Shaq Fu

From Sega Retro

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Shaq Fu Title.png

Shaq Fu
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer:
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code
Sega Game Gear
US 		$39.9539.95[1] T-50038

Shaq Fu is a video game developed by Delphine Software and was released, among other systems, for the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear. It is a fighting game which stars basketball player Shaquille O'Neal, who has accidentally been transported to "The Second World" and tasked with saving the land from a mythical sorcerer named Sett Ra. Though it is often praised for its fluid animation and vibrant graphics, the game has been the subject of ridicule for its nonsensical plot and bad controls.

The Sega Mega Drive version is notable for including five more playable characters and three new stages (The Lab, The Wasteland, and Yasko Mines) than its Super Nintendo Entertainment System counterpart. Unfortunately the story mode is shorter than in the SNES version, but as a bonus, players can also walk down the stairs past Gargoyle's Peak to fight a blue version of Beast. The Amiga port was based on the Mega Drive port, but features less music and background animation has been removed.

The Sega Game Gear version only has six selectable characters, no tournament mode, and no in-game voices.

Story

Long ago and far away, in a place called The Second World, there ruled the heartless sorcerer Sett Ra. His hunger for power still gnawed at him even though his dominance over the Second World was unchallenged; he longed to extend his grasp to the fair First World, Earth.

Sett Ra's Plan was simple. He would destroy the Pharaoh of Egypt and usurp his throne. He created a perfect assassin from his own shadow who would serve him without question. This shadow became beast, the mightiest and most loyal of all Sett Ra's minions. Beast destroyed the Pharaoh, and the disguised Sett Ra soon sat upon his throne.

However, the Pharaoh son Ahmet was not deceived. He brazenly confronted the powerful sorcerer, threatening to reveal him. Sett Ra escaped from the palace to the Great Desert, where his grandfather, Leotsu the Wise, dwelt as a monk and hermit. Leotsu and Ahmet united with a coven of powerful wizards from the lands beyond Egypt, and their combined power was able to send Sett Ra back to the Second World, comatose and imprisoned within a rune-encrusted pyramid. He slumbered for a millennium, bound by the wrappings of a mummy. Beast roamed the Second World, dedicated to finding and releasing his dread master. Successful at last, Beast and Sett Ra vow to wreak havoc on those who stopped them before.They have gathered a battalion of formidable fighters to further this end.

To regain his full strength and to end his exile from the First World, Sett Ra must perform an ancient ritual upon a descendant of Ahmet. Beast has now returned from Earth with the child Nezu, a child in whose veins the royal blood runs pure. All is ready for the final cataclysmic battle-only the Chosen One can stop Sett Ra now. One who possesses strength, spirituality, courage, agility, intelligence, and unsurpassed skill in the martial arts. Where will the world find such a one? Only Shaq knows.

Gameplay

Characters

Shaqfu auroch.png Auroch
Auroch is a simple outlaw that fights for pleasure. He taunts anything that crosses his path. Auroch's stage is The Wasteland.

Height: 5'11
Weight: 456
Age: 170
Origin: 2nd World

Shaqfu beast.png Beast
Created by Sett from his own shadow, Beast is the mightiest of Sett's servants. His stage is Dragon's Pass.

Height: 6'10
Weight: 410
Age: Eternal
Origin: Unknown

Shaqfu colonel.png Colonel
A celestial champion. Battered, shattered, and almost dead, Colonel was found by Beast on an obscure battlefield, the sole survivor of a fierce struggle. His stage is The Lab.

Height: 6'4
Weight: 357
Age: 42
Origin: Bio Corp

Shaqfu diesel.png Diesel
A longshoreman from the San Francisco docks, Diesel spends more time brawling than handling cargo. His stage is Yasko Mines.

Height: 6'1
Weight: 205
Age: 30
Origin: USA

Shaqfu kaori.png Kaori
Forced to obey Sett's will by the power of an enchanted ring, Kaori is the martial arts champion of an alien feline race. Her stage is Catwalk Falls.

Height: 5'3
Weight: 123
Age: 23
Origin: Cimotha

Shaqfu leotsu.png Leotsu
Leotsu is the last grand master of an ancient martial art, one that remains a mystery to the other masters. His stage is North Gate.

Height: 5'4
Weight: 118
Age: 500
Origin: Far East

Shaqfu mephis.png Mephis
Mephis is a mighty undead sorcerer who was once Sett's apprentice thousands of years ago. His stage is Gargoyle's Peak.

Height: 5'7
Weight: 165
Age: Unknown
Origin: Unknown

Shaqfu nezu.png Nezu
Kidnapped by Beast to free Sett, Nezu is uncontrollable when angered. Although small, Nezu is agile, swift, and cunning. His stage is South Gate.

