Play Samurai Shodown (Europe) on sega Online

Samurai Shodown on the Genesis is one of those ports that makes you appreciate the Neo-Geo original even more—but hey, it’s still a blast if you’re into old-school fighters. The pixel art holds up surprisingly well, especially the exaggerated sword slashes and those little blood spurts when you land a clean hit. Characters like Haohmaru and Galford feel weighty, like you’re actually swinging a giant katana instead of just tapping buttons.

It’s slower than Street Fighter, more about timing and reading your opponent than combos. At first, I kept whiffing attacks because I was too impatient, but once you get the rhythm, landing a counter-slash feels ridiculously satisfying. The AI can be brutal though—Genjuro will wreck you if you don’t watch his tells.

Not gonna lie, the Genesis soundtrack’s a downgrade from the arcade, but the clang of swords and the announcer’s "DESTRUCTION!" still hit just right. It’s a solid way to experience the series if you don’t have a Neo-Geo handy.