_Mortal Kombat:_ Look at how much this attack hurt the victim! _Samurai Showdown:_ Look at how much this attack hurt the attacker.

Death in Samurai Shodown is about their characters. Death in Mortal Kombat is about gore

I think since Rimururu is childish, she doesn't understand the weight of death. To her, it's more like a game and she just wants to do what her big sister does without understanding how gruesome her actions are. Galford is the "my justice is true justice" type so anyone that he fights is not just simply because he's fighting them. That's how he can justify his violence against anyone. And I swear there was a time just after Rimururu was released when she and Nakoruru couldn't get kill animations on each other. They can now, but maybe it was changed in an update, because I swear I did the usual triggers immediately after her release and it wouldn't work. It would make sense if they couldn't kill each other being sisters, and that would be story telling through gameplay. Unlike some other game where a character can rip his wife or daughter's torso off, or a bunch of soldiers would gladly murder their superior officer after losing against the most evil entity in the world just because he won and went forward, down, down on their stage.

I never realized how much depth Samurai Shodown had.

The fact that they managed to give character to the Warden from For Honor, a literal faceless blank slate of a character, is incredible.

The fact the this video didn't get age restricted, really says a lot on Samurai Showdown's portrayal of death

The beauty of the moveset of a fighting game character is the idea that it's a simple summary of an entire character. You're not picking tools, you're picking the character that stands out to you at most or who you have the most attachment to, and for 2-5 brief minutes of combat, you experience a non-stop torrent of expression; you become that character, and to effectively win, you have to train hard enough to understand them. A well-designed moveset teaches you about the character as you train with them; a bad one is only a function. "The answer lies, in the heart of battle. Talk is cheap; our fists are enough." -Ryu

This... actually makes me view Samsho's depiction of violence and death in a different light. Hell, this makes me view the entire series differently. It's really neat.

This. THIS. This is that good shit. Way to knock it out of the park, my man.

The difference between MK and SamSho is that MK emphasises on VIOLENCE, not death.

The MK-styled Nakoruru super was hillarious.

When you talk about character, I came to a realization for quite a while that MK doesn't care for Characters beside how to market them. They don't care if Sindel's new personality clashes with her old one, they want more people go YASS KWEEN and play her more. This is why they focus so much on violence. That's what the game basically became, a big marketing ploy.

Finally someone analyzing fighting games for something more than their mechanics. Thanks, this video is gold.

You've finally made this video after like 2 years of wanting to do it

This is the video I've been waiting for ever since you teased it at the end of Mortal Kombat 11 analysis

It does the best in not focusing on the blow and instead looks to the results of the killing blow. How the characters act to show them why they had to kill outside of mindless violence. And that’s probably why Samurai Shodown can make characterization work with death unlike what happens in Mortal Kombat that took any possible look for characterization and just replaces it with just pure gore with no forethought besides how they did it.

10:58 I just realized something. Galford's American. And your comment about Americans being All too happy about dispensing "Justice" is very emblematic of the Hypocrisy that Americans display! That's Very suitable in the case of his character! I know there's another American Character or Eurpoean character in this game, but it makes sense in Galford's case! Back in the early 70s, 80s, and 90s. Martial Arts films and movies took Theaters by storm and widely introduced so many people to martial arts, so much so that it made us very eager to perform the same acts. The Ninja Movies of the past are a Heavy reminder of this and I feel Galford is a representation of this Era, where Ninjutsu was not really a form of Duty, but more of a tool to use for Revenge, to act out aggression against someone. Hell, Samurai Cop is the biggest examples of failure to understand Samurai Ideology (while being Hilariously Inept). Honestly, when it comes to Americans and the History of violence that we encourage. Well, we look like Gun-wielding Idiots. And that's not far from the truth :)

"Story, characterization, and grand sweeping themes aren't important in fighting games" - I hear this all the time too and also strongly disagree with it. Personally I think that the incentives to make an esports platform greatly outweigh incentives to make a good standalone game, so story and theming get left behind.

