Last Bronx
From Sega Retro
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Last Bronx | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Model 2B CRX, Sega Saturn, Windows PC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Sega AM3[1] Sega PC H.I.C. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Supporting companies: Telecom Animation Film (animation) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributor: Deith Leisure (UK[2]) Ecofilmes (PT) Tec Toy (BR) Wizard Soft (KR) Worldwise Enterprise (TW) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (22/22 tracks) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peripherals supported: Saturn Backup Memory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Fighting Action/Kakutou Action (格闘アクション)[3], Action[4] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Last Bronx, subtitled Last Bronx: Tokyo Bangaichi (ラストブロンクス -東京番外地-) in Japan, is a 3D versus fighting game developed by Sega AM3 for Sega Model 2B CRX arcade hardware.
Contents
Story
Last Bronx takes place in a more disastrous telling of the early 1990's bubble boom and crash in Japan, where its stock market crash was more akin to an economic depression, giving rise to a huge wave of gang warfare and criminal violence amongst Japan's youth and juveniles.
“ |
Tokyo was riding high on the tsunami of global economic supremacy when the bubble broke in 1991. Then things fell apart. Hundred billion yen building complexes were left half-finished, and salarymen started having instant ramen for lunch as the slush-money supplies dried up. And slowly, the hidden Japan began to emerge, crawling in from the shadows on the outskirts of town. Biker gangs and Chinese mafia; loansharks and slave-traders; Doomsday cults, madmen and thieves. Those were the days of the First All-Tokyo StreetWar - where young gangs met and dashed and slid into run down streets, slick with their own blood. Then a single crew of unstoppable bōsōzokus appeared to put an end to the violence and bloodshed. Through fair-handed dealings and iron-fisted fighting skills, the Soul Crew gang blazed a path for the future of Tokyo's young... ...until, under circumstances still riddled with doubt and accusations, the leader of the Soul Crew was viciously killed. The tenuous balance of power was thrown out of whack, and every street tribe with pride, dreams or ambition felt the shockwave of his fall like to call to arms. The Second StreetWar was ignited. At the height of the fighting, an ominously worded challenge to the leaders of the toughest gangs appeared in graffiti scrawls all over Town: "Fellow Citizens: We all grow weary of this bitter strife. And so now I call on each of you in the name of peace. You all know how useless these recent squabbles are. I have a modest proposal to remedy this unfortunate situation: I call for a fighting tournament, solely between the chosen leaders of each worthy gang. A decisive battle that will spare the lives of the young while settling the question of which group has the power to rule Tokyo. Of course the fights will be held in secrecy, and the results will not be made public. This is a fight for Honor not Fame. A Final Word: I regret that under no circumstances can a refusal to participate be accepted. In the event that any of you do not attend, I will make arrangements to have flowers sent to the funeral. I look forward to meeting each of you at the appointed hour." REDRUM Several of the recipients of this very peculiar challenge shrugged it off as a practical joke or thought it was a trap set by a rival gang. But when members off their crews were found dead in Tokyo Bay, the truth of its warning became very clear. There will be no RSVPs to the Last Bronx. |
„ |
— US Saturn Manual [18] |
Characters
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Yusaku Kudo (工藤 優作) |
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The 19-year-old boss of street-gang "Neo-Soul" from Haneda airport. Yusaku is 171 cm tall and weighs 66 kg. His weapon is a metal sansetsukon; his alternate weapon is a Shinkansen scale model. | |
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Joe Inagaki (稲垣 丈) |
The 23-year-old boss of the "Shinjuku Mad" (新宿マッド) gang from Shinjuku. His weapons are nunchaku; his alternate weapons are corn ears. Joe is 179 cm tall and weighs 76 kg. | |
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Lisa Kusanami (草波 リサ) |
The 17-year-old leader of the "Orchids" music-band (and gang) from the moonlight garden in Takeshiba Passenger Ship Terminal. The youngest playable character, she is 159 cm tall and weighs 45 kg. Her measurements are 83–58–85. Lisa's weapon is a double metal stick (aka "Double-sticks"); her alternate weapon is a ladle and spatula. | |
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Hiroshi "Tommy" Tomiie (富家 大) |
The 18-year-old boss of the "Helter Skelter" gang from Shibuya. He is 165.5 cm tall and weighs 54 kg. Tommy's weapon is the Bō staff; his alternate weapon is a deck brush. Tommy's stage, "Cross Street", features a billboard with an image of Sonic the Hedgehog. | |
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Yoko Kono (港野 洋子) |
