Re: Various impressions obscure Saturn games Continued

Before we begin lemme just share my joy with all of you... today at
9:35 in the morning I just received a Godly package of 8 SEGA Saturn
obscure gems (or so I hope!) that some I have hunted for for over THREE
YEARS! Some that I have never ever even seen on eBay ONCE! NEVER! Yes
I'm psyched as hell, and you know just where to read up on these games
in the near future... now on with the show!

SUIKOENBU FUUNSAIKI


Being a big fan of Fighter's History Dynamite, in December 2001 I
bought my last Saturn game physically in a game shop when I purchased
Data East fighter Dark Legend. Dark Legend was a 1995 ST-V fighter
ported onto Saturn. It's also known as "Outlaws of the Lost Dynasty."
It's decent, but weighed down by heavy loading and that X-Factor. A
year or so later I discovered there was an "upgrade" to Dark Legend
only available on Saturn via the JP market, a title known as "Suikoenbu
Fuunsaiki." One of my Saturn buds was raving about it at the time, and
you know me and Data East fighters, I was all over this one. To my
delight, Fuunsaiki brought over two FHD characters, Mizoguchi and
Yung-Mie, into the fray of the original 12 DL fighters for a total of
14 selectable characters.

My friend told me Suikoenbu Fuunsaiki means Dark Legend Reborn but I
haven't confirmed that.

While I am slightly disappointed Data East didn't throw in ALL the FH
fighters -- it would have been like Fighters Megamix Data East style, I
can see why they didn't. They were undoubtedly going for that Dark
Legend storyline theme... a battle of warriors in the 11th Century.
Somehow I get the feeling a clown or a punk rocker wouldn't quite fit
in! ;)

So how to describe SF? Heh, I just noticed its initials are the same as
Street Fighter's. And that is perfect, as it plays like a mix of Street
Fighter and Samurai Shodown, only with a Chinese 11th-12th century
theme. There is scaling like SS, weapons like SS, and it plays like SF
in command and such. How does SF improve over DL? Little touches, but
IMO it added up to make this a sturdy game.

Combos here are insane. See the back cover? Yeah, they give you a 9 hit
combo you can do with Wu Song. In the original DL you could do a bit of
juggling... here in SF Data East takes it to the extreme with a very
cool juggle system -- we're talking jumping in combos that can
accumulate for 15 hits, then you can send them launching into the air
where thereby you can time and hit them another 10 to 20 times. There's
nothing more satisfying than just beating and juggling the tar outta
your opponent... kicking him to the edge of the screen and combo-ing
his ass. In a way, it kind of feels like a VS game as well!

Mizoguchi and Yung-Mie are the two weaponless characters, as well as
the boss. For the rest, there is a weapon bar that when reaches maximum
capacity he or she will lose their weapon for the rest of the match.
You can press B+Y to drop your weapon... here your character may have
an ENTIRELY new moveset! Very nice. Just press B+Y over your fallen
weapon to reclaim it. Press C+Z to toss your weapon at your enemy, if
it connects it's an automatic dizzy. However, your weapon is lost
forever, so use this wisely!

Each Character has a desperation move or two they can pull off when
their energy is about 15% or so left. Some characters even have
desperation moves specifically for when they are weaponless -- nice!

Characters
-----

SHI JIN
The Ryu/Haohmaru of the gang. Front-runner on the cover, a martial
artist with a dragon tattoo on his back and carries a sword. How
appropro. Launches a dragon headed fireball that burns when using the
Fierce button, and a nice multi-air hit Flaming Dragon Sword Uppercut.
Without the sword he has a burning knuckle type attack.

DM: Rising Dragon
A cool whirlwind effect that sucks the enemy into a Flaming Uppercut
Dragon Punch... you see a flaming dragon flying up the screen...
downgraded in strength from Dark Legend, here in SF only inflicts 20%
damage.

LIN CHONG
A master of stick fighting, he has one of the coolest throws in the
game -- chucks his enemy in the air to land on his knife end of the
stick -- wicked sound effect on this one. Has a nice looking big blue
wavy circular projectile that on Fierce hits very hard, knocking down
the opponent.

DM: Spaz Attack
A 13-hit rushing combo where each hit produces a large on-screen red
kanji. 25% damage

HU SAN NIANG
A master duel sword female fighter, she is quick, agile and deadly.
Throws a ground-based water projectile, and has a nice Dragon Punch
that in mid-air you can throw in two kicks for good measure.

DM: Vacuum Jasmine Wave
Jumps in the air, launches a stunning projectile... followed by a
wicked wave. 35% damage

DAI ZONG
A ninja with teleporting skills and the power to produce a fireball
from the palm of his hands that sends you flying to the wall. Check out
his stage, it's quite atmospheric and cool.

DM with: Super Ki Beam
Spends a 4-hit death blast across the screen. 35% damage

DM without: Shadow Charge
Runs across the screen (a la MK's Kabal for his web spin) leaving a
green trail that sends the opponent flying in the air... weak, but
great for combos!

LI KUI
One of my favorite fighters as he's sorta the offbeat giant of the
group. Weilds two axes, has a cool chopping throw, breathes fire, and
has a 5-hit run slice and dice special move. Also possesses the ability
to conjure spiky rocks outta the ground by smashing the ground with his
axes.

