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* [[All Love Is Unrequited]]: Galford's feelings towards Nakoruru will mostly get unanswered due to her complete devotion to nature. {{spoiler|Then in ''Samurai Shodown II'', in his ending, he witnessed her DIE (or at least turn herself into the spirit of nature) protecting nature. [[Tear Jerker|They still got to talk one last time before she left his life forever]]}}. Maybe his love of justice would get requited instead...
** Another example is that of Charlotte-Oshizu-Haohmaru. Charlotte and O-Shizu were both in love with Haohmaru, but he is a [[Celibate Hero]], dedicated entirely to fighting. While O-Shizu is depicted as being permanently interested in him and Haohmaru returning her feelings to a degree (he even kisses her in his ''Samurai Shodown II'' ending, though he also tells her she's better off without him), {{spoiler|Charlotte eventualy renounces to her feelings ([[Important Haircut]] and all) once she finds Haohmaru and O-Shizu together at the end of the second game}}.
* [[Already Done for You]]: Happens in ''Samurai Shodown IV'' -: your rival kills the boss first if you don't reach the boss in time and you get the bad ending.
* [[Alternate Continuity]]: Games that were released by SNK Playmore, especially ''Samurai Shodown VI''.
* [[Amazing Technicolor Battlefield]]: Amakusa's stage in the first game (and to an extent in the third, but he's not the boss). Mizuki's stage qualifies as well, seeing how its located in the Mt.Osore entrance to Demon World (Osore Zan Hell in SNK translation), and is filled with bizarre visuals.
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** That's not the worst of it. Haohmaru doesn't look as bad as some others (two-handed grip can just shift). One-handed weapon wielders (Charlotte, Cham Cham, Ukyo) can be handwaved by saying they're holding it in their other hand. Some two-handed wielders can get away with this too. Then there's Gen'an and Neinhalt Sieger, withtheir huge GLOVE weapons. Those.. don't switch that easily...
*** The worst offender is Youkai Kusaregedo. He has presumably eaten off his own right forearm, leaving only a big, sharp bone as his weapon. This arm, of course, switches sides when he turns around.
* [[Ambiguous Gender]]: Yumeji's -, which was done intentionally. Amakusa (although male), often gets confused for a woman. Yuga's first form uses male body, while second and third use female body.
* [[Ambiguously Brown]]: What ''are'' Tam Tam and Cham Cham, anyway? Their village appears to be in Venezuela. Their worship of Quetzalcoatl and use of the Nahuatl language suggests that they're Mexican Aztecs, although Tam Tam's fighting style is supposedly Mayan, and the Palenke Stone presumably refers to the Mayan city Palenque. There are a few hints that they're African (the Tangiers Stone, chimpanzees, Cham Cham's tiger-skin outfit), and Cham Cham's boomerang suggests that she's Indigenous Australian...
* [[Amnesiac Dissonance]]: Yuda's ending in ''Warriors Rage'' (PS).
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* [[Anachronism Stew]]: The games are set in 1788-1811. Texas and San Francisco are part of the United States (Texas joined in the 1845, California in 1850), Amakusa Shiro (1621-1638), Yagyū Jūbei (1607-1650) and Hattori Hanzo (1542-1596) are both alive, Prussia is a feudal kingdom with castles, armored knights, and an Arthurian king, the White House has its modern appearance, and there are robots (well, "mechanical dolls"). So we have French knights, American ninja, and pseudo-Mexican warriors fight against fictionalized figures from Japanese history. In ''Samurai Shodown RPG'', Sieger marries Queen Victoria, who wasn't even born until 1819.
** ''Edge of Destiny'' ups the ante with, among others, a Western Knight, a Native American, a Toreador, a [[Cowboy]], a clone of ''[[Afro Samurai]]'' and a ''[[Horny Vikings|Viking]]''.
*** And don't forget ''Samurai Shodown VI'', which featured a Crane disguised as a [[Meido|maid]], and someone who may be Andrew Jackson (as in: "7th President of the United States" Andrew Jackson (1767-1845)).
** Also Earthquake's neon-colored punk-ish clothing is soooo 1980-1990.
* [[An Axe to Grind]]: Garros and Black Hawk wield axes, and Asura has a giant living axe weapon. Notably, none of the Japanese characters wields such a weapon (Garros is a viking, Black Hawk an american native and Asura well... is a demon).
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* [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence]]: [http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/a/samur2nako.htm Nakoruru].
** Apparently, it happens to be [http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/a/ssznak.htm contractual]
* [[As Long as There Is Evil]]: Ambrosia and its servants are subjects of this trope. {{spoiler|In ''Samurai Shodown RPG'', its revealed that Ambrosia draws strength from negative emotions of humanity}}.
* [[Ass Kicks You]]: Earthquake (a ton of fun), whether from above or his Fart of Death grapple; Wan Fu (still a big guy), from above, just sticking it out at the enemy on land, or sitting on the enemy in a grapple; Hanma (another big guy) sticking it out; Brutes and Kusaregedo by diving at opponent with their butt forward. And, for some reason, Cham Cham (the [[Catgirl]]) does this too from above.
* [[Authority Equals Asskicking]]: Gaoh, who is a ruler of one of Japan's provinces, leader of a rebel army, has deadly spear skills and can turn into a demon mid-battle by tapping into Dark Emperor's powers.
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* [[Bald of Evil]]: Earthquake, Genan and Kusaregedo.
* [[Bare-Fisted Monk]]: Enja.Kazuki fights exlusively with punches, and Suija.Sogetsu with kicks. They have no weapons... becase they ARE weapons. They were the spirits residing in Kazuki and Sogetsu's weapons, and then took over their bodies.
** Gaira literally looks like one, but is not -... his massive beads are his weapon.
* [[Barehanded Blade Block]]: A gameplay element implemented since the very first game and used in several (if not all) of the rest. Few players knew of its existence, though, and fewer took advantage of it, as it was hard to pull out (though not as much as the parries in the second game).
* [[Bastard Understudy]]: Members of Earthquake's and Sankuro's gangs.
* [[Beam Spam]]: Hanmen no Asura, and to far bigger degree -... Yuga.
* [[The Beast Master]]: Nakoruru (with Mamahaha), Purple Nakoruru/Rera (with Shikuru), Galford (with Poppy), Cham Cham (with Paku Paku), Genjuro and Kyoshiro (with unnamed frogs), Mizuki (with Maju/Haon in ''Samurai Shodown RPG''), Bizuki (with Haon in ''Samurai Shodown RPG''), Rimururu (with Konru), Rinka (with Tetsunosuke), Mina (with Champuru).
* [[Beauty Is Never Tarnished]]: All of the male characters even the very young Shizumaru can be cut into pieces in ''Samurai Shodown III'', but all of the female characters are immune.
** Brutally averted in ''Samurai Shodown V Special'', where all female characters, even the extremely young and cute Rimururu, can be crushed, cut in half, eaten, dismembered, decapitated, or simply exploded into a rain of blood. Even in the versions without fatalities, the characters can still be cut in half at the conclusion of battle.
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* [[The Berserker]]: Zankuro, Gandara, Sword Demon Haohmaru (Haohmaru's Rasetsu form), Enja.Kazuki, Mugenji, Enja, Rasetsumaru.
* [[Beta Test Baddie]]: Deku in ''Samurai Shodown 64'', Rasetsumaru in ''Samurai Shodown V''.
* [[Better to Die Than Be Killed]]: The "suicide" (some of them aren't actual suicides) moves from ''Samurai Shodown 4IV''. Worth only one KO, though, and can be used to ender "Raged" condition at beginning of next round.
* [[BFS]]: Suzuhime. Asura, Hanmen no Asura and Yuda also carry very long swords in Sephiroth fashion. In fact, developers mentioned that Asura's sword was initially so long that its attacks had fullscreen range, so they were forced to shorten it for the sake of balance. Asura also has giant Beelzebub battle axe, impact of which can cause landslides.
* [[Big Bad]]: Ambrosia, Yuga and Dark Emperor (each has a separate story arc).
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* [[Blade Below the Shoulder]]: Genans and Tashonmao's claw gauntlets. Kusaregedo's too, sort of (its a bone sticking out of his arm).
** Subverted by Sieger's, Hanma's and Karakuri Hanma's gauntlet weapons that ''lack blades''.
* [[Blade Lock]]: Sword Clash Competition gameplay element in all games of serie -series... which triggers a button-mashing contrestcontest to overpower and disarm your opponent. Though it's a little silly when the claws disarm the giant beads.
