Sengoku Denshou (1993). Play online

Summary

Sengoku Denshou, the Super‑Famicom port of SNK’s Neo Geo hack‑and‑slash, drops the arcade into the 16‑bit era while keeping the frantic swordplay alive. Your character can carry up to six health points and gathers colored orbs that double as power‑ups: green heals, red awards a single blade, cyan a twin blade, purple a hefty holy sword, and yellow unlocks a limited magical attack. Defeating certain foes awakens spirit forms—samurai, armored wolf, and swift ninja—that lock you into their abilities for a short window, each adding unique jumps and attacks while preserving the same sword strength. The magical projectile is finite, can be deflected, and never interferes with the sword combat rhythm. Though a North American release was teased, the project was cancelled, leaving the title a rare gem for anyone who can get their hands on the Japanese cartridge.

Storyline

Centuries ago a cruel, tyrannical warlord was finally defeated by two elite samurai who swore that he would one day return. Their victory seemed permanent, but the oath they uttered bound the warlord’s spirit to the ages. Now the ancient promise looms over the modern world.

In the present day the warlord resurfaces, raising undead legions of feudal Japanese warriors to threaten the world. Only two descendants of the original heroes can stop him: Dan, clad in a red jacket (known as Claude Yamamoto in some versions), and Bill, who wears a cowboy hat (called Jack Stone elsewhere). Both are martial artists and the last line of defense in Sengoku Denshou.