Samurai Spirits III (Samurai Shodown)

The new characters add a lot of variety, and the faster, more punishing fights keep each round intense. Have been playing for hours and the high damage really forces you to learn the parry timing.

I was worried the higher damage would make matches too short, but it actually forces you to play smarter and more aggressively. The new characters, especially the one with the massive sword, fit the darker tone perfectly in this Neo Geo CD version.

The new characters are a blast to experiment with, though I was surprised how quickly matches end with the boosted special damage. The darker tone and faster pace make every fight feel intense.