"All creature will die, and all the things will be broken. That's the law of samurai." --Yagyuu Juubei, Samurai Shodown 2

To quote one of my favorite manga on death, "Death is something humans fear and detest. However, humans linger beyond it as well. Death is a mirror for humans." -Jujustu Kaisen

For the record Akira Kurosawa didn’t direct Harakiri, it was Masaki Kobayashi. Still one of the best samurai films regardless.

all my homies who played street fighter and mk has difficulties beating me in samsho. they all focus on combos and special moves. i simply attack them with precision. usually i just stand still and time every move they do based on animations. also thank for reminding me of bushido's blade. i used to play it a lot on ps1 years back

The bonus clip at the end was amazing!

I remember the point where the brilliant use of death in the new SamSho really struck me. It was the reveal trailer for Kazuki and I just saw him roar while the screen filled with flames. Out of context, it's just your typical anime action shot. However, having the context of how Samurai Shodown builds around the theme of death and how throughly almost every character commits to that theme, that scene set ablaze genuinely terrified me to my core. I fully believe that Kazuki will set someone on fire and burn them into a charred husk. I believe that it will be agonizing and cruel rather than just a fight scene where fire looks cool. I believe that live will end in battle.

11:26 I used to think like this until your videos show me what fighting games can be like if the developers work hard enough and care about the characters and world that they created

This might be my favorite video on fighting game design I've seen. I feel strongly fighting games, having to thrive in an environment where most people won't see the "story mode" or whatever to get a character's backstory and motivations, must still convey information through each character's visual design, animation, or even basic mechanics more strongly than other mediums or genres. You expressed everything I feel, and centered it around one of my favorite games. Awesome.

Fighting can be a vehicle to express things, and the same can be said for fighting in fighting games. Many people don't understand that. I'm really glad you do.

Not only has this helped me understand and appreciate the themes of SamSho, it’s also been a great tutorial for the mechanics of V Special in particular. Had no idea how stuff like Concentration worked before, so thanks for not only teaching me the thematic depths of the game but also the mechanical depth as well.

10:57 not perfect? Galford is American. This is the singlemost accurate description of America I can think of. It applies so well it's scary. America, always a hand outreached; sometimes benevolently opened, sometimes clasped on a gun, but always, in "Justice".

You know what would be an incredible twist that could make Rinoruru make sense? If Rimururu turned out to actually be a, stay with me here, a delusional psychopath who dispensed violence casually and innocently, completely oblivious to the pain that she caused to others. This would also give Nakoruru a good reason to want to kill her sister: if there's no other way to stop her callous rampages... You wouldn't even need to change her personality all that much, the writers would only have to recontextualize her actions and acknowledge the weirdness that comes with a cutesy anime girl being plopped down in this kind of a game. And, this would also give her a unique thematic connection to death: she would see it as nothing important, as just a game and in a way deliberately betraying the philosophy of the game while also kind of totally supporting it. Also, also, her ice powers would take on a symbollic meaning: showing that she's actually, literally, a cold-blooded killer. As for Galford, dispensing a vauge idea of justice by going around and killing whatever foreigners stand in his way while obliviously presenting himself as a "hero" is probably the most American thing since apple pie.

Nailed every theme, character involvement, emotion, connection, and energy. SamSho has so many layers, it is a work of art, past, and present.

One thing I think is worth mentioning regarding the philosophy of death in Samsho is Ukyo's existence and how it ties into the themes. He was one of the series' original characters, and in the first game acted as a sort of rival to protagonist Haohmaru in the first game (though this plot point was later dropped in the sequels). One of his defining character traits is that he has tuberculosis and is living on borrowed time before it becomes fatal. I feel that he symbolizes the Buddhist philosophy strongly in how despite the impermanence of his life he remains a disciplined warrior who fights decisively. He is going to die regardless of if he fights or not, but he doesn't use that as an excuse to lash out like a wild beast and recklessly puts himself in danger, or use unnecessary brutality to 'make others suffer like him' or anything like that. He retains a gentlemanly demeanour and a sense of cordiality in the face of his imminent death, whether it be on or off the battlefield, recognizing that life is impermanent and fleeting, but taking it with a relative sense of acceptance and peace

I'm from back in the day. Samurai Shodown was very popular at the time. The reason why Mortal Kombat caught a lot more controversy was simply due its photo realistic depicted style graphics, unlike Samurai Shodown's non photo realistic style. Anatomy was the new wave of the 4th generation as it was the first gen to graphically display human anatomy accurately. Anime style art wouldn't start to take off into the mainstream here in the United States until 1998 with Pokemon.

the virgin Mortal Kombat vs the chad Samurai Shodown

That ending bit was a HILARIOUS surprise!