* [[Blade on a Stick]]: Kyoshiro, Taizan, Jin-Emon, Gaoh and Jinbei are all polearm users, which grants them extended weapon reach.
* [[Blatant Burglar]]: Earthquake.
* [[Blind Idiot Translation]]: All of the games in the series are full of this. One rather unusual example in the second game looks like an exception, when Cham Cham is regarding the [[SNK Boss]] right after she's declared her intent to 'eat, eat you all': 'Shit! You really make me mad!'
** ''Samurai Shodown IV'' is always happy to declare "victoly!"... which is counterweighted with a "fatarity!!".
** The referee's statement after anyone's second fight in ''Samurai Shodown II'' is "ki ga warui" (meaning, roughly, "something's not right" or "something strange is happening"). It was translated literally into English, into the immensely quoteworthy "Horrible atmosphere."
* [[Blond Guys Are Evil]]: Enja.Kazuki and Enja.
* [[Blood From the Mouth]]: Ukyo Tachibana and Haito Kanakura.
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* [[Blood Knight]]: Haohmaru, who is on the scene just looking for a good fight. Almost everyone he encounters, especially bosses, will get this kind of response from him: "Hey, you gotta be strong, huh? All right, this is gonna be a good fight!"
* [[Boisterous Bruiser]]: Haohmaru is one of the few who are ''main'' characters. He fights, he loves it, he likes boozing off with his sake, he tends to inspire a lot of the younger generations (like [[Redheaded Hero]] Shizumaru) with his stern advice about battle. In fact, if there is trouble on the land, he's usually wandering around looking for good fights here and there, and either the Big Bads have to hunt him down themselves for their purposes, or he just approaches them demanding to know whether they're strong. Saving the world is for the heroine Nakoruru.
* [[Bonus Boss]]: Also known as "intrusion characters", those are: Kuroko in ''Samurai Shodown II'', Gandara in ''Samurai Shodown 64'' and ''Asura Zanmaden'', Sugoroku in ''Samurai Shodown VI''.
* [[Boring but Practical]]: Few things are better for punishing an opponet's mistake than a simple fierce slash; given the high damage levels used in the series, this often becomes an extreme case of the use of this trope. Oh, and while it's true that landing a disarming desperation attack tends to make the fight easier, there are still several cases when merely causing a good amount of raw damage is much better.
* [[Boring Invincible Villain]]: Dark Emperor, having full invincibility in all his ingame appearances so far in ''Samurai Shodown RPG''.
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* [[Canon Discontinuity]]: Series' titles produced by SNK Playmore:
** ''Samurai Shodown V'' retconned several things just for the sake of making at least ''some'' events to fill game's story mode with.
** ''Samurai Shodown V'' Special had no storyline, and ''Samurai Shodown VI'' was an uncanon dream-match.
** ''Edge of Destiny'' looks like alternative universe too, or either it is one big retcon.
* [[Can't Take Anything with You]]: While Asura traveled 20 years forward (as Yuda), he apparently left his memories behind, together with mastery of Seven Ancient Weapons.
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* [[Chainmail Bikini]]: Charlotte has the breastplate, what may be gloves, and what once looked like armoured (if heeled) boots that seem to turn a bit sexier in later games. Neinhalt Sieger is a more masculine example, bearing one (HUGE) gauntlet as well as greaves and kneepads. Torso protection? His big bare Teutonic chest.
* [[The Charmer]]: Jushiro.
* [[A Chat with Satan]]: Happens several times in series, in ''Samurai Shodown I'' and in ''RPG'', Amakusa fills the role of devil for this trope. Also at the end of ''Samurai Shodown RPG'', character must face himself.
* [[The Chessmaster]]: Yuga, Jigen Taishi and Golba have such attibutes.
* [[Child Eater]]: Kusaregedo.
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* [[Cloudcuckoolander]]: Jushiro. His main hobbies are dreaming and watching the clouds.
* [[Combat Pragmatist]]: Hanzo, Jushiro and Sankuro.
* [[Compilation Rerelease]]: ''Samurai Shodown Anthology'' (Wii, PSP, [[PlayStation 2]]), which includes parts one through six in the series -... but does not include ''Samurai Shodown V Special''. Incidentally, this is the only way US and European players can play ''Samurai Shodown VI'' without resorting to [[Import Gaming|importing]] the game from Japan. Luckily for them, ''Samurai Shodown VI'' has all [[Unlockable Content]] available from the start.
* [[The Computer Is a Cheating Bastard]]
* [[Cool Old Guy]]: Yunfei. Also old Haohmaru in ''Warriors Rage'' (PS).
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* [[Cute Shotaro Boy]]: Hisame Shizumaru.
* [[Dark Chick]]: Role of Mizuki, Han-In to nari shi Shiki, Mikoto and Angelica.
* [[Darker and Edgier]]: The whole series can get dark in tone, but it varies from game to game. ''Samurai Shodown III'' and ''Samurai Shodown IV'' in particular have a bit of a mournful tone and a dark color palette. ''Samurai Shodown VI'' is the [[Lighter and Softer|exception]]: it has a ''matsuri'' (festival) setting, and notably, no blood.
* [[Dark Messiah]]: Amakusa is the embodiment of this. If not enough, there is Aku Amakusa who is even more fanatical and evil.
* [[The Dark Side Will Make You Forget]]: Amakusa's story.
* [[Deal with the Devil]]: Amakusa and Mizuki made such pacts with Ambrosia. Yunfei and Gaoh too -... with Dark Emperor.
** Zankuro refused to make this with Aku Amakusa, so he was sealed in a stone statue in ''Samurai Shodown IV''.
* [[Death Dealer]]: Genjuro Kibagami can fling cards as projectiles. These (as well as most of his theme) are from hanafuda, rather than the Western tarot-derivative deck.
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* [[Demoted to Extra]]: Several characters in the ''Samurai Shodown'' series, including Earthquake, Wan-Fu, Genan, Sieger, Jubei and Cham Cham (although a few of them returned as playable characters in later games, and Jubei was included in certain ports of ''Samurai Shodown III'').
* [[Depraved Bisexual]]: Genjuro, because he doesnt care.
* [[Desperation Attack]]: ''Samurai Shodown V'' introduced a mechanic called Mu no Kyouchi ("State of Nothingness"), which caused the opponent to slow down and allowed the use of damaging Issen attack -... but could only be accessed after one already lost a round and had lost a certain level of health. Also inverted with the game's Death Ougi finishing attacks, which only worked if the opponent had already lost a round and a certain amount of health.
* [[Determinator]]: Enja.Kazuki and Suija.Sogetsu in Fire Emperor and Water Emperor modes respectively (they gain constant superarmor). Garyo and Tashonmao too, since they can cast 1-hit superarmor on themselves.
** Gandara takes the cake, being in superarmor at all times, being unable to get thrown or knocked down, having higher than average defence and LOTS of unblockable attacks. He can literally chew you, spit you out and squash you afterwards.
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* [[The Ditz]]: Minto.
* [[Dogged Nice Guy]]: Galford. He's really in love with Nakoruru, but the girl is too [[Married to the Job]], though she did recognize his feelings to her. Coincidentally, turns out Galford is also [[Married to the Job]] (being a defender of justice)
* [[Double Jump]]: Aerial - Iroha in ''Samurai Shodown VI'', and Yunfei too -... with help of special move. If wall jump is counted -... then most light characters in series AND Earthquake.
* [[Double Knockout]]: ''Samurai Shodown'' games count this as a win for both fighters (and go into a 30-second sudden death mode if it happens both times). In the 3D titles, Issen CompetititonCompetition activates instead to decide the winner.
** In the earlier games, a double knockout was called a Double Fatality, even though the characters would stand up after the end of the fight. In ''Samurai Shodown V Special'', characters could actually be cut in half during a double knockout, but would continue to fight in the next round.
* [[Downer Ending]]: Ending of Nakoruru ADV game: {{spoiler|Yantamu dies trying to save Nakoruru, then she dies as well, and its implied they happily reunited in afterlife}}. Many of the characters have downer endings in several games, ending in the demise of themselves or a loved one. Mina's ''Samurai Shodown V'' ending is possibly the worst, as she {{spoiler|has to kill her adorable pet, after which it is heavily implied that she kills herself}}.