Height: 4'6
Weight: 77
Age: 12
Origin: Far East

Shaqfu rajah.png Rajah
A young mystic and skilled swordsman, Rajah submitted to Sett's sorcery while exploring the netherplans with his spirit. His stage is Vagabond Temple.

Height: 5'11
Weight: 210
Age: 38
Origin: 2nd World

Shaqfu settra.png Sett
An entity of ancient evil, Sett was defeated and entombed in another dimension ages ago. His stage is Tombstone Island.

Height: 6'10
Weight: 212
Age: 3000
Origin: Unknown

Shaqfu shaq.png Shaq
Shaq is a dominating force on and off the hoops court, rookie of the year, perennial all star and founder of Shaqido.. an extremely lethal martial art form.

Height: 7'1
Weight: 301
Age: 22
Origin: USA

Shaqfu voodoo.png Voodoo
Many have fallen prey to Voodoo's ancient magic. She uses her power to hunt Sett's enemies. Her stage is The Forest.

Height: 5'8
Weight: 143
Age: 27
Origin: Haiti

Basic Moves

  • Fast Kick: B
  • Power Kick: C
  • Fast Punch: Y
  • Power Punch: Z
  • Blocking: Hold Left to block high and mid-range attacks, or hold Down-left to block low attacks. Blocking Special Attacks will cause a minimal amount of damage to the blocker.
  • Shield: Pressing Down + A makes characters create a shield around them. The shield will block projectile attacks, but other attacks will go through.
  • Throw: Characters can throw when up close by pressing Left+A.
  • Taunt: Press X to taunt. Taunting will leave a character open to attack. It doesn't do anything.
  • Fury Bar: As a character takes damage, their Fury Bar will charge up. When it is full, the word "FURY" will appear on it and the character will deal slightly more damage for a while.
  • Dizzy: If a character is hit multiple times in a row without dealing any damage themselves, they risk being dizzied. When dizzy, a character will be stunned on the ground while stars rotate above them. Recover from a dizzy by pressing buttons rapidly.

Special Moves

Name Command
Auroch
Boomerang Left, Right+B

Auroch pulls out a boomerang from behind his back and tosses across the screen. He cannot move until the boomerang either hits his opponent, or reaches its farthest distance, and then returns.

Ball and Pain Right, Down-right, Down, Down-left, Left+C

Auroch pulls out a giant spiked ball and chain, then lashes out with it twice straight ahead.

Beast
Thermal Blast Down, Down-left, Left+B

Beast spits out a large, close-ranged puff of flame.

Spitfire Down, Down-right, Right+B

Beast spits out a fireball projectile that travels across the screen.

Sonic Roar Right, Down-right, Down, Down-left, Right+C

Beast roars and the screen flashes, which will hit the opponent from any place on the screen.

Roar Down+X

Beast roars. No damage, but an alternate taunt.

Colonel
Heavy Metal Down, Down-right, Right, Left+B

Colonel extends his arm, which opens up to reveal a gun. He then shoots rapidly across the screen.

Bionic Burst Down, Down-right, Right+B

Colonel punches twice straight forward with extending arms.

Missile Launch Down, Down-left, Left, Right+A

Colonel launches a small missile out of his back, which homes in on his opponent.

Diesel
Dash Upper Down, Down-right, Right+B

Diesel dashes forward very quickly and uppercuts his opponent up close.

Crate Crusher Right,Down, Down-left, Left+B

Diesel throws a volley of energy-charged punches in front of him at various angles.

Dockside Dagger Right, Left+B

Diesel throws a small dagger projectile across the screen.

Kaori
Cat's Claw Down, Down-left, Left+B

Kaori slashes with her arms and sends a spiralling wave projectile across the screen.

Cyclone Down, Down-left, Left+C

Kaori spins into a cyclone and moves forward. Holding C will cause her to move forward until the move runs out. She will turn back to normal when she hits her opponent.

Energy Bomb Left, Down-left, Down, Down-right, Right+C

Kaori tosses a ball of energy at the ground a short ways in front of her, which creates an explosion.

Teleport Kick Left, Down-left, Down, Down-right, Right+B

Kaori vanishes in a puff of smoke, then appears over her opponent and drops onto them with a kick.

Leotsu
Blast Kai Down, Down-left, Left, Right+B

Leotsu launches a ball of energy from his Bo across the screen.

Bo Kai Down, Down-right, Right+B

Leotsu pulls out his Bo, then takes a quick jab forward with it.

Flash Kai Right, Down, Down-right, Right+C

Leotsu pulls out his Bo and the screen flashes, damaging his opponent from any location.

Mephis
Lightning Arc Left, Down-left, Down, Down-right, Right+C

Mephis raises his hands into the air, then a second later the screen will flash and a lightning bolt will hit his opponent from any place on the screen.

