Gouketsuji Ichizoku

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Gouketsuji Ichizoku
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Sound driver: SMPS Z80 (modified)
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1994-11-18 ¥9,800 (10,094)9,800e T-144013
Non-Sega versions Arcade Super NES

Gouketsuji Ichizoku (豪血寺一族) is a 1993 arcade fighting game by Atlus and the first in the long-running series of the same name. Atlus ported it to the Sega Mega Drive in 1994, releasing it exclusively in Japan.

Plans were made to port the game to the US under the name Power Instinct (for release in October 1994 and later January), then February 1995, but were scrapped. A US port was released for the Super NES.

Story

The wealthy and powerful Gouketsuji clan is holding a tournament to determine who will replace 78-year-old Oume Gouketsuji as head of the clan. Any person with blood ties to the clan can enter.

Gameplay

Gameplay

The game is a versus fighting game similar to Street Fighter II. Matches are fought to the best of three rounds, and a round is won when one fighter depletes the other's health to zero. Rounds are timed, and if time runs out, the round goes to whichever fighter has the most health remaining.

Characters move with and and dash with or . Characters are invulnerable while back dashing. Forward dashes can be canceled by pressing . Characters crouch with and jump with . Every character can double jump by pressing again in midair and triangle jump by pressing the D-Pad in the opposite direction when jumping onto the side of the screen.

When using a standard control pad, characters can perform a light punch with , a light kick with , a strong punch with , and a strong kick with  START . When using a Six Button Control Pad, characters can perform a light punch with , a strong punch with or , a light kick with , and a strong kick with or . The attack performed varies depending on whether the character is standing, jumping, or crouching and the distance from the opponent. Characters can also attack while dashing toward an opponent; dashing kicks can knock opponents back. Every character has four special moves that are done by performing a motion on the D-Pad before punching or kicking.

Blocking is done by holding the D-Pad away from the opponent, which can also be done while crouching. Special moves still inflict a small amount of "chip damage" when blocked. Characters that are hit in midair by an attack that does not knock them down can recover by jumping (if they have not already used their double jump). Throws and grabs are done by holding or when next to an opponent and pressing a hard punch button. Throws cannot be blocked and can be done in midair. Characters are stunned when they are attacked repeatedly, becoming uncontrollable for a short duration.

Modes

There are several modes:

• Story: The single-player mode. The player chooses any character and fights a match against every character in the game, ending with a fight against Gouketsuji clan leader Oume. A second player can challenge the first at any point by pressing  START  on a second control pad, with the winner of the match continuing in the tournament.
• Vs Mode: A two-player versus mode. Players choose any character, a handicap, and any stage. The game keeps track of wins, loses, and ties.
• Battle Royal: A two-player battle mode where players choose between 1 and 8 characters (which can be the same character) and fight a single match with all of them. When one player's fighter is defeated, the player's next fighter enters the battle, until all of one player's fighters have been eliminated. The match consists of a single round with no time limit.
• Practice: A training mode that can be played against a dummy character (standing or crouching), an active computer, or another human player. There is no time limit, and characters cannot be defeated, even when they lose all of their health.
• Karaoke: A karaoke mode that plays one of two songs ("Tatanka no Uta" or "Otoko no Karatemichi"), with lyrics displayed on the screen.

There are eight difficulty levels for computer-controlled opponents. Character endings are only shown in the Story mode when the difficulty level is set to 6 or higher (the default is 4). The player can also choose the time limit for each round (30, 60, or 90 seconds or no limit).

There is a "Power Config" options menu that lets players change the damage dealt by any character's normal moves and by each of their special moves. These settings do not affect the Story mode.

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

Players can assign special moves to a single button in the options before starting a game (which works in every game mode except the Story mode). This only performs the  LP  and  LK  versions of special moves.

