Warrior's Rage/Asura Zanmaden

Deuce · Nov 5, 2002

Well, I finally got ahold of Samurai Shodown 64: Warrior's Rage, aka Samurai Spirits 2 Asura Zanmaden, thanks to Shiftyfink. Now I've finally played all of the "real" SS games (including the Pocket games)... so just as before, I'm going to post some impressions, and hopefully get some fellow Hyper owners talking.

1. This game has one of the nicest intros/attract modes I've ever seen. Low-key, but very stylish.

2. My initial reaction to the "How to Play" sequence was "Man, this game looks better than SS64." The models are slightly better, but it's mainly the textures that were greatly improved. It looks roughly on par with Plasma Sword on the DC.

3. Of course, I first selected Slash Asura to try him out. My first thought was, "Damn, this game is slower than SS64." I quickly came to realize that this is not really the case... it's just that Asura is one of the game's slower characters.

4. The "stumbling" thing I'd heard so much griping about seems to be largely a non-issue. I've only been able to make it happen by trying to backhop twice in a row quickly. I've played many rounds already, and it's not happened to me once except when I was deliberately trying to make it happen. Seems to me like it was just something implemented to keep people from running away all day.

5. I miss the neato pictures that popped up when DMs hit and when you hit with the Issen (the "POW Explosion" dash).

6. I can finally kill the @#$%ing Roo-Roos!!!!!!!! That alone is worth the price of admission.

7. Having the CD combo available as a counter move is a very cool idea.

8. Yuga makes pretty much all of SNK's previous bosses look like total pussies. And I thought he was cheap in SS64...

9. The backgrounds in this game are absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. I kind of miss the fully-3D arenas in SS64, though.

10. The dodge is fundamental, but it's not godlike. It's pretty well balanced.

11. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever roll toward Yuga when getting up off the ground. You will be badly hurt.

12. Haohmaru, at least, seems to have a few 2-3 hit chains like in SS64... does anyone else?

13. The powered-up specials are implemented far better in this than they were in SS4.

This game, much like SS64, is unfairly maligned. Both of them have a better "feel" to them than SS4. ;P Anyone else out there having fun with this one? I wish there were some folks around to play vs. mode with.

-Deuce

SNK_NEOGEO_FREAK · Nov 5, 2002

Hmmm.... I think I'll keep my HYPER 64 now and have a hunt around for SS64 No.2 as I'm quite bored with just having the one game I have at the moment..

I would really like to see some nice screen shots of the game as there are bugger all on the net...

Congrats on getting the game

Deuce · Nov 5, 2002

I'm working on making some videos of the game. If you (or anyone else) want 'em, I can see about making them available for download.

-Deuce

SNK_NEOGEO_FREAK · Nov 5, 2002

Yes, I would be very interested in seeing video of the game

If you are ever able to do that, that would very kind of you and great!

Cheers!

ShikiMikoto · Nov 5, 2002

Yeah, I'd like to see some Videos of this game too. I only played the original 64 game in an arcade and the Warrior's Rage 2 game for Playstation.

FeelGood · Nov 5, 2002

Originally posted by Deuce:

6. I can finally kill the @#$%ing Roo-Roos!!!!!!!! That alone is worth the price of admission.
<hr></blockquote>

The first time I chopped off Nak's arm in battle, I nearly cried. It was like, all that pent up frustration since 1995, finally vindicated.

neojedi · Nov 6, 2002

Nothing about Gandara? I went up against him the first time I played, the volume was way up so I about pissed myself when he appeared.

Deuce · Nov 6, 2002

Gandara really isn't that hard... and since his appearance in Asura Zanmaden isn't nearly as dramatic as in SS64, I wasn't that impressed.

Anyhow, I've got a few of the AVIs up. They're nothing special, but you can at least see how it looks. And bear with me... I was still trying to figure out Asura.

<a href="http://dl.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?classicgaming/ninjagaiden/asura/01-intro.avi" target="_blank">1 - Intro</a>
<a href="http://old.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?classicgaming/ninjagaiden/asura/02-how%20to%20play.avi" target="_blank">2 - How to Play</a>
<a href="http://old.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?classicgaming/ninjagaiden/asura/03-select%20screen%20and%20fight.avi" target="_blank">3 - Select Screen and Fight</a>
<a href="http://old.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?classicgaming/ninjagaiden/asura/04-Asura%20vs%20Genjuro.avi" target="_blank">4 - Asura vs Genjuro</a>
<a href="http://old.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?classicgaming/ninjagaiden/asura/05-B-Galford%20vs%20B-Haohmaru.avi" target="_blank">5 - Bust Galford vs Bust Haohmaru</a>
<a href="http://old.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?classicgaming/ninjagaiden/asura/06-B-Ukyo%20vs%20S-Nakoruru.avi" target="_blank">6 - Bust Ukyo vs Slash Nakoruru</a>
<a href="http://old.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?classicgaming/ninjagaiden/asura/07-B-Asura%20vs%20B-Sogetsu.avi" target="_blank">7 - Bust Asura vs Bust Sogetsu</a>
<a href="http://old.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?classicgaming/ninjagaiden/asura/08-B-Ukyo%20vs%20B-Hanma.avi" target="_blank">8 - Bust Ukyo vs Bust Hanma</a>
<a href="http://old.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?classicgaming/ninjagaiden/asura/09-B-Asura%20vs%20B-Haohmaru.avi" target="_blank">9 - Bust Asura vs Bust Haohmaru</a>
<a href="http://old.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?classicgaming/ninjagaiden/asura/10-S-Haohmaru%20vs%20B-Sogetsu.avi" target="_blank">10 - Slash Haohmaru vs Bust Sogetsu</a>

