Haohmaru
A wandering swordsman who seeks strong opponents and serves as the game's central hero.
How it plays
Players choose a warrior and fight through a sequence of one-on-one matches. Each round is won by defeating the opponent through damage or the timer result, and many attacks can cause dramatic knockdowns or weapon clashes.
The game uses horizontal movement, jumps, crouching, throws, kicks, and weapon attacks with different strengths. A single-player route leads to a final boss, while versus mode allows two players to compete. Positioning and measured attacks are more important than constant button pressing.
Plan your run
Learn the reach and recovery of each weapon attack before relying on it. Stay just outside the opponent's range, then punish missed heavy attacks with a fast strike or throw.
Avoid trading blows carelessly. Watch the weapon gauge and use jumps, crouching attacks, and defensive movement to control space. In single-player mode, observe each opponent's repeated habits rather than attempting long, risky attack strings.
Meet the cast
A wandering swordsman who seeks strong opponents and serves as the game's central hero.
A young Ainu warrior who fights to protect nature.
Haohmaru's ruthless rival and a skilled swordsman.
A quickdraw swordsman known for precise attacks.
An American ninja who fights alongside his dog, Poppy.
A veteran ninja using speed, projectiles, and ninjutsu.
A disciplined two-sword master.
A flamboyant kabuki performer who wields a spear.
A French noblewoman who fights with a slender sword.
A huge, heavily armed bandit with surprising reach.
A warrior from Green Hell who uses a large sword and mask.
A Chinese general carrying an oversized weapon.
The supernatural final boss who threatens the world with dark power.
Before you begin
Prioritize spacing: weapon attacks can decide a round in only a few successful hits.
Use versus mode to practice distance, timing, and character matchups.
Do not assume that a heavy attack is always better; faster attacks are often safer after a miss.
Samurai Shodown is a weapon-based 2D fighting game developed by SNK and adapted for the Super Nintendo by Takara. Set in a stylized version of eighteenth-century Japan, it follows warriors who battle with swords, polearms, claws, and other weapons. Unlike many contemporary fighters, it emphasizes spacing, timing, powerful strikes, and the danger of losing a weapon exchange rather than extended combo strings. The SNES version reproduces the arcade game's roster and single-player structure with reduced audiovisual detail and some technical compromises. It was generally regarded as an ambitious home conversion, especially for its faithful combat concept, although the smaller presentation and slower performance were noted by reviewers.
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