A mysterious man named Goh is manipulating talented fighters into acquiring beast spirits from each other for him.
Gameplay
Character select
Gameplay
The game is a 2D fighting game. It uses brightly colored graphics and an expressive animation style, and character designs have a Chinese influence. Every character has a beast spirit that can be summoned to fight alongside them, giving them access to additional abilities. Matches are fought to the best of three rounds, and each round ends when one fighter depletes the other's life or has more life than the other when time runs out. The camera zooms in or out depending on the distance between the fighters.
Characters move with and and crouch with . They backstep or run with or ; they continue running for as long as the direction is held down. They jump upward with and jump behind and ahead with or . Tapping the button does a short jump, while holding it for longer does a full jump. They attack by punching with (light) or (hard) or kicking with (light) or (hard). Light attacks are fast, but hard attacks do more damage. Attacks can be done while standing, crouching, or jumping. Every character has unique special moves that are performed with special button combinations. Most normal moves can be chained into each other to form combos, and normal moves can also be chained into special moves.
Characters can block by holding the D-Pad away from the opponent (which can be done while standing or crouching or in midair). Some attacks (including jumping attacks) can only be blocked standing, and some attacks (such as sweeps) can only be blocked crouching. Special moves still do a small amount of "chip damage" when blocked. Some moves cause the character to dodge rather than block. Every character has an overhead strike that can be performed by holding both punch or both kick buttons simultaneously (depending on the character) or by pressing , which can hit opponents who are crouch blocking. Characters can deflect instead of blocking by pressing the light punch and kick buttons simultaneously (+ or ) when the opponent attacks (which can also be done while standing or crouching). Deflecting causes the opponent to stagger away, briefly stunned and open to counterattack. However, the deflect must be timed precisely with the opponent's attack to work, or the deflecting character is left vulnerable instead. After a deflect, the character can perform a special counterattack by pressing + or (or + or when facing left).
Characters can throw by holding or while pressing the hard punch or kick button (depending on the character). Throws cannot be blocked. Some characters can throw in midair. Characters are vulnerable to being hit by low attacks when downed. They can roll away after a knockdown by holding or . They are invulnerable while rolling.
Each character has a beast meter under the life meter at the top of the screen. The beast meter builds as the character hits with a normal move, performs a special move, takes damage, or blocks (but not dodges) an attack. When the meter is filled, the character gains a stock and the meter resets so it can be filled again. Characters start each match with one stock, and stocks and the meter are carried over between rounds but not matches. Characters can summon their beast spirit at the cost of one stock of the beast meter by pressing ++ or . Once summoned, the beast spirit appears in the fight and follows the character around, and a "Beast Force" meter appears at the bottom of the screen for that player, which slowly drains. The beast spirit usually provides some passive benefit or hindrance while it is out, and every character has two unique attacks that can be used when the beast spirit is out. The first is the Beast Special, which is a special move that is performed by pressing ++ or again. The second is the Beast Force move, which is a more powerful special move that is performed with a different button combination depending on the character. Using either move drains the Beast Force meter faster.
Every character can also use the Beast Force moves for the other beast spirits. In the single-player game, the player's character acquires a new beast spirit after each opponent defeated. In the two-player mode, players can decide which beast spirits are available before starting the match. The selectable beast spirits appear on the bottom of the screen, and the player can cycle through the available beast spirits by tapping . The Beast Force move for the selected spirit can be performed by holding the D-Pad toward the opponent and pressing ++ or . This costs one stock of the beast meter and cannot be done when the character's beast spirit is summoned. Each beast spirit can only be used once per round.
Modes
The single-player mode consists of eight matches against all of the opponents in a randomized order, ending with a match against the same character as the player's character, then a final battle against the boss Zao-Long. After defeating an opponent, his or her beast spirit becomes available to the player in future matches. There are four difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, Hard, and Expart). The game ends if the player loses a match but can be continued an unlimited number of times. A second player can join the game to challenge the first by pressing START at any time.
The two-player mode lets the players choose any characters and fight a match against each other. Each player can set a handicap and choose which beast spirits are available for one-time Beast Force moves (though the beast spirit associated with the character is always available). The game keeps tracks of wins and losses for each player.
After selecting a character, players choose between Normal or Auto mode. In Auto mode, the game blocks for the player automatically, though all attacks, even normal moves, inflict chip damage.
