#Seriously SNK sprite makers

[lostplay]

Game 3: Samurai Shodown! 2 Pocket Fighting Series (Jan 2023)

As much as SNK is good at making sprite art and making the most of their Neo Geo Pocket machine, there is just something off about Samurai Shodown! 2. I wouldn't call this game bad by any means, but there is a number of things holding it back that other Neo Geo Pocket Fighter games just don't have in common that is an oddity of itself and a testament to how many better fighter games their are on the Neo Geo Pocket. Samurai Shodown! 2 is by all means suppose to be a parody of the original Samurai Shodown series, meaning that the more lax dialogue, chibi art design, and moves are meant to more comedic than the original series. While I understand that Shodown! 2 is a continuation of that parody, the parody of itself kinda falls flat, save the sprite work. There just isn't a lot of dialogue, story, or moves that really scream parody to me, and at the same I was just kinda confused the whole time playing it. While most Neo Geo Fighters aren't that confusing, Shodown! 2 just did something with it's controls that never sat right with me. I understand that Samurai Shodown always had an odd fighting design of pressing certain buttons to do certain moves, but when you are on the Neo Geo Pocket and only realistically have 2 buttons to work with it, you start to limit your options. From either a different move coming out, the timing of moves not feeling right, or just registering being a problem, Shodown! 2 just doesn't have the control scheme that it clearly wants. I should also praise that at least Samurai Shodown! 2 has plenty of unlockables through the collectable cards that you get as you beat the game or fulfill certain objectives. I don't think any of the collectables are as fun to get as SNK Gals Fighter, but there is at least plenty to collect and use if you so desired. On top of that, a lot of the sprite work that isn't the main characters fighting are really good. This goes for portraits, backgrounds, and the few cutscenes scattered in the game. Regrettably, I don't think Samurai Shodown! 2 is worth anyone's time. There is nothing really that bad with the game aside from some confusing controls and an inoffensive soundtrack. Everything else it has presentation wise adds a lot of charm to it, but I just don't see people going to this particular game when there are simply better offers on even the Neo Geo Pocket itself. Absolutely average game that is sadly overshadowed by nearly every other Neo Geo Fighter out there.