*_Claps Furiously_* Very insightful analysis.

I wonder how much of this was real samurai philosophy and how much is Taishō period romanticizing.

"You only live once!" "No, you only die once."

Compare this with Mortal Kombat, which is super violent just for the sake of being super violent.

The original title of Samurai Shodown is SAMURAI SPIRITS, so this is not a profession but a way of life. In 5c, a Shinto priest teaches soldiers martial arts and norms to maintain security around the shrine. On 7c, Otomobeno Hakama sets an example for patriotic soldiers. Otomono Yakamochi sets an example of loyalty. In 8c, tsuwamo no michi (Way of strong soldier) is recorded as a samurai norm in Nihonshoki. This will later become bushido. On 13c-14c, war chronicle Taiheiki, Heike Monogatari, etc. are read as samurai textbooks. The contents of the book become general knowledge of Japan as Kabuki, Noh, and haiku. Mononofu (samurai's ancient language) no michi (Way of Mononofu) is recorded as a samurai's norms and morals. The word Bushido is recorded in Takeda's military study book Koyo Gunkan. On 16c. In 17c, military scholar Yamaga Soko (1622-1685) proposed Shido, the predecessor of Bushido. 47 The Ronin is receiving his teachings. Musashi Miyamoto wrote Gorin no sho. Tsunetomo Yamamoto wrote Hagakure on 18c. Daidoji Yuzan (1639-1730) wrote Budou shoshinshu. Yamaoka Tesshu 1836-1888) wrote "Bushido". Inazo Nitobe (1862-1933) wrote Bushido The Soul of Japan. As a diplomat, he was often asked by Westerners, "Why do Japanese people have high morals even though they are not Christians?" He wrote a book to explain to Westerners the morals that the Japanese norm. Around 1970, many cultures were destroyed by the Communist Cultural Revolution. East Asian Communists continue to do the same. They began to promote the theory that Bushido was conceived by Inazo Nitobe and did not exist before. He made many similar theories and promoted them, but they were refuted by the primary sources of history and the development of science and technology by experts. Communists did not stop advertising, so their theory was to be used for dupes. Their past claims were "The Soviet Union is a utopia," "North Korea is a paradise," and "Bushido is a myth." In recent years, they have said, "Australian inhabitants interacted with the Ming dynasty." "Genghis Khan did not exist." "Sun Yat-sen says Yuan dynasty is a Mongolian country, so remove him from the textbook. "The Mongolian language is inefficient and should not be taught at school." This activity also started in the United States. There is a theory that the contents of Bushido are different from the old days, but the samurai of Taiheiki of war chronicle of 13c-14c is a model of the samurai of composition. This is also linked to cultures such as Kabuki, Noh, haiku, and tea ceremony. The character of the samurai is also present in the records of Chinese history, Korean history, Southeast Asian history, and missionaries. Removing only Bushido, like the Communists, creates many contradictions.

...And thats why the Warden, a guest character in samurai shodown from For Honor, fits into this idea so well. He gets by with a simple moveset only having two specials because it works and helps lets him win and Samsho is more about normals anyway. As to his perspective of death, he would rather beat you effectively and soundly with a catapult strike that would kill you almost instantly rather than look you in the eyes and plunge his longsword through your chest. He doesn't have time for that on the battlefield and he has a war to win for his people, he can't pick out every head that rolls behind him. Interesting that your video on Shodown changed my perspective on a different game from which this guest character comes from

And I am now completely sold on Samurai Showdown!

