The gentlest series in fighting games chose, this time, to look the dark in the eye.
After the bright, almost noble first two games, Samurai Shodown III went quiet and grim — bigger, harder-hitting characters, a heavier tone, and a final boss, the slaughtering swordsman Zankuro, you essentially have to beat three times. Its boldest idea is that you choose not just a fighter but a soul: Slash (Shura), the chivalrous original, or Bust (Rasetsu), the rule-breaking, demon-tinged version of the same person. Pressed too early to market, it became the family's black sheep. But sit with that one mechanic and it stays with you: the game quietly asks which version of a person you'd rather be.
About this game
Samurai Shodown III is a fighting game for the Neo Geo (1995), from SNK. Part of Enjoy Game Japan Museum's record of Japanese originals.
Tricks & Tales
Each character has two distinct versions: Slash (Shura) stays close to the chivalrous Samurai Shodown II original, while Bust (Rasetsu, from the Sanskrit 'rakshasa,' a demon) is the darker, rule-breaking persona with its own moveset. To finish the game you essentially beat the final boss Zankuro three times — after the standard two-win bout comes a separate, even harder climactic round. SNK cut most of the lighter cast from the first two games and gave even kabuki master Kyoshiro a grim redesign — only four new faces remained among twelve fighters.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The Neo Geo AES has regional variants (Japan and international / English) but is notably more region-tolerant than most consoles of its era. Many AES cartridges contain both Japanese and English text and will display the appropriate language based on a DIP switch setting on the console. The Japanese and international versions of most games are functionally identical; some late-era games have minor content differences. The MVS system also uses DIP switches for region and language configuration, and this carries over to the AES architecture. Collectors who prefer the Japanese text of the original releases should note that importing a Japanese AES requires no voltage conversion for European users but does require a step-down converter for North American 120V outlets.
Maintenance Tips
The Neo Geo AES uses a 3.6V lithium battery to retain game saves and settings. After thirty-plus years, virtually all unserviced AES units have a dead or dying save battery. Symptoms are lost high scores, reset date/time, and in rare cases settings corruption. The battery is a standard CR2032 or similar coin cell, accessible by removing the rear panel — replacement is a simple swap rather than soldering on most units. The edge connector that receives cartridges can develop oxidation over thirty years; cleaning the cartridge PCB contacts and the console's cartridge slot with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab restores reliable contact. The cartridge PCB contacts are gold-plated on most AES cartridges and resist oxidation well, but the connector can accumulate dust and debris that causes intermittent recognition failures before genuine oxidation sets in.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Samurai Shodown III copies regularly.
Is this a good entry point if I'm new to Samurai Shodown?
Most fans recommend starting with Samurai Shodown II, widely seen as the series peak. III is darker, harder, and was rushed to market, earning a 'black sheep' reputation — rewarding once you know the series, but a steeper first step.
There are several versions — does it matter which I get?
Yes. It released on Neo Geo AES/MVS cartridge and on Neo Geo CD; the CD version has load times between rounds but is usually far cheaper. Confirm whether a listing is the cartridge or the CD before you buy, and that region/language match what you want.
Unexpected Discoveries
Games you weren't looking for — but might be glad you found.
Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Samurai Shodown III sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
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