The 20-year-old boss of the "G-Troops" gang from the Tokyo subways, and the sister of Red Eye. She is 163.5 cm tall and weighs 49 kg. Yoko's weapon is a wooden tonfa; her alternate weapons are umbrellas. | |
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Saburo Zaimoku (財目三郎) |
The 26-year-old boss of the "Katsushika Dumpsters" (葛飾ダンプスターズ) gang from Katsushika. He is 183 cm tall and weighs 102 kg. Zaimoku's weapon is the hammer; his alternate weapon is a frozen tuna. | |
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Nagi Hojo (豊饒 梛) |
Also known as "The Raving Lesbian," Nagi is the 23-year-old boss of the "Dogma" (怒愚魔) gang from the Rainbow Bridge area of Tokyo, as well as a feminist. She is 167.5 cm tall and weighs 52 kg. Her measurements are 90–60–90. Nagi's weapon is the sai; her alternate weapon is a spoon and fork. | |
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Toru Kurosawa (黒澤 透) |
The 25-year-old boss of the "Roppongi Hard Core Boys" (六本木野獣会) gang from Roppongi. He is 177.5 cm tall and weighs 71 kg. Kurosawa's weapon is the bokuto (a wooden sword); his alternate weapon is a folding fan. | |
Red Eye (レッドアイ) | |
Formerly known as Ken Kono (港野 拳), the co-founder and former boss of the "G-Troop" gang. After refusing the Redrum challenge, Redrum badly injured him in a fire, and his anger made him mad and evil. Eventually, he was turned into Red Eye and himself became an agent for the mysterious Redrum organization. In Yoko's ending, he is beaten by his sister Yoko at the tournament's final in the subway. Ken apologizes and tells his sister the truth, and then dies in her arms. Red Eye's weapon is a metal tonfa; his alternate weapons are chopsticks and broiled sauries. |
Gameplay
Last Bronx is a 3D polygonal fighting game, similar to the likes of Virtua Fighter 2, but developed independently by AM3 on an entirely different engine. Most notably, each of the eight characters wield unique weapons of various sizes and strengths. Like other fighting games, each match is a best out of two rounds fight with victory by knock out or remaining health at the end of the 30-second time limit. The stages are set in real Tokyo city closed areas without any ring outs. However, fighters can jump on the barriers (and eventually make a disqualifying ring out backflip from there).
Last Bronx uses the "PKG" 3-button system introduced by the AM2 in Virtua Fighter – "P" stands for "Punch" (or weapon), "K" for "Kick" and "G" for "Guard". The player uses the arcade joystick to move the character. Certain joystick and button combinations result in special attacks and combination attacks. The "G" button is used to block the opponent's attacks and to perform a feint attack called "Attack Cancel".Strong attacks, throlls and rolling moves can be performed using different button combinations. Taunts can also be used. According to AM3, each character has roughly the same number of moves as those seen in Virtua Fighter 2[19].
The game has a number of real-world Japanese sponsors, including Gamest and Famitsu magazines.
History
Development
Last Bronx is the third in a set of games released during the mid-1990s by Sega's AM teams to capitalise on the success on a genre kickstarted by Sega's own Virtua Fighter. At the time, Sega AM2's Virtua Fighter 2 and Fighting Vipers were proving to be profitable ventures - Last Bronx stands as Sega AM3's (sole) attempt at taking some of the market for themselves. While Virtua Fighter 2 is seen as the technical fighter and Fighting Vipers a more intense experience, Last Bronx was envisioned as a story-led fighting game with motion-captured weapons, one of the first games to do so (the other being Namco's Soul Edge).
Release
Last Bronx proved to be another big success for Sega, despite AM3's lack of experience with the genre.
Legacy
Following the release of Last Bronx, AM3 largely abandoned the 3D fighting game genre so no direct sequels have ever been produced. The popularity of Last Bronx however led to comics, radio dramas and a V-Cinema film.
The game was souped up and brought to the PlayStation 2 as Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 24: Last Bronx -Tokyo Bangaichi- in 2006. Sega Logistics Service announced it would end service on Last Bronx arcade machines on March 31, 2017.[20][21]
Versions
Sega Saturn version
After being announced at the Sega Saturn Senryaku Happyoukai conference on the 8th November 1996, Last Bronx was brought to the Sega Saturn in mid 1997. It was considered at the time to be a big technical achievement for home console fighting games, the key feature being polygonal backgrounds, which although present in plenty of arcade games prior to Last Bronx's release, were non-existent on home consoles due to a perceived lack of processing power. Usually, as was the case in Virtua Fighter 2 and Fighting Vipers, backgrounds would be replaced with unrealistic 2D variants, and were a common source of complaint at the time.
Last Bronx was the first fighting game to break this trend, although the level of detail in the background still pales in comparison to the Model 2 version. It is also notable as at the time, no PlayStation fighting games were achieving this feat either (although they became more common towards the end of 1998). Of note is that Last Bronx was also is also AM3's first Saturn game, with previous conversions behind handled by CS Team.
