The Final Round
Encyclopedia
The Final Round, known in Japan
as Hādo Panchā - Ketsumamire no Eikō - (ハードパンチャー - 血まみれの栄光 -, "Hard Puncher - Blood Soaked Glory -") , is a boxing
arcade game
released by Konami
in 1988.
A player selects one of two different boxers, and they fight another boxer in a 3-round bout. If the player wins, he moves on to the next opponent, climbing the KBA (Konami Boxing Association) rankings along the way. If he loses, he can insert another coin for another chance (rematch). Fights can be won by either knockout
, technical knockout or the judges' decision.
The player uses the joystick
to move around the ring, as well as three buttons: face punch, body punch, and block punch. During a bout, the block punch button protects the player's fighter from enemy attacks and switches the character's guard between face and body each time it's pressed. The two punch buttons may be used alternately to pull out combinations or a special, more powerful "Super Punch".
If the player is knocked down, they must shake the joystick and press the buttons repeatedly to refill a bar and get back to their feet. Failing to do so will result in a Knockout loss. If any fighter is knocked down three times in a round, a TKO (Technical Knockout) will occur. These are highlighted with a special animation of the defeated boxer crumbling to the canvas. If all 3 rounds are fought, the judges decide the winner by decision. Each opponent has his own, unique fighting style with strengths and weaknesses.
Every two bouts, players are given the choice of entering a "training session" to earn more skill points or skip these sessions entirely. The "Speed" session consists of punching green dummies appearing from 8 different positions. The "Power" session consists of punching small volleyballs tossed from both left and right, high and low. The "Stamina" session consists of jumping a spinning rod of increasing speed.
When the player defeats the World Champion, a special winning animation will play with a congratulatory message. The credits roll, and the game ends. The total fight time and final score are displayed on screen. Depending on the player's total time at the end of the game, the winning animation and message change, effectively serving as multiple endings
.
not included in the American release. These include a flock of birds appearing in the ring at the start of a fight (damage based), an alternate head (Moai
) for the referee (time based), a bonus hidden in the "Power" training session, and two different circuits (game modes) made accessible via joystick input at the beginning of a new game.
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 Hādo Panchā - Ketsumamire no Eikō - (ハードパンチャー - 血まみれの栄光 -, "Hard Puncher - Blood Soaked Glory -") , is a boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
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...
released by 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...
in 1988.
A player selects one of two different boxers, and they fight another boxer in a 3-round bout. If the player wins, he moves on to the next opponent, climbing the KBA (Konami Boxing Association) rankings along the way. If he loses, he can insert another coin for another chance (rematch). Fights can be won by either knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
, technical knockout or the judges' decision.
Gameplay
When a one-player game is started, one of two different boxers can be selected by pressing the 1 or 2 player button. The player then allocates 100 points between three different skills (Speed, Power, and Stamina). A high "Speed" level makes a boxer move and punch faster. A high "Power" level makes a boxer cause more damage when punching, and a high "Stamina" level makes a boxer endure more damage and recover more energy after being knocked down. When a two-player game is started, both boxers allocate their points and fight against each other. The winner stays, while the loser may get a rematch by inserting another coin. During a normal game, a second player can buy-in and challenge at any time (except during "training sessions").The player uses the joystick
Joystick
A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Joysticks, also known as 'control columns', are the principal control in the cockpit of many civilian and military aircraft, either as a center stick or...
to move around the ring, as well as three buttons: face punch, body punch, and block punch. During a bout, the block punch button protects the player's fighter from enemy attacks and switches the character's guard between face and body each time it's pressed. The two punch buttons may be used alternately to pull out combinations or a special, more powerful "Super Punch".
If the player is knocked down, they must shake the joystick and press the buttons repeatedly to refill a bar and get back to their feet. Failing to do so will result in a Knockout loss. If any fighter is knocked down three times in a round, a TKO (Technical Knockout) will occur. These are highlighted with a special animation of the defeated boxer crumbling to the canvas. If all 3 rounds are fought, the judges decide the winner by decision. Each opponent has his own, unique fighting style with strengths and weaknesses.
Every two bouts, players are given the choice of entering a "training session" to earn more skill points or skip these sessions entirely. The "Speed" session consists of punching green dummies appearing from 8 different positions. The "Power" session consists of punching small volleyballs tossed from both left and right, high and low. The "Stamina" session consists of jumping a spinning rod of increasing speed.
When the player defeats the World Champion, a special winning animation will play with a congratulatory message. The credits roll, and the game ends. The total fight time and final score are displayed on screen. Depending on the player's total time at the end of the game, the winning animation and message change, effectively serving as multiple endings
Multiple endings
Multiple endings refer to a case in entertainment where the story could end in different ways, described as an alternate ending.-Literature:...
.
Characters
- Jabbin' Jim (Player 1)
Modeled after Lance Bean from the Contra game series. - Gentleman Joe (Player 2)
Modeled after Bill Rizer from the Contra game series.
