《侍魂·零》（サムライスピリッツ零/Samurai Shodown V）是由SNK Playmore於2003年推出的經典格鬥遊戲，是《侍魂》系列的第五部作品。作為使用武器的格鬥遊戲，保留該系列的核心玩法，同時引入新角色、新劇情，以及更加豐富的戰鬥系統，在市場推出後即受到廣泛關注。

當時率先在日本街機Neo Geo MVS上發行，隨後移植到Neo Geo AES和其他家用遊戲機平台。標誌著SNK重新進入市場後的重要作品之一，也在當時為該系列的忠實玩家提供更多的角色和劇情深度。故事時間線發生在系列的第一部作品之前，故而被視為前傳作品。

背景設置在日本江戶時代末期，主線劇情圍繞多位武士及戰士，彼此之間因為不同的命運交織在一起，並最終捲入關乎日本命運的戰鬥之中。與前作類似，角色擁有各自的動機和背景故事。

霸王丸（Haohmaru）：系列的主角之一，流浪的武士，以酒劍豪的形象著稱。擅長使用刀劍，並以自由精神為驕傲。在本作中，仍然是正義的代表，努力打倒威脅日本的邪惡勢力。

娜可露露（Nakoruru）：來自北海道阿伊努族的巫女，守護著大自然。她擁有強烈的正義感，並伴隨著她的寵物鷹瑪瑪哈哈（Mamahaha）。在本作中繼續扮演守護者的角色，與那些破壞自然的勢力對抗。

牙神幻十郎（Genjuro Kibagami）：霸王丸的宿敵，性格殘忍，為了自己的私利而不擇手段而殺人。他和霸王丸之間的恩怨貫穿整個系列，本作中依然是強大的對手。

德川慶寅（Yoshitora Tokugawa）：新角色之一，靈感來自於日本歷史上的德川幕府。他是當代的劍術大師，擁有七把刀並精通各種刀法。刀的名稱以六位愛人跟自己的名字命名，分別為「撫子、白百合、牡丹、椿、朝顏、夕顏、慶寅」。作為幕府的繼承人，展現複雜的性格，代表傳統與改革的衝突。

主要劇情圍繞著這些角色的成長、復仇、忠誠與背叛。隨著遊戲的推進，玩家將見證每個角色的內心掙扎以及他們為了各自目標展開的戰鬥。最終，需要擊敗幕後的黑暗勢力，以拯救世界免於毀滅。

《侍魂·零》延續系列的傳統格鬥操作，並在此基礎上進行部分改進。仍然採用武器戰鬥，可以使用快速攻擊、重攻擊、防禦以及躲避來進行對戰。引入全新的“怒氣”系統，當角色受到攻擊時，怒氣槽會逐漸積累，當怒氣槽充滿時，角色可以釋放更強大的必殺技。此外，還加入“斬擊”系統，可以根據對手的位置選擇高、低、中三種斬擊方式，讓戰鬥更加靈活。

《侍魂·零》也強化必殺技的使用，每個角色都擁有自己專屬的必殺技和超必殺技，這些技能需要玩家在合適的時機使用，以最大化傷害並改變戰局。還允許玩家進行“自殺”操作，這是一個相當罕見的功能，讓角色在戰鬥中可以選擇結束自己的生命，這樣對手將無法獲得更高的勝利積分。

關卡設計分為一對一的格鬥場景，每場戰鬥都設定在風格各異的場景中，如傳統的日式庭園、寺廟、森林等，這些場景根據不同的角色背景精心設計。戰鬥場景的畫風充滿濃厚的和風氣息，展現出江戶時代的日本風貌。每個角色都有自己的專屬劇情路線，逐個挑戰各個對手，最終面對最強大的BOSS。隨著劇情推進，會解鎖更多的劇情過場動畫，這些動畫豐富遊戲的敘事，使得整個遊戲體驗更加連貫。

在推出後，獲得較為正面的市場評價。作為經典格鬥遊戲系列的延續，以其武器格鬥的獨特性吸引大量的玩家。評論者讚揚新增的角色設計、豐富的劇情設定以及戰鬥系統的進步，特別是“怒氣”系統和必殺技的設計，為戰鬥提供更多策略和深度。然而，遊戲也受到一些批評。部分玩家認為難度過高，特別是對新手玩家來說，BOSS戰過於苛刻，導致挫敗感。此外，畫面雖然展現濃厚的日本文化氛圍，但與當時的其他格鬥遊戲相比，畫質略顯粗糙。

儘管如此，《侍魂·零》作為《侍魂》系列的重要作品，仍然在格鬥遊戲愛好者中擁有固定的粉絲群體。它成功地在經典的格鬥模式中融入新穎的劇情和角色，並且延續該系列的精髓，為後續的《侍魂》作品奠定良好的基礎。

Samurai Shodown V (サムライスピリッツ零), released by SNK Playmore in 2003, is a classic fighting game and the fifth installment in the Samurai Shodown series. Known for its weapon-based combat, the game preserves the core gameplay of the series while introducing new characters, a fresh storyline, and a more refined combat system. Upon its release, the game garnered significant attention in the market.

