Play Nettou Samurai Spirits - Zankurou Musouken (japan) Online

Nettou Samurai Spirits: Zankurou Musouken came out in 1994 for the Game Boy, a time when portable fighters were still a novelty. It was published by Takara, and for a handheld title, it tried to capture the feel of the Samurai Shodown arcade games. You could tell they were pushing the hardware to do something ambitious for a pocket system.

You control one of several fighters, like Haohmaru or Nakoruru, and your goal is to defeat a series of opponents to become the champion. The combat uses a simple two-button system for weak and strong attacks, but it includes special moves executed with directional inputs. You can also build up a power gauge to unleash a super attack. The pacing is fast, and the AI can be surprisingly aggressive, making you learn the timing of your moves to win. It feels like a condensed, personal duel every time you pick up the Game Boy to play a match.