Samurai Shodown II appears again and again in lists of the greatest fighting games of all time, and for good reason: SNK took the katana-duel formula and honed it to a perfect edge. In came the parry (repelling the rival's weapon with exact timing), the evasive roll, ducking under projectiles and a roster balance still studied today. Genjuro Kibagami, Haohmaru's eternal rival, debuted alongside the mischievous Cham Cham and the tiny ninja Kuroko. Every victory feels earned: the system rewards reading your opponent over memorising combos, with that brutal clean-slash damage that defines the saga. The feudal Japan setting, hand-painted stages and traditional soundtrack form an unrepeatable whole. A common yet highly sought-after AES cartridge: constant demand keeps it a safe investment.