The game was first launched in Japan for arcade systems on the Neo Geo MVS and later ported to the Neo Geo AES and various home consoles. It marked an important release following SNK's return to the market, offering dedicated fans of the series more characters and narrative depth. The storyline is set before the events of the original Samurai Shodown, positioning Samurai Shodown V as a prequel.

The story is set in Japan during the late Edo period, focusing on a group of samurai and warriors whose fates intertwine, leading them to a climactic battle that will determine the future of Japan. Like its predecessors, each character has unique motivations and backstories that shape their journeys.

Key characters include:

Haohmaru: One of the series’ main protagonists, Haohmaru is a wandering samurai known for his image as a sake-loving swordsman. He excels in swordsmanship and prides himself on his free spirit. In this installment, Haohmaru continues to represent justice, striving to defeat the forces threatening Japan.

Nakoruru: A priestess from the Ainu tribe of Hokkaido, Nakoruru is a protector of nature. She is accompanied by her pet hawk, Mamahaha, and embodies justice and purity, standing against those who destroy nature.

Genjuro Kibagami: Haohmaru’s nemesis, Genjuro is a ruthless fighter who kills for personal gain. The rivalry between him and Haohmaru runs through the entire series, and in this game, he remains a formidable adversary.

Yoshitora Tokugawa: A new character, Yoshitora is inspired by the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan. He is a master swordsman who wields seven swords, each named after one of his six lovers and himself—Nadeshiko, Shirayuri, Botan, Tsubaki, Asagao, Yuugao, and Yoshitora. As the heir to the Shogunate, Yoshitora’s complex personality reflects the conflict between tradition and reform.

The main storyline follows the characters' growth, revenge, loyalty, and betrayal. As players progress through the game, they witness each character’s inner struggles and their battles toward personal goals. In the end, they must defeat a shadowy force threatening to bring destruction to the world.

Samurai Shodown V carries on the series' traditional fighting mechanics while introducing new improvements. It retains the weapon-based combat system where players can utilize fast attacks, heavy strikes, defense, and dodging techniques in battles. The game introduces a new "Rage Gauge" system—when a character takes damage, the gauge fills, and once it reaches its limit, the character can unleash more powerful special moves. Additionally, the game implements a "Slash" system that allows players to choose between high, middle, and low slashes depending on their opponent’s position, adding more versatility to combat.

The game also enhances the use of special moves. Each character has their own set of unique special and super special moves, which must be executed at the right time to maximize damage and turn the tide of battle. There is even a unique "suicide" feature, where a player can choose to end their own life during a match, denying the opponent higher victory points—a rare and strategic mechanic.

The stages are designed as one-on-one combat arenas, with each fight taking place in a visually distinctive setting such as traditional Japanese gardens, temples, and forests, all reflecting the Edo period. The battle stages are crafted with a strong sense of Japanese aesthetics, with each environment carefully tailored to the backgrounds of the characters.

Each character has their own narrative arc, facing opponents one by one until they confront the most powerful boss. As the story unfolds, more cutscenes are unlocked, enriching the game’s storytelling and providing a more cohesive experience.

Upon its release, Samurai Shodown V received generally positive reviews from the market. As a continuation of the classic fighting game series, its unique weapon-based combat attracted a large player base. Critics praised the newly designed characters, the enriched narrative structure, and improvements to the combat system, particularly the "Rage Gauge" and special move mechanics, which offered more strategic depth.

However, the game also faced some criticism. Some players found the difficulty level too high, particularly in boss battles, which could feel overly punishing for newcomers. Additionally, while the game’s visual style reflected a deep connection to Japanese culture, its graphical quality appeared somewhat outdated compared to other fighting games of the time.

Despite these issues, Samurai Shodown V remains an important title in the series, maintaining a loyal fan base among fighting game enthusiasts. The game successfully incorporated new storylines and characters while preserving the essence of the classic Samurai Shodown combat system, laying a solid foundation for future installments in the series.