weapons are giant 'mala', or Buddhist prayer beads. When Gaira wins the first round of a match, he throws a few punches and says 'Tenchu!', which means 'retribution!'. Gaira says a traditional Buddhist prayer for his fallen opponent when he wins the final round of the match. 'Namu amida butsu', Gaira's prayer, is basically 'go to heaven' or 'rest in peace'.

Shizumaru Hisame is a homage to Himura Kenshin (a character from the manga 'Rurouni Kenshin').

Zankuro Minazuki is a homage to Raijyuta Isurugi (another character from 'Rurouni Kenshin').

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Play as Zankuro : This tip only works in 2-Player mode. Select Haohmaru, hold START and then go to the following characters : Genjuro, Basara, Kyoshiro, Ukyo, Rimururu, Haohmaru, Shizumaru, Nakoruru, Hanzo, Amakusa, Gaira, Galford and Shizumaru. Wait until the timer reach 03 and then press A and B.

- 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 -

Executive producer : Eikichi Kawasaki
Programmers : Abe Jaron, Oh!Butch, Magic2papa
Back team : N. Azumi, Mayu K., Yoshimitsu, Yoshi-Ko, Chu, Guchi, Etsuko, Satoni, Has
Special effects by 'POW team'.

* Voice Actors :
Haohmaru : Masaki Usui
Nakoruru : Harumi Ikoma
Rimururu : Tomo Sakurai
Hanzo Hattori : Toshimitsu Arai
Galford : Kazuhiro Inage (Key Inage)
Kyoshiro Senryou : Monster Maetsuka
Ukyo Tachibana, Tokisada Shirou Amakusa : Eiji Yano
Genjuro Kibagami : Kong Kuwata
Basara Kubikiri : Masahiro Nonaka
Shizumaru Hisame : Miho Kaneda
Gaira Kafuin : Kouji Suizu
Zankuro Minazuki : Hiroyuki Arita

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo AES (Dec. 01, 1995) "Samurai Spirits - Zankurou Musouken [Model NGH-087]"
[US] SNK Neo-Geo AES (Dec. 01, 1995) "Samurai Shodown III [Model NGH-087]"
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo CD (Dec. 29, 1995) "Samurai Spirits - Zankurou Musouken [Model NGCD-087]"
[US] SNK Neo-Geo CD (Dec. 29, 1995) "Samurai Shodown III [Model NGCD-087E]"
[JP] Nintendo Game Boy (Aug. 23, 1996) "Nettou Samurai Spirits - Zankuro Musouken [Model DMG-ASZJ-JPN]"
[JP] Sony PlayStation (Aug. 30, 1996) "Samurai Spirits - Zankurou Musouken [Model SLPS-00350]"
[JP] Sega Saturn (Nov. 08, 1996) "Samurai Spirits - Zankuro Musouken [Model T-3104G]"
[JP] Sega Saturn (Nov. 08, 1996) "Samurai Spirits - Zankuro Musouken [Model T-3106G]"
[JP] Sony PlayStation (Mar. 20, 1997) "Samurai Spirits - Zankurou Musouken [The Best] [Model SLPS-91024]"
[JP] Sega Saturn (Aug. 06, 1998) "Samurai Spirits Best Collection [Model T-3123G]"
[JP] Sony PlayStation (Apr. 24, 2003) "Samurai Spirits - Zankurou Musouken [PSone Book] [Model SLPS-91514]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (jul.24, 2008) "Samurai Spirits - Rokuban Shobu [NeoGeo Online Collection Vol.12] [Model SLPS-25839]"
[JP] Nintendo Wii (jul.24, 2008) "Samurai Spirits - Rokuban Shobu [Model RVL-RSSJ-JPN]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (june.18, 2009) "Samurai Spirits - Rokuban Shobu [NeoGeo Online Collection The Best] [Model SLPS-25934]"

- CONTRIBUTE -

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