In the options, players can toggle the time limit, change the number of rounds needed to win a match (2 or 3), change the game speed (between 1 and 8), or toggle "Quick Mode" (which pares down the presentation of the screens in between matches to decrease load times). Additional options are unlocked after completing the single-player game multiple times. Settings, high scores for the single-player mode, and wins/losses for the two-player mode can be saved to the Saturn's internal memory.
Characters
Note: Move lists assume that the character is facing right. When facing left, and should be reversed.
P
Any punch button
LP
Light punch
HP
Hard punch
K
Any kick button
LK
Light kick
HK
Hard kick
Characters use their primary color scheme when selected with P or their secondary color scheme when selected with K.
Playable
Beast spirit:
Rabbit
Weapon:
Wagasa
Wu-Ling
An upbeat young girl who fights with energetic moves and high agility reflecting her rabbit spirit. She was brainwashed to be an assassin, but she is trying to rediscover her identity now that the conditioning has begun to fade.
Move list (Special moves)
Name
Command
Description
Blast Scraper
P
Wu-Ling swings her umbrella downward, knocking a burst of dust off the ground. This move can dissipate projectiles.
Rising Storm
P
Wu-Ling jumps straight up while holding her umbrella out, which knocks her opponent over, then bashes it down at the apex of the jump.
Rushing Pommel
P
Wu-Ling dashes forward. When she reaches her opponent, she holds her umbrella in a bunt, which knocks her opponent over.
Swift Feet
K
Wu-Ling dashes forward. When she reaches her opponent, she swings her umbrella up, then kicks the opponent repeatedly and finishes with a headbutt that knocks the opponent over.
Rabbit Step
HP after normal move
Wu-Ling hops forward with a headbutt that knocks the opponent over.
Move list (Command normals)
Name
Command
Description
Chopping Axe
LK + HK
Wu-Ling kicks downward in a semicircle. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Umbrella Smash
LP + HP in midair
Wu-Ling swings her umbrella downward with both hands. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Charging Split
HK after HK
Wu-Ling hops forward with a split kick that knocks her opponent over. The first hit must connect to do the follow-up.
Stepping Swing
+ HP
Wu-Ling slides forward while swinging her umbrella like a club.
Quick Step
+ HK
Wu-Ling leaps forward with a flying kick. If it hits, she can follow up with a back kick that hits two times and knocks the opponent over by pressing HK again.
Wu-Ling's beast spirit is a rabbit. It allows her to double jump but also constricts her backstep while it is summoned.
Move list (Spirit moves)
Name
Command
Description
Double Jump
, , or in midair
Wu-Ling uses her beast spirit as a platform to somersault higher into the air.
Tornado Drill
LP + HP + LK
Wu-Ling's beast spirit spins into a carrot-shaped drill, then barrels forward, knocking over the opponent over impact.
Energetic Blast
HP
Wu-Ling's beast spirit shrinks into an sphere that orbits her rapidly, then shoots forward in a blast of energy.
Beast spirit:
Hawk
Weapon:
Ofuda
Tian-Ren
An ardent and competitive young man born from an English father and a Chinese mother who fights with the clarity and precision of his hawk spirit. He is trying to free his father, who has been kidnapped.
Move list (Special moves)
Name
Command
Description
Electric Spark
P
Tian-Ren thrusts his palms out and shoots a fireball across the screen.
Burning Sky
P
Tian-Ren spins around with his arms held out, creating an arc of fire that knocks over the opponent on impact. This move can dissipate projectiles.
Fire Bird Rush
K
Tian-Ren charges forward with a shoulder tackle, then two flaming jump kicks that knock the opponent over.
Phoenix Kick
K in midair
Tian-Ren dives diagonally downward with a flaming kick.
Demon Breaker
HP after normal move
Tian-Ren glides forward, then his ofuda form fists that punch ahead, knocking the opponent over on impact.
Move list (Command normals)
Name
Command
Description
Ofuda Weight
LP + HP
Tian-Ren forms a heavy weight out of his ofuda, then slams it down. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Confident Stomp
LK + HK in midair
Tian-Ren holds his feet together and stomps straight down. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Sliding Palm
+ HP
Tian-Ren slides forward with a palm thrust. If it hits, he can follow up with a downward punch that knocks the opponent over by pressing HP again.
Flying Kick
+ HK
Tian-Ren hops forward with a kick. If it hits, he can follow up with a spinning kick that knocks the opponent over by pressing HK again.
Tian-Ren's beast spirit is a hawk. It improves his aerial mobility by giving him the ability to air dash and float, but it also constricts his forward dash when nearby.