Please note that these files are on FilePlanet. FilePlanet does not require you to pay to download. Scroll down and use the PUBLIC SERVERS. Also, these files use the <a href="http://www.divx.com" target="_blank">DivX</a> 3.11a codec. You'll need that version or better to view them.

EDIT: Six more videos added. Enjoy.

-Deuce

[ November 06, 2002: Message edited by: Deuce ]

[ November 09, 2002: Message edited by: Deuce ]

Shiftyfink · Nov 6, 2002

Ok, I don't care for fighting games but this one I do love. I wish you could go to different areas like in the first SS64, but hey the backgrounds and characters do look a lot better.

Here is my question. How do you dismember peoples arms and things? Best I could do is the finishing move where the screen goes B&W and Blood splatters and 1/2 of there body slides away. Never could just chop off an arm! Help me out.

If anyone needs this game just PM or Email me. I can get any of the 4 Hyper 64 games.

FeelGood · Nov 6, 2002

Originally posted by Shiftyfink:
Ok, I don't care for fighting games but this one I do love. I wish you could go to different areas like in the first SS64, but hey the backgrounds and characters do look a lot better.

Here is my question. How do you dismember peoples arms and things? Best I could do is the finishing move where the screen goes B&W and Blood splatters and 1/2 of there body slides away. Never could just chop off an arm! Help me out.

If anyone needs this game just PM or Email me. I can get any of the 4 Hyper 64 games.<hr></blockquote>

It's not easy.

The engine calculates where your sword passes when determining damage. It knows if you strike the head, or hands, or legs, or body, and will set the level of damage according to which of those you hit. Hitting the head does a lot more damage than hitting just the hands... To test, using Bust Ukyo, try his slashes at different levels. The highest angle will hit the opponent's head. Look at the damage it does compared to the ground level slash.

So anyhow, you see that the engine knows where you hit, and so if in the final attack, you just hit the arms and not the body or head, guess what falls off?

God damn, I wish the heads could be taken off too. <img src="graemlins/drool2.gif" border="0" alt="[Drool 2]" />

Deuce · Nov 6, 2002

Yes, decapitating the Roo-Roos would indeed be enjoyable beyond all comprehension.

It's too bad SS3 didn't use all those discarded decapitation animations... and unlike the unused KOF96 DMs, we didn't get them put back in in the next game. Perhaps SNK just decided they were a little "too much," or something. Or perhaps it was just a cut owing to the rushed nature of the game itself.

Seeing Zankuro's head go rolling is quite amusing, though. Too bad the Roo-Roos had no decap animations.

-Deuce

FeelGood · Nov 6, 2002

It leads one to think that maybe the director actually liked Nakoruru and Rimururu...

Deuce · Nov 6, 2002

I figure Kyoshiro must've been a developer favorite as well, not unlike Chang and Choi. He certainly wasn't a popular character. Perhaps the staff changed in the SS64 games. Someone finally decided to throw those SS fans with some sense a bone.

-Deuce

FeelGood · Nov 6, 2002

Kyoshiro - I don't know what happened with him. I enjoyed him so much up through III, and then had no interest in him by IV.

I do think that the staff on SS changed though. Focuses were switched - Nakoruru was practically neglected after SSIV.

Shiftyfink · Nov 6, 2002

Ok, so in the middle of a fight can you decapitate an arm? Or is it just at the end of a match?

Also for the Fighting Newbie I am at this, what is the difference between the "Bust" and "Slash"?

Deuce · Nov 6, 2002

Kills can only happen in the final round.

