The Story of Kuroko (The Referee) - Samurai Shodown Lore

It'd probably happened to you before. You were playing some casual Samurai Shodown macthes and just having a good time. And then suddenly, the forgotten referee decides for some reason to ruin your day and scar you for life!
Just who is this guy? What is his purpose? and why is he so freaking strong? That's what we'll try to answer in this video.
Want to help the channel out?
Patreon : / shoryugame
References:
---------------------------------------
snk.fandom.com/wiki/Samurai_S...)
Music:
---------------------------------------
"Dive into MATSURI" from Samurai Shodown II
"Way of the Overlord" from Samurai Shodown (2019)
"Six Sentences" from Samurai Shodown II
"The Play of Dancing Battle" from Samurai Shodown III
"Who Likes To Party" by Kevin MacLeod
• Royalty Free Music - W...
"Aurea Carmina" by Kevin MacLeod
• Kevin MacLeod ~ Aurea ...

[@theolanderdilag3872]

He basically is a walking KoF reference at times and that's what I like it a lot; hell, I even recognize that stance from Tung Fu Rue right away when I noticed he was playable

[@duncan3998]

Seems Shoryu and me are the only ones disagreeing.

[@FractalPrism.]

when playing as Kuroko in SamSho2, press the C button rapidly to do Tung Fu Rue's power up attack, where he grows muscles and gets larger.

[@TheStrategist314]

Master Tung and Master Jubei should get a video.

[@lonewolffang]

And alot of moves from other characters in SNK's library of fighters. Makes me wonder if he was the foundation of their techniques. That or he's just made to have them as reference.

[@DanKen139]

I strongly believe that's case as well, ​@@lonewolffang. & his brothers know the same thing he knows, so who's to state they teach it to others. He could very well be the source to serious events that took place between, K-O-F, F-F, & A-O-F.

[@openinginawe5518]

So basically in samurai showdown he just jumps you in a dark alleyway saying "Give up your health"

[@lilhypnotique]

Yep it’s basically “Your life or your life?!”

[@meganinten0078]

Kuroko is really devoted to his job as a referee. No matter the place he is always there when a fight begins. He reminds me of Mr. Referee from the Medabots anime 😊

[@softback132]

Referee from Medabots is awesome the guy would just pop up anywhere

[@m3gatr0n28]

Wait someone actually knows meda bots?

[@luxray4911]

Oh my god you brought back memories. that dude just appears out of nowhere lmao. In a fountain... Bins anywhere

[@tarodeculture]

If there ever is a Capcom Vs. SNK 3, I would want Kuroko to be the secret boss like God Rugal just so he can curbstomp you with every technique in the game.

[@DanKen139]

One of two true bosses​, @@kazumayoshikaze120. Shin Akuma is a true boss for Cap 🆚 SNK 2 as well.

[@fahrilian]

Kuroko just strait up god tier

[@jaderabbit898]

The moment when you mentioned him just casually mimicking KOF moves, my jaw dropped since I never played SamSho so I never knew that about him.

[@bigbrodrey6948]

Imagine if the final canonical KOF game ends with a fight against kuroko

[@bigbrodrey6948]

@Kazuma Yoshikaze / 義風一真 orochi at full power and should be just as hard as mizuchi

[@marche800]

I didn't know this guy was playable prior to this video so when I say him doing Iori's Super I kinda lost my mind.

[@nintendolife25]

Easily one of the most badass referees in fiction. Thanks for shedding light on this underappreciated character!

[@Sin606]

I didn't know all of that about him, but I did think it was either fan service, or he's the originator of the techniques. Considering how things are taught he could be a forgotten master.

[@gerglefinn8281]

I like to believe that due to the unsavory types attracted to these fights in SamSho the refs like Kuroko have to be incredibly strong in order to deal with them pulling stunts such as attacking the referee. I also believe he mimicked his moves from the ancestors of characters like Kyo and Iori. But it could always just be fan service which is fine.

[@adamnakamura8003]

That means that he can reproduce something that was a result of an ancient curse from the earth itself, BECAUSE OF COURSE HE CAN!!

[@casualtom82]

Wow, I played a lot of 2 and don't believe I've ever fought him. Outstanding bio on possibly the most powerful character in the SNK universe!

[@h.m.5724]

So you were basically pretty bad at the game. Even I as a novice in the mid 90s fought him several times

[@royshaheer]

Kuroko is a Intriguing character!!! This is crazy cool.

[@LowkeyJouta]

Wow can't believe Kuroko the referee of all people would be the first individual character lore video you'd make for Samurai Shodown I mean either way the video is as great as always keep up the good content!

[@ShoryuGame]

Thanks!