Move list (Spirit moves)
Name
Command
Description
Float
, , or in midair
Tian-Ren floats in the air, dropping down slowly. He can stop floating by pressing , , or .
Air Dash
or in midair
Tian-Ren dashes through the air, carried by his beast spirit.
Phoenix Dive
LP + HP + LK in midair
Tian-Ren points downward, and his beast spirit dives diagonally downward engulfed in flames like a flaming arrow.
Inferno Horizon
HP in midair
Tian-Ren and his beast spirit dive diagonally downward while engulfed in flames. If it hits, they carry the opponent into the air and hit more times.
Beast spirit:
Tiger
Weapon:
Tonfas
Rex
A cheerful and assiduous assassin who possesses the strength of his tiger spirit. Despite his profession, he hopes for a more peaceful world. He is on a mission to assassinate Goh.
Move list (Special moves)
Name
Command
Description
Alley Shot
P
Rex swings his arm, launching a fireball across the screen.
Fiery Temper
P
Rex rises into the air while striking with a tonfa, which knocks his opponent over, then turns around at the apex and hits with a flaming tonfa.
Scorched Claws
P
Rex strikes in front of him, then downward and upward with flaming tonfas.
Fervid Axe
K
Rex leaps forward with a flaming kick, then drives his heel down for a second hit. This move can dissipate projectiles.
Solid Backhand
HP after normal move
Rex slides forward and swings a tonfa back, which knocks over his opponent on impact.
Move list (Command normals)
Name
Command
Description
Gutted Blow
LP + HP
Rex jabs a tonfa in front of him. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Diagonal Kick
LK + HK in midair
Rex kicks diagonally downward. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Headhunter
+ HP
Rex slides forward and stabs a tonfa at head-level. If it hits, he can follow up with a back kick that knocks the opponent over by pressing HP again.
Side Kick
+ HK
Rex steps forward with a roundhouse kick. If it hits, he can follow up with a high kick that knocks the opponent over by pressing HK again.
Rex's beast spirit is a tiger. It attacks alongside Rex during his standing and crouching normal moves, hitting additional times. However, it also impairs his jump, restricting him to short hops while it is summoned.
Move list (Spirit moves)
Name
Command
Description
Flaming Maw
LP + HP + LK
Rex's beast spirit transforms into a flaming fanged mouth and charges forward, which knocks over the opponent on impact.
Tiger Fury
HP
Rex charges forward with a knee strike. If it hits, he performs a series of strikes with his beast spirit, ending with a tonfa strike that knocks the opponent over.
Beast spirit:
Fox
Weapon:
Uchiwa
Yu-Lan
A seductress who fights with confounding movements resembling drunken boxing and possesses the elusive and alluring nature of her fox spirit. She is a prostitute but longs for true love.
Move list (Special moves)
Name
Command
Description
Destructive Winds
P
Yu-Lan bats her fan down, creating a cyclone that moves across the ground and carries the opponent into the air after it hits.
Steel Swatter
P
Yu-Lan leaps forward, then swings her fan down, which turns to steel and knocks her opponent over on impact.
Venus Trap
P
Yu-Lan lays her fan on the ground in front of her, which knocks the opponent over if they stand over it.
Swift Cutter
K
Yu-Lan slides forward while kicking upward. If it hits, she can follow up with a turnaround heel kick by pressing K again, then a backflip kick by pressing K once more.
Charging Knee
HP after normal move
Yu-Lan charges forward with a knee strike.
Move list (Command normals)
Name
Command
Description
Awkward Kick
LK + HK
Yu-Lan kicks downward in a semicircle. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Trap Kick
LK + HK in midair
Yu-Lan kicks diagonally downward. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Charging Smack
HP after HP
Yu-Lan slides forward while smacking her fan down, which knocks her opponent over. The first hit must connect to do the follow-up.
Sobat
HK after HK
Yu-Lan jumps with a turnaround kick that knocks her opponent over. The first hit must connect to do the follow-up.
Short Spear
+ HP
Yu-Lan slides forward with a piercing kick.
Long Spear
+ HK
Yu-Lan slides further forward with a piercing kick.
Yu-Lan's beast spirit is a fox. She cannot counterattack after a deflect while it is summoned.
Move list (Spirit moves)
Name
Command
Description
Tail Swipe
LP + HP + LK
Yu-Lan's beast spirit whips its tail down, which knocks over the opponent on impact. This move can reflect projectiles back to their caster.
Foxy Flash
HK
Yu-Lan hops into her beast spirit, which charges forward. If it hits, the beast spirit flies around the opponent and knocks them over.