Playable

	Annie Hamilton (アニー・ハミルトン)
	Country: England Age: 22 Blood type: AB
	A compassionate but occasionally overbearing woman who was born into a rich family. She loves animals and has 6 dogs, 4 cats, 3 horses, and a turtle named Kensington. Move list Name Command Description Swan Clash P Annie swings her arm, sending a swan flying across the screen as a projectile. Rainbow Barrier Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Annie swipes her hand through the air, creating a rainbow arc in front of her. This move knocks opponents down on impact. It can be used against grounded as well as airborne opponents. It also dissipates projectiles. Photon Burst P in midair Annie throws a photon burst downward at a diagonal angle. When performed with  LP , she throws it at an acute angle (closer to straight downward). When performed with  HP , she throws it at an obtuse angle (closer to straight ahead). Annie Dynamic Hold  HK  for 4 seconds, then release Annie brings her leg up, then smashes it downward with an axe kick down to a leg split. This move knocks opponents down on impact. She is momentarily invulnerable while performing this and can pass through projectiles.
	Reiji Ouyama (大山・礼児)
	Country: Japan Age: 25 Blood type: A
	A training fanatic who excels at bouts of physical strength and works part-time as a construction worker to exert his extra energy. Move list Name Command Description Gekishouhadouha P Reiji shoots a fireball across the screen from his hand. Ryuenshou P Reiji flies into the air with a flaming uppercut. This move knocks opponents down on impact. Raikoukyaku KKKKK Reiji kicks furiously in front of him. Shouenbu D-Pad in a 360° rotation, then K in midair Reiji dives diagonally downward with a flaming kick.
	Keith Wayne (キース・ウェイン)
	Country: United States Age: 25 Blood type: O
	A former juvenile delinquent and gang member who quit because of his father and decided instead to focus on the discipline of fighting. Move list Name Command Description Lightning Flash P Keith swings his arm, sending a ball of lighting moving across the ground. This is a low projectile that can pass under other projectiles. Spiral Kick K Keith leaps through the air with three successive kicks. Rolling Cannon K Keith launches himself diagonally upward with a flying kick. This move knocks opponents down on impact. Knuckle Bomber Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Keith dashes forward, then performs three hook punches, the last of which knocks his opponent down. He is momentarily invulnerable at the start of the dash and can pass through projectiles.
	White Buffalo (ホワイト・バッファロー)
	Country: United States Age: 30 Blood type: A
	A taciturn Native American who tries to protect the rights of his people. Move list Name Command Description Arrow Shoot P White Buffalo shoots a flaming arrow across the screen from his hand. This is a high projectile that some characters can duck beneath. Tackle Blow Hold for 2 seconds, then +P White Buffalo rushes forward with a palm strike that knocks his opponent over. He travels further with  HP . Buffalo Storm Hold for 2 seconds, then +K White Buffalo dances on the ground, then kicks in the air, sending a buffalo spirit charging across the screen. Flying Elbow D-Pad in a 360° rotation, then P in midair White Buffalo flies diagonally downward with his body infused with fire. This move knocks opponents down on impact.
	Otane Gouketsuji (豪血寺・お種)
	Country: Japan Age: 79 Blood type: Unknown
	The younger sister of clan leader Oume. As a child, Otane was constantly berated and abused by her older twin sister and was neglected by her mother due to her unwillingness to fight back. Otane decided to leave home at the age of 15 and trained endlessly so that one day she could beat Oume and prove that she is a worthy leader of the Gouketsuji clan. She is the only character who can crouch walk forward (with ) and the only character with a transformation. When she grabs her opponent (with + HP  or + HP  when close), she siphons her opponent's life energy, transforming into a younger version of herself ("Super Otane") for 10 seconds. Super Otane does very high damage and can stun opponents easily. Move list (Otane) Name Command Description Gan Saishi Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Otane spits her chomping dentures across the screen as a projectile. Ikaku Gan Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Otane rises into the air while projecting a horrific face in front of her. This move knocks opponents down on impact. Ryusei Ranbu Dan +PPPPP Otane hovers in the air while throwing multiple fire blasts from her palms. Move list (Super Otane) Name Command Description Chourenka P Otane hops forward while throwing a flaming heart as a projectile. This move knocks opponents down on impact. This move can be performed in midair, in which case it is fired diagonally downward. Koushokuheki Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Otane swipes her hand through the air, creating a rainbow arc in front of her. It can be used against grounded as well as airborne opponents. It also dissipates projectiles.
	Saizou Hattori (破鳥・才蔵)
	Country: Japan Age: 24 Blood type: AB
	A dark ninja who keeps his emotions hidden. He normally hides behind a ninja mask to avoid the contact with others, although on some occasions, his part-time job requires him to appear on stage in an animal costume. Move list Name Command Description Gokuenshouryudan P Saizou throws a bomb that explodes into a tall cloud of flame when it hits the ground or an opponent. When performed with  LP , he throws the bomb right in front of him. When performed with  HP , he throws it three-quarters of the way across the screen. This move knocks opponents down on impact. Ryu En Nami P Saizou thrusts a burst of energy across the screen with his hands. Ao Hono Reshou Zan K Saizou rushes forward with an elbow strike. He moves faster and further with  HP . Shin Sora Senpu Zan D-Pad in a 360° rotation, then P in midair Saizou rolls diagonally downward in a ball, which can hit opponents multiple times.
	Angela Belti (アンジェラ・ベルテ)
	Country: Italy Age: 27 Blood type: O
	An Italian strongwoman who lives a rough lifestyle and falls in love easily. Move list Name Command Description Love Me Whip Hold for 2 seconds, then +P Angela cracks her whip in a straight line in front of her, which covers almost the full length of the screen. This is a high attack that most characters can duck beneath. Thunder Wall  LP + HP  Angela hits the ground, causing a pillar of lightning to explode from the ground. Angela Body Attack Hold for 2 seconds, then +K Angela crouches, then darts ahead with an elbow strike. This move knocks opponents down on impact. Smash Kick Hold for 1 second, then +K in midair Angela dives diagonally downward with a kick, then flips backwards.
	Thin Nen (陳念)
	Country: China Age: 35 Blood type: B
	A Shaolin monk who is violent and greedy and filled with worldly desires. Move list Name Command Description Rengokureiha  LP + HP  Thin Nen swirls his hands in the air, creating a giant flaming skull that he pushes across the screen with his hands. Jubakufu  LP + HP  Thin Nen throws a cursed projectile across the screen, which immobilizes his opponent temporarily if it hits. Rekkouken +P Thin Nen punches furiously in front of him. This move knocks opponents down on impact. Senkourekkyaku K Thin Nen leaps through the air with multiple rotating kicks, then drops diagonally downward with a knee strike.