As Bust/Slash are basically two different modes for each character. The proper Japanese names are "Shura" and "Rasetsu" respectively, often translated (incorrectly) as "Chivalry" and "Treachery." The concept was introduced in SS3, as basically a way to diversify the character roster without having to add new characters. It worked with varying degrees of success, depending on the game and the character. Generally, the play style is notably different between the modes, but storywise, it's never really been significant until Asura Zanmaden. In this one, SNK decided to actually give Slash and Bust different designs in many cases, most notably for Shiki and Asura. The Kazama brothers' Bust modes are actually recreations of the two, made by Yuga. Both of the Bust Kazama brothers play very differently from their Slash counterparts... they wear no shirts, have many tattoos, and most notably, fight without swords, so their movelists are completely different.

It's a shame that AZ seems to be the end of the "proper" SS series... as it's a good game, no matter what some naysayers may like to claim. A game speed option would've been nice, and I still think it would've been great to see them ported to a more powerful console (like the DC) and given a facelift (like Soul Calibur got), but both games are fun, and I don't regret purchasing my Hyper one bit.

-Deuce

FeelGood · Nov 6, 2002

Originally posted by Deuce:
Kills can only happen in the final round.

As Bust/Slash are basically two different modes for each character. The proper Japanese names are "Shura" and "Rasetsu" respectively, often translated (incorrectly) as "Chivalry" and "Treachery." The concept was introduced in SS3, as basically a way to diversify the character roster without having to add new characters. It worked with varying degrees of success, depending on the game and the character. Generally, the play style is notably different between the modes, but storywise, it's never really been significant until Asura Zanmaden. In this one, SNK decided to actually give Slash and Bust different designs in many cases, most notably for Shiki and Asura. The Kazama brothers' Bust modes are actually recreations of the two, made by Yuga. Both of the Bust Kazama brothers play very differently from their Slash counterparts... they wear no shirts, have many tattoos, and most notably, fight without swords, so their movelists are completely different.

It's a shame that AZ seems to be the end of the "proper" SS series... as it's a good game, no matter what some naysayers may like to claim. A game speed option would've been nice, and I still think it would've been great to see them ported to a more powerful console (like the DC) and given a facelift (like Soul Calibur got), but both games are fun, and I don't regret purchasing my Hyper one bit.

-Deuce<hr></blockquote>

I thought that the Kazama brs. were both possessed by gods. So Kazuki had the fire god and Sougetsu had the water god. I think I even read that Kazuki was possessed by Sojaku, or whoever that is the same god represented by Kagami...

Deuce · Nov 6, 2002

Originally posted by EvilWasabi:
I thought that the Kazama brs. were both possessed by gods. So Kazuki had the fire god and Sougetsu had the water god. I think I even read that Kazuki was possessed by Sojaku, or whoever that is the same god represented by Kagami...<hr></blockquote>

"Suzaku." And no. If you look at their Bust names, you'll see that B.Kazuki is called "Enja Kazuki," Enja translating literally to "fire evil," and Bust Sogetsu is "Suija Sogetsu," or "water evil." I've never heard anything about possession. Everything I've been privy to indicated that Enja Kazuki and Suija Sogetsu are not the "real" Kazuki and Sogetsu.

-Deuce

FeelGood · Nov 6, 2002

Originally posted by Deuce:


"Suzaku." And no. If you look at their Bust names, you'll see that B.Kazuki is called "Enja Kazuki," Enja translating literally to "fire evil," and Bust Sogetsu is "Suija Sogetsu," or "water evil." I've never heard anything about possession. Everything I've been privy to indicated that Enja Kazuki and Suija Sogetsu are not the "real" Kazuki and Sogetsu.

-Deuce<hr></blockquote>

Put the game in english mode and play through it with Bust Kazuki.

Deuce · Nov 6, 2002

I'll give it a shot.

-Deuce

EMAGDNIM · Nov 6, 2002

Crap...reading about all this is making me cry becasue I'll never be able to play such a cool game <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[Crying]" />

Pep · Nov 7, 2002

I am the one who should cry. These videos are great Deuce, thanks. I have a new Kit of every fighting Hyper 64 game, also a new Hyper 64 Board (in its box etc), but I do not have a miserable Super Gun or a Cab so I cannot play this games yet. This is really sad. <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[Crying]" />

kernow · Nov 7, 2002

Thanks a lot for the videos deuce, first time I've seen it moving and I've waited for so long

Deuce · Nov 7, 2002

It's no problem. I'll see if I can make some more for you tonight. FilePlanet typically takes about a day for the files I upload to get disseminated to the public servers, but it's reliable enough.

Any particular requests for characters/moves/cinemas/etc? I'll see if I can get some footage of Yuga destroying me. ;P

-Deuce

FeelGood · Nov 7, 2002

Originally posted by Deuce:
Any particular requests for characters/moves/cinemas/etc? I'll see if I can get some footage of Yuga destroying me. ;P

-Deuce<hr></blockquote>

I think that a video of Yuga in her groove is the best idea - he'll keep you down for a long time you fuck up...

Warrior's Rage/Asura Zanmaden

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