Long before Soul Calibur brought weapons-based fighting to mainstream audiences, there was another fighting franchised that carved a legend for itself among fighting game devotees: Samurai Shodown!

In just a few short week, SNK will be reviving the legend with a new prequel for the series on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC (and later this year on Nintendo Switch); reintroducing the series to a new generation of fighting game fans.

As part of this week’s bonanza that is E3 2019, SNK has released a new video detailing some of the finer points that players can expect in Samurai Showdown.

The key point that is stressed in the video (and that I can affirm after watching some early, tournament-level play during the Combo Breaker fighting game championships in May) is that a single hit can make all the difference in a fight. Samurai Shodown’s gameplay is much more geared towards timing, player positioning, and precision, rather than gaudy, combo-centric gameplay that currently permeates the genre.

Adding to this layer of complexity is the “rage gauge”, a special meter that fills as a character takes damage. Once the meter is filled, the attacks of that player will do extra damage; however, at any point in the match, a player can sacrifice their rage gauge to enable their “lighting blade” ability. This devastating attack can do massive damage; often ending a bout with a single strike.

Another unique feature being introduced in Samurai Shodown is found in its off-line modes. Whenever a player is playing in a single-player mode, whether it’s training in the dojo, or slicing their way through the story mode, the game’s A.I. is learning from your behavior. This allows the game to create a “ghost” A.I. profile that is an amalgamation of your play-style. This will help players more readily identify potential holes and learning opportunities, which can in-turn help strengthen a player for online competition.

“Embrace death” is the mantra inspiring players to journey through this resurrected retelling of Samurai Shodown; however, early indications are that there will be much more inviting things than “death” for players to embrace when the game releases on June 25th, 2019. As an added bonus, players who reserve and purchase the game, either through official digital storefronts like PlayStation Network, or through any physical retailer, will receive the first Season Pass for the game, absolutely free!

Are you ready to sharpen your skills and embrace death with Samurai Shodown? Or is a passive, cowardly life more appealing? Let us know in the comments section below.

Written by The Watchman

The Watchman is a journeyman gamer who has seen and played a good chunk of gaming history.
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