As was customary, the Saturn version contains more gameplay modes so as to satisfy a console audience. Also included is are animated introduction and ending sequences.
Also included was a bonus Special Disc featuring two Last Bronx Classroom training modes (Tutorial and Practice), and a Self Introduction Corner profile mode. This bonus disc was removed for western releases.
PC version
Following the Saturn release, a PC version of Last Bronx was released in 1998. The PC version retains the Saturn's extra modes but with visuals more comparable to the Model 2 version. Videos run at roughly half the frame rate on PC compared to the Saturn.
Localised names
Language | Localised Name | English Translation |
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English | Last Bronx | Last Bronx |
Japanese | ラストブロンクス -東京番外地- | Last Bronx: Tokyo Bangaichi |
Production credits
- Main article: Last Bronx/Production credits.
Magazine articles
- Main article: Last Bronx/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
- Main article: Last Bronx/Promotional material.
Artwork
Physical scans
Model 2 version
Saturn version
ExpandSega Retro Average |
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81 | |
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Based on 31 reviews |
Saturn, JP |
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PC version
ExpandSega Retro Average |
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72 | |
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Based on 14 reviews |
PC, US (Expert Software) |
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PC, UK (Expert Software) |
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PC, UK (Xplosiv) |
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PC, UK (Xplosiv; alt) |
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PC, UK (Fair Game) |
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PC, FR (Xplosiv) |
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PC, ES (Xplosiv) |
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PC, BR (Tec Toy) |
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PC, KR |
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PC, TW |
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Technical information
- Main article: Last Bronx/Technical information.
External links
References
- ↑ Sega Arcade History, Enterbrain, page 141
- ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 2.2 Computer & Video Games, "October 1996" (UK; 1996-09-09), page 88
- ↑ File:LastBronx Saturn JP Box Back.jpg
- ↑ Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segasaturn/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-19 18:07)
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "July 1997" (UK; 1997-06-11), page 45
- ↑ http://riehlspot.simplenet.com/vgame/new/saturn.html (Wayback Machine: 1999-02-21 17:22)
- ↑ Press release: 1997-06-19: SEGA TAKES IN-HOME ARCADE GAMING TO NEXT LEVEL
- ↑ Jump up to: 8.0 8.1 http://www.sega-europe.com/saturn/satinfo.html (Wayback Machine: 1998-12-02 14:09)
- ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1997-10-18)
- ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1997-10-13), page 35
- ↑ Jump up to: 11.0 11.1 http://www.sega-europe.com/ (Wayback Machine: 1998-02-01 23:27)
- ↑ Secret Service #50 page 78
- ↑ Jump up to: 13.0 13.1 http://sega.jp/pc/lastbrnx/ (Wayback Machine: 2001-12-29 23:03)
- ↑ Press release: 1997-10-20: Weapon-Based Fighting Comes To Sega Saturn And PC With Sega's "Last Bronx"
- ↑ Press release: 1998-02-19: Two Arcade Classics Come Home: Sega Touring Car Championship and Last Bronx for the PC
- ↑ Jump up to: 16.0 16.1 http://www.sega-europe.com:80/pc/pcgame.html (Wayback Machine: 1999-02-10 17:13)
- ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/1096654/ (Wayback Machine: 2002-10-18 09:01)
- ↑ File:Lastbronx sat us manual.pdf
- ↑ Edge, "August 1996" (UK; 1996-07-12), page 101
- ↑ File:SegaProductsTerminationAnnouncement 2016-11 JP.pdf
- ↑ File:SegaProductsTerminationAnnouncement 2016-12.pdf
- ↑ GamesMaster, "October 1997" (UK; 1997-09-04), page 41
- ↑ 576 Konzol, "Március 1998" (HU; 1998-xx-xx), page 33
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1997" (UK; 1997-09-12), page 60
- ↑ Edge, "September 1997" (UK; 1997-08-18), page 78
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1998" (US; 1998-0x-xx), page 108
