SAMURAI SHODOWN II CHARACTERS

Samurai Shodown II is SNK's 1994 Neo Geo follow-up and still the gold standard for old-school weapon fighting games. Slower and more deliberate than the average arcade brawler, it punishes mashing and rewards patient reads, with every clean cut from a katana, naginata, or tessen carving away big chunks of health. Hits feel weighty in a way few 2D fighters have matched since.

Fifteen warriors join the roster, bringing back Haohmaru, Nakoruru, Ukyo, Galford, and Hanzo, plus newcomers Genjuro, Cham Cham, Sieger, Kubikiri Basara, and Nicotine. The new Rage gauge fills as you take damage, granting bonus attack power, and weapon clashes can disarm a careless opponent mid-match. Mizuki waits at the top as the final boss. Decades later, this is still the SamSho most pros point to when explaining what makes the series tick.