Character
Hanzo Hattori
A recurring ninja character in SNK's Samurai Shodown fighting game franchise.
About
Hanzo Hattori is a prominent Iga ninja in the Samurai Shodown fighting game series by SNK. He fights to protect his family and the shogunate, utilizing powerful ninjutsu, illusions, and fire-based attacks. His storyline across titles like Samurai Shodown, Samurai Shodown II, and Samurai Shodown III often centers on rescuing his son Shinzo from dark forces.
As one of the few characters to appear in every mainline fighting game of the franchise, this warrior's gameplay mechanics emphasize stealth, teleportation, and command grabs. In Samurai Shodown (1994), the character established a fierce rivalry with the American ninja Galford, sharing similar basic movesets but differing in execution and special techniques.
The character's historical inspiration stems from the real-life Sengoku-era samurai Hattori Hanzō, adapted into a stoic, shadow-dwelling operative. In Samurai Shodown II (1993) and Samurai Shodown III (1995), his playstyle evolved to include complex counter-attacks and decoy maneuvers. The character's narrative expanded during the prequel era of Samurai Shodown V (1993), which explored his duties prior to the events of the original game. This iteration, along with his appearance in Samurai Shodown V Special (2004), solidified his status as a high-execution, competitive staple. Additionally, the character appeared in the spin-off Samurai Shodown (1995) on the Game Boy, showcasing his adaptability across various hardware limitations. Throughout these releases, the character remains a symbol of tactical patience and high-risk, high-reward gameplay.
Connections
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Games featuring Hanzo Hattori (5)
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