Shogun Warriors (arcade game)
Encyclopedia
Shogun Warriors, known in Japan
as , is a 1992
fighting
arcade game
developed by Atop and Kaneko
and published in Japan by Sammy Corporation
and published in North America
and Europe
by Kaneko. It was the first modern-fighting game based on ancient Japanese mythology
, and was created during the fighting game trend of the 1990s that began with Capcom
's Street Fighter II
. Shogun Warriors was followed by a sequel titled Blood Warrior
.
s or other sharp weapons can cause blood to spurt out, which became popularized a few months later by Midway
's Mortal Kombat. The main unique feature of Shogun Warriors is its "grabbing system". When the player is grabbed by the opponent, the grabber must move the joystick left and right to make it more difficult for his opponent to escape, while the one being grabbed must rapidly press any or all buttons to make it easier to escape.
" screen being added to the North American version, another regional difference is that the Japanese version Fujiyama Buster contains original voice samples, while the North American and Worldwide versions were dubbed in English for some characters.
- His appearance, quotes and actions are based on Tōyama no Kin-san
, but also has the Shimazu clan
's "cross in circle" wind crest on his uniform. His Japanese voice samples were replaced with sound effects in the English versions. - He has the ability to extend his limbs for performing long-range basic moves, similar to Poseidon from Konami
's Galactic Warriors. He is also the only non-human character in the game. - Based on ancient Japanese firemen
. His Japanese voice samples were later dubbed with completely different English words in the English versions. By the player's character, he is uniquely called not by an occupation but by the peculiar name. - Although he true face is revealed in his motif, he wears a mask when fighting. - While his look fully matches his occupation when fighting, his motif however shows that he has fangs like a demon. - His chonmage
is untied and he wears an ornamental apron labeled as . He is much closer to Kintarō
than a typical sumo wrestler. - The only female character in the game. One of her moves is a fast-paced, one-leg spinning move. In the Japanese version, she speaks a specific Japanese language called the Kyo language (京言葉). - Although he has armor, while his motif proves that he is actually a robot
, he can still bleed when attacked by blades. His echoed voice is the same in all versions.
who has Saitō Musashibō Benkei
as his motif. - The fourth and final boss in the game. His appearance, victory taunts and motif are based on Ishikawa Goemon
. He often fights bare-handed.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as , is a 1992
1992 in video gaming
-Events:-Notable releases:* Gremlin Graphics releases Zool, Amiga's answer to Mario and Sonic. It goes on to become the best selling Commodore Amiga game, boosting the already popular computer to be the leading gaming machine in Europe....
fighting
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
developed by Atop and Kaneko
Kaneko
, also referred to as , was a Japanese video game publisher founded in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan by Hiroshi Kaneko. It published a number of games both under its brand and other companies, such as Air Buster, Nexzr, Shogun Warriors, DJ Boy, Guts'n, and the Gals Panic series...
and published in Japan by Sammy Corporation
Sammy Corporation
was established on November 1, 1975 and is a leading developer and retailer of pachinko and pachislot systems in Japan.In 2001, Sammy Corporation created a subsidiary Sammy Entertainment, Inc. It would later change its name to Sammy Studios in 2002. Sammy Studios is responsible for developing and...
and published in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
by Kaneko. It was the first modern-fighting game based on ancient Japanese mythology
Japanese mythology
Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agriculturally based folk religion. The Shinto pantheon comprises innumerable kami...
, and was created during the fighting game trend of the 1990s that began with Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
's Street Fighter II
Street Fighter II
is a competitive fighting game originally released for the arcades in . It is the arcade sequel to the original Street Fighter released in and was Capcom's fourteenth title that ran on the CP System arcade hardware...
. Shogun Warriors was followed by a sequel titled Blood Warrior
Blood Warrior
Blood Warrior, known in Japan as , is a 1994 fighting arcade game developed by Atop and published by Kaneko. It is the successor to the 1992 fighting arcade game, Shogun Warriors, also developed by Atop and published by Kaneko...
.