Bosses

	Oume Gouketsuji (豪血寺・お梅)
	Country: Japan Age: 79 Blood type: Unknown
	The fourth and current head of the Gouketsuji clan and the older twin sister of Otane. To master her mysterious attacks, she confined herself to the mountains. She has an eerie and unearthly presence about her, and it is rumored that she can turn her opponents to stone just by gazing into their eyes. Oume is a palette swap of Otane and has a similar moveset (including the ability to temporarily transform into a younger and stronger version of herself). She is not playable.

Stages

Each character has his or her own stage where matches are hosted. Stages are wider than they appear and contain barriers that can be broken by knocking characters into them, extending the playable area.

Annie Hamilton

Reiji Ouyama

Keith Wayne

White Buffalo

Otane Gouketsuji

Saizou Hattori

Angela Belti

Thin Nen

Oume Gouketsuji

Production credits

• Planner: Super K!
• Sub Planner: ✱ Bugta ✱
• Programmer: D.Dart
• Sub Programmer: ‑Mi.Taka‑
• Designer: T.Kakazu, Akira.I, Sadamasa.O
• Sound: Akihiro Akamatu, Sachiko.K, Shinji Nakaya
• Special Thanks: Hiro, A.C‑Len, Kotobuki, Range, Atlus All Staff
• Presented by: Atlus

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Gouketsuji Ichizoku/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

US print advert

Print advert in Game Players (US) #0710: "Vol. 7 No. 10 October 1994" (1994-xx-xx)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-10: "October 1994" (1994-09-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-11: "November 1994" (1994-10-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-12: "December 1994" (1994-11-08)

Artwork

• 

  North American prototype cover

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 40 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 63 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 58 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 64 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 72 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 69

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Based on 6 reviews

Gouketsuji Ichizoku

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

Main article: Gouketsuji Ichizoku/Technical information.

References

Gouketsuji Ichizoku games for Sega systems
	Gouketsuji Ichizoku (1994)
	PriCla Daisakusen (1996) | Groove On Fight: Gouketsuji Ichizoku 3 (1997)
	PriCla Daisakusen (1996) | Groove On Fight: Gouketsuji Ichizoku 3 (1997)