[@juanca2567]

@@ShoryuGame Don’t do Nakoruru’s video just yet. Wait until she gets a reveal trailer for KOF XV, then show some footage of the trailer for the lore video. She will likely come back since she still has to stop Verse.

[@ryuushinzo3559]

The first time I fought him he was the embodiment of perfect input reading. Not just the button but input and where. It was like fighting a top tier player with the most broken character in their hands and paid to show you no mercy while their life is on the line.

[@ShoryuGame]

I know what you mean.

[@juanca2567]

@@ShoryuGame Imagine a team of Rugal, Geese, Kuroko in KOF. People would be returning to game stores for controller replacement after throwing their previous ones in rage. And if it hits the TV, it will not end well.

[@GeekGhostGamerTop]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 GOOD GRIEF, MAN!!!!

[@ryuushinzo3559]

@@juanca2567 add God Rugal from Capcom VS SNK 2 instead of the regular Rugal. Him and Boss Mr Karate from SvC Chaos

[@biorobot2]

8:20, so ….. Kuroko is Kenshiro?! ( Look at his chest!)

[@abrakadabra6450]

Shiiit you're right man 😮 he's got the 7 scars man, how is that possible??i mean what's going on?

[@franciscoarmandohernandezc5875]

Probably a reference to fist of the north star.

[@HateSonneillon]

What a cool character. Had no idea this was a thing. He also appears in Haomaru's stage in Soul Calibur 6.

[@laserjet2000]

I once wondered the very same theory that Kuroko could’ve been a great martial artist master that developed all those KOF techniques! Nice to see that I’m not alone! 😅

[@duncan3998]

We had a referee in KOF once ''Cool Guy''

[@ThePedrogiardini]

Probably Kuroko is an alien that travels through time to fight. Since he always say "terrible atmosphere".

[@iqielokie6649]

Make a Lore video explaining the KOF Maximum Impact series story or the KOF EX Series story! That's a good idea!

[@Hikaru0kamiki]

Awesome kinda get to see alba or sorrie 🙌🏾

[@meganinten0078]

I would like to see a video talking about the Maximum Impact lore. The MI characters deserve more love. My favorites being Alba, Soiree, Lien and Chae Lim

[@iqielokie6649]

@@meganinten0078 and don't forget Luise Meyrink, Xiao Lon, Ninon Beart, Mignon Beart and Nagase!

[@iqielokie6649]

@@meganinten0078 but at the same time, the EX characters deserve some love to! Especially the 4 original characters debuted in the EX Series! The favourites being : Moe Habana, Reiji Oogami, Jun Kagami and Miu Kurosaki!

[@meganinten0078]

@@iqielokie6649 I like all the characters from the MI series, even the goofy Hyena. I personally prefer them than the new characters in KOF XIV Here is a little trivia. Many of these characters appeared in KOF X GAROU DENSETSU, an official mobile game in 2013

[@uhtyp1]

Him as Master Tung is Interesting theory though, it's possible that master Tung read the imortal scroll like Geese did. And notice how the other ninja brother also uses moves like Kusanagi flames and the yagami purple flames which make it possible that they was around from the days of orochi. These guys is flooded in mystery. As well as Tung because he's training Shunei to save the world from unknown great evil that nobody know about. I'm just adding to the lore, this is what I tough back in my teenage years. And after playing kof 14.

[@iqielokie6649]

Who would've thought, NEW VIDEO FROM MY FAVORITE KZbinR!!! 😆👍

[@RyomenAyeni225]

You:minding your business Kuroko: peace was never an option

[@Hikaru0kamiki]

Every samurai showdown character is gangster, until he steps in the ring.

[@slimballs9650]

10:00 Kuroko mimicking Terry’s winpose is the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen in this series.

[@jeffbeltran3591]

Strongest character ever.

[@ashchisalleh1454]

It iori. Lol Imagine this guy actually the one seal the orochi. Dang now I want name his as my kof all-star character...

[@meganinten0078]

Good to see a new video of this channel. I can see how much you liked doing and narrating it. I had a good time 😄 Thank you Shoryugame 👍

[@ShoryuGame]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@123arskas]

Why hasn't any Main Villain shown interest in him? Maybe they all fear him? Imagine Mizuki,Orochi, Zankuro,Demon Goah, Amakusa, Rugal, Those from the Past etc begging to Kuroko for Power...

[@stevesteve0521]

I love that the Gameboy samurai Shodown port had him as a playable character. Really underrated port of the game

[@DEMediaDrive]

Very informative. Thank you. I have never fought him in any Samurai Shodown game. I've only seen him jump to he foreground and comment I believe.

