You know that feeling you get when something is going to be coming soon yet you can't wait for it? Once again I'm now in that mood where I cannot wait any longer. My topic is about: "Samurai Shodown Anthology" (Known in Japan as "Samurai Spirits") Rumor has it that game is coming soon in Japan in July however we have to wait for a U.S release near December. So after finding out I decided that in order to play that collection I have to either buy a Japanese PS2 or try to download them on Emulator such as "MAME32" However my computer is missing the need RAM and files to upload them. Plus playing the Arcade games on Computer isn't the same as playing it at an actual arcade.

Now in case you're going to ask me? What's "Samurai Shodown Anthology?" Well I explain it to you with full detail and if you're an SNK hater or a very "Hardcore Capcom" fan. Don't bother commenting

Well hardcore gamers should know that it's a completion of the whole "Samurai Shodown" videogame series created by no other than
"SNK" ( Of The Metal Slug and King of Fighters fame) From the first to maybe 6th version of the game so around a total of 6-7 (Depends if they also release SS5special)

After the success of "Fatal Fury" and "Art of Fighting" SNK decide to create another fighting game. So in 1993 "Samurai Shodown(Spirits)" was born. It's pretty much a weapons based fighting game with set in the 17th century. The gameplay was almost simillar to "Street Fighter" except that there's blood and uses armed and unarmed combat style fighting. Tweleve different characters from around the world. Some are based on actual fictional characters such as: "Hanzo Hattori" and "Jubei Yaygu" while some like "Nakoruru" was created as a "Moe" character to attract fans and you got also got non samurai characters like: "Charlotte" a Noblewoman fencer.

I was eight years old at the time and to be honest. That game in perticular is what got me into Japanese Culture as well Anime.
Despite it's success and fanbase it got a lot of heat due to it's violent content. Like Mortal Kombat it had "Fatal Attacks" Two being: "Slicing your opponent in half" and the infamous: "Blood Gush" Since that time that game had to be edit with changing the color of blood to orange or white (AKA Sweat) and removing the fatal attacks. So far only the Panasonic 3D0 was the closest to the arcade experience. Even relased on the "Neo Geo" Console and on the PS2,PSP and Wii, It's still edited out. The only flaw on the 3D0 version was 1.There were loading times between the begining of a match 2.It was difficult playing the game with the 3D0's controller since 3 of the buttons were "Slash" attacks and by pressing and holding the right top button you can use the "kicks" attacks. 3.It had limited continues. So to say this game doesn't fuck around. It's hard as hell and the A.I is very responsive. They would always block your attacks.

A year "Samurai Shodown 2" came and it was even better than the first one. Four new characters minus "Tam Tam", better graphics, gameplay and of course the awesome soundtrack. It was regard as the best of all "Samurai Shodown" games over all of the sequels that came after it. Also during that time SNK was developing another fighting game witch we all know as "King of Fighters 94" another of SNK's staple games.

So after many years with different versions of games(Some were good some were bad). SNK of course went Bankrupted in late 2000. Yet not even a year later they rose from the grave as we know them now as "SNK PLAYMORE". To this day SS5 and SS6 have been out and there's more rumors about another "Samurai Shodown" game but in 3d. So when the Anthology is coming out I ponder if it's going to be censored or left uncut. Because SNK has that big problem and it's "censorship" Like my "SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1" review. I was noting about Samurai Shodown "Fatal Blood Gush Attack" was completly cut off. So I'm going to ponder if the U.S version is going to be left uncut. Despite Samurai Shodown 6 (Being a Dream match) was cut of blood and it's Fatalities.

Also note that even when these games do come out. Not everybody is going to buy it. For those hardcore fighting gamers. They're waiting for "Street Fighter 4".