Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage
 
 

 
STORY:  In an unknown land an eerie disturbance disrupts the sky, leading a dark mass to the land. It is the ultimate evil-it is the reincarnation of Yuga the Destroyer. The objective of this being who once more alights to earth is the unification of this world and the Netherworld using the hermaphrodite male and female-that is, the construction of a utopia to become the foundation for the resurrection of the Dark God. As he resumes his search for the hermaphrodites, those turned into puppets by Yuga's magic unleash their carnage to gather the sacrifices necessary for the ritual of utopian construction.

            

These puppets then employ various means to increase the dead and provide sacrifices. Some, for example, become leaders of the Shogunate to carry out ruthless policies, some became common murderers, and still others deliberately incite revolt against the government. Through the influence of the devilish reincarnation, outbreaks of famine and plagues further increase the dead, providing the evil with yet more strength and delight. The mountain of dead gathered by these means is subsequently heaped up on the altar of the Netherworld and fashioned into two pillars in which the hermaphroditic male and female are to be subsequently imprisoned.


At this time one man returns to the Netherworld. The name of this warrior who stands directly before these literal pillars of the dead in the darkness is Asura. Master of magic, he is the dark swordsman appearing in this realm to wreak his revenge on Yuga. Regardless, his enemy steadily proceeds with the construction of his utopia. The curtain now rises on this drama of revenge that will engulf both our world and the land of the dead.
 
 

Doesn't look too bad for a 1998 3D fighter. Nice background!

  
ABOUT:  The titles of the 3D Samurai Shodown incarnations of the late 90s can indeed get confusing! Samurai Spirits 2 64: Asure Zanmaden in Japan, also known as Samurai Shodown 64: Warrior's Rage overseas, is the sequel to the first ever 3D Samurai Shodown for the Hyper Neo Geo 64, called Samurai Shodown 64. This game is not to be confused with the PS1 title, Samurai Shodown: Warrior's Rage.
   

Double KO or warm-up dance?

  
The sequel to Samurai Shodown 64 offered a slight but significant improvement over the original 3D fighting game, introducing interesting new characters to the series. The combo system from the first game was built upon, offering some pretty cool combo possibilities this time around (see featured video above).
 
FUN FACT: This game is commonly confused with Samurai Shodown: Warrior's Rage on PS1, since the title is nearly the same. However, Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage is a completely different game from Samurai Shodown: Warrior's Rage which unlike SS64, did have a worldwide release and was ported to Sony PlayStation.
 
 

Page Updated: January 8th, 2023
Developer(s): SNK
Publisher(s): SNK
Platform(s): Arcade (Hyper Neo Geo 64)
Artwork By: Senri Kita
Release Date(s): October 16th, 1998
Characters Shiki, Asura, Haohmaru, Genjuro Kibagami, Ukyo Tachibana, Galford Weiler, Hanzo Hattori, Yagyu Hanma, Morozumi Taizan, Sogetsu Kazama, Kazuki Kazama, Nakoruru, Rimururu, Gandara, Yuga

samuraishodown64-wr-s1.png (158257 bytes)samuraishodown64-wr-s2.png (94596 bytes)samuraishodown64-wr-s3.png (128810 bytes)samuraishodown64-wr-s4.png (144810 bytes)

Featured Video:

Related Games: Samurai Shodown 64, Samurai Shodown Warrior's Rage, Samurai Shodown (2019), Samurai Shodown, Samurai Shodown 2, Samurai Shodown 3, Samurai Shodown 4, Samurai Shodown 5, Samurai Shodown 5 Special, Samurai Shodown 6, Samurai Shodown Pocket, Samurai Shodown 2 Pocket, Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny, Samurai Shodown Anthology, TEKKEN 3, Soul Blade, SNK VS Capcom Chaos, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
  

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Final Words:

Like most Samurai Shodown fans on planet Earth... I haven't had the opportunity to play this rare 3D incarnation of the series (which is a shame, since I've always loved the series). While this title has obvious flaws for a 3D fighting game released in 1998, I think a few of the character designs from "SS64 2" are pretty great... and it seems like this title could've been halfway decent (or at least entertaining) 3D fighter for most fans around the world in 1998. Too bad it didn't get any kind of proper release outside of Asia!

That said, Samurai Shodown 64 2 is indeed one of SNK's most obscure and mostly unknown fighting games ever released. Most fighting game fans in the late 90s / early 2000s probably had no idea this game existed... and likely confused this title with the PlayStation game of a very similar name: Samurai Shodown: Warrior's Rage.

Shiki, one of Samurai Shodown 64's most prominent new characters, would later appear in SNK Vs. Capcom Chaos, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum and Samurai Shodown (2019). Besides Shiki, no other characters from the Samurai Shodown 64 series have appeared in another Samurai Shodown title or crossover fighting game. However, SNK has featured several of Samurai Shodown 64's unique characters in SNK's spin-off card fighting game for the NeoGeo Pocket, Card Fighters Clash.

Thanks to YouTube and emulation, we can at least watch some gameplay of Samurai Shodown 64 2 from those who have access to the game. I really hope to try out the Samurai Shodown 64 series someday and maybe even review this game eventually!
~TFG Webmaster | @Fighters_Gen
  

 
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