Gameplay
Shogun Warriors plays similarly to some other 2D versus fighting games during its release, which the player's character fights against his or her opponent in best two-out-of-three matches in a single player tournament mode with the computer or against another human player. It is controlled with an 8-way joystick and 4 buttons that perform weak and strong versions of punches and kicks. In one player mode, after selecting a character, the arcade randomly selects an opponent. The opponent order goes randomly and always leaves the last four bosses in a certain order. Some characters stabbed by ones armed with katanaKatana
A Japanese sword, or , is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese swords, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture.-Description:...
s or other sharp weapons can cause blood to spurt out, which became popularized a few months later by Midway
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
's Mortal Kombat. The main unique feature of Shogun Warriors is its "grabbing system". When the player is grabbed by the opponent, the grabber must move the joystick left and right to make it more difficult for his opponent to escape, while the one being grabbed must rapidly press any or all buttons to make it easier to escape.
Characters
There are eight playable characters, and four bosses. Each with their own fighting style and special techniques based on the ones in Japanese culture. Besides the well-known "Winners Don't Use DrugsWinners Don't Use Drugs
Winners Don't Use Drugs is an anti-drug slogan that was included on all arcade games imported into North America for 11 years from 1989—2000. The slogan appears on a screen that is shown during a game's attract mode....
" screen being added to the North American version, another regional difference is that the Japanese version Fujiyama Buster contains original voice samples, while the North American and Worldwide versions were dubbed in English for some characters.
- His appearance, quotes and actions are based on Tōyama no Kin-san
Toyama no Kin-san
is a popular character based on the historical Tōyama Kagemoto, a samurai and official of the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Edo Period of Japanese history. In kabuki and kōdan, he was celebrated under his childhood name, Kinshirō, shortened to Kin-san. He was said to have left home as a young man,...
, but also has the Shimazu clan
Shimazu clan
The were the daimyō of the Satsuma han, which spread over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces in Japan.The Shimazu were identified as one of the tozama or outsider daimyō clans in contrast with the fudai or insider clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa clan,The Shimazu were...
's "cross in circle" wind crest on his uniform. His Japanese voice samples were replaced with sound effects in the English versions. - He has the ability to extend his limbs for performing long-range basic moves, similar to Poseidon from Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
's Galactic Warriors. He is also the only non-human character in the game. - Based on ancient Japanese firemen
Volunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
. His Japanese voice samples were later dubbed with completely different English words in the English versions. By the player's character, he is uniquely called not by an occupation but by the peculiar name. - Although he true face is revealed in his motif, he wears a mask when fighting. - While his look fully matches his occupation when fighting, his motif however shows that he has fangs like a demon. - His chonmage
Chonmage
The chonmage is a form of Japanese traditional haircut worn by men. It is most commonly associated with the Edo Period and samurai, and in recent times with sumo wrestlers...
is untied and he wears an ornamental apron labeled as . He is much closer to Kintarō
Kintaro
is a folk hero from Japanese folklore. A child of superhuman strength, he was raised by a mountain hag on Mount Ashigara. He became friendly with the animals of the mountain, and later, after catching Shutendouji, the terror of the region around Mount Ooe, he became a loyal follower of Minamoto no...
than a typical sumo wrestler. - The only female character in the game. One of her moves is a fast-paced, one-leg spinning move. In the Japanese version, she speaks a specific Japanese language called the Kyo language (京言葉). - Although he has armor, while his motif proves that he is actually a robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
, he can still bleed when attacked by blades. His echoed voice is the same in all versions.
Bosses
- The first boss in the game. He is a blue demon with 鉄球 attached to one of his legs. His quotes are in English in all versions. - The second boss in the game. Like Oni, Tengu's quotes are in English in all versions. - The third boss in the game. He is a sōheiSohei
were Buddhist warrior monks of feudal Japan. At certain points of history they held considerable power, obliging the imperial and military governments to collaborate....
who has Saitō Musashibō Benkei
Saito Musashibo Benkei
, popularly called Benkei, was a Japanese warrior monk who served Minamoto no Yoshitsune. He is commonly depicted as a man of great strength and loyalty, and a popular subject of Japanese folklore.-Biography:...
as his motif. - The fourth and final boss in the game. His appearance, victory taunts and motif are based on Ishikawa Goemon
Ishikawa Goemon
was a semi-legendary Japanese outlaw hero who stole gold and valuables and gave them to the poor. Goemon is notable for being boiled alive along with his son in public after a failed assassination attempt on the civil war-era warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. A large iron kettle-shaped bathtub is now...
. He often fights bare-handed.
External links
- Shogun Warriors at arcade-history
- Fujiyama Buster at arcade-history