* [[The Dragon]]: Gandara, Deku, Hanmen no Asura, Yumeji and coincidentally named Draco.
* [[Dragon Ascendant]]: Zankuro in ''Samurai Shodown IV''.
* ''[[Dragon Ball]]'': Kazuki, Enja, Kazuki and Enja are all considered nods to it, based on immediately recognizable looks, haircut and powers (giant fireballs anyone?). In most of his appearances, Kazuki even had Goku-resembling alternative palette (black hair, orange outfit), and his upgrade to Enja.Kazuki (later separate character Enja) featured color change to blonde -... a nod to the Super Saiyan change.
** Interestingly, Suija's third palette (black hair, brown pants) in ''Samurai Shodown V Special'' became widely known as "Raditz palette" amongst Japanese fans, again due to certain similarities to that character.
* [[Dragon with an Agenda]]: Sankuro.
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* [[Elemental Powers]]: Out the yin-yang. Galford uses electricity, Hanzo, Kyoshiro, Kazuki and Enja use fire, Yunfei (and to some) degree) Haohmaru use wind, Sogetsu and Suija use water, Rimururu uses ice. Hanmen no Asura uses light, shadows and dark electricity at once.
** Based on his special move names, Jubei's projectiles and super are composed out of "reflected moonlight"
** Notably, fire is pretty prevalent in ''Samurai Shodown II''. Hanzo, Ukyo, Kyoshiro, Sieger, Charlotte, Wan Fu, Earthquake, Nakoruru, Cham Cham, Caffeine Nicotine, and final boss Mizuki ALL have at least one manoeuvre that leaves you engulfed in flame. That's ELEVEN out of seventeen fighters. And the guy who runs by in the background? He tosses firebombs at the fight every so often, too.
* [[Emotionless Girl]]: Shiki.
* [[Elemental Punch]]: ''Samurai Shodown II'' had Wan-fu channel flame through his weapon. Which might be a bit of overkill, since the weapon involved is a huge stone pillar. Galford, Enja and Suija are all subjects of this trope as well.
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** Golba made few moves that affected countries across world, so he is partially a subject of this trope.
* [[Enemy Mine]]: Haohmaru and Genjuro, Asura and Hanmen no Asura.
* [[Enemy to All Living Things]]: Mizuki and Rasetsumaru. Kusaregedo -... when he is hungry (almost constantly). Also, Asura/Yuda -... to all things that happen to stand in his way.
** Kazuki and Sogetsu are subjects of this trope as well, but only formally (as Sogetsu actually has no intention to execute his renegade brother).
* [[Enemy Within]]: Enja, Suija, Yuga and Dark Emperor to Kazuki, Sogetsu, Shiki/Mikoto, and Yunfei/Gaoh respectively.
* [[Enemy Without]]: Aku Amakusa and Hanmen no Asura.
* [[Engrish]]: VICTOLY!
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* [[Evil Is Not a Toy]]: Dark Emperor to Yunfei.
* [[Evil Knockoff]]: Rasetsumaru.
** Hanmen no Asura subverts the trope by being a Good Knockoff -... a kind of [[Psycho Prototype]].
* [[Evil Laugh]]: Yuga, Enja, Rasetsumaru. Genan tries to do this, but [[Failure Is the Only Option|fails]] due to his high pitched voice.
* [[Evil Mentor]]: Yuga to Hanmen no Asura and Han-In to nari shi Shiki (both of them have fighting techniques based on Yuga's).
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* [[Evil Sorcerer]]: Amakusa, Mizuki, Han-In to nari shi Shiki, Yuga, Aku Mikoto and Oboro.
* [[Evil Twin]]: Rasetsumaru (Haohmaru), Enja (Kazama Kazuki), Suija (Kazama Sogetsu), and [[Split Personality|Rera]] (Nakoruru).
** In ''Samurai Shodown III'', ''Samurai Shodown IV'', ''Samurai Shodown 64'' and its sequel, playable characters have "Shura" (Asura, localized as Slash) and "Rasetsu" (Rakshasa, localized as Bust) modes. The "rasetsu" modes are the "heel" versions (either more evil, bloodthirsty, or using forbidden techniques), while "shura" modes are basically everyday "face" versions of characters. This was done to add more variety to gameplay and increase number of characters without need to draw new sprites. ''Warriors Rage'' (PS), ''V'' and later do not have these modes, but Rasetsumaru (based on Rasetsu Haohmaru) and Rera (based on Rasetsu Nakoruru) became separate characters instead.
*** Subverted by Hanmen no Asura who is a (standalone character) Good Twin to Asura, while serving as his "Rasetsu" version in game's roster.
* [[Evil Uncle]]: Golba to Suzuhime.
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* [[Fat Bastard]]: Earthquake, the 1,380-pound ninja. From Texas. One hundred years before Texas existed. In his profile, it's stated that he likes people fatter than he is, and dislikes "skinny people".
* [[Femme Fatale]]: Saya.
* [[Fetus Terrible]]: An embryo appearing in the center of eye on giant sphere in Mizuki's stage (Yuga's fetus symbol may be related to it too) -... it symbolizes the rebirth of Dark God in the realm of humans.
** Unborn children that were changed by Yuga's magic are the subject of this trope as well.
** Also Yuga's spirit escaping into Shiki's daughter (Mikoto) before she was born.
* [[Fighting Game]]: Obviously.
* [[Finishing Move]]: Under special circumstances, ''Samurai Shodown IV'' and ''Samurai Shodown V Special'' allow the winning player to perform an unique fatality-like move on the opponent (those are often gory) -... while conditions were [[Guide Dang It|never mentioned anywhere in-game]]). Most of games also allow generic finishers, where some slashes can actually bisect or cause [[High-Pressure Blood]] to erupt. -.. although characters with blunt weapons have no access to dismembering generic finishers, and only can do a "wall slam" finish. Also, suicide motion allows characters to perform a fatality on themselves -... in ''Samurai Shodown IV'', ''Samurai Shodown V'' and ''Samurai Shodown V Special''.
* [[Fireballs]]: Nearly everyone has them, and Kazuki can used them as powerups (aside of using them as projectiles).
* [[Fish Out of Temporal Water]]: Yuda in ''Warriors Rage'' (PS), then Rimururu in the same game (after she de-hibernates).
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** Also Nakoruru when carried by her hawk, Shizumaru when gliding on his umbrella. Suija's special move are executed exclusively from air, and his gameplay consists from jumping and diving through air, although he actually flies only in his intro/win poses. Suija.Sogetsu shows ability to fly only during his super.
* [[Forced Into Evil]]: Hanmen no Asura, after he stops being an [[Anti-Villain]].
* [[Foreign Fanservice]]: [[Estrogen Brigade Bait|Sieger.]]. [[Word of God|You read that right.]].
* [[Forgot the Call]]: Yuda. He remembers with time.
* [[For the Evulz]]: Mizuki's motive.
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* [[Gadgeteer Genius]]: Hanma Yagyu.
** Honorable mention for Mario from ''Warriors Rage'' (PS).
* [[The Gambler]]: Genjuro is an avid player of hanafuda, and cards from it figure heavily (though perhaps figuratively) into nearly all of his special moves. Gambling also seems to one of sources of his income (aside of being a ''hitokiri'' -: a killer for hire).
* [[Gang-Bangers]]: Yaci, Haito, and their Shibito gang. Also Brutes.
* [[General Ripper]]: Golba.
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* [[God of Evil]]: Ambrosia.
* [[God Save Us From the Queen]]: Queen Victoria in ''Samurai Shodown RPG'', {{spoiler|she eventually turns into a demon}}.
** Also the queen in Charlotte's ''Samurai Shodown I'' intro (exclusive to portable version of game) -... {{spoiler|who was possessed by the demon}}.
* [[Gone to the Future]]: Asura (as Yuda).
* [[Gonk]]: Genan Shiranu is so terrifically ugly that it is impossible to even tell his species (he's not a tengu, and he's not an oni, but he definitely isn't human...), who somehow managed to get a hot wife. There's also obese Texan ninja Earthquake, and then there's Kusaregedo, a literal [[Complete Monster]] who's uglier than Genan and Earthquake combined (that's ''while his design was based on aforementioned two characters'').
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** Absolutely ridiculous translations. That's SNK. And don't forget it, dweebenheimer!
** The original US title of the game was actually supposed to be ''Shogun Shodown''. The name was changed before release, but the intentional misspelling was kept.