- ↑ Famitsu, "1997-08-08" (JP; 1997-07-25), page 1
- ↑ Fun Generation, "11/97" (DE; 1997-10-15), page 94
- ↑ Gambler, "2/1998" (PL; 1998-xx-xx), page 1
- ↑ GameFan, "Volume 5, Issue 11: November 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 26
- ↑ Game Power, "Ottobre 1997" (IT; 1997-xx-xx), page 50
- ↑ GamePro, "December 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 182
- ↑ Game Informer, "January 1998" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 59
- ↑ Gry Komputerowe, "12/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
- ↑ GMR, "October 2003" (US; 2003-xx-xx), page 90
- ↑ Joypad, "Octobre 1997" (FR; 1997-xx-xx), page 100
- ↑ MAN!AC, "10/97" (DE; 1997-09-10), page 60
- ↑ Mega Console, "Ottobre 1997" (IT; 1997-xx-xx), page 64
- ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre/Décembre 1997" (FR; 1997-1x-xx), page 30
- ↑ Mega Fun, "11/97" (DE; 1997-10-01), page 85
- ↑ Neo, "Grudzień 1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 25
- ↑ Next Generation, "November 1997" (US; 1997-10-21), page 198
- ↑ neXt Level, "November 1997" (DE; 1997-10-17), page 83
- ↑ Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 18" (JP; 1997-09-12), page 82
- ↑ Saturn Power, "October 1997" (UK; 1997-08-22), page 72
- ↑ Sega Magazin, "November 1997" (DE; 1997-10-15), page 72
- ↑ Sega Power, "Dekémvrios 1997-Ianouários 1998" (GR; 1998-xx-xx), page 40
- ↑ Świat Gier Komputerowych, "12/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 50
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "October 1997" (UK; 1997-09-17), page 68
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1997-27 (1997-08-08)" (JP; 1997-07-25), page 197
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 13
- ↑ Strana Igr, "Oktyabr 1997" (RU; 1997-xx-xx), page 75
- ↑ Super Power, "11 1997" (FI; 1997-1x-xx), page 52
- ↑ Arcade, "December 1998" (UK; 1998-11-17), page 172
- ↑ CD-Action, "4/98" (PL; 1998-xx-xx), page 78
- ↑ Edge, "March 1998" (UK; 1998-02-24), page 104
- ↑ The Games Machine, "Marzo 1998" (IT; 1998-0x-xx), page 124
- ↑ Gry Komputerowe, "3/1998" (PL; 1998-xx-xx), page 1
- ↑ Game Over, "" (RO; 1998-xx-xx), page 39
- ↑ Hacker Plus, "Travanj 1998" (HR; 1998-xx-xx), page 32
- ↑ Next Generation, "July 1998" (US; 1998-06-23), page 114
- ↑ PC Zone, "April 1998" (UK; 1998-0x-xx), page 102
- ↑ Riki, "Marec-April 1998" (SK; 1998-04-15), page 17
- ↑ Secret Service, "Kwiecień 1998" (PL; 1998-xx-xx), page 34
- ↑ Svet Kompjutera, "April 1998" (YU; 1998-xx-xx), page 1
- ↑ Master Games, "Maĭ 1998" (BG; 1998-xx-xx), page 20
- ↑ Ultimate PC, "Volume One, Issue Seven: March 1998" (UK; 1998-02-28), page 104
CollapseLast Bronx | |
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Main page | Comparisons | Credits | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Promotional material | Technical information | Bootlegs
Music: Last Bronx: Tokyo Bangaichi Soundtracks vs Club Remix (1996) | Last Bronx: Tokyo Bangaichi Sound Battle (1997) | Jaggy Love (1997) Audiobooks: Last Bronx Radio Drama Vol. 1 (1997) | Last Bronx Radio Drama Vol. 2 (1997) | Last Bronx Radio Drama Vol. 3 (1997) | Last Bronx Radio Drama Vol. 4 (1997) Videos: Last Bronx: Tokyo Bangaichi (1997) | Sega Official Video Library Vol. 4: Last Bronx (199x)
Prototypes: 1997-06-09
|
CollapseGames in the Last Bronx Series | |
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Last Bronx (1996) | Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 24: Last Bronx -Tokyo Bangaichi- (2006) | |
Last Bronx related media | |
Last Bronx: Tokyo Bangaichi Soundtracks vs Club Remix (1996) | Last Bronx: Tokyo Bangaichi Sound Battle (1997) | |
Last Bronx Radio Drama Vol. 1 (1997) | Last Bronx Radio Drama Vol. 2 (1997) | Last Bronx Radio Drama Vol. 3 (1997) | Last Bronx Radio Drama Vol. 4 (1997) | |
Last Bronx Tokyo Bangaichi Koushiki Command Book (1996) | Last Bronx Tokyo Bangaichi Koushiki Guide Book (1996) | Last Bronx Tokyo Bangaichi Comic Anthology (1996) | Arcade Game Hisshou Hou Special: Last Bronx Tokyo Bangaichi (1996) | Last Bronx Official Art Works (1997) | Last Bronx Comic Anthology (1997) | Last Bronx Official Guide (1997) | Last Bronx Comic Anthology 2 (1997) | |
Last Bronx: Tokyo Bangaichi (1997) | Sega Official Video Library Vol. 4: Last Bronx (?) |
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