Another game just joined Netflix Games’ formidable Android roster. The Samurai Shodown Android version is available now for those subscribed to the streaming service. It’s the 2019 reboot that we’re talking about in this case, rather than the original 1993 NEOGEO title, though you can get hold of that too.
Samurai Shodown takes place before the event of Samurai Shodown 5 and after the events of, er, Samurai Shodown. We’d better label the dates, right?
The 1700s But Weirder
The games take place in Japan, during the Edo period. Don’t expect any accurate renditions of live under the Tokogawa Shogunate in Samurai Shodown though, there’s a Texan ninja involved and a lady who magically teleports.
This Samurai Shodown also lets you globetrot a little, with stages in Central America, and even in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on board a ship.
The game is a beat-em-up, though rather than fists, the characters tend to solve their differences using weaponry, and there’s quite a lot to choose from.
Bring A Dog To A Swordfight
You’ll see katana, tanto, naginata, dogs, and even something that looks like the Bloodborne saw cleaver.
While the characters and weapons are wacky, the gameplay has a lot to it. Samurai Shodown’s weapons are not simply a visual gimmick but make up the heart of the combat systems. Weapons can recoil, be deflected, and a fighter can even get disarmed and lose access to the weapon completely.
Fights are a complex dance of trying to anticipate your opponent’s moves and counter them with exactly the right way to block, dodge, or punish their attack. It’s certainly enough to keep fighter veterans busy for some time.
Sound like your kind of thing? You can check out the Samurai Shodown Android version now on Google Play, though you’ll need a Netflix subscription to get your paws on it.
Want to see some more titles? Check out our best new Android games this week for a few more ideas.