Never played samurai showdown, but still the video is intresting

Well shit, I never played much of V, but now I'm kinda disappointed that mechanic didn't return

After the mk11 video, I'm glad you did this video. You seem happier and more passionate talking about samurai shodown.

MK and Samsho are two different answers to the question "What is in the heads of these characters?" Samsho: Philosophical musing on the nature of violence and death MK: BRAIN BITS YEEEEEEE

Now I want to play this game.

I really appreciate how you used core bhuddism beliefs and stayed very accurate on the concepts used in game.

A small note: one of the movies mentioned, Harakiri (1962), was not directed by Akira Kurosawa, but by Masaki Kobayashi. Worth noting because it's one of the most "anti-samurai" samurai dramas ever made~

it doesn’t matter if it’s a Fighter....Shooter...or RPG. A game’s success rests 1% on game mechanics and 99% on the characters. Not just His or Her moveset, but rather. Who they are. Who is he? Why does she chase Soul Edge/Calibur? What’s his reason for entering this tournament? A character, INCLUDING backstories, is what makes ANY game work.

Unfortunately never had the chance to play a lot of this series, but the little I played made quite a impression, as did your vid :)

More of this, more of you. Love this deep content. You and Core-A Gaming are the best at fighting game content.

I'd had in my mind for some time., that very same observation about the camera in the super special movés being too focused on the fighter's face. It always breaks my heart finish a round with Nakoruru's special and get that look on her face.

Bushido Blade is one of the absolute best, most unique fighting games I’ve ever played, and I’m astounded there hasn’t been modern attempts to try and remake it.

The SamSho saga is art There’s your evidence

I never cared or played any Samurai Shodown before. But after I tried all their games in Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection (Epic Games Store give it freely sometime ago), It now become one of my favorite fighting game series. I first though that SamSho is just another flashy combo-focused game but I was wrong. The game is more slow paced and more focus on punishing and countering. You dont need complicated and long combo to do it. SamSho is like breath of fresh air to me and I cant wait for Samurai Shodown 2019 come to Steam someday.

I remember watching that last clip live when it happened. I was losing my shit the entire time. Great video. SNK games always have the best game design in the fighting game space, especially their non KOF games. So much style and character in just how their games play. I'm always floored by how amazing Garou is in every aspect, from the streamlined and intuitive core game loop to the insane attention to detail and the game Juice. And a SamSho match between two masters is always a sight to behold. How they made a game where a giant goofy Youkai fighting an anime womanizer with 7 swords looks like a gritty battle for their lives is beyond me. Far from Capcom just randomly changing all their mechanics everytime they make a game cause "Gotta make it new".

Underrated video here, deserves way more attention.

IT’S HERE BABY

Uber underrated video. Brilliant work.

What other contenders are there for the title of "Most Buddhist Thing in a Fighting Game"?

This is phenomenal bro amazing work!

Excellent video. Every time I see an upload, my day immediately gets better. This definitely made this shitty day I was having much more bearable. Thanks for this.

I've been waiting for this since the MK 11 video great job on this

I've played the series since its first incarnation in the arcade, and now this video makes me appreciate it even more. And the statement about some not caring about story really hit home.

I've watched this video like 5 times and I still love every bit of it

I wasnt expecting to take a trip down memory lane cuz im new to this game but then u pull out Bushido Blade i truly thank u for the kid feeling that gave me

Every fighting game player needs to see this! Keep up the good work!

You have opened my eyes on how the series has to be played and understood. I have a way greater appreciation for the series now, thank you!

This is probably one of my top favorite analysis videos on a game I've seen thus far. The way you bring out the philosophy of Bushido and make it so theatrical, I love it! SamSho is an intense game. Now... If only SamSho's online (on PS4) wasn't a wasteland right now. Got into the game WAY late, so that's my fault...

I was expecting this to be grim but you definitely made this game shine way brighter than I ever expected. I've come to expect these videos to be a funny but insightful learning experience about the art of gaming in general so this is just the same thing except more concentrated and serene. Hell, this gives me an idea for a samurai character ive been struggling to make

I just subscribed, great analysis

Love these analyses on Fighting Game characterization. Excellent.