[@ShoryuGame]

Glad I could help!

[@Xelios26]

I am huge fan of samsho, and I forgot about this referee. Great video!!!

[@ShoryuGame]

Thanks for watching!

[@juanca2567]

@@ShoryuGame Since Shermie was hinted to come back due to SNK heroines, do you think all of the fighters from that game will return? I ask this since Love Heart is almost put in the same situation as K9999, except unlike him, she has an important mission along with Nakoruru and Mui Mui that isn’t finished yet. Another Samurai Showdown character would have to fill the gap if not. Of course, since the final boss of one of the games was confirmed to be brought back from Verse, another Samurai Showdown character could already be confirmed for KOF XV.

[@VOAN]

Only two fighting game series featured these Kurokos, Power Instinct and Samurai Shodown. In Power Instinct there are two Kurokos judging the match instead of just one.

[@GeekGhostGamerTop]

I didn't know that......

[@risensamson8873]

That will make him appear in KOF 15, teaming with G-Mantle and Hyakutaro Ichimonji

[@kinghijinx5892]

Great video as usual. It would be really cool to see you talk about the Samurai Shodown characters more.

[@ShoryuGame]

Noted!

[@kinghijinx5892]

@@ShoryuGame Hey thanks for liking and replying to my comment! Yeah for a while now I've been a big fan of your KOF character lore videos, and I was thinking that it be cool to see you do the same thing for Samurai Shodown characters. Anyway, your videos are great, it's cool to see someone who is passionate about SNK talk about their games in as much detail as you do,

[@stephenkelley1059]

This was great timing. I just spent the past week playing the SamSho collection and fought Kuroko. Would love to see more SamSho-related videos!

[@ShoryuGame]

More to come!

[@juanca2567]

@@ShoryuGame Don’t do Nakoruru’s video just yet. Wait until she gets a reveal trailer for KOF XV, then show some footage of the trailer for the lore video. She will likely come back since she still has to stop Verse.

[@jjenk911]

Kuroko invited the KoF series, confirmed.

[@SantiagoGomez-cx6el]

I was never interested in the samurai shodown saga but I would like to see this character with his brothers as a story arc in kof

[@dannytarver4533]

He could have been the start of all those styles, that's what I always thought...and then you say it. Guess great minds do think alike.

[@Elvynna512]

All snk fighting games has anime series years ago List: Art of fighting Kof:Another day(maximum impact) Fatal fury Samurai shodown 63

[@Heidern..]

This was so unexpected 😂 I had American sports team with the ref outfit to show it or Oswald if u ignore the stuff by the neck area lol Niceeeeeeeeee

[@DanKen139]

This might be deeper than we think... In Samurai Shodown 2, while doing Master Tung's Ancien Shock Blow(Rapid LP or HP, depending on which version of him is being played), he displays the exact makings of the Big Dipper across his chest, which Kenshiro(Fist of the North Star) has also have across his.. Anybody that knows the anime/manga(s), knows that Hokuto Shinken is not only centuries upon centuries old, but also knows that 1 of the main technique Hokuto Shinken is known is perfect if not better with mimicking other moves. This could be very well the source of Kuroko & his Bros origins. Furthermore, Matōki no Aura is the original fighting style of the series/manga before Hokuto Shinken, but was seriously dangerous the style is. Kuroko and his brothers could be the very founders of those mega old styles, which makes more sense as to what they can do here.

[@fredmedinaii4364]

I hope he becomes playable in the newest Samsho. I'll happily pay the dlc price for him

[@melvinprado2736]

Why didn't they made one of his decendance to a be a participant of the KOF, fatal fury and/or Art of Fighting tournament.

[@omerd5147]

Very interesting info. Thank you for sharing!

[@issadembele854]

he is very hard to beat but his theme music is one of the best in Samurai shodown.

[@LUISPRIME]

Wow. Didn't know he was a fighter too.

[@scyther-x4903]

kuroko is a walking kof reference

[@白いメガネでーす]

9:35 And even does Kasanegiri (Ryuhaku & Kasumi)

[@daymonharris8696]

The videos you have been making lately have been pretty unexpected this being one of them.

[@ShoryuGame]

I'll take that as a good thing ^^

[@Aeoncalcos91]

Didn't expect Kuroko for this lore, this is a nice surprise.

[@fernie-fernandez]

You know, on my elementary school on The US, I remember there was a theater play that had shadow puppeteers using puppetry… I was confused on seeing a pair of humans dressed in black, from head to toe. I should’ve known this was a foreign trick that was the inspiration for Kuroko.

[@Mattos77]

Absolutely didnt pick him when you asked if we knew who was going to be in this video.

