Art of Fighting / Ryuuko no Ken (NGM-044 ~ NGH-044)

SNK Neo-Geo MVS cart. published 33 years ago:

龍虎の拳 (c) 1992 SNK Corp.
(Ryuuko no Ken)

An early Neo-Geo martial arts fighting game with 2 selectable characters in 1-player mode and 8 selectable characters in 2-player mode which also features a long-nosed end boss. Progressive damage is shown on each fighter's face for a dramatic effect.

- TECHNICAL -

Runs on the SNK "Neo-Geo MVS" hardware.
Game ID : NGM-044

[SNK MVS Neo-Geo Controls]
2 players - 4 buttons per player
= > [A] Punching attack, [B] Kicking attack, [C] Throw enemy, [D] Taunt

- TRIVIA -

Ryuuko no Ken was released in September 1992 in Japan.

The title of this game translates from Japanese as 'Dragon and Tiger Fist'.

This game is known outside Japan as Art of fighting". A pirate version was known as "Fit of Fighting".

SNK's second fighting-game franchise. It was the first fighting game by SNK to feature the character designs of former SNK illustrator Shinkiro, who would go on to do the character designs for the later "Fatal Fury" and "The King of Fighters" games.

This is the first fighting game to feature the 'camera zoom' - where the camera zooms in when the fighters are close together and zooms out when the fighters move away from each other. This is also the first fighting game to utilize a 'spirit meter'. Every time a special move is executed the spirit meter is depleted accordingly. The more powerful the special move, the more it depletes. When it's empty special moves can't be done anymore, however, you can recharge the spirit meter by standing still and holding the A or B button leaving you totally defenseless.

Robert Garcia design was inspired by the famous actor Steven Seagal.
Takuma Sakazaki desgin was inspired by Masutatsu Oyama.

The Haou Shokou Ken was referred to as the Haou Ken (or as the game put it, the 'Haow-Ken'). Its similarity to Ryu's (of "Street Fighter" fame) Hadou Ken forced the name change.

The character's fighting stance and their victory pose depends on how beaten up they are.

Lee Pai Long is called Lee Piron in the game's source code.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Play as Todoh, Jack, Lee, King, Micky and John:
Player 2 must join.

* Play as Mr. Big and Mr. Karate:
Eeach them on 1P Game, then player 2 must join.

* Move Command Delay:
Its possible to input the commands for any special or super move but it is not necessary to press the corresponding attack button right away, this allows you to delay any move for as long as you want in order to surprise an opponent! This trick also enables you to perform slower versions of some special moves such as projectile attacks.

- SERIES -

1. Ryuuko no Ken [Model NGM-044] (1992)
2. Ryuuko no Ken 2 [Model NGM-056] (1994)
3. Art of Fighting - Ryuuko no Ken Gaiden [Model NGM-096] (1996)

- STAFF -

Producer: Eikichi Kawasaki (E. Kawasaki)
Directors: Hiroshi Matsumoto (Finish Hiroshi), Akira Goto (Dog Akira), Matakichi. Chan, Mastang. 2
Programmers: John Guso, Cross. Moon D.S.K
Object Designers: Hatarakuogsan, Muta Teizon, Osamu Kamada (Kama Kama), Tree. Village. Ken, Kylly Maclako, Pinkey. 2, Lionheart, Tony Oki (Tony. R. Oki), Mitsuo Kodama (Outim Amadok Eel), Toyohisa Tanabe (Toyochan), Yoshiko Kubo (7.7812.8270.Kubo), Tatsuya Shinkai (Ayustat Shin 25), I000.Taroh Age22, Gynos. Crash!, Dir Tetsuzan, 555 Zi5han, Ahokamen. Boke, Bo. Bo, Kiritao. Y, Gmhenson Jr
Back Designers: Muramama. 2, Take Pyon (Take. P), Shimachan, Moriyan, H. Skallter, UG Wada (Ug)
Sound: Paciorek, Masahiko Hataya (Papaya), Yasumasa Yamada (Yamapy-1), Yoshihiko Kitamura (Jojoha Kitapy), Toshio Shimizm (Shimizum)

* Voice Actors:
Ryo Sakazaki: Masaki Usui
Robert Garcia: Eiji Yano
Ryuhaku Todoh: Takayuki Sakai
Jack Turner: ???
Lee Pai Long: Eiji Yano
King : Harumi Ikoma
Micky Rogers: Michael Beard
John Crawley: Masaki Usui
Mr. Big: ???
Mr. Karate: Takayuki Sakai

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo AES (Dec.11, 1992) "Ryuuko no Ken [Model NGH-044]"
[US] SNK Neo-Geo AES (Dec.11, 1992) "Art of Fighting [Model NGH-044]"
[JP] Nintendo Super Famicom (Oct.29, 1993) "Ryuuko no Ken [Model SHVC-RW]"
[US] Nintendo Super NES (Dec. 1993) "Art of Fighting [Model SNS-RW]"
[EU] Nintendo Super NES (Dec. 1993) "Art of Fighting [Model SNSP-RW]"
[US] Sega Genesis (Jan.13, 1994) "Art of Fighting [Model 1146]"
[JP] Sega Mega Drive (Jan.14, 1994) "Ryuuko no Ken [Model G-4113]"
[EU] Sega Mega Drive (1994) "Art of Fighting [Model 1146-50]"
[JP] NEC PC-Engine CD (Mar.26, 1994) "Ryuuko no Ken [Model HCD4061]"
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo CD (Sep.9, 1994) "Ryuuko no Ken [Model NGCD-044]"
[US] SNK Neo-Geo CD (1994) "Art of Fighting [Model NGCD-044E]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (may.11, 2006) "Ryuuko no Ken - Ten Chi Jin [NeoGeo Online Collection Vol.4] [Model SLPS-25610]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (june.21, 2007) "Ryuuko no Ken - Ten Chi Jin [NeoGeo Online Collection The Best] [Model SLPS-25790]"
[US] Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] (Oct.8, 2007)
[EU] Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] (Nov.11, 2007)
[US] Sony PS2 (may.05, 2008) "SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1 [Model SLUS-21724]"
[US] Sony PSP (may.05, 2008) "SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1 [Model ULUS-10338]"
[KO] Sony PS2 (may.29, 2008) "SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1 [Model SLKA-25424]"
[US] Nintendo Wii (jul.29, 2008) "SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1 [Model RVL-P-RNCE]"
[EU] Sony PSP (Oct. 17, 2008) "SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1 [Model ULES-01105]"
[EU] Nintendo Wii (Oct. 31, 2008) "SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1 [Model RVL-P-RJZP]"
[EU] Sony PS2 (Nov. 21, 2008) "SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1 [Model SLES-55232]"
[JP] Sony PSP (May. 21, 2009) "SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1 [Model ULJS-193]"
Sony PlayStation Store (Dec.2010)

- CONTRIBUTE -

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