About this game
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge, developed and published by SNK for Neo Geo in 1996, is titled Samurai Spirits: Amakusa Korin in Japan.
Gallery
The Story Behind
After Samurai Shodown III (Blades of Blood) received mixed reactions from the fighting game community, SNK removed most of its new mechanics, revamped others, and focused on recapturing the magic that made Samurai Shodown II such a hit. The result was a more traditional entry that returned to the series' weapon-based combat foundations while closing the narrative gap between the first and second games. Released on October 25, 1996 to arcades, the game quickly became the most-popular arcade title in Japan according to Game Machine's December 1, 1996 issue. The characters were illustrated by Shiroi Eiji, who handled character design for the series from the first through fourth entries.
Tricks & Tales
The game's protagonist, Amakusa Shiro Tokisada, was previously defeated but returns resurrected from the realm of the dead. Two novels were published for this game — one by Akihiko Ureshino and another by Takako Chizu. Neo Geo's region setting affected blood color: North American cartridges showed white sweat on North American consoles, but displayed uncensored blood when played on Japanese systems. The Neo Geo AES home version sold over 9,253 copies in its first week according to Famitsu magazine. The game runs on SNK's Neo-Geo MVS arcade hardware (model NGM-222).
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 IV: Amakusa's Revenge copies regularly.
Will a Neo Geo cartridge still save my game data?
Samurai Shodown IV uses a small watch battery inside the cartridge to keep save data alive. These batteries were designed to last for years, but every Neo Geo cartridge is now decades old. If the game forgets your settings or high scores when powered off, the battery is likely exhausted. It can be replaced — though doing so clears the existing save data, so back up anything precious first. When buying, it's worth asking whether the battery has already been changed.
Does the Neo Geo have region locking?
The Neo Geo AES console has no region lock — a Japanese cartridge works on any Neo Geo AES worldwide, and vice versa. However, the console's region setting does affect censorship: North American cartridges displayed white sweat on North American consoles, but showed uncensored blood when played on Japanese systems. Some collectors modify consoles to switch regions or enable arcade mode, which restores the uncut version even on North American hardware.
What's the difference between AES and MVS cartridges?
AES cartridges were made for the home Neo Geo console, while MVS cartridges were designed for arcade cabinets. They are not interchangeable without an adapter. AES cartridges typically have a longer plastic shell and contain the same game data as their MVS counterparts, but the physical connector and housing differ. For home play, you need an AES cartridge; MVS cartridges require a converter or a modified console.
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Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge 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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