[@binkaram6577]

he must be alive in SNK's fighting franchise and stays one of the strongest fighter on top of all

[@BahamutLord888]

I like your idea to break down Kuroko from SamSho. Maybe you can make another video the history of brand capcom vs snk or something

[@nick-playercharacter8583]

SNK was truly on another level when they decided to make the joke character stronger than any of the boss characters.

[@Zerohour2k12]

Yet Another Enlightening one!

[@liliencalvel6151]

That's a very interesting character

[@Marisu_Prada]

That's actually a big ass point right there, how come KoF that is always a tournament doesn't have referees but Samsho which is pretty much street fighting all the time does? Maybe they're offscreen or something

[@bananabike279]

That's wild, I didn't even know he was a playable character! I wonder if SNK is planning on making Kuroko the final dlc character for SamSho 2019...

[@AverageDrafter]

He always reminded me of the judge from Karate Champ, but waaaaay more badass.

[@mingyaowu7720]

Yes i agreed it might be possible he can time travel like the world heroes series. I am sure he learned many techniques when time travelling.

[@jordanjackson6151]

I've always loved Sam Sho since game one in a bowling alley (along with Fatal Fury 2 & Special, and World Heroes 2). I only ever faced Kuroko the first time ever in Sam Sho III about 7 years ago....and I didnt' get passed the bastard....

[@dekoldrick]

3:21 Genocide Cutter?

[@notshockwavedemon7543]

Yep

[@dekoldrick]

@@notshockwavedemon7543 Seems like he references a lot of SNK fighter's moves.

[@jaipii1285]

Well I have face him many times with both of my main character's in SS 2. Wolfman and that nasty earthquake 😎 and let me tell you I hardly lost to him. He is tough but not so much if you have firm command on your own playing character. BTW excellent video yet again SG. Really liked it.

[@SpinDONGURI]

YES A NEW UPLOAD

[@DouglasStewart99]

NGL, I didn't get your hint for the next lore video because my mind was thinking KOF and not Samurai Shodown. Yeah it was thanks to both this game and Samurai Sentai Shinkenger that introduced me to the Kuroko. And wow this Kuroko is almost a god in human form from his back story. If you willing to referee during world ending bouts and fighting in *literal* hell then your a god among referees in my book. Also can I just say his SamSho 3 theme "Dance of Battle" is an absolute banger? *Especially* the arranged version?

[@axiscrevite]

Thanks for explaining this character 🤘🏽

[@JumpingAssninja]

I loved secretly fighting this dude in samurai showdown 2 even still in the home ports

[@Bloodreign1]

Outside of the Neo CD and Japan only PS1 version, there were really no other ports of SS2. What you may have played on the Anthology was all emulated games, save for SS6 which was on Atomiswave hardware. Perhaps you faced him in Sam Sho 3 PS1 (since the Saturn and Game Boy ones were Japan only, and you faced him in those as well), where he comes out and faces you each time you play a new game, and always faces you as yourself.

[@ragenstorm6464]

Brilliant video. The awesomeness of Kuroko cannot be understated. SNK really put him in the top echelon of their fighters. Definitely top 5 across their franchises. Since there is not real lore to his strength I'm throwing my hat in the ring for fanfiction. I like the idea that Kuroko's style spawned all the others. I'm saying that Kuroko is from the past, but is the Orochi in its true form and its brothers are the four heavenly kinds. The newcomers team never got it right, and we only saw a watered down version. Kuroko is what they were trying to bring back lol. Okay, that's not as good when I write it, but still, cool character! Thanks for the video Shoryu!

[@GeekGhostGamerTop]

I agree with you Ragen Storm

[@zhadowblade]

I remember when fighting him was just a legend.... Ahh the good Ole days 😌

[@ShoryuGame]

I remember that too!

[@Foxstab]

Kuroko's mascular projection seen in @8:21 has the Hokuto Shin Ken 7 star puncture holes. Omae wa mou, shindeiru.

[@user-lm9gz2kv2j]

if kuroko's alt. color is red, he should be called "akako" or "gurenoko"... sorry, bad joke. ✌️

[@meganinten0078]

Aka=Red I get it XD

[@javierortiz82]

It's not his alt color, it's his rage sprite, when he loses the rage meter he goes back to black.

[@MarkLoweCEO]

Love Kuroko lol always has been beast mode cheat code lol

[@GeekGhostGamerTop]

HAH!!!! Mark Lowe I agree

[@meganinten0078]

I prefer watching videos talking about characters who only appeared in a few games or are not very popular. About Kuroko. I like the theory that he might be a time traveler. I mean, why not? There are ancient gods, demons, magicians, people with super powers, in the SNK universe. I hope Kuroko appears in a new Samurai Shodown.

