User blog comment:So-Pro Warrior/Season 1-Battle 9: Ancient Battle Fictional Warriors Style: Team Samurai vs.Team Ninja/@comment-5795750-20130428081650

BG1's "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" Edges

Samanouske Akechi vs Ryu Hayabusa
Primary Swords: The Dragon Sword can be said to be an "upgraded" version of the ordinary katana since it is more durable and more powerful being made of a dragon's tooth. A katana is just a curved metal spike that would be scratched or dented by the Dragon sword. Also, if Ryu pulls off his Flying Swallow move, Akechi might not be able to defend himself well against it with his own katana

EDGE: Ryu

Ranged Weapons: Again, Akechi is walking into the battle with an ordinary weapon whereas the Fiend's Bane Bow has some special perks - it has a larger range and can deal a greater amount of damage. Sure Akechi's bow can be equipped with flame arrows which will be great for clearing away any vegetation and providing light but as an offensive tool it might not be good.

EDGE: Ryu

Legendary Swords: I don't know much about the Onimusha sword but I do read that both are infused with spiritual power - Akechi's sword with Oni powers and Ryu's sword with a heavenly dragon. Since both are of extremely divine power, I can't really decide which is better...

EDGE: Even

Abilities: On face value, Ryu has more powers than Akechi. But upon closer inspection, when Akechi becomes uses his power, he becomes a demon meaning he is bigger and has demonic supernatural abilities. However, Ryu with his abilities has been able to vanquish his omnipotent foes so...

EDGE: Ryu

X-Factors: Average of 82.5 for Akechi, average of 96 for Ryu

EDGE: Ryu

Winner: No contest here. Ryu Hayabusa wins this match-up for having a wider range of abilities and techniques and a stronger assortment of weaponry. Plus he has the experience to take down a demon god just like Akechi in his Onimusha Form

Samurai Jack vs Leonardo
Melee Attack: I guess I could say that Jack has mastered more martial arts than Leonardo including some of the arts that Leo is proficient at including Ninjitsu. Take into account his abilities, and Leo would not be able to stop him.

EDGE: Jack

Primary Weapons: Jack's got one sword, Leo's got two. Jack is well versed and very precise in his swordsmanship and so is Leo, but Jack's sword is more powerful than Leo's - especially when you consider that Jack's swords can cut through buildings and machines.

EDGE: Jack

Ranged Weapons: Jack's bows and arrows can be aimed and reused whereas the smoke bombs and ninja stars are one-use weapons. Also, since Jack is well versed in his samurai weaponry, he would know if a ninja star is coming his way and will dodge them. What might catch him out though are the smoke bombs which his superhuman abilities won't save him from.

EDGE: Even

X-Factors: Average of 95 for Jack, Average of 95 too for Leo

EDGE: Even

Winner: Hmmm... interesting. The edges tell me to go for Jack since he has superhuman capabilities and a powerful sword. But I think I would have to go with Leonardo on this one since he has received a far greater degree of training by the Ancient One and Splinter and has faced off against far more powerful enemies (just think, he has faced off against aliens and an embodiment of the almighty Devil - OK Jack has faced off against a devil too but I don't think Aku is as powerful as the main Devil himself). Plus he can use the environment to his advantage - sure Jack can jump high and scout the area with a bird's eye view but that leaves him wide open for someone else's attack. Also, he may have faced ninjas before, but no two ninjas are ever the same (which I'll get back to in the end) and thus Leo might come as a surprise for him.

Jayden Shiba vs Shane Clarke
Primary Weapons: Wow! Both combatants have pretty decent weapons here. I will have to give this to Jayden since he has the more devastating weapons here, and the Black Box is going to help him out a lot - perhaps giving him the skills a ninja also has. Sure the laser blaster has a pretty decent amount of ammo but for Shane it may take a while to get him to switch from sword to pistol (unless someone can prove me wrong and it takes longer for Jayden's sword to switch forms too)

EDGE: Jayden

Abilities: So much to read... anyway, after all that, I will have to call this a draw because they share almost similar capabilities as fighters except Jayden has something than can cause a disadvantage for the ninja and that is fire which can cause Shane's cover to be blown. Shane's armour however even things out.

EDGE: Even

X-Factors: Average of 90 for Jayden, Average of 90 too for Shane

EDGE: Even

Winner: Hmmm... Shane possess more futuristic weapons but Jayden packs the more devastating ones. I'm not too familiar with the enemies both guys have fought so I can't say much. I have to call this Even I'm sorry to say.

Combined X-Factors: Average of 89.17 for the Samurai, Average of 93.7 for the Ninja

EDGE: Ninjas

Overall Winner: This is quite a tricky decision and thus this match might be close. I reckon that in this stand-off, the Ninjas will probably adapt well and use their environment to their advantage however, the samurai can simply burn and destroy the environment around them forcing the Ninjas into open combat. But at the end of the day, Team Ninja will win this - the key player here is Ryu Hayabusa who has faced off against really powerful enemies and having powerful weapons; by the end of the match I think it will be just him and Jayden left standing and Jayden will put up a good fight but lose to Ryu. Also, that bit about no two ninjas ever being the same? well that I think is key to the Ninjas winning here since Leo, Ryu and Shane will bring in their own unique styles of fighting whereas the samurai don't have that same creative advantage (or not as much as the ninjas anyway)