What fighter is Ack currently playing?

[Ack]

Why, Samurai Shodown 3 for Sega Saturn!

I feel bad about this game, because the first time I sat down with it, it kicked my ass. That's putting it nicely. Let's try more like the first fight blocked EVERY attack I threw at it, then proceeded to CRUSH me in fewer than four moves. So, I walked away from it. Stayed away for three months.

Well, no more. Sat down and played a few rounds a couple nights ago and discovered that this game is deceptively complex. It is also some of the most fun I have had playing a fighter in the last six months, and I've played a lot of fighters. The stage design is great, I like most of the characters(both to play as and against), the music fits perfectly with the game's feudal Japanese setting, and the small amount of voice acting came out rather well(read: I can actually understand what's being said).

Of course, the game still has its problems. I have yet to fully figure out the system(such as, why do certain moves suddenly do 150% damage, why does the background suddenly explode sometimes, what causes food to appear on the screen if anything, etc.), and because of the super moves' visual design there's a chance this thing could cause me to go into raging epileptic fits.

But when I do something right and smack somebody into the air only to watch in slow motion as their weapon goes flying off and their body splits in half while they scream... God, I love that. Takes me back to my days with Bushido Blade in the bamboo thicket.

Currently I'm playing as Kyoshiro, though I've tried learning a little with Hanzo, Ukyo, and Basara. Seriously, good times with this game. Biggest downfall? Only Arcade and VS.

[elvis]

Brilliant game. Number 3 is definitely one of the harder of the series in single player mode. And I think it's also a lot darker than any of the other games, which adds a lot to it.

I have yet to fully figure out the system(such as, why do certain moves suddenly do 150% damage

In the SS games you build meter by taking damage (anyone familiar with CvS2's K-Groove will understand this). As your meter grows, so does your strength. There's also a timing factor too. Certain moves at certain times in your opponents animation sequence will do much higher amounts of damage (particularly when they are recovering from missed moves).

I've never sat down and investigated it in depth to be able to put a formula to it, but those are both just simple, casual observations from when I used to play the game a bit more in my uni days (there was a machine in the local arcade right next to my Thermodynamics lecture - which is probably why I failed Thermodynamics the first time around ).

[Ack]

I knew about the meter(and that it has to be full to execute super moves), but the specific animation frames I was unaware of. I'm assuming that's why when both of us connect at the same time we do tons of bonus damage?

What about when we end up in a sword lock and we have to press buttons to escape? I keep getting disarmed because I have no idea what to press.

[Mozgus]

Hmm, I have SS4 on Saturn. Should I still download 3?

[Ack]

I haven't gotten a chance to try 4 yet, but I'd say sure.

What's the cast of SS4, anyway? The only non-Japanese character in 3 is Galford, everybody else got dropped.

[elvis]

I knew about the meter(and that it has to be full to execute super moves), but the specific animation frames I was unaware of. I'm assuming that's why when both of us connect at the same time we do tons of bonus damage?

Yup. Striking someone when idle / jumping seems to do little damage in comparison to hitting them mid swing, or in move recovery.

What about when we end up in a sword lock and we have to press buttons to escape? I keep getting disarmed because I have no idea what to press.

I've found it's as much about mad mashing as it is reaction time to initial mash. When playing versus a human, I've found it's the person who started mashing first (quickest reaction time) who tends to win. Again, that's purely observational. Someone somewhere should have a better quality FAQ than my casual observations. I've yet to find anything very meaty on older SS games on either GameFAQs or the Shoryuken wiki/forums - they all seem limited to shallow move lists and nothing more.

Hmm, I have SS4 on Saturn. Should I still download 3?

I would say yes. Both are VERY different games (I find 4 to be a whole lot easier than 3, not to mention more fluffy / less dark and gritty). And both are worth playing.

[BigTinz]

Yuck...SS3 is the worst of the series. Give 2 and 4 a play. 2 is damn near perfect, just not very pretty. 4 is gorgeous but has a strange new control scheme(which I like).

...and if you can find it, play SS5: Special. It's by far the best of the best.

[elvis]

Yuck...SS3 is the worst of the series.

One thing is certain: SS3 divides the SS community in half. It really is a "love it or loathe it" game.

[fastbilly1]

Hmm, I guess I need to play 3. 2 is damn near perfect and I love 1, but 3 is one Ive never played.

[Ack]

Well, if you're picking between the Saturn and PlayStation versions, go with the Saturn. While it does have slowdown, it only occurs when moves connect, so it looks like it's got style. I hear the PlayStation version is just rife with it to the point that some felt it was unplayable.