This makes NEOGEO Collection's omission of training modes a huge letdown, especially when previous Samurai Shodown re-releases have included them. Samurai Shodown games can be quite challenging against both human and AI opponents, and the brief, pre-game tutorials do little to explain special moves, disarming attacks, onscreen gauges, and other intricacies. That doesn't mean there isn't plenty of depth to master, though. Related: Samurai Shodown (2019) Switch Review: A Shogun Street Fighter

This, along with original developer SNK's usual four-button fighting system, makes Samurai Shodown games more intuitive for newcomers than combo-focused, six-button fighters. Most attacks do higher damage than the genre's typical punches and kicks, so winning a match comes down to opponent reads and smart decisions about when to attack, rather than complex combo execution. Originally released in arcades throughout the 90s and early 2000s, the Samurai Shodown NEOGEO Collection's selected titles are weapons-based fighting games. Developer interviews, design documents, unused character concepts, and more make the Samurai Shodown NEOGEO Collection a compelling purchase for series diehards or arcade fans with a casual interest in the franchise, but a lack of training modes means it's a poor resource for newcomers looking to actually get good. Digital Eclipse's Samurai Shodown NEOGEO Collection pairs the previously unreleased Samurai Shodown 5 Perfect with the six preceding games in the series, universal online play, and comprehensive historical documentation.

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