HOW TO PLAY

NOTE : Assume that all moves are done for a character facing right.
Without a weapon, all slash attacks become punching attacks.

WEAK SLASH	MEDIUM SLASH	STRONG SLASH	KICK

MOVES OF BLOODFEST

NOTE : Assume that all moves are done for a character facing right.

DASH	Shift the joystick or
Your character dashes or hops in the specified direction in order to position yourself well against the opponent. Characters also have unique attacks while dashing, so experiment and discover!

BLOCK	Press the direction away from your opponent.
Whenever you block an opponent's attack, damage is minimized. Blocked physical blows give no damage but special attacks inflict some block damage. Certain attacks like throws are unblockable, however. Without your weapon, blocking an opponent's attacks also inflict block damage. Also, air blocking is now impossible.

GUARD DESTROYER	Near opponent, press or + C
Use this technique near an opponent to give him a staggering push. This does not inflict any damage, but leaves the opponent in a perfectly vulnerable situation, so don't miss the chance to attack!

EVASIVE SIDESTEP	From afar, press AB
Use this maneuver to quickly evade your opponent's attack without suffering any form of damage! Timing is crucial in order to successfully dodge the attack!

POSITION SWITCH	Near opponent, press + AB
Use this maneuver to quickly evade your opponent's attack AND position yourself behind him! Mastery of this technique is key for nastily devastating sneak attacks!

PURSUIT ATTACK	Near downed opponent, press + SLASH
When your opponent if floored, don't hesitate to charge him down and strike him with an additional blow for extra damage in his nigh vulnerable state.

GET-UP RECOVERY	When knocked down, press
This maneuver allows your character to quickly reocver some life meter energy after being knocked down. Be sure to move to a safe place afterwards and counterattack!

TRIANGLE JUMP	Jump against wall, then or
Certain characters can jump off walls in order to escape corners and travel farther across the screen. Only Amakusa, Basara, Galford, Hanzo, Nakoruru and Rimururu can perform this.

WEAPON REPEL	When attacked,
Perform this just before the opponent's weapon strikes you and your character will repel the opponent's weapon, stunning him for a split second. Likewise, if you lose your weapon and your opponent attacks you, perform this maneuver just the moment the weapon strikes you. If pulled at the crucial timing, your character catches your opponent's weapon and throws him for a nasty surprise attack!

TAUNT	Press START three times.
The character discards his weapon on the floor and momentarily provokes the opponent. While it has no real use, you can dis the opponent but beware that you are extremely open to attack aside from voluntarily disarming yourself!

METHODS OF MAYHEM	Refer to individual character movelists
Each character wields an array of deadly techniques in each of his character identities, as well as one mighty POW Special that disarms the opponent. Master these moves to survive!

CHARACTER IDENTITIES AND GRADE LEVELS

Following its predecessor, the player can choose one of his selected character's 2 unique personalities to use for the entire game, SLASH (Shura / Chivalry) and BUST (Rasetsu / Treachery). The Slash mode is very much the same movelist of the characters from the first 2 games. The Bust mode has the appearance of the characters' alternate colors from previous games, usually with a few new moves in their arsenal. There are a few characters that have a different feel when playing between these identities, so experiment with these characters and master their moves!

In addition, there are 3 grade levels a player can choose, which are as follows. Like choosing between character identities, selecting your grade level is critical in determining the entirety of gameplay.

• BEGINNER'S CLASS : The player is can execute an automatic combo by pressing the CD buttons at the same time. Furthermore, with a full Rage Gauge, POW Specials can be performed by pressing all attack buttons at the same time.
• MEDIUM GRADE : Normal gameplay. Normal attack power and the Rage Gauge charges as normal. All CPU opponents use this grade. For intermediate and advanced players.
• UPPER GRADE : Your character has increased agility with the extreme drawback of being unable to block. However, the Rage Gauge does not remain full at all times like before. This mode is for advanced and expert players only.

SWORD CLASH

At certain times during the battle, both fighters will swing their weapons at the same time, resulting in a collision. Once this occurs, a sword clash is initiated. This momentuous exchange of force can be decided by rapidly tapping the A button. In a versus play, the player who taps the button more wins the sword clash and disarms his opponent, disabling his offensive capabilities and maybe even special moves. In a single-player game, the CPU also has a high chance of winning a sword clash or even meet a tie, disarming both warriors at once. Press the A button over the weapon to pick it up. Turn the tide by unarming your opponent!

POW SPECIALS AND RAGE EXPLOSION

As your character takes damage, the Rage Gauge fills up. Once the gauge bumps to the maximum, it flashes POW and for a limited time, all the character's attacks inflict critical damage. This is an aspect which should be taken advantage of during the battle. Once the rage subsides, the gauge empties and attack power reverts to normal.

Press + AB for the POW Special!

Press ABC together to unleash the Rage Explosion!

In addition, when your Rage Gauge is maxed out, the character's unique POW Special technique becomes available! The command for the move is shown beside your character's name during this empowered state. Once this technique successfully connects, it inflicts a considerable amount of damage and disarms your opponent, making him utterly helpless! Without his weapon, your opponent cannot perform most of his special moves! If you do lose your weapon, quickly recover it and retaliate!

The newest addition to Samurai Shodown IV is the Rage Explosion. By pressing the ABC buttons together, your Rage Gauge is converted into a Rage timer. The length of the timer is inversely proportional to the amount of remaining life your character has for the round. Aside from the enormous offensive boost, you can perform a swift combination slash or flash finale strikes by pressing the ABC and BCD buttons respectively at the cost of some of the timer. Also, you can perform your character's extra-empowered POW Special during the Rage Explosion but prematurely ends it no matter how much time you have left. After the rampage subsides, the character will be fully spent, and the Rage Gauge is disabled for the rest of the match. So use this at the very direst of moments!

HONORABLE DEATH AND NO CONTEST

Press + START to perform Honorable Death!

Press + C to execute the opponent!

Though the game's grade levels does not fill up the Rage Gauge automatically, there's a certain technique that does. The Honorable Death or Suicide move forfeits the round for your character in favor of a full Rage Gauge for the next round... if there would be a next round. Use this to have a round's head start, but never use this if your opponent needs only one more victory to claim the match!

Finally, the game gives all characters the capability to finish off their opponents with a gruesome death using a No Contest move. To execute this properly, the player must strike the concluding blow on a standing near-death opponent that causes him to stagger backward (not struck in the air). If done correctly, the special command appears on-screen. Perform the sequence of movements to exterminate your opponent for good. Discover the characters' ways to destroy their opponents! No Contest moves are impossible against Nakoruru, Rimururu, Evil Amakusa, Zankuro and your player's rival character.

© 1996 SNK Corporation