Lightning Jaws Down, Down-right, Right+B

Mephis tosses a snapping dragon head made of electricity across the screen.

Burning Touch Down, Down-left, Left+B

Mephis spins and tosses some powder into the air in front of him.

Nezu
Time Vault Right,Left,Down+A

Nezu tosses a slow fireball forward. If it touches the opponent, it will make them unable to move for a bit.

Eno Blast Down, Down-left, Left, Right+C

Nezu tosses a ball of energy at the ground, which remains there until the opponent steps on it, at which point it explodes. Nezu may only have one Eno Blast onscreen at a time.

Eno Flip Down, Down-left, Left+C

Nezu lays an Eno Blast on the ground and backflips twice. After he's finished his backflips, the Eno Blast will explode.

Eno Shot Left, Down-left, Down, Down-right, Right+B

Nezu tosses a fireball projectile across the screen.

Rajah
Thunder Clap Right, Down, Down-right, Right+B

Rajah pulls out both his scimitars and smacks them together in front of him causing the screen to flash.

Sword Shockwave Left, Down, Down-left, Left+C

Rajah spins his scimitars and plants them into the ground, sending a wave projectile along the ground.

Scimitar Spiral Right, Down-right, Down, Down-left, Left+B

Rajah pulls out both his scimitars and attaches them handle-to-handle, then tosses them across the screen.

Sett
Mummy Wrap Right, Down-right, Down, Down-left, Left+B

Sett strikes forward with his arms, and extends a bunch of mummy wrapping for longer range.

Wedge Charge Right, Down, Down-right, Right+A

Sett quickly dashes straight across the screen to ram his opponent.

Cosmic Missile Down, Down-left, Left+C

Sett blasts an energy bolt projectile across the screen.

Shaq
Inferno Kick Down, Down-right, Right+C

Shaq performs a high flaming roundhouse kick.

Shaq-urikin Right,Left,Right+A

Shaq tosses a spinning blade projectile across the screen.

Voodoo
Eagle Claw Left, Down-left, Down, Down-right, Right+B

Voodoo raises her hand and conjures an eagle onto it, which she tosses across the screen.

Voodoo Doll Down, Down-left, Left+C

Voodoo pulls out a doll of her opponent and a knife as well. Pressing any attack button will make her stab the opponent and damage them from anywhere on the screen.

Earthquake Right, Down, Down-right, Right+A

Voodoo slams the ground with both hands and damages any opponent standing on it.

Stages

Shaqfu wasteland.png The Wasteland
Auroch's stage
Shaqfu dragonspass.png Dragon's Pass
Beast's stage
Shaqfu thelab.png The Lab
Colonel's stage
Shaqfu yaskomines.png Yasko Mines
Diesel's stage
Shaqfu catwalkfalls.png Catwalk Falls
Kaori's stage
Shaqfu northgate.png North Gate
Leotsu's stage
Shaqfu gargoylespeak.png Gargoyle's Peak
Mephis's stage
Shaqfu southgate.png South Gate
Nezu's stage
Shaqfu vagabondtemple.png Vagabond Temple
Rajah's stage
Shaqfu tombstoneisland.png Tombstone Island
Sett's stage
Shaqfu theforest.png The Forest
Voodoo's stage

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Project Manager: Paul Cuisset
Design Lead: Paul Cuisset
Lead Programmer: Thierry Gaerthner
Programmer: Arnaud Carre
Lead Graphic Artist: Thierry Levastre
Graphic Artist: Valerie Amghar, Stephane Aussel, Michele Bacque, Thierry Bansront, Gregory Beal, Eric Caron, Michaël Douaud, Laurent Dreno, Serge Fiedos, Herve Gaerthner, Elie Jamaa, Frederic Michel, Christophe Moyne, Olivier Nicolas, Fabrice Tete, Cecile Thomas, Jean-Marc Timert, Paul Tumelaire, Roman Vaidis
Music: Raphael Gesqua
Assistant Producers: Jeff Brown, William Schmitt, John Vilandre
Testing: Jeff Brown, Ryan Enslow, Chris McCall, Chip Probst, Matt Vella, John Vilandre, Michael Yasko
Executive Producer: Don Traeger
Producer: Jim Rushing
Associate Producer: Greg Suarez
Product Manager: Lisa Higgins
Documentation: Valerie Hanscom, Michael Humes
Package Direction: Nancy Fong
Package Design: 13th Floor, Dave Parmely
Stuntmen: Remi Canaple, Patrick Cauderlier, Abi Espanol, Marc Le Loeuff, Dany Rocca, Phil Vitt
Special Thanks: Leonard Armato, Tim Brengle, John Brooks, Lori Christensen, Jean Charles Meyrignac, Shaquille O'Neal, Management Plus, Sarah Smith, Dennis Tracey

