General: The groundbreaking Samurai Shodown series has always been what you'd call a "sleeper" hit... It's not usually found in the headlines, but people who can actually say they play it, are most likely fans for life... Samurai Shodown 5 boasts the highest number of warriors ever in the series, but unfortunately, the game seems to have lost it's overall "feel." The game, instead of being traditional, semi-serious swordplay, has been brought into the ultra-fantasy realm, as some of the characters aren't even near "samurai-ish."... And in my eyes, some of the new characters pollute the roots of the series.
   It still plays very similar to Samurai Shodown 3 and 4. Which isn't a bad thing, but does it earn the right to be called Samurai Shodown 5 for only a few new characters and backgrounds? (This is starting to feel like KOF, or dare I say it the old Street Fighter 2 days, in terms of not changing much)... It's more of the same, and in some cases feels quite rushed as well. The presentation certainly can't match up to that of the earlier incarnations, such as the epic Samurai Shodown 2.
   The American version has no story and no intermissions, which definitely diminishes the spirits of long time fans (and doesn't explain Haohmaru's evil twin, Rasetsumaru). Some of the new characters are well designed, but a few of them just don't belong, like the big (and quite disturbing) pot-bellied demon, Kusaregedou... You F*ing crazy designers! Yikes!!! There are also too many different "versions" of characters playable, and it's starting to get ridiculous. It's starting to feel like "this clone VS that clone"... There are basically 2 Nakorurus, 2 Haohmarus, 2 Kazukis, 2 Sogetsus, (And 2 Ukyos and 2 Genjuros if you count the sub-boss sprite edits)... Damn lazy Capcom designers, you influenced the SNK designers to become lazy!
   Anyways, SS5 is still fun to play in a sense. It "somewhat" takes the place of Samurai Shodown 3 and 4, for those of us who still play those games. Although many of us miss the "Slash" and "Bust" option featured in SS4 (having two versions / move-sets for each character), a good feature, which was taken out for space I suppose... But the worst thing is, "Deaths" were taken out of the game completely. The stylish ending of a bloody duel that the Samurai Shodown series was known for, was taken out. Unforgivable... SNK seldom dissapoints me, but they did this time.
  Graphically though, SS5 looks alright. The backgrounds are nicely done for sure (just scroll down to see some of them), and the characters animate well for the most part (except for fat, stupid Kusaregedou). One of the best things about this game is probably the soundtrack, which is awesome.
Manufacturer: SNK Playmore
Platforms: Neo Geo, Playstation 2
Year: 2004
Characters: Haohmaru, Ukyo, Hanzo, Nakoruru, Genjuro, Kyoshiro, Shizumaru, Gaira, Rimururu, Basara, Sogetsu, Kazuki, Tam Tam, Charlotte, Galford, Jubei, Rera, Rasetsumaru, Suija, Enja, Yoshitora Tokugawa, Kusaregedo, Mina Majikina, Yumeji, Sankuro, Yunfei, Gaoh
Comment: I liked 4 better. Still a pretty good game, but lacking a few things from prequels.
Rating: 6.5