I think the reason Shodown II is considered the best is because there was just so much in the game as well as some of the best add ons to grace a fighter. Each character had two taunts, four characters had a super secret move, the doll moves, and all the rolls and lay down maneuvers. Earthquake wasn't as cheaply overpowered as well (If a good Earthqake wanted to turtle or go on a throw fest in Shodown I, there wasn't much you could do to stop them.). I like SS II for the high learning/mastering curve. Truth be told, each game has it's strong and weak points.
My ranking from best to worst:
1. Samurai Shodown II
Strong points:
The second largest cast of characters in the four games
Earthquake can now be thrown (Or knocked down if you prefer.)
New maneuvers (Rolling, laying down, hopping.)
Combos were slightly better to pull off than in Shodown I
Hidden surprises (Doll moves, super secret moves.)
Taunts
Weapon Breaker moves
High learning curve (Especially if you want to implement the maneuvers like laying down.)
Weak points:
New maneuvers were a pain to pull off (Most of the players I know don't even bother with trying to use the rolls/lie down.)
If your opponent disarms you and manage to scroll the field far enough, your weapon would be scrolled off the screen (This one carried over from Shodown I.)
Character balance (It's rare to see a fighter where the characters are balanced evenly.)
2. Samurai Shodown IV
Strong points:
The largest cast of characters of the four games
The time limt and rival system
Rage guage explosion and the ultra slash which can be done afterwards
The suicides
The No contest finishers
One special is enhanced once you rage guage is maxed
Slash and Bust version of most characters were made more differnt
Food and Bombs were removed
Top down attacks were less abusive
Longer life bars
The run behind dodge was slowed down
Air blocks removed
Weak points:
Unified DM motions for all the characters (I'm sorry but it seems Shodown IV started to get a bit too scrub friendly here.)
The CD combo system; especially the fourteen hitter which automatically maxes out your rage guage (I repeat, too scrub friendly!)
Multiple pursuits (Why is it you weren't allowed one free hit like in the Last Blade games?!)
Dizzies don't exist in Shodown IV
Most specials from Shodown III were either removed or slowed down to the point of being totally useless (Nako's Slash DM wins 1st prize.)
Animation wasn't on par with Shodown III
Not all the problems that plagued Shodown III was fixed (There's still no normal throws.)
Repels come out slower
Some characters are still too similar reguardless of which version you use (Haohmaru, Genjuro, and Shizumaru to name a few...)
The ABC combos after the rage explosion
Sogetsu and Kazuki were the only "NEW" characters
No personalized backgrounds and not every character has their own soundtrack
The stage switch introduced in Shodown III got annoying in this game (It was better the way it was set up in Shodown III.)
3. Samurai Shodown I
Strong points:
A nice selection of different styles and characters (Which has been carried over in future titles.)
Great music
Weak points:
Redizzies
Character balance
Combos could be real tricky to pull off at times (Another aspect that carried over in future titles sadly.)
The weapon scroll problem I stated earlier for Shodown II
3. Samurai Shodown III
Strong points:
Animation was the best of the four games
Slash and Bust system
DMs only disarm you now instead of destroying your weapon
The stage switch when both fighters are in the red and the fight nears its final round(s)
The combos were proberly at their best in this game
Weak points:
Damage (Though I remember my share of fast rounds in Shodown I and Shodown II.)
Most top down attacks came out too damn fast and were easily abused
Bombs couldn't be blocked without a guard crush
Most Slash and Bust version of characters weren't that different
The revamped throws (WTF!!!)
The new button set up (I would have gotten rid of AB slashes and CD kicks than dumping two kicks.)
The unblockable slash
No taunts
Air blocks
Manual charging of the rage guage
Despite all that I still enjoy the Shodown series and am still waiting for a Shodown V or a Last Blade/Samurai Shodown KOF style game; whichever comes first. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
---------------------------------------------
"Don't be scared! I'll only cut off one of your heads! Guess!"
[ September 25, 2001: Message edited by: YeldellGW ]