* [[Good Wings, Evil Wings]]: Asura is an anti-hero, who is shown having 8 black feathered wings (although he only had 2 in OVA). Hanmen no Asura is an anti-villain with 4 white feathered wings. Yuga is a villain with 2 small demon wings that can grow to form bigger, insect-like wings. Mikoto is shown having one white and one black wing, which represent good and evil halves of her personality (the latter being a result of Yuga possession). Yuda is an anti-hero who is show having single black feathered wing -... that happened after he lost 7 Ancient Weapons (and 7 out of 8 wings) as Asura. Also, his weapons happen to be the seven demon lords, that show in humanoid forms in his ending, each having single black feathered wing as well.
* [[Gory Discretion Shot]]: While ''Samurai Shodown'' usually averts this, a couple of characters use this for particularly gruesome finishing moves. Kusaregedo for example, hauls the enemy offscreen before devouring them. He then lumbers back onscreen and coughs up their skull. Suija lifts his enemy offscreen, crushes and liquefies him/her and let their blood rain down on him!
* [[The Gunslinger]]: Jushiro, Andrew and Draco.
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* [[Heroes Love Dogs]]: Galford, the All-American hero from Samurai Shodown has his loyal pet dog as a combat gimmick.
* [[He Who Fights Monsters]]: Basara.
* [[Hide Your Children]]: Averted -: in all but one game (and there only by accident), the finishing moves are useable on ''everyone'', regardless of age.
** A literal use comes into play with one of the installments: a couple of kids attempt to play in the streets of a largely abandoned village complete with the ''Samurai Shodown III''/''Samurai Shodown IV'' [[Empathic Environment]] right before a match. A lady (presumably their mother) quickly comes in and gets them to run off. Good move.
* [[High-Pressure Blood]]: Kill any opponent with a blade attack while they are on the ground and you might see them eject their entire circulatory system before they slump to the ground, obviously dead from exsanguination. Occasionally [[Squick|sprayed]] [[Nausea Fuel|all over]] [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|the winner]] in some of the games.
* [[Highly-Visible Ninja]]: Galford (doesn't cover his head, he wears blue, and he fights with his dog who follows him even ''when he is invisible'') and Earthquake. Good ''god'', Earthquake.
* [[Hijacked by Ganon]]: Zankuro in ''Samurai Shodown IV''.
** Ma Gaoh in ''Samurai Shodown VI'' isnt technically new character as well.
* [[Hime Cut]]: Nakoruru, Suzuhime, and several NPC (such as Yukihime) from ''Samurai Shodown'' have such haircut.
* [[Hiro Yuki]]: voiced Yoshitora in ''Samurai Shodown V'' and ''Samurai Shodown V Special''.
* [[Historical Domain Character]]: Plenty. Haohmaru is basically [[Miyamoto Musashi|Musashi]], Ukyo is basically Sasaki Kojiro, and Jubei is basically... well, [[Yagyu Jubei|Jubei]]; and so is [[Hattori Hanzo|Hanzo]]. Andrew is a bit of a cross between [[George Washington]] (Virginian, cherry trees, bayonet) and [[Andrew Jackson]] (glasses, hair, gaunt-but-imposing physique), and certainly is portrayed as a bishonen version of the latter ([[Captain Obvious|he's named after him, duh]]). Andrew's level is even in front of the White House, still under construction. Amakusa is based on Christian samurai [[wikipedia:Amakusa Shiro|Masuda Shiro Tokisada akaa.k.a. Amakusa Shirou]]. There's also Gaoh, who is based on [[Oda Nobunaga]]. And Yumeji possibly being based on his page Mori Ranmaru (right down to the [[Viewer Gender Confusion|confusing gender]]).
* [[Hitbox Dissonance]]: Hattori Hanzo's super in ''Samurai Shodown III'' had a hitbox that stuck around nearly a second after the actual explosion. Worse, it did not combo with the rest of the attack, meaning that a person who blocked the attack could let off the block a moment too early, and end up taking the full brunt of it anyway. Most of hitboxes in that game heavily suffered from lack of testing.
* [[Hitman with a Heart]]: Saya.
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* [[Hoist by His Own Petard]]: In ''Samurai Shodown V Special'', demon characters have unique effects if subjected to Basara's decapitating fatality. Enja's (fire demon) head will explode, Suija's (water demon) head will collapse into puddle of water, and Kusaregedo's (flesh-eating demon) head will melt into a fleshy mess.
* [[Homicide Machines]]: Karakuri Hanma.
* [[Horny Vikings]]: Garros from ''Edge of Destiny''.
* [[Hot-Blooded]]: Haohmaru; then, to bigger degree, Kazuki. And Enja -... to max degree, as he has fastest Raging rate in games he appeared in.
* [[Hot Chick with a Sword]]: Charlotte, Shiki and Iroha. Saya is not included as she uses ''kama'' in battle.
* [[Howl of Sorrow]]: Galfor's dog Poppy does this when he's defeated.
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** In his ''Samurai Shodown V'' ending, instead of killing Yumeji, Ukyo just cuts off the ponytail.
* [[Impossibly Cool Weapon]]: Azure and Crimson Flash swords (wielded by Seishiro and Tohma) have transparent, crystallic blades. Asura's and Hanmen no Asura's weapons are also subjects of this trope.
* [[Improbable Weapon User]]: Wan Fu (stone pillar, but only in the second game -; in the first he used a broadsword), Neinhalt Sieger (giant gauntlet with built-in cannon), Kafuin Gaira (prayer beads), Hanma and Karakuri Hanma (gauntlets with built-in cannons), Morozumi Taizan (giant calligraphy brush), Hisame Shizumaru (umbrella). One of Asura's Seven Ancient Weapons is a shield, that attacks opponent with spikes. Honourable mention for Cham Cham, who uses a sharpened boomerang as a ''melee'' weapon.
** Storyline-wise, Hanma created his weapon based on Sieger's.
** Giant prayer beads like Gaira's were developed specifically for use as weapons when carrying conventional ones like swords was made illegal in ancient China.
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* [[Jeanne D'Archetype]]: Charlotte.
* [[Jerk Jock]]: Brutes in ''Warriors Rage'' (PS).
* [[Joke Character]]: Kuroko, the fight referee, is playable in some games. Poppy, Galford's dog companion, is playable in ''Samurai Shodown V''. ''Samurai Shodown VI'' adds Sugoroku;.
** Characters like Genan, Earthquake, Hanma, Karakuri Hanma, Minto, Tashonmao and Kusaregedo are clearly series' fun factor fodder.
*** In ''Samurai Shodown II'' and possibly some others, Kuroko is in fact a [[Game Breaker]] (playable in the home versions), just as strong or maybe stronger than the final boss: partly because of his large arsenal of attack [[Shout-Out|Shout Outs]] to other SNK fighters and weird attacks other characters have trouble countering, including a ranged attack that pulls in the opponent and stuns them which can be repeated for an infinite combo, the ability to split in 2 horizonally when hit by the opponent's attack and have one half of him blow up, and an extremely powerful and quick [[Desperation Attack]] that takes out roughly 90% of the opponent's health if it connects.
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* [[Legacy Character]]: Hanzo.
* [[Les Collaborateurs]]: Genan, Earthquake and Genjuro to Mizuki in ''Samurai Shodown II''; Genan and Earthquake to Amakusa in first OVA.
* [[Like a Badass Out of Hell]]: ''Samurai Shodown VI'' boss Ma Gaoh (Ma stands for Makai no Suberubeshi -: oppressor of demon world). A demon-possessed version of Gaoh, who managed to take over Hell by abusing power of Dark Emperor (who possessed him in first place), and riding him like own horse (!). And if thats not enough, the first picture that greets you before fighting Ma Gaoh is him stomping the head of Lucifer.
* [[Little Miss Con Artist]]: Minto.
* [[Living Shadow]]: Basara; also Hanmen no Asura during his super.
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* [[Miles Gloriosus]]: Sankuro.
* [[Mind Over Matter]]: All of Yuga's melee attacks directly attack the opponent by transcending space, similarly to telekinesis. Mikoto (who is possessed by Yuga) can telekinetically toss her weapon in various trajectories across the stage. Suija seemingly uses telekinesis in his fatality, although this can be explained by his water powers used to manipulate opponent's body water.
