Samurai
Shodown 64: Warriors Rage
STORY:
In an unknown land an eerie disturbance disrupts the sky, leading a dark mass to
the land. It is the ultimate evil-it is the reincarnation of Yuga the Destroyer.
The objective of this being who once more alights to earth is the unification of
this world and the Netherworld using the hermaphrodite male and female-that is,
the construction of a utopia to become the foundation for the resurrection of
the Dark God. As he resumes his search for the hermaphrodites, those turned into
puppets by Yuga's magic unleash their carnage to gather the sacrifices necessary
for the ritual of utopian construction.
These puppets then employ various means to increase the dead and
provide sacrifices. Some, for example, become leaders of the Shogunate to carry
out ruthless policies, some became common murderers, and still others
deliberately incite revolt against the government. Through the influence of the
devilish reincarnation, outbreaks of famine and plagues further increase the
dead, providing the evil with yet more strength and delight. The mountain of
dead gathered by these means is subsequently heaped up on the altar of the
Netherworld and fashioned into two pillars in which the hermaphroditic male and
female are to be subsequently imprisoned.
At this time one man returns to the Netherworld. The name of this warrior who
stands directly before these literal pillars of the dead in the darkness is
Asura. Master of magic, he is the dark swordsman appearing in this realm to
wreak his revenge on Yuga. Regardless, his enemy steadily proceeds with the
construction of his utopia. The curtain now rises on this drama of revenge that will engulf both our world
and the land of the dead.
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Doesn't look too bad for a 1998 3D fighter. Nice background!
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ABOUT:
The titles of the 3D Samurai Shodown incarnations of the late 90s can
indeed get confusing! Samurai Spirits 2 64: Asure Zanmaden in
Japan, also known as Samurai Shodown 64: Warrior's Rage overseas,
is the sequel to the first ever 3D
Samurai Shodown for the Hyper
Neo Geo 64, called Samurai Shodown 64.
This game is not to be confused with the PS1 title, Samurai
Shodown: Warrior's Rage.
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Double KO or warm-up dance?
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The sequel to Samurai Shodown 64 offered a slight
but significant improvement over the original 3D fighting game, introducing
interesting new characters to the series. The combo system from the first game was built upon,
offering some pretty cool combo possibilities this time around (see featured
video above).
FUN FACT:
This game is commonly confused with Samurai Shodown: Warrior's
Rage on PS1, since the title is nearly the same. However, Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage is a completely
different game from Samurai
Shodown: Warrior's Rage —
which unlike SS64, did have a worldwide release and was ported to
Sony PlayStation.
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| Page Updated: |
January
8th, 2023 |
| Developer(s): |
SNK |
| Publisher(s): |
SNK |
| Platform(s): |
Arcade (Hyper
Neo Geo 64)
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| Artwork By: |
Senri Kita
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| Release Date(s): |
October 16th, 1998 |
| Characters: |
Shiki,
Asura, Haohmaru,
Genjuro Kibagami,
Ukyo Tachibana,
Galford Weiler,
Hanzo Hattori, Yagyu
Hanma,
Morozumi Taizan, Sogetsu Kazama,
Kazuki Kazama,
Nakoruru,
Rimururu, Gandara,
Yuga
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Featured Video:
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| Related Games: |
Samurai Shodown 64,
Samurai Shodown Warrior's
Rage,
Samurai Shodown (2019), Samurai
Shodown, Samurai Shodown 2, Samurai
Shodown 3, Samurai Shodown 4, Samurai
Shodown 5, Samurai Shodown 5 Special,
Samurai
Shodown 6, Samurai
Shodown Pocket,
Samurai Shodown
2 Pocket, Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny, Samurai
Shodown Anthology,
TEKKEN 3,
Soul Blade, SNK
VS Capcom Chaos, Neo Geo Battle
Coliseum
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Gameplay Engine
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Story / Theme
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Overall Graphics
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Animation
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Music / Sound Effects
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Innovation
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Art Direction
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Customization
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Options / Extras
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Intro / Presentation
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Replayability / Fun
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"Ouch" Factor
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Characters
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BOTTOM LINE
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| Final
Words: |
Like most Samurai Shodown fans on planet
Earth... I haven't had the opportunity to play this rare 3D incarnation of the series (which is a shame, since I've always loved the series). While
this title has obvious flaws for a 3D fighting game released in 1998, I think a few of
the character designs from "SS64 2" are pretty great... and it seems like this title could've been halfway decent
(or at least entertaining) 3D fighter for most fans around the world in 1998. Too bad it didn't get any kind of proper release outside of
Asia!
That said, Samurai Shodown 64 2 is indeed one of SNK's most obscure and
mostly unknown fighting games ever released. Most fighting game fans in the late
90s / early 2000s probably had no idea this game existed... and likely confused this title with the PlayStation
game of a very similar name:
Samurai Shodown: Warrior's Rage.
Shiki, one of Samurai Shodown 64's most prominent new characters, would
later appear in SNK Vs. Capcom Chaos, Neo Geo Battle
Coliseum and Samurai
Shodown (2019). Besides Shiki, no other characters from the Samurai
Shodown 64 series have appeared in another Samurai Shodown title or
crossover fighting game. However, SNK has featured several of Samurai Shodown
64's unique characters in SNK's spin-off card fighting game for the NeoGeo
Pocket, Card Fighters Clash.
Thanks to YouTube and emulation, we can at least watch some gameplay of Samurai
Shodown 64 2 from those who have access to the game. I really hope to try out
the Samurai Shodown 64 series someday and maybe even review this game
eventually!
~TFG
Webmaster | @Fighters_Gen
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