[@Vetal83]

Also using Todos attack from Art of Fighting!

[@joseurbina3835]

I was always very curious about who is this Kuroko Dude that's always in the Background on the Samurai Shodown series, But it looks like the Mystery is now Solved (well, Mostly).

[@meganinten0078]

The most badass referee in fighting games. He is very devoted to his job as Mr. Referee from the Medabots anime

[@joseurbina3835]

@@meganinten0078 I know all about the Characters in the Samurai Shodown series, but Kuroko is the Character I usually intend to Ignore because I thought he was just some Random *"Jobber"* (like every other Referee in Wrestling is while doing the Pins but gets knocked with 1 Hit), But I guess that's not the same Case with Kuroko, I never really knew he was actually that Strong until this Video just came out.

[@meganinten0078]

@@joseurbina3835 This is why I prefer watching videos about side characters than the famous ones. Every character has something that makes them unique even the ones that look goofy, for example Mokap in MK, he is canon and a real martial art artist who makes the stunts for Jhonny Cage's films. Also in MK Armageddon he developed some special powers.

[@GHOST-zy3ji]

0:41 they are eating a xenomorph?

[@GeekGhostGamerTop]

So, basically Kukoro the referee is the "judo" style referee, but observers the characters stances and movesets, dang.....guy also has Rugal's Genocide Cutter? Hell, he beat Rugal, Goenitz or worse "Dark Ash" and all his dark power, all that crazy power inside a judo style referee in Samsho? For all we know, the guy can also travel to the MCU and replicate Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet and Stones.......HOLY HELL, SON!!!!!

[@HEALTH_NEWS1984]

he is also present in power instinct series

[@pistachiostash3342]

Looks like I know who I'm going to cosplay as. But there is something that concerns me isn't there someone in snk that's actually a time traveler?

[@tedjomuljono3052]

Nope, but the World Heroes guys are all time travelers, they are technically not SNK, however

[@pistachiostash3342]

@Kazuma Yoshikaze / 義風一真 I'm impressed with your amazing knowledge I had no idea he was so accomplished

[@nexusofice9135]

Ya! Love this character!

[@fushigiman140]

Kuroko has picture of human anatomy in his stage i think he insteresting about surgery

[@shaul558]

Our captivity is ending AHAYAH has redeemed Jacob

[@Salty-Josh]

Fatal fury bosses ranked from easiest to hardest i really wanna know how they are ranked and if there are not so many include sub bosses please so that i know how much i suck because i didn't even fight krauser in FF2🤣

[@rzone317]

I got him, rights. It was the judge from samurai showdown

[@riquepinheiro5171]

Wow you were right,no one would guess who it was Edit:actually looking back a few people actually guess him which is even more shocking

[@corpsedesecrator2612]

I always thought he was hidden character not too familiar with him I played Samsho 1 on SNES, 3 on PS1, V on Xbox and 2019 on PS4 and still haven’t bumped into him. You must do more Samsho lore want to see Nicotine Caffeine, Genjuro, Amakusa, Jubei, Gaoh to name a few!!! Also I would love to see you do trailer analysis on Antonov really happy he is back and making friends and appearing more swaggy too!!!

[@VOAN]

You could unlock him in the Game Boy version of Samurai Shodown.

[@DioBONITAO]

Thanks to SNK ALL STARS he became one of my favorites..

[@ThiefofRPGistheWanderingSoul]

Oh right Samurai Showdown. SNK's other big Fighting Game Franchise, other than KoF and Fatal Fury... Art of Fighting too I guess.

[@Ya_Pal_Pebbles]

0:46 why does his standing pose looks so similar to Tung Fue Rue from KOF?

[@t0xcn253]

Wow, apart from being insulted by him in the first game, I had no experience with this figure. Good to know his attacks are just as devastating as his words can be.

[@oneyedhawk6634]

hey man... can you make a video explaining the lore of samurai shodown sen too?

[@Ramsey276one]

2:34 56=GoRo FIFTH brother XD

[@rzone317]

That was a amazing. :)

[@ShoryuGame]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rzone317]

@@ShoryuGame I'm glad that I enjoy but do u had a a chance to battle him or meet him

[@PaulKazann]

What do you think about Antonov in KOFXV? I love his redesign

[@silentman99]

Really wish he was dlc in the new samsho.

[@ShoryuGame]

Same!

[@joandarc441]

Pls do American sports team, Raiden on fatal fury or KOf

[@vincentasakira2120]

maybe he is tung from the past the young version of tung..time travel into the future. 🤔