* [[Mirror Match]]: In different games of series, some characters have special pre-battle dialogue when entered in a Mirror Match; for example, Ukyo Tachibana remarks "Cutting same face... feels bad...".
* [[Misanthrope Supreme]]: Oboro.
* [[Mismatched Eyes]]: Shiki. Although her eyes are naturally blue, one of them becomes red when she is parially under Yuga's control.
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* [[Mooks]]: Oboro's Amazons.
* [[More Dakka]]: Jushiro's ''machine gun sword'. Karakuri Hanma's "Machine Gun" super move.
* [[Motor Mouth]]: Garyo -, who is both fast and loud talker.
* [[Mouthy Kid]]: Ran Po and Minto.
** This also the main occupation of Champuru, subverted by the fact that [[Youkai|he isnt human]].
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* [[Neo Geo]]: Platform on which most of series' games was released on.
* [[Never the Selves Shall Meet]]: Asura and Hanmen no Asura. Yuga ignored it and got screwed.
* [[Nice Hat]]: Caffeine Nicotine wears a nice-sized one. When armed, he swings it as his weak slash/punch. When unarmed, he just swings it for all side moves. And if he does a dive roll, the hat itself is what's seen as rolling along its brim. Ushiwakahime from SS''Samurai Shodown RPG'' uses her hat as her main weapon. Later we got Daruma, who had a hat that could probably cover him whole, had an angry red face on it, and in one of endings he uses it as a boat(!).
* [[The Nicknamer]]: Minto. She even affected names of Mugenji's special moves.
* [[Nietzsche Wannabe]]: Mugenji is an [[Ax Crazy]] example of this.
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** Benisato shares similarities with Shiki from ''Samurai Shodown 64''.
** Yurimaru is sorta similar to Amakusa in a way.
** Shijima = Basara, although he didn't appear until ''Samurai Shodown II'' years later in ''Samurai Shodown III''.
** And finally Genma, whose mechanical arm makes him a clear predecessor to Sieger.
* [[Noble Demon]]: Look Genan's ''Samurai Shodown VI'' ending.
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* [[Non-Human Sidekick]]: Mamahaha to Nakoruru, Shikuru to Purple Nakoruru/Rera, Poppy to Galford, Paku Paku to Cham Cham, unnamed frog to Genjuro, Maju to Mizuki, Haon to Mizuki & Bizuki, Konru to Rimururu, Tetsunosuke to Rinka, Champuru to Mina. Most of those animals are even playable separately, in latter games.
** Kagaribi to Basara, in a way (since she is a ghost that accompanies him).
* [[Non-Linear Sequel]]: Every 2D ''Samurai Shodown'' has been a non-linear sequel since ''Samurai Shodown II''. ''Samurai Shodown III'' and ''Samurai Shodown IV'' are set after the original game but before ''Samurai Shodown II'', while ''Samurai Shodown V'' and ''Samurai Shodown VI'' are prequels to the first game. Oddly enough, the 3D games are all true sequels to ''Samurai Shodown II'', although the PS version of ''Warriors' Edge'' (which is a different game from the arcade version) takes place in the distant future of the other games.
* [[Norio Wakamoto]]: Voiced Golba in ''Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny''.
* [[Not Blood Siblings]]: [http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/a/sszrim.htm Nakoruru and Rimururu] (post-''Samurai Shodown V'' retcon).
* [[Not So Invincible After All]]: Ukyo Tachibana was set up for this with his tuberculosis, but due to his popularity, SNK has never followed through, except in the (canonically happening near end of series) ''Samurai Spirits Asura Zanmaden'' (''Samurai Shodown 64: Warriors Rage''). This was retconned seeing how he is alive and well in ''Edge of Destiny'' which happens few years after Asura Zanmaden.
* [[Numbered Sequels]]: All seven of the 2D ''Samurai Shodown'' games received consecutive numbers from ''Samurai Shodown II'' to ''Samurai Shodown VI'' (plus ''Samurai Shodown V Special'') for their English-language releases. The original Japanese releases of each game had a variation of the original ''Samurai Spirits'' title and some were prequels. Still, ''Samurai Shodown V'' is known in Japan as ''Samurai Spirits Zero''. The fictional chronology of the 2D titles goes like this: ''Samurai Shodown V'', ''Samurai Shodown I'', ''Samurai Shodown III'', ''Samurai Shodown IV'' and ''Samurai Shodown II''; with ''Samurai Shodown VI'' being set in an alternate universe with all the characters from the previous games. Thus, all the numbered sequels after ''Samurai Shodown II'' were really prequels in terms of plot.
* [[The Obi-Wan]]: Yunfei is the embodiment of this trope. Also old Haohmaru in ''Warriors Rage'' (PS).
* [[Obliviously Evil]]: Tashonmao's way of "protecting" Nakoruru.
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* [[Oddly-Named Sequel 2: Electric Boogaloo]]: In Japan, ''Samurai Spirits Shinsho'' (PS game) is a sequel to ''Samurai Spirits: Asura Zanmaden'' (arcade game). English titles of both versions named them ''Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage'', fooling many people into believing that the PS game was a port of said arcade game.
* [[Older and Wiser]]: Haohmaru becomes this in ''Warriors Rage'' (PS).
* [[Older Than They Look]]: Enja, Suija, Nicotine and Yunfei (the first two show their actual age during their suicide moves -... they turn into skeletons and then into dust). Shockingly, Nicotine is the ''youngest'' of four.
** Amakusa is quite old as well, but it doesnt counts since he is an undead. Asura is ancient, but he doesnt looks quite human, too.
* [[Old Master]]: Haohmaru's master, Caffeine Nicotine (yes, that's his name). Also Yunfei (master of Enja and Suija) is a Very Old Master, being more that 1000 years old. Old Haohmaru and Daruma from ''Warriors Rage'' (PS) are variations of this trope, as well.
* [[One-Dimensional Thinking]]: ''Samurai Shodown II'' is the first and probably only [[Fighting Game]] in which you can just lie down on the floor in order to dodge a horizontal swipe or a projectile.
** This maneuver is also available in ''Samurai Shodown V'', ''Samurai Shodown V Special'' and ''Samurai Shodown VI''.
* [[One-Hit Kill]]: Zankuro's [[Desperation Attack]] in the fourth game, but only if he hits you mid-air, for some reason. '''''Samurai Shodown''' V Special'' had the "Zetsumei Ougi or Overkill", which would kill the opponent (if a round had been already won, though), ending the match in a very gory fatality.
* [[One-Winged Angel]]: Literally -... Yuda's design. Like Sephiroth, he has single black wing over his shoulder (when itsit's not visible, he has black wing tattoo there isnteadinstead), has similar design of shoulder pads on straps, he also has very long sword, and {{spoiler|in his ending, he grows a number of white wings aside of single black wing -... akin to Safer Sephiroth}}. Also, inscription on his official artwork reads "Angel of Death - One-Winged Death God - Yuda" (?????????????, ''Shi no Tenshi ? Katayoku no Shinigami ? Yuda''), which is a throwback to Sephiroth's music theme "One-Winged Angel (?????, ''Katayoku no Tenshi''), which is a trope namer.
** Each of the seven demon lords that serve him (as Seven Ancient Weapons) also has a single black wing.
** Asura's design also shares few throwbacks to Sephiroth, being tall, long-haired man in a black leather outfit, wielding very long sword, and although his hair is black, it turns white in rage.
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* [[Onmyodo]]: Practioners of it (onmyouji) include Nicotine, Taizan and Ochamaro's unnamed creator. Nicotine uses ''O-fuda'' cards for spells and summons (including ''Shikigami summons''), while Taizan uses Five Elements seals. Of course, both have exorcist practice. Ochamaro is basically a mechanic onmyouji and was created to seal demons.
* [[Organic Technology]]: Yuga has a preference for it while creating various monstrosities.
* [[Our Elves Are Better]]: Most characters in series that originate from Makai (Demon World) seem to have pointy ears -... that includes Asura, Hanmen no Asura, Yuga, Yuda, and, in some depictions, Enja and Suija. Hanmen no Asura and Han-In to nari shi Shiki have alternative palettes which make them look like High Elves. Moreso in their primary palettes their (as well as Asura's, Yuga's and Yuda's) skin is grey and also Han-In to nari shi Shiki's hair is white, similarly to Dark Elves.
* [[Ouroboros]]: One of Yuga's symbols depicts an ''[[Alien (franchise)|Alien]]''-based serpent eating his own tail (actually one of two tails) to form 8-like shape. ''Warriors Rage'' (PS) has another throwback to this, with characters referring to Yuga as to "Serpent of Time".
