Air blocking has been removed, and the “Rage Explosion” maneuver has been introduced: pressing A, B and C together will completely change the background (usually to something darker), and your character sacrifices their POW meter for an entire match in exchange for a massive power upgrade and an opportunity to unleash a special technique. Samurai Shodown IV is largely identical to the precursor, although the team has modified various functions and added in more tweaks, resulting in an overall more polished experience. Mindful of the qualms many gamers had with the third installment, SNK sought to amend them in the fourth. Charolotte, Tam Tam and Jubei Yagyu are also back, adding another three faces to the roster.

The roster from Samurai Shodown III remains intact, with two new characters added: the ninja brothers Kazuki and Sogetsu Kazama, who wield the respective powers of fire and water. If you exceed the time limit, you fight an alternate character and receive a bad ending. If you reach the final stage in time, you’ll fight Amakusa and Zankuro and get the real ending. This means you’re under pressure to reach Amakusa’s castle. When you begin the game, you’ll see a timer set at eight minutes.

Zankuro is once again the game’s antagonist, having been revived after his death in the last game, and the plot still revolves around his persecution. Samurai Shodown IV‘s story takes place in the early winter of 1789, a year after Samurai Shodown III, but still prior to the events of Samurai Shodown II.

Samurai shodown 4 combos