Final week, SNK launched its 2019-released reboot of the Samurai Shodown collection on iOS and Android by way of Netflix Video games. Samurai Shodown (Free) is a recreation I’ve loved by way of its releases on PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X, and Steam fairly a bit. I did purchase it on Nintendo Change, however don’t actually play that model a lot due to its tech points. The preventing recreation was the primary one within the collection I spent a variety of time with, and I’m glad I did. I like the concentrate on weapons, duels, excessive threat gameplay, and extra it brings to the desk. Samurai Shodown additionally excels in its aesthetic and sound design. I used to be clearly excited to see how the cell conversion was. In my Samurai Shodown (2019) cell evaluation, I’m going to cowl the sport itself, the way it compares to different platforms, and what must be fastened for it to be value taking part in.
When you’ve not performed Samurai Shodown, it performs fairly in a different way in comparison with mainstream preventing video games. Having seen the collection historical past by way of the Samurai Shodown NeoGeo Assortment, I’m glad this Samurai Shodown reboot caught to its weapons and didn’t attempt to change issues as much as lose its personal character. The weapons, footsies, distinctive characters, placing aesthetic, and extra come collectively brilliantly, however this Samurai Shodown recreation has at all times been missing in its on-line and story mode. The core gameplay is nice, and I hoped to see no less than that translated to cell effectively alongside all of the in-game content material.
Samurai Shodown on cell initially seems like the whole recreation with contact controls, however it has some cutbacks. The primary one is visuals. I anticipated it to look and run higher on trendy iOS gadgets given my expertise with it on consoles. Visuals aren’t as dangerous because the Change model although, and Samurai Shodown on newer iOS gadgets doesn’t really feel sluggish just like the Change model. I additionally really feel like some characters will really feel very totally different right here given the on-screen buttons being the one approach to play together with specials. This simply is a really bizarre resolution in what ought to’ve been a slam dunk port with how a lot effort went into translating the visuals and every part else over.
The key points are with the cuts to DLC. Not solely are the DLC characters not included within the recreation proper now, however the collaboration characters are utterly lower out. For instance, Baiken from Responsible Gear or Warden from For Honor are utterly absent right here. Not having DLC proper from the beginning isn’t the largest downside, however the present character choice display mentions a number of the DLC characters arriving as late as July 2024. I get that you really want individuals to stay subscribed to Netflix so that you don’t need to launch every part in a single go, however this can be a bit a lot.
When you’ve by no means performed Samurai Shodown on different platforms or don’t even care about these variations, Samurai Shodown on Netflix isn’t a whole waste. The contact controls aren’t pretty much as good as conventional controls on a controller or stick, however the builders did a great job with them right here. I simply don’t perceive why it didn’t embrace controller help as an choice for many who desire utilizing conventional controls in a preventing recreation.
For the net, I examined in opposition to somebody regionally over wifi and with Shaun who’s in Japan. The netcode held up alright, however it isn’t pretty much as good as taking part in one thing like Avenue Fighter 6 or Responsible Gear Attempt. For informal matches, it’s value attempting, and in addition has a good customized foyer implementation. There are additionally leaderboards for some modes included within the Netflix model of Samurai Shodown.
In terms of platform variations, the most effective variations of Samurai Shodown proper now for me are the Xbox Collection X model for enjoying on TV and the Steam Deck model for enjoying on the go. The Xbox Collection X model helps 120hz which even the PC model doesn’t have. The PS4 model by no means acquired any PS5 enhancements so I finished taking part in that model to maneuver to the Xbox model for offline play. On the moveable aspect, I’d solely suggest the Change model in case you have no different approach to play Samurai Shodown and don’t care about on-line play.
So the place does the Netflix model match into this image? It isn’t actually the identical expertise with pressured contact controls, however it does a greater job than the Change port for positive. I’d completely suggest downloading it to see how you discover the contact controls, however I actually hope SNK can add controller help and enhance the DLC scenario. I don’t anticipate on-line to work too effectively contemplating the console and PC variations nonetheless don’t have first rate on-line netcode. That’s coming this month. However within the testing I did, it’s serviceable. I performed just a few video games in opposition to Shaun who’s in Japan and it wasn’t unplayable like sure Change preventing video games we’ve performed.
Samurai Shodown, at the same time as the bottom recreation with contact controls solely, is a good addition to Netflix’s gaming catalog, however it ought to’ve been higher. The shortage of controller help and baffling DLC launch schedule maintain it again in its present state. I’m going to maintain it put in within the hope we get updates to deal with these points, however proper now Samurai Shodown is a good preventing recreation that deserved higher for its cell launch. It is a competent and commendable conversion in some ways, however a really disappointing one in others. Hopefully we gained’t want to attend too lengthy to embrace controller help.