* [[Our Vampires Are Different]]: Shiki and Mikoto can drain opponent's life energy to heal themselves.
* [[Outlaw]]: There are lots of those, including but not limited to: Earthquake, Genjuro, Zankuro, Sankuro, and many members of ''Samurai Spirits Shinsho''.
* [[Out of Focus]]: Cham Cham, although popular, has only appeared in a few games. Also. Earthquake and Gen-an, followed by other "lost after ''Samurai Shodown II''" characters such as Wan-fu, Sieger and Nicotine.
** Asura appeared in only one game of series, and got a cult following -... the demand for him was so high thar developers were forced to include him to ''Neo Geo Battle Coliseum''. Also true for Shiki, but she managed to appear in several more games before that.
* [[Palette Swap]]: Used in 2D games of series as a way to gradually change skin color as characters Rage more.
** Another famous example of the skin-color aspect of this trope is Nakoruru. Her 2nd player palette made her look like her own [[Evil Twin]]. The idea was developed on with subsequent games, and evolved into body-sharing character Purple Nakoruru/Evil Nakoruru, and later in separate character, Rera
** In same fashion Kim Ung Che was created as "separate" character from Gaira in ''Samurai Shodown VI''.
* [[Paper Fan of Doom]]: In the first two games, Kyoshiro's projectile is a burning folding fan; he also uses fans to hit his opponents at close range.
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* [[Pint-Sized Powerhouse]]: Nicotine Caffeine, Daruma, Ran Po.
* [[Pirate]]: Garros from ''Edge of Destiny''. There also was a pirate stage in ''Samurai Shodown VI''.
* [[Pistol-Whipping]]: Draco from ''Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny'' takes this to its logical extreme, using a shotgun primarily as a melee weapon. Actually makes a certain amount of sense, considering all the playable characters use standard melee weapons... and while he does actually shoot with his gun, it doesn't kill or incapacitate instantly, and he has to reload after two shots.
** Andrew is much the same, primarily using a bayonet on the end of his rifle.
** Jushiro subverts the trope by having gun built inside his sword's hilt, with sheathing resulting in ''machine gun mode''.
* [[Planet Eater]]: Figuratively - one of Mizuki's famous catchphrases is that she will "eat the world whole".
* [[Playing with Fire]]: Kazuki, Enja and their fusion Enja.Kazuki. Miscellaneous fire users include Kyoshiro, Tam Tam, Wan-fu, Sieger, Nicotine and Karakuri Hanma.
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* [[Razor Wind]]: Yunfei is a master of this. Also is used in projectiles of Ukyo, Yumeji and Zankuro.
* [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old]]: Asura, Yuga and Ambrosia are all ancient beings.
** Although Enja, Suija and Yunfei all are over 1000 years old as well, part of those years was passed in suspended animation, so they may or may not qualify for this trope. By the way, Enja and Suija show their actual age during their suicide moves -... they turn into skeletons and then to dust.
* [[Recruiting the Criminal]]: Sometimes shogunate uses services of Genjuro - a famous hitokiri (killer for hire) with the love for dirty work (because it allows him to kill more people) - just because he is effective. Yet technically, he is still an [[Outlaw]].
* [[Recycled Title]]: ''Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage'' was used as overseas title for both ''Samurai Spirits Asura Zanmaden'', and its sequel ''Samurai Spirits Shinsho''. This led to big confusion amongst non-Japanese fans.
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* [[Red Eyes, Take Warning]]: Asura's eyes become red when he is raged. One of Shiki's eyes becomes red when she is partially under Yuga's control, and when she becomes Han-In to nari shi Shiki (full Yuga's control) both of her eyes become red. Yuda, Mikoto, Tohma and Oboro are permanently red-eyed.
* [[Redheaded Hero]]: Shizumaru in ''Samurai Shodown III'', Kazuki in ''Samurai Shodown IV''.
* [[Red Oni, Blue Oni]]: In order of appearance -: Kazuki and Sogetsu, Enja.Kazuki and Suija.Sogetsu, Seishiro and Tohma, Enja and Suija.
* [[Red Right Hand]]: Asura's demon-controlling gauntlet, which becomes red should he get raged.
* [[Regularly-Scheduled Evil]]: Zankuro's killing spree.
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* [[The Right Hand of Doom]]: Neinhalt Sieger's giant gauntlet with a glowing hand. Also, Asura's demon-controlling gauntlet (albeit normal-sized) is considered dramatically powerful.
* [[Ripple-Effect-Proof Memory]]: Happens after the [[Time Travel]] in ''Samurai Shodown RPG''.
* [[Rival Turned Evil]]: Genjuro to Haohmaru. In ''Samurai Shodown RPG'', it was because ''his candidature as servant of evil was rejected by Amakusa in Haohmaru's favour''. Haohmaru refused, of course.
* [[Rocket Punch]]: Karakuri Hanma can shoot one or both of its fists at opponent, afterwards returning fists back via a rope connecting each fist/arm pair.
* [[Royal Rapier]]: Charlotte's weapon of choice.
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** Hanzo and Galford. They are headswaps of each other and share a good deal of their movesets.
*** Haohmaru and Genjuro, played up as rivals canonically. Both have fireballs, anti-airs, and body projectile moves, but do not play identically.
* [[Samurai]]: Yagyu Jubei is technically the only actual samurai in the game, until ''Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage'' for the PS, which featured members of Oniwabanshu.
** Since the PS game is the last in series storyline-wise, it could be said that was until ''Edge of Destiny'''s Sugamata Jinbei.
*** Said PS game also had generic characters named "Samurai".
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* [[Shock and Awe]]: Galford can access lightning powers via ninjutsu, while Nicotine, Taizan and Yuga do this via spells. Since Hanmen no Asura is more [[Badass]], he calls on powers of anger of thunder Ramiel instead.
* [[Shoo Out the Clowns]]: When ''Samurai Shodown III'' came around, SNK decided they wanted a "darker" atmosphere. This resulted in drastic redesigns for most of the characters ([[Large Ham]] Kabuki actor Senryo Kyoshiro apparently [[Took a Level in Badass]]), and the removal of the more light-hearted characters, including Genan, Cham Cham and her brother Tam Tam, Caffeine Nicotine, [[Yagyu Jubei]] (?!) and Charlotte. ''Samurai Shodown IV'' came around and added some of them back in, and by ''Samurai Shodown VI'', the entire cast of 2D games has been reunited.
* [[Shoryuken]]: Part of characters has such anti-air moves, for example [[Ryu and Ken]] style Haohmaru's and Genjuro's anti air moves -... while Wan-fu had one that set opponent on fire.
* [[Shotoclone]]: Haohmaru's Senpuuretsuzan and Kougetsuzan moves.
** Although its Charlotte whose moveset allows for classic "slow hadouken, fast hadouken" trap.
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** The King of Prussia in Sieger's stage watches the fight while being flanked by a pair of [[Star Wars|Imperial Royal Guards]].
** Ukyo is based off Sasaki Kojiro, but details from his fashion sense to weapon of choice seem more inspired by [[Lupin III|Ishikawa Goemon]].
** The opening line for a few of the games (“Bushido to wa shinu koto to mitsuketari”) originates from ''[[The Hagakure|Hagakure]]''. What follows [[Meaningless Meaningful Words|appears to be pseudophilosophy or something]] about ''[[wikipedia:Asura (Buddhism)|shura]]'' and ''[[wikipedia:Rakshasa|rasetsu]]'' (oh, and it’sit's a little different between some of the games).
* [[Shrinking Violet]]: Shizumaru Hisame.
* [[Shrouded in Myth]]: Ambrosia, Asura and Yuga.
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** Don't forget the final boss Gaoh. Once you damage him enough he transforms into Dark Emperor (a giant suit of armor), which is fully ''invincible'' and capable of killing you less than four hits. He then proceeds to charge at you constantly like a rhino, and you have to wait until his Rage meter empties. Afterwards, when he becomes Raged again, he turns into Dark Emperor AGAIN and so on...
** And then, rounding out the previous two examples is Yumeji, Gaoh's [[The Dragon|Dragon]], who is essentially Rasetsu/Bust Mode Ukyo on steroids. Has high damage output and ability to transform into other characters and use their signature moves.