Beast spirit:
Snake
Weapon:
Obi
Ja-Koh
A ruthless former assassin who hunts other assassins with the stealth of his snake spirit. He is seeking revenge for the murder of his family.
Move list (Special moves)
Name
Command
Description
Venom Slash
P
Ja-Koh whips his sash up and across, which knocks over his opponent on impact. This move can dissipate projectiles.
Snake Bite
P
Ja-Koh charges forward while slashing his sash in front of him.
Lethal Tail
P
Ja-Koh swings his sash in a wide arc in front of him.
Catch and Slam
P (close)
Ja-Koh tries to grab an airborne opponent. If he succeeds, he slams the opponent to the ground with one arm. This move can also grab standing opponents who are tall enough.
Zap Uppercut
HP after normal move
Ja-Koh slides forward, then strikes with his sash, which becomes jagged like a bolt of lightning and knocks over the opponent on impact.
Move list (Command normals)
Name
Command
Description
Invisible Sword
LP + HP
Ja-Koh swings his sash in a downward arc. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Swipe
LP after LP
Ja-Koh spins while swiping his sash laterally, which knocks over his opponent on impact. The first hit must connect to do the follow-up.
Drill
HK after HK
Ja-Koh charges forward while striking with his sash, which takes the shape of a drill and knocks over the opponent on impact. The first hit must connect to do the follow-up.
Charging Slash
+ HP
Ja-Koh belts his sash sideways. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Stomach Kick
+ HK
Ja-Koh does a roundhouse kick.
Ja-Koh's beast spirit is a snake. He does not receive chip damage from blocking special moves when the spirit is summoned. However, it constricts his backstep and forward dash while it is summoned.
Move list (Spirit moves)
Name
Command
Description
Venom Stream
LP + HP + LK
Ja-Koh's beast spirit slithers through across the ground like a wave, knocking over the opponent on impact.
Paralyzing Tunnel
HP
Ja-Koh's beast spirit spins into a giant tornado, which carries the opponent into the air after it hits.
Beast spirit:
Ox
Weapon:
Claws
Egith
A gay man who fights with wrestling moves and embodies the resilience and toughness of an ox. He works as an assassin to support an orphanage.
Move list (Special moves)
Name
Command
Description
Sharp Edge
P (close)
Egith tries to grab his opponent. If he succeeds, he tosses the opponent into the air, then swings his arms to catch the opponent in an energy wave. This grab can be blocked.
Heavy Spike
D-Pad in a 360° rotation, then P (close)
Egith tries to grab his opponent. If he succeeds, he leaps forward while holding the opponent by the neck, then slams them to the ground. This grab is unblockable.
Stampede
K
Egith charges forward with a shoulder tackle. This move can dissipate projectiles.
Frankensteiner
K in midair (close)
Egith grabs a grounded opponent with his legs, then flips around with a slam. This grab is unblockable.
Axe Handle Swipe
HP after normal move
Egith clasps both hands together, then swings them like a bat, knocking over his opponent on impact.
Move list (Command normals)
Name
Command
Description
Downward Claw
LP + HP
Egith swings a claw downward. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Splat
LP + HP in midair
Egith bashes both hands down like a hammer. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Clawing Uppercut
+ HP
Egith steps forward while holding his claw out, then pulls it up. If it hits, he can follow up with a headbutt that knocks the opponent over by pressing HP again.
Pressure Boot
+ HK
Egith steps forward with a front kick.
Egith's beast spirit is an ox. It helps him with his grabs, increasing the range of his special grapple moves (Sharp Edge and Heavy Spike). However, it also impairs his jump, restricting him to short hops while it is summoned.
Move list (Spirit moves)
Name
Command
Description
Gored Slam
LP + HP + LK
Egith dashes forward and tries to grab his opponent. If he succeeds, he uppercuts the opponent into the air, then his beast spirit gores the opponent to the ground.
Charging Bull
HK
Egith charges forward with a headbutt while his beast spirit charges forward with its horns.
Beast spirit:
Wolf
Weapon:
Sword
Hou-En
A man devoted to classic Chinese opera who became so immersed in his character "Hou-En" that he was unable to go back to his original self. His fighting style employs hard hits and grappling moves embodying the ferocity of his wolf spirit. He wants to collect the beast spirits for a nymph.
Move list (Special moves)
Name
Command
Description
Lightning Ram
P
Hou-En winds up his arm, then slides forward with an electrified punch that knocks his opponent over. This move can dissipate projectiles.