Ever since I subscribed, watching these videos has given me enlightenment on writing and design.

I've played so many matches of Samsho V Special with my friends and somehow we NEVER noticed the rage and meditation differences per character. Amazing video as always. Really made me think about storytelling in games relating to gameplay

I was waiting for it and that was why I subbed

You just made me respect a game series i never liked enough to buy the game and give it another try. You're awesome

This might be my favorite video in the series yet. You outdid yourself today A.B.I.

YESSS FINALLLYYYY!!..........thank you. I been looking for this video for so long, and it didn't disappoint. While MK is just gore for the sake of gore, and all characters are blood thirsty assholes in gameplay despite their stories says they SHOULDN'T......Samurai Shodown is all about characters and acceptance of death in a battle field, all shows us how they interact with this, who wants to inflict death and who regret to, let be all about their personalities not about the gore. I always love that about SS but seen this video open my respect even deeper, never expect SNK will go that deep.....I really think SNK have done my 2 favorites samurai games in the fighting game genre, with Samurai Spirits and Last Blade (miss you soo much you underrated unappreciated master piece), both have the similar approach to death, just Last Blade is a bit flashier and traditional as a Fighting game, Samurai Spirits is wayy more deep, I never understood the philosophy of the Rage bar until today and is a genius move also that one in SSV is amazing, the clam sacrifice idea is super cool, wish the new Samurai Shodown have it. Anyway another magistral video about Fighting games, still hope you make a deep analysis about Guilty Gear XRD, before we get to Strive..............also Last Blade XD (I just want people to know about that gem).

Man, I had skipped past this vid when it first came out then the KZfaq algorithm decided to step in and not push your content to me, despite being subscribed. I regret not watching this one on release because it is a fantastic video and broke down mechanics I didn't even know were in the games.

After the MK11 video I was honestly waiting to see the themes of Samurai Showdown and man I wasn't disappointed. Now I just need to get the Switch port of this as its my only option to play the new SamSho.

Samurai Showdown is a game I haven’t really thought about picking up before but... this video single handily made me both want to play it but also incredibly respect it. ^^ the sheer depth of how it showcases its philosophies is incredible and you did such an amazing job showing and explaining them.

"this is the most fine tuned Buddhist mechanic" (including the voice delivery) I can't watch the video for the past 10 minutes, because I barely managed to type this in in my fits of laughter. Very interesting video, I was only aware of Samurai Showdown's existence, never even saw a single arcade of it in my youthful days.

I feel like if Mortal Kombat were to follow the same logic of characters having different reactions to death, Johnny Cage would go catatonic once he realised how real it just got.

NICE, been waiting for this since the ending of that MK11 video, knew it was coming someday.

Man... I only follow Sugar Punch because of your A.B.I.Torials, i loved today's video

I agree with a ton of what you've said here... but I will also add that games like Guilty Gear can be just as expressive. I think it's something people frequently miss, but it is something good to point out in "good" fighting games.

This is the best description/explanation of the FEEL of the Samsho series I have ever heard.

Yooo ive been waiting so long for this vid!

With your video you just sold me on the game.

Beautifully put A.B.I. Made me appreciate the SamSho series so much more after watching this

A very poetic video! Never knew Samurai Showdown had so much depth and lore behind it!

I was so glad to see the bonus clip live

Nice teaching, sensei. You could’ve been a true samurai. Teach me sensei.

Exceptional review from a game series I'll soon check out! Who would have though _that this_ is what helped me come to terms with seeing death. 😁🗡

If I were to ever play a fighting game professionally it'd have to be Samurai Shodown. In every other traditional fighting game there's always an optional combo that you're gonna have to repeat over and over again. In SamSho it's more about studying your opponent, you only need one hit to demonstrate that.

Really cool and deep analysis on the game. Loved the video, just subscribed😁

I waited for this... thanks man!

That bonus clip really made my day 😂

So samsho is basically taking street fighters neutral game of patience and amping it up to 100