the latter's series Sky Love being sold to Highlight Entertainment)) back in The King of Fighters XIV, eventually found Haohmaru and Darli Dagger (the latter from Samurai Shodown (2019)) to be displaced in the present by the result of Amplified Specters' powers and Otoma=Raga as well, and forms a team with them, presumably to return to their home timeline through joining the fifteenth tournament, before deciding alongside a recently revived, yet still weakened Mizuki Rashojin to stay in the present. Haohmaru appears as a spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Design and gameplay Haohmaru's creation was inspired by the famous historical samurai Miyamoto Musashi. He was actually called 'Musashi' during the development of the first Samurai Shodown game. The series' creator Yasushi Adachi chose "the two flagship characters" Haohmaru and Nakoruru as the ones that best sum up the series: "With his use of powerful and damaging attacks as well as the Ikari gauge that increases attack power, Haohmaru does a great job representing the myriad of concepts game systems in these games." His trademark moves are "Kogetsuzan," a crescent-shaped uppercut, and "Senpuretsuzan," a whirlwind projectile which lifts opponents into the air (like a hurricane) before dropping them on their heads. He also has a sake jug, which he uses to 'bless' his blade with liquor before he fights. In Samurai Shodown II, he may swing his jug in battle for a multi-hit short-range attack or alternatively use it to reflect projectiles. He also gained a somersault attack, which could cause massive damage upon crouching foes. When his style splits in Samurai Shodown III, his "Slash" form retains several strategies used in previous games, being a balanced and easy-to-master mid-range combatant. By contrast, his "Bust" form alters several moves, granting him access to aggressive close-combat fighting. His appearance in Warriors Rage for the PlayStation also combined some elements from Genjuro's fighting style such as his stance and crouching strikes. Reception Haohmaru was well received, often regarded as a classic character or an "old favorite." In the Japanese Gamest magazine's 1997 Heroes Collection, Haohmaru was tied with Ukyo for their 29th spot (out of 50) in the staff's list of favorite arcade gaming characters. Greg Kasavin from GameSpot listed his "Crescent Moon Slash" move as one of the best special attacks in fighting games' history. Complex cited Haohmaru while including Samurai Shodown V on their list of top games with Fatality-like