** ''Samurai Shodown V'' Special has you fight Amakusa, Zankuro, Gaoh, and Mizuki in sequence (which will be initiated only if each previous boss was killed with Issen/Death Ougi for which you only have 1 attempt per whole fight). Although Amakusa's AI was rather retarded, Zankuro is even more intelligent that in ''Samurai Shodown IV'' (despite being balanced somewhat), and he has new reversal move he abuses EVERY TIME YOU USE A PHYSICAL ATTACK. If you attack him, it gets reversed; if you dont, he attacks you; if you block, he throws you; and if you jump, be ready to get nailed on his giant sword. Next comes Gaoh, who, despite being heavily nerfed, is tricky to beat ''correctly'', since is the only boss who ''starts blocking once you attempt Issen/Death Ougi'' - then you most likely waste your Issen/Death Ougi attempt - which nullifies your chances to get to Mizuki (unless you let Gaoh defeat you and then retry). Battle with Mizuki isnt a piece of cake too, but at least she lost her [[Interface Screw]] moves and you can kill her any way you like.
** ''Samurai Shodown VI'' has Ma Gaoh (Demon Gaoh), who seemingly has answer for everything you throw at him, spams screen-filling fire waves that will chip damage you if blocked even after Ma Gaoh recovered to spam another one, and if you got hit by fire wave, used slow attack or simply jumped in air, Ma Gaoh will initiate his super (freezes time, hops off screen and then does rams you while riding Dark Emperor -... which again fills whole screen and does lots of chip damage if blocked).
*** Averted by Golba (boss of ''Samurai Shodown Sen''/''Edge of Destiny''), who fights with generic rapier attacks and seemingly ''lacks special moves''.
* [[Some Dexterity Required]]: Some nearly-impossible super move motions in ''Samurai Shodown II'', ''Samurai Shodown III'', ''Warriors Rage'' (PS), and then for secret moves in ''Samurai Shodown V'', ''Samurai Shodown V Special'' and ''Samurai Shodown VI''.
* [[Something About a Rose]]: Charlotte design is borrowed from the ''Rose of Versailles'' series. She is quite fond of roses, even catching them after winning when someone drops one from above for it, and mentioning how she is "A rose with thorns" in her winquoteswin quotes. Coincidentally, she tends to stab people a lot in the games.
* [[The Soulless]]: Asura and Yuda seem to lack emotions and act like this. Curiously, Hanmen no Asura seems to play the role of "soul" for both of them.
** Also, Karakuri Hanma (obviously).
* [[Spam Attack]]: In close quarters, multi-hitting moves like Ukyo's "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogRU8PtafXk Snowfall]", Jubei's "Eight Aspects Blast", Charlotte's "Splash Fount", Rimururu's "Blizzard Spear", Haito's "Rending Wind Blade" and Daruma's "Blowing Sakura of Pontocho" -... the latter two do like a hundred of hits. Amakusa and Mizuki also had multi-hitting slaps (later they gained multi-slap and multi-claw swipe moves respectively). Kyoshiro's "Eight-Headed Serpent" move bombards opponent with multiple fiery projectiles range of which generally expands with each next projectile. Regarding long-range spam, we should mention Jushiro with his ''machine gun sword'', and Mina with her endless arrows supply. And lets dont even get started on Yuga's 2nd and 3rd forms which are the walking embodiment of this trope.
* [[Spell My Name with an "S"]]: Genjuro as "Genjyuro" in ''SNK vs. Capcom'' and Neo Geo Battle Colosseum''. Other materials also have Rimururu as "Rimnerel", Haohmaru as "Haohmal", Konru as "Konril" and Champuru as "Chample" or "Ceasar".
* [[Spirit Advisor]]: Kagaribi to Basara. Tenhime to Amakusa in the end of ''Samurai Spirits RPG''. Hanmen no Asura to Yuda, and Nakoruru to most of cast in ''Warriors Rage'' (PS).
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*** Amakusa has this as well in part 4. The evil side, dubbed "Aku Amakusa" by fans, is the first of 3 bosses you face. His Shura/Rasetsu (Slash/Bust) mode always opposes the mode of player's character. He has different, darker move graphics, his voice is more evil and warped, and his skin is purple. He also has some slightly different winposes. Storyline-wise he is a lost evil half of Amakusa, which got separated after his defeat in original ''Samurai Shodown''.
* [[Spoiler Opening]]: The ''Samurai Shodown II'' intro briefly shows the secret character Kuroko.
* [[Stalker with a Crush]]: Shiki subverts this trope by stalking Haohmaru due to Yuga's bidding. Nevertheless according to plan they should have sexual intercourse {{spoiler|just because theoretically body of their child would be a perfect vessel for Dark God's incarnation -... at least according to ''Samurai Shodown 64'' storyline}}.
* [[Stock Ninja Weaponry]]: Both Hanzo and Galford wield Ninjato and can throw shuriken or kunai, while [[Highly-Visible Ninja|Earthquake uses a massive Kusarigama]].
* [[The Stoic]]: Sieger, who never smiles.
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* [[Stripperiffic]]: Mina, who fights in bikini (yet her intro pose shows her in the full-body priestess dress and large hat, which she tosses away before battle). Apparently fighting semi-naked is yet another of her weapons.
* [[Stronger Sibling]]: Sogetsu to Kazuki (although it was mentioned that Kazuki has hidden potential); and undeniably, Seishiro to Tohma.
* [[Super-Deformed]]: A special move (unique for each character) lets you turn your fighter into one of these in ''Samurai Showown II'' and ''Samurai Shodown VI''. Also, all characters look like this in portable versions of games (Gameboy and Neo-Geo Pocket Color titles).
* [[Super-Persistent Predator]]: Rasetsumaru, even when he is ''in decapitated condition''. Also Kusaregedo, although {{spoiler|he failed to eat Rimururu in any of his endings, he later made up for it by hunting all the game's cast in his ''Samurai Shodown VI'' ending}}.
* [[Super-Powered Evil Side]]: Enja.Kazuki, Suija.Sogetsu, Aku Amakusa, Aku Mikoto (Yuga), Rera to Nakoruru, and Dark Emperor to Yunfei and later to Gaoh.
* [[Super Move Portrait Attack]]: Big character portraits appear during several attacks in ''Samurai Shodown 64''. ''Samurai Shodown V'' and ''Samurai Shodown V Special'' had a variation too, although portraits appeared when they activated State of Nothingness mode instead of appearing during some kind of super attack.
* [[Supernatural Martial Arts]]: Enja.Kazuki and Suija.Sogetsu have elemental-enhanced barehanded fighting styles.
** Partially true for Galford and Yunfei too, but those two mostly rely on their bladed weapons though.
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* [[Sweet Polly Oliver]]: Shippu no Reon.
** Yuga is also a subject of this trope, using remotely-controlled male body first, then appearing in her own body later.
* [[Swiss Army Weapon]]: Technically, Asura gauntlet's ability to summon different weapons, which looks as decomposing and recomposing them from dark energy wielded by gauntlet. Also, Jushiro's katana has a gun hidden in its hilt, and additionally can enter machine gun mode -... upon sheathing.
* [[Sword Drag]]: Jubei and Zankuro both have dash-while-dragging-sword-along-ground special moves. Those consist from shoulder charge chained into sword attack.
* [[Sword Lines]]: Slash trails in games remain on screen (and sometimes remain lethal) even well past when they were 'drawn' by the tip of her sword.
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** Then ''Samurai Shodown IV'' introduced "Agony Ougi" which were effectively character-specific fatalities which left opponents sliced in pieces with blood graphically spurting out.
** ''Asura Zanmaden'' game also added ability to cut off opponent's arm.
** It gets even worse: Inin the original version of ''Samurai Shodown V Special'', you could, under certain conditions, perform a (very violent and graphic) move called the "Death Ougi" which would actually kill your opponent (thus ending the match); the relevant part is that, for a number of characters it went beyond just cutting the opponent up: some of them would literally destroy the opponent's body leaving nothing behind, save perhaps a head, a skull or a rain of blood. Thats aside of plethora of generic "cut/stab/smash" finishers initiated at the end of the match if opponent was killed by normal attack
** ''Samurai Shodown Sen''/''Edge of Destiny'' features ability to cut opponent in half; stab him for the fountain of blood, cut his arm off; decapitate him; or impale him and leave the weapon in his body.
