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The Novice grade reduces the damage of attacks and enables auto-blocking. When a character is selected, Samurai Shodown III allows the player to select one of three “grades.” Similar to the “Easy” and “Normal” modes seen in the Capcom Vs. series, these enable or disable various facets to make the game easier or harder. The new ability to block while jumping ensures that anti-air attacks will no longer be absolute deterrents against airborne opponents. The throw command has also been transformed into a new “push-away” maneuver that disorients the enemy, leaving them vulnerable to attacks. The trio of slash buttons are graded weak, medium and strong pressing two buttons simultaneously to execute the powerful version is no longer a requirement. The previous twin button slash/kick input system has been abandoned in favor of a triple button slash and single kick button scheme. At the start of each match, characters are permitted freedom of movement before the battle begins. It also marks the beginning of a new control scheme and a more aggressive system for the series.
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Samurai Shodown III has completely redrawn graphics that are a bit more detailed – and darker – than the previous installments. Additionally, many of the story scenes have been cut back, and the win quotes are all pretty brief. In other words, all of the new characters from Samurai Shodown II save for Genjuro are gone, not to return for quite a while. Unfortunately, many older characters have been omitted, including Cham Cham, Caffeine, Sieger, Wan-Fu, Gen-An, Earthquake, Jubei and Charlotte. Amakusa Shiro Tokisada has also been made a playable character, and his new sprite looks great. Four new characters are introduced: Rimururu, Nakoruru’s younger sister Basara, a vengeful ghost with a chained blade Shizumaru Hisame, a survivor of one of Zankuro’s raids who wields an umbrella and Gaira Caffeine, the massive grandson of Nicotine Caffeine. The story describes the rampages of a legendary swordsman named Zankuro Minazuki, who is named “The Demon” for his fearsome abilities. The game’s events occur in the early fall of 1788, after the first Samurai Shodown but before the second. The story of Samurai Shodown III does not correlate chronologically to its place in the series. The result is a solid game, but with a rushed feel and less polish than its predecessor. Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood (known as Samurai Spirits Zankurou Musouken, or “Samurai Spirits: Zankurou’s Peerless Blade” in Japan and “Fighters Swords” in Korea) reached arcades in 1995.