DM with: Mandarin Death Chop
13-hit combo where he chops you up before roasting you -- ouch! 30%
damage

DM without: Atomic Earth Splitter
Launches a huge fire blast... extremely powerful! 40% damage

LU ZHI SHEN
I like this fool too, as he's the other big offbeat guy in the cast.
It's great to get this giant and Li Kui on screen together... nice
stuff. He carries a big sword-ish weapon, has some cool specials and
when you drop his giant weapon he can throw icy projectiles! Yes, they
will freeze the opponent and the ice effect looks AWESOME. Especially
on a giant like Li Kui, and the camera is zoomed up close... it looks
spectacular. He can throw the ice high or low... and as many as two at
one time (remember this kinda plays like a crazy wild VS game) nice
sound effect, and it's sweet to throw them high and low, slow and fast,
to confuse and bewilder the opponent. Also can conjure a fireball from
the heavens.

DM without: Super Earth Scorcher
Only fighter to have only a DM without weapon, this devestating DM has
the big baldie tossing three fire blasts from the heavens... scoring an
impressive 45% damage

GONG SHUN SHENG
Old man who fights with a HUGE demon spirit. Demon tosses old man
about. It's really pretty cool, the old man has Blanka-like flying
attacks, arching, low and middle. They have a neat throw where the
demon holds you and the oldie launches himself at you.

DM: Pinball Bounce
Old man bounces round the screen like a damn pinball, win with this DM
and get a special win pose.

WU SONG
A muscular warrior weilding two sticks, has plenty of throws. His stage
may be the most impressive and memorable in the game

DM: Tiger Drill
Grabs you, slides you across the ground causing an explosion. Ouch

RUAN XIAO ER
Weird looking fighter who is the oldest of the 3 RUAN brothers. Has a
water blob buddy.

DM with: Tsunami Strike
9 hit attack, 30% damage

DM without: Phoenix Rush
3 huge eagles flying at you horizontally

RUAN XIAO WU
The deformed mutant of the group, this weird freakshow can throw fish,
crabs and frogs!

DM with: Brilliant Storm Drop
You can control his flight of attack, pretty neat

DM without: Phoenix Rush
Similar to his older brother, only the eagles come outta the ground

RUAN XIAO QI
The youngest bro, he uses nun chucks, he has the same special moves as
his older brother, only based in the electrocution arts. Rapid punch
produces a nin chuck frenzy.

DM with: Thunderstorm Arc
Produces a ball of Thunder around him

DM without: Phoneix Rush
3 Eagles... one horizontally, one vertically and one diagonally


CHAO GAI
The boss of the game... after he loses one round he can change into his
demon form by holding all 3 punch buttons down. In his "human" form
(that in itself is highly questionable as he was shot in the face by a
poison arrow during a battle to the death... legend has it he has
returned from the grave...) he can breathe fire, produce minature
clones of himself and possesses one mean dashing kick. In his demon
form he shoots out four anti-air arrows with a cool sound effect.

DM (only during demon form): Dark Ki Beam
Launches a blast across entire screen. 35% damage

MIZOGUCHI
Master of the Tiger Bazooka... he has air fireballs and an air
hurricane kick. You can do up to five fireballs in the air (shooting
out horizontally or/and a downward arch) before landing back down. Can
launch a Super Tiger Bazooka, and has a rising multi hit Dragon Punch.

DM: Naw... I won't spoil the surprise...

YUNG MIE
All I gotta say is HOLY HECK! She has the most impressive DM in the
game, taking off 70% damage (!!)... a 16-hit barrage that when all said
and done, gives you the chance to juggle the opponent further! I'm sure
there is a 100% combo with her involving her DM... easily...

Well there are the 14 (whew) characters. Overall this game feels a lot
more polished and solid. It's no Capcom or SNK fighter but I think for
under $20 is well worth it. The graphics are slightly improved,
backgrounds got added in new touches, and there are even two new stages
(for the two brothers, in DL one stage was shared by all 3 brothers and
that just screamed laziness)

The game comes in a double case because of the nicely illustrated 37
page manual, but don't worry there's no 2nd disc so you're not missing
anything. I just really dig the juggling combos you can pull off, and
the awesome Chinese Techno Rock soundtrack. I also love the cheesey
"kung fu air" sound effects in this game just like in them old karate
movies where a punch produces exaggerated sound effects. What can I say
but... cool game.

What does the Japanese think of Fuunsaiki you ask? Well I'm glad you
asked.

The Readers' Score of DC Magazine scored it an 8.9142

On the Saturn Game Rankings List that the Japanese gamers ran,
Fuunsaiki ranked as the 105th best Saturn game, according to consensus.

To give you a perspective of the Japanese's taste...

ThunderForce V ranked #6
Vampire Savior #22
NiGHTS #47
Radiant Silvergun #49
Christmas NiGHTS #97
Fuunsaiki #105
Street Fighter Collection #176
Metal Slug #185
Guardian Heroes #197
Puzzle Fighter #323

Yeah, they thought pretty highly of Fuunsaiki all right! Til next time!
*laughs like a madman* Now time to rip open this Godly package.... :D

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