Game Gear version

Shaq Fu Game Gear Was Converted by: Tiertex Ltd
Programmers: Donald Campbell, Dave Stead
Project Management: Dympna Forkin, Thierry Gaerthner
EA Management Team: Don Traeger, Jim Rushing, Greg Suarez, John Vilandre
Tiertex Testing: Gary Marshall, Lee Walker
EA Testing: Anji Mayfield, Heather Meigs
Original Graphics: Thierry Levastre for Delphine
Converted by: Kevin Knott at Tiertex
Music Originated by: Raphael Gesqua
Game Gear Music and Effects: John Prince
Special Thanks: Dany Boolauck, Lori Christensen, Paul Cuisset, Anne-Marie Joassim, Shaquille O'Neal, Management Plus, Sarah Smith, Dennis Tracey, Jean Charles Meyrignac
Product Management: Lisa Higgins

Screenshots

  • Overworld map

Magazine articles

Main article: Shaq Fu/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

  • ShaqFu MD US PrintAdvert.jpg

    US print advert

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
89
82 №155, p94[2]
79
81 №23, p50[3]
65 №64
76 №7, p14
90 №36, p118-121[4]
76 №28, p28-29
79 №24, p76-78[5]
40 №1, p101[6]
69 №48, p156
76 №61, p64
75 №44, p10
57
Sega Mega Drive
 74
Based on
14 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[7]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
76
[8]
Cool Gamer (RU)
60
[9]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
82
[2]
Computer + Video Giochi (IT)
84
[10]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
50
[11]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
79
[12]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
78
[13]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
81
[3]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
65
[14]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
76
[15]
Joypad (FR) PAL
90
[4]
LeveL (CZ)
65
[16]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
70
[17]
Mega (UK) PAL
76
[18]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
79
[5]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
25
[6]
Player One (FR)
69
[19]
Play Time (DE) PAL
54
[20]
Score (CZ)
84
[21]
Sega Magazin (DE)
60
[22]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
76
[23]
Sega Force (SE)
57
[24]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
75
[25]
Todo Sega (ES)
82
[26]
Tricks (RU)
78
[27]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
78
[28]
Video Games (DE) PAL
66
[29]
VideoGames (US)
60
[30]
Sega Mega Drive
 70
Based on
29 reviews

Shaq Fu

Mega Drive, US
Shaqfu md us cover.jpg
Cover
Shaqfu md us cart.jpg
Cart
Shaq Fu MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Shaqfu md eu cover.jpg
Cover
Shaqfu md eu cart.jpg
Cart

Game Gear version

Game Gear, US
ShaqFu GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngShaqfu gg us cover.jpg
Cover
Shaqfu gg us cart.jpg
Cart

References

  1. ↑ Press release: 1994-10-26: SHAQUILLE O'NEAL TO STAR IN FIRST EVER VIDEOGAME
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 File:CVG UK 155.pdf, page 94 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 155.pdf_p94" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 File:GamesMaster UK 023.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamesMaster UK 023.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 File:Joypad FR 036.pdf, page 118 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 036.pdf_p118" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 File:MeanMachinesSega24UK.pdf, page 76 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega24UK.pdf_p76" defined multiple times with different content
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 File:NextGeneration US 01.pdf, page 107 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:NextGeneration US 01.pdf_p107" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 203
  8. ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-06-xx), page 80
  9. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 184
  10. ↑ Computer + Video Giochi, "Dicembre 1994" (IT; 1994-xx-xx), page 130
  11. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 357
  12. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 12 December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 170
  13. ↑ GamePro, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 124
  14. ↑ GamesMaster (UK) "Series 4, episode 2" (1994-09-27, 24:00) (+6:54)
  15. ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-11-xx), page 14
  16. ↑ LeveL, "Únor 1995" (CZ; 1995-02-24), page 40
  17. ↑ MAN!AC, "11/94" (DE; 1994-10-12), page 62
  18. ↑ Mega, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-30), page 28
  19. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 156
  20. ↑ Play Time, "2/95" (DE; 1995-01-04), page 111
  21. ↑ Score, "Únor 1995" (CZ; 1995-02-01), page 44
  22. ↑ Sega Magazin, "Dezember 1994" (DE; 1994-11-17), page 22
  23. ↑ Sega Power, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-10-20), page 64
  24. ↑ Sega Force, "3/95" (SE; 1995-06-20), page 22
  25. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "3rd February 1995" (UK; 1995-01-21), page 10
  26. ↑ Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1994" (ES; 1994-1x-xx), page 66
  27. ↑ Tricks, "3/95" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 11
  28. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 154
  29. ↑ Video Games, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-23), page 92
  30. ↑ VideoGames, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 63
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