About two years after the release of the now old gen version, the version debuts on the market Xbox Series S / X Samurai Shodown, last chapter of the branded saga SNK.
The new version of the fighting game has been designed to make the most of the potential and functionality of the new Microsoft console, especially on a technical and aesthetic level.
We let ourselves be carried away by the typical emotions dictated by the Japanese inspiration, enriched by an important audiovisual sector. The latter tries to exploit in the best way those that are the peculiarities of the new hardware. Frame rate doubled, high definition textures and so on are the most important new features of a title. Certainly this is not a flagship but it is still important for Microsoft's luggage.
And for the rest? How did it go? Let's find out together in our full review.
Version tested: Xbox Series X
Samurai Shodown: rich imagery and many game modes
Set in spectacular - as deadly - XNUMXth century Japan, Samurai Shodown follows a narrative level in the canonical complex. A handful of warriors are called to face a mysterious threat, narrated through the classic mode Story. In this mode, Samurai Shodown allows players to experience the story from the point of view of all the characters. This brings with it a series of consequences also in terms of gameplay.
For the rest, the game still offers many possibilities in terms of approaches and modes. In addition to the inevitable single matches, Samurai Shodown puts in the hands of the players a number of activities to be carried out certainly very convincing. History certainly stands out above all, which we have already mentioned previously.
This mode is designed for purists of the genre and for those most fond of the general culture of a videogame past clearly different from what we are used to now. The single player sector is then expanded with the Dojo and Training modes. They allow you to refine and shore up your skills before jumping into the fray.
The Dojo mode, in particular, is very interesting. In fact, it allows players to indirectly compete against people from all over the world, comparing their stats and skills online using a classic Ghost system.
Finally, the gaming experience is enriched with the now inevitable Online sector. Thanks to a very solid netcode, which gives the gaming experience an impressive stability, players can try their hand at the most disparate challenges. These allow you to face your friends, collaborate with them in team matches or challenge opponents from all corners of the planet. While not revolutionary, the competitive side of Samurai Shodown quickly becomes one of the strengths of the entire production, even considering the origins of the series and its evolution over the years.
Controls and responsiveness
One of the most important aspects of a title, especially when it comes to such a product, is related to responsiveness of commands.
Often and willingly, in fact, many fighting games end up (erroneously) branded as the party of "button-mashing", more or less evident depending on the title of reference. And a game like Samurai Shodown cannot escape this unquestionable truth. Also due to a more "soft" gameplay but more "tactical", designed not to force the player to memorize tides of combos, the game focuses more attention on the speed of action and on the speed in pressing the controls. Needless to say, thanks to the possibilities of the Xbox Series X, this takes on an even more important value, thanks to the greater capabilities of the new Microsoft flagship.
The greater computing power of the console allows you to enjoy in an even more heartfelt way a combat system so tied to the dogmas of the genre but more "current", less heavy and lighter. The great reactivity of the controls has led us to the staging of numerous spectacular and if you want unique offensive actions. This was also possible thanks to a particular and never banal combat system.
Net of a high speed of action and a sensation of fluidity never seen before, the game retains its "tactical", strategic nature. All this thanks also to the presence of a varied cast and that makes every fight always different.
And, of course, it is precisely for these reasons that on the new Microsoft flagship the game is even more impressive from a playful point of view, both against the CPU and and above all online, against "human" opponents and above all against the barrier erected by the most formidable. of opponents: the connection.
Technique and graphics
From a technical point of view, it is clear how excellent the work done by the development team is. Thanks to the power of the Unreal Engine, the title can run comfortably with a resolution in Stable and accurate 4K, enriched by a very stable granite frame-rate on the 120fps.
This function, however, is clearly designed for owners of a support able to take advantage of this boost, the prerogative of those who can count on a TV capable of supporting HDMI 2.1. For the rest, however, even with a “normal” frame-rate with the target sui 60fps, the technical improvements are however evident. To enjoy the changes mainly is certainly the general fluidity. It is certainly pushed to different levels thanks to the new console from Microsoft, certainly more adequate to push a title like this to different heights.
The creation of the new textures is also excellent, perfectly polished and able to give the reboot of the saga a current and never out of context look. This detail (fortunately, of course) can be noticed mainly once you "take the field", for several reasons. The menus, the text boxes and in general these details have been less cared for, remaining more linked to a more ancient nature if we want.
The sound level is good, with a good number of soundtracks accompanying the clashes. The localization of the game is also very good, entirely available (except for the voices) in Spanish.
Final comment
The Xbox Series X version of Samurai Shodown convinced us in practically all respects. Thanks to the greater potential of the new console from Microsoft, the title is even more fluid, beautiful to see and fun to play. However, it keeps its unique style perfectly intact. The greater responsiveness of the controls, combined with unprecedented graphic cleanliness (4K and 60fps or 1080p and 120fps), are two of the most important aspects of the new version, which clearly pushes the gaming experience to a very different level. For all these reasons, we would like to reward the work done with this port. Maybe he could add a little more but overall it is almost unassailable from almost all points of view.
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