Tenchi wo Kurau (Japan)

Arcade Video game published 35 years ago:

天地を喰らう (c) 1989 Capcom.
(Tenchi wo Kurau)

Tenchi wo Kurau is a side-scrolling beat-em-up based on Japanese manga books of the same name and is a re-enactment of the historical battles between the Kingdom of Shu and the Yellow Turban rebels. Up to two players assume the roles of one of the four Chinese generals riding on horseback whose goal is to wipe out the 'Huang Ching', the organization responsible for the unrest of the Han Dynasty, and to eventually defeat the tyrant, Dong Zhuo.

The game is controlled with three buttons: attack left, attack right, or use special tactics. Inserting more coins increases the maximum life of the player. The game features traditional RPG elements as completing stages and collecting yellow orbs increases the player character's experience points, eventually enabling them to level-up, this increases the character's vitality and weapon strength. Weapons are upgraded for every 3rd blue orb collected, treasure increases a player's score, while food packs replenish player vitality (health).

Tenchi wo Kurau offers four selectable characters, each with their own varying amounts of attack power and initial vitality. As well as having weaponry exclusive to them, each character also has a unique partner character during certain special attacks.

The game features a total of eight stages, with each one representing a corresponding province from the historic battles of the Manga stories on which the game is based.

- TECHNICAL -

Capcom Play System hardware (CPS)
B-Board ID: 88622B-3

Players: Up to 2.
Control: 8-way joystick per player.
Buttons: 3 per player.

- TRIVIA -

Tenchi wo Kurau was released in April 1989 in the Japanese arcades. It was known there as the 4th video game made for the CP-S system. It is known outside Japan as "Dynasty Wars".

The title of this game translates from Japanese as 'Heaven and Earth Recieving Blows'.

Known Re-releases: "Tenchi wo Kurau [B-Board 91634B-2]"
Known Export releases: "Dynasty Wars [B-Board 88622B-3]"

The background story and all characters are based on factual history : the Period of Three Kingdoms after the 'Hen' Dynasty in China. Character designs were based on a popular Japanese comic called 'Destruction of Heaven and Earth'.

The Tenchi wo Kurau series is based on the Chinese tale best known as Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Strider Hiryu : G.S.M. Capcom 2 - D25B1001) on May 21, 1989.

- SERIES -

1. Tenchi wo Kurau [B-Board 88622B-3] (1989)
2. Tenchi wo Kurau II - Sekiheki no Tatakai [B-Board 91634B-2] (1992)

- STAFF -

Producer : Yoshiki Okamoto (Kihaji Okamoto)
Game designers : Noritaka Funamizu (Poo), S. Sato, K. Kataoka
Programmers : Y. Mutsunobu, M. Kobayashi, Y. Tsunasaki
Obj Designers : Kurichan, Y. Tamago, M. Tanabe, M. Matsuura, Shinji Sakashita
Scr Designers : Fukumoyan, M. Konishi, M. Miyao, K. Koizumi
Sound music : Manami Goto
Illustration : S. Shintani

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] NEC PC-Engine (1991)
NEC PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² [JP] (june.17, 1994) [Model NAPR1030]