* [[Timed Mission]]: The arcade mode of ''Samurai Shodown IV'' has a time limit, and the ending of any given character can only be seen if the game is completed within the limit.
* [[Time Master]]: Yuga and Mikoto.
** State of Nothingness (time slow mode) in ''Samurai Shodown V'', ''Samurai Shodown V Special'' and ''Samurai Shodown VI'' resembles this, although itsit's meant to show fastened reaction/reflexes of the character who activated it.
* [[Time Stands Still]]: Yuga's ability in ''Samurai Shodown 64''. Mikoto has such one as well, but hers only stops the game's timer and not the opponent.
* [[Time Travel]]: Hero and his party going 200 years back at one point the second chapter in ''Samurai Shodown RPG''. Also, Yuda crossing 20 years arriving to times of ''Warriors Rage'' (PS).
** Basara also got time-travelling abilities that allowed him to appear in ''Samurai Shodown V'', and also serve as basis of his endings in ''Samurai Shodown V'' and ''Samurai Shodown VI''.
* [[Token Mini-Moe]]: Rimururu, Suzuhime and probably Minto (although she's not nearly as popular as previous two).
* [[Token Motivational Nemesis]]: Draco may very well be this to Galford, {{spoiler|since he killed his father which served one of Galford's main motivators in his quest for justice}}.
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** Kazuki and Enja are the subjects of this trope. Enja also sports the fastest Raging rate in all games he appeared in.
* [[Unusual Eyebrows]]: Asura lacks eyebrows. This is compensated by black eye shadow and few tattoos under his eyes.
* [[Updated Rerelease]]: ''Samurai Shodown V Special'' introduces new backdrops, a new interface, various character and mechanic rebalances, a different roster, re-added death scenes and introduced the infamous Zetsumei Ougi to counterbalance a certain game-breaking mechanic in the original ''Samurai Shodown V''.
* [[The Usual Adversaries]]: Behaviour of Rasetsumaru and Genan.
* [[Utopia Justifies the Means]]: Amakusa's and Yuga's motto.
* [[The Vamp]]: Mizuki, Han-In to nari shi Shiki, Aku Mikoto.
* [[Video Game Cruelty Potential]]: In all the games in the series, it is possible to "accidentally" kill an enemy by using the right attack on the right part of their sprite as a finisher, usually cutting them cleanly in half. ''Samurai Shodown IV'' introduced actual fatalities which were messier. In most games in the series, Nakoruru (the [[Friend to All Living Things|Nature-Loving Girl]]) and Rimururu (her younger sister) were immune to any death effects. In ''Samurai Shodown V Special'', however, not only was it easier to kill an opponent, but these two characters were no longer death-exempt. There is something disturbing about [http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/Ridureyu/screenshots/ssv-bisect01.png chopping the twelve-year-old in half] or making her cute sister [http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/Ridureyu/screenshots/ssv-quad.png explode in a shower of blood and body parts].
* [[Video Game Historical Revisionism]]: The games are set in 1788-1811. Texas and San Francisco are part of the United States, Amakusa Shiro (1621-1638) and Hattori Hanzo (1542-1596) are both alive, Prussia is a feudal kingdom with castles, armored knights, and an Arthurian king, the White House has its modern appearance, and there are ''robots''.
** Because of the time frame, those are explained as mechanical puppet constructs, so-called Karakuri. Karakuri Hanma has no personality, and Karakuri Ochamaro has personality infused by the means of magic, since this puppet was created by a sorcerer.
** Don't forget [[Yagyu Jubei]] (1607-1650). Don't understand why SNK didn't invent some equivalents; didn't seem to have a problem with this for Axel Hawk or Terry Rogers. (Amakusa, at least, has an in-game explanation, that he made a deal with Ambrosia to return from the dead.). As for the seaport and southern wilderness locations needed for Galford and Earthquake's stages, any Northeaster port town (like Boston) and Atlanta would've worked fine. Puzzling.
* [[Villain Opening Scene]]: Prefaces of all the games (published on official sites) often go into details describing the plot of [[Big Bad]].
* [[Villainous Crossdresser]]: Mainstream perception of Amakusa (although he wears elongated sorcerer robe which isnt exactly feminine, and makeup is just his hobby, an he just happens to have somewhat high pitched voice... although at this point no one cares about that).
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* [[Weak but Skilled]]: Nicotine Caffeine and Daruma.
* [[Weapons Kitchen Sink]]: Unless you can tell me how a rapier is going to parry a longsword, bastard sword, greatsword, kusarigama, naginata, and HUGE STONE PILLAR, it fits. Or perhaps you'd like to watch [[Andrew Jackson]] block a shot from a sledgehammer with his rifle? Or maybe a [[Catgirl]] using a boomerang to block a polearm is more your flavour. Run (your opponent through with) what you brung.
* [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]]: [[Split Personality|Rera]], Aa.Kk.Aa. Nakoruru on a bad day.
* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: Kyoshiro hopes to one day surpass his own father in Kabuki acting. Despite his success, he doesn't think he's even close.
* [[What a Senseless Waste of Human Life]]: This is Rinka's prefight quote.
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* [[The Wonka]]: Tashonmao.
* [[Worthy Opponent]]: Genjuro to Haohmaru, Kazuki to Sogetsu, Jushiro to Jin-Emon, Gaoh to Yoshitora.
* [[Wrecked Weapon]]: ''Samurai Shodown II'' and ''Samurai Shodown VI'' have Weapon Breaker moves that break opponent's weapon as opposed to simply flipping it out of hands. And is ''Samurai Shodown I'', weapons could break if they stroke each other (but not the characters) several times.
* [[Yagyu Jubei]]: ''Obviously'' -... he is one of the playable characters ever since the first game, as a [[Badass Grandpa|middle-aged samurai]] who fight with his [[Dual-Wielding|daisho]]. He's depicted as an agent of the Tokugawa regime who happens to be an associate of another historical Japanese figure, the ninja [[Hattori Hanzo]]. According to his bio, the person he respected the most is Yagyu Munenori, which means although he doesn't appear on screen, SNK certainly averts the usual treatment of Munenori as a bastard.
* [[Yamato Nadeshiko]]: Galford's preference for these (and, conversely, Kyoshiro's desire for [[Foreign Fanservice]]) is [[All There in the Manual]] (Haohmaru and Ukyo like these too! Haohmaru's girlfriend Oshizu and Ukyou's lady of liege Kei Odagiri hit every single part of the trope). And among the female characters, the closest to a Yamato Nadeshiko would be Nakoruru, in a [[Cute Bruiser]]/[[The Beast Master]] way (and guess what, she's the girl Galford REALLY fell for). Ochamaro is a ''clockwork robot'' Yamato Nadeshiko, as well -... albeit a rather nightmarish one, considering the enormous framework of wood and saw blades behind her.
** Actually, Ochamaro has no gender (being a mechanical doll), just its voice is high-pitched. Ochamaro's clothes arent feminine either -... they are onmyouji clothes (since Ochamaro was created by onmyouji).
* [[You Can't Fight Fate]]: Ukyo's and Genjuro's endings in ''Asura Zanmaden''; Tohma's ending in ''Warriors Rage'' (PS).
** This trope is subverted by Basara's and Zankuro's ''Samurai Shodown VI'' endings.
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* [[Youkai]]: Youkai Kusaregedo obviously. Genan, Basara and Champuru seem to be too. Basara is a ''yurei'' (vengeful ghost) which is a subclass of youkai.
* [[You Killed My Father]]: The reason Galford and Black Hawk seek vengeance against Edge of Destiny's sub-boss Draco.
* [[Your Soul Is Mine]]: "Your soul is my power" is of Amakusa's winquotes. Mizuki also frequently expresses her desire to consume opponent's soul. In ''Asura Zanmaden game'', Yuga has ability to snatch opponent's soul out of his body, and Yunfei does the same in his ''Samurai Shodown V Special'' fatality, then proceeding to cut the soul in two, killing the opponent.
* [[You Shall Not Pass]]: Subverted by Sword Demon Haohmaru who is guarding the entrance to Yuga's lair. His catchphrase there is "You had nowhere to go but here...".
* [[Yumi Kakazu]]: Voiced Mikoto in ''Warriors Rage'' (PS).
* [[Zigzag Paper Tassel]]: Is found on Mizuki's weapon, as well as on Nicotine's ''Samurai Shodown II'' stage and Haohmaru's ''Asura Zanmaden'' stage.
 
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Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/1601628"