- Knockout Nick (KBA Rank: #7)
A lookalike of Mr. TMr. TMr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
, but slow and weak. - Red Falco (KBA Rank: #6)
Seasoned boxer from EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, his name is a play on "Red Falcon" from the Contra game series. - Mad Mongol (KBA Rank: #5)
MongoliaMongoliaMongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
n slugger skilled in fast flurries. - Iron Drago (KBA Rank: #4)
A tough Soviet fighter, based on Ivan DragoIvan DragoIvan Drago is a fictional character that appeared as Rocky Balboa's rival in the 1985 film Rocky IV. He is portrayed by Dolph Lundgren. The character and his catchphrases have gone on to inspire multiple mentions in popular culture like Clubber Lang , including in the Family Guy episode "Brian...
from Rocky IVRocky IVRocky IV is a 1985 American film written by, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the fourth and most financially successful entry in the Rocky franchise...
. - Steel Fist Fritz (KBA Rank: #3)
Powerful boxer from ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. - Bronx Bruiser (KBA Rank: #2)
Fast and unpredictable BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian fighter. - Harlem Hit Man (KBA Rank: #1)
Murderous hitter of unknown origins. - Black Stallion (KBA Champion) Based on Mike TysonMike TysonMichael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
, he's durable, strong and very fast.
Differences between the US and Japanese versions
The Japanese version of the game is notably different from its American counterpart in several ways: The player's energy does not constantly drain by merely walking around the ring. The two main characters and some of the enemy boxers have been given alternate names (e.g. Gentleman Joe is called "Joe Vulcan"). Most of the voice samples have been changed from English to Japanese, and the presence of a few Easter EggsEaster egg (media)
Image:Carl Oswald Rostosky - Zwei Kaninchen und ein Igel 1861.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Example of Easter egg hidden within imagerect 467 383 539 434 desc none...
not included in the American release. These include a flock of birds appearing in the ring at the start of a fight (damage based), an alternate head (Moai
Moai
Moai , or mo‘ai, are monolithic human figures carved from rock on the Chilean Polynesian island of Easter Island between the years 1250 and 1500. Nearly half are still at Rano Raraku, the main moai quarry, but hundreds were transported from there and set on stone platforms called ahu around the...
) for the referee (time based), a bonus hidden in the "Power" training session, and two different circuits (game modes) made accessible via joystick input at the beginning of a new game.
Legacy
- The game's SoundtrackSoundtrack albumA soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...
was produced by Konami Kukeiha ClubKONAMI KuKeiHa CLUBis Konami's sound team. It is often confused with 矩形波倶楽部 , Konami's in-house band that has released albums consisting of their studio performances. They are primarily responsible for the sound and music in the majority of Konami video games...
and published by King Records on July 21, 1989 as part of "Konami Game Music Collection Vol.0" along additional soundtracks from Flak Attack (MX 5000), The Main EventThe Main Event (arcade game)The Main Event, known in Japan as Ringu no Ouja , is a professional wrestling arcade game released by Konami in 1988....
, Gang Busters, City BomberCity BomberCity Bomber is a vehicular combat arcade game developed and distributed by Konami and first released in 1987.-Gameplay:In City Bomber, the player is in pursuit of a gang of criminals. In order to keep the criminals from escaping, the player must reach checkpoints within a specified amount of time...
, and Devastators.Track # Track name Time 53 Hard Blow (Opening Demo) 00:25 54 Let's Do It! (Title Demo) 00:09 55 Cross Counter (Coin Toss BGM) 00:09 56 Powermeter (Power Selection BGM) 00:42 57 Introduction (Player introduction BGM) 00:10 58 Hard Puncher (Stages 1, 5 BGM) 01:22 59 You Can't Get Him (Continue) 00:43 60 Kill Him (Stages 2, 4, 6 BGM) 01:20 61 Power Up (Training BGM) 00:49 62 Don't Quail (Stages 3, 7 BGM) 01:12 63 Judgement (Decision BGM) 00:08 64 Lost Game (Game Over) 00:07 65 Ranking (Ranking BGM) 00:43 66 The Final Round (Stage 8 BGM) 01:10 67 You Got Him (Winner BGM) 00:11 68 You Are Perfect! (Ending BGM) 01:55 - The Main EventThe Main Event (arcade game)The Main Event, known in Japan as Ringu no Ouja , is a professional wrestling arcade game released by Konami in 1988....
, a wrestlingWrestlingWrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
arcade game released by Konami that same year, shares many sound samples with The Final Round, most notably the referee's screams and count. - In 1996, Konami produced Eikou no Fairway, a GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
Simulator for the PlayStation game console. The game was renamed The Final Round for its release in North America. - The Final Round also exists in ROMROM imageA ROM image, or ROM file, is a computer file which contains a copy of the data from a read-only memory chip, often from a video game cartridge, a computer's firmware, or from an arcade game's main board...
form, and can be emulated on MAMEMAMEMAME is an emulator application designed to recreate the hardware of arcade game systems in software on modern personal computers and other platforms. The intention is to preserve gaming history by preventing vintage games from being lost or forgotten...
.