Tremor
P
Hou-En pushes his hands against the ground, causing a ripple of fire to move across the ground, which knocks over his opponent on impact.
Air Ram
P in midair
Hou-En dives diagonally downward with a ramming attack.
Quake Toss
D-Pad in a 360° rotation, then P (close)
Hou-En tries to grab his opponent. If he succeeds, he scrapes the opponent against the ground and throws them behind him.
Shoulder Ram
HP after normal move
Hou-En charges forward with a shoulder ram that knocks his opponent over.
Move list (Command normals)
Name
Command
Description
Gorilla Smash
LP + HP
Hou-En bashes both hands down like a hammer. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking. This move can also be done in midair.
Boulder Punch
+ HP
Hou-En slides forward with an underhand punch. If it hits, he can follow up with a slap that knocks the opponent over by pressing HP again.
Crouch Kick
+ HK
Hou-En slides forward, then leans over and kicks behind him. If it hits, he can follow up with a two-handed poke that knocks the opponent over by pressing HK again.
Hou-En's beast spirit is a wolf. He does not receive chip damage from blocking special moves when the spirit is summoned.
Move list (Spirit moves)
Name
Command
Description
Fire Geyser
LP + HP + LK
Hou-En jumps, then throws his beast spirit to the ground, where it explodes into a column of energy, which knocks the opponent over on impact.
Hungry Wolf
HP
Hou-En's beast spirit sinks into the ground, then reappears and swallows the opponent whole. Hou-En clobbers the opponent while inside the beast spirit. The swallow is unblockable.
Beast spirit:
Peccary
Weapon:
Microphone
Little Eddy
A grandstanding aspiring rock 'n' roll singer who fights with a showy and deceptive style and the unpredictability of his boar spirit.
Move list (Special moves)
Name
Command
Description
Hard Hitting
P
Little Eddy swings his microphone stand, which transforms into a heavy ball, in a circle around him while spinning.
Electric
P
Little Eddy flips his microphone stand around and shoots electric sparks out from the end of it. This move can dissipate projectiles.
Shocking
P
Little Eddy swipes his microphone stand in an upward arc, which leaves a trail of electricity and knocks over the opponent on impact.
Takeoff
P
Little Eddy transforms his microphone stand into a miniature propeller plane and flies forward, knocking over his opponent on impact. He can transform the microphone stand into a heavy ball and swing it downward by pressing P again.
Balloon Dropkick
HP after normal move
Little Eddy slides forward, then kicks into the air with both legs, which knocks over the opponent.
Move list (Command normals)
Name
Command
Description
Blunt Mace
LP + HP
Little Eddy swings his microphone stand, which transforms into a heavy ball. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Spiked Mace
LP + HP in midair
Little Eddy swings his microphone stand, which transforms into a spiked ball. This is an overhead strike that can hit characters who are crouch blocking.
Stretch Kick
HK after HK
Little Eddy hops up with another kick that knocks over the opponent on impact. The first hit must connect to do the follow-up.
Solo
+ HP
Little Eddy attacks with the end of his microphone stand.
Flying Kick
+ HK
Little Eddy hops forward with a kick.
Little Eddy's beast spirit is a peccary. He does not receive chip damage from blocking special moves when the spirit is summoned. When Little Eddy backsteps or jumps back, the spirit slowly tries to catch up, acting as a shield against attacks (including projectiles) while doing so.
Move list (Spirit moves)
Name
Command
Description
Electric Boar
LP + HP + LK
Little Eddy's beast spirit electrifies itself and hops forward, which knocks down the opponent on impact. This move can be repeated by pressing LP + HP + LK , even before the beast spirit returns to Little Eddy.
Malfunction
HK
Little Eddy's beast spirit disappears and strikes in four pillars of electricity, which appear one at a time in increasing distances from Little Eddy and can knock the opponent from one into the other.
Bosses
The final boss is not playable.
Zao-Long
The final boss. He has the ability to steal acquired beast spirits from a fighter, which empowers him for a duration.
Stages
Each character has his or her own stage. In the single-player mode, matches are hosted in the opponent's stage. In the two-player mode, the stage of player one's character is used.
Wu-Ling
Tian-Ren
Rex
Yu-Lan
Ja-Koh
Egith
Hou-En
Little Eddy
Zao-Long
Versions
Because the game does not use an Extended RAM Cartridge, character sprites are missing many animation frames and appear less detailed than the arcade version when the camera is zoomed in.