From: deloura@noaapmel.gov (Robert DeLoura)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video,rec.arts.anime
Subject: SFC/SNES:  Ranma 1/2 Part 2, review
Date: 5 Jan 93 15:20:38
Organization: NOAA/PMEL, Sand Point Way, Seattle, WA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: 192.68.161.18

I just got my copy of the Super Famicom (works with an adapter on the SNES,
or by pulling out a couple of clips in the SNES) Ranma 1/2 game that came
out around Christmas.  I've already seen one brief review of it, but here's
another.

In single-player mode, each character has a minor story associated with
them.  Most people in the U.S. probably won't care about this, since most of
the text is in Japanese.  You can play as:
	Ranma-kun (male)
	Ranma-chan (female)
	Akane
	Shampoo
	Mousse
	Ukyou
	Panda (Genma, Ranma's father)
	Gosunkugi
	Gambler King
	Ryouga
(That's in clockwise order on the screen, starting at the top)

Once you've beaten the game on any level, it will also allow you to play
as Pansuto Tarou, in either his human or Akuma form (he looks like a minotaur
with wings).  His Akuma form is very very slow, but does a lot of damage
with its normal (non-special) moves.

If you play as Ranma, you fight all the other characters except your
other-sex version.  If you play as a non-Ranma, you fight all the other
characters, and seem to end up fighting the opposite-sex version of
Ranma.  If you play as anyone other than Pansuto Tarou, then two fights
(one against each form, best of three each time) against Pansuto Tarou
are the final fights of the game.  If you play as Pansuto Tarou, your
final fight is against Happosai instead.

With the default controller settings, X jumps, Y does a "weak" attack,
B does a "strong" attack, and A does nothing at all.  L and R block.
You can also block like in SF2, by pulling away from your opponent.
(You don't seem to need to block high/low...just block.)
You can reconfigure the controller via the Option menu (fourth choice on
the title screen), and can also use this to make your character jump when
you push UP on the direction pad, instead of just when you hit X (so it'd
be more like SF2, a nice touch).

Hitting Y or B while close to your opponent and pushing into them with
the directional pad will throw them.  All characters have a throw, it
just does varying damage and looks different.  (Gosunkugi's throws suck.)

Ranma-kun, Ranma-chan, and Shampoo can double-jump -- when at the peak of
their jump, hit X a second time for more height.  Shampoo can steer herself
anywhere on the screen if you use this.  Ranma-chan just comes down really
fast.

Y and B do different things depending on whether you're standing or crouching,
and whether you're jumping straight up or at an angle.  I'll list all the
special moves for the characters here.

Some moves are "CHARGEd".  You hold the B button for a brief time, then let
go of it while pointing in the correct direction with the direction pad.
In general, there are three "levels" of CHARGE, and the longer you CHARGE,
the more powerful (or longer range, or both) the attack is.  There's no
indicator on the screen to show that you're charging, and you may need to
stand still to do it.

If I say "CHARGE, then (DIRECTION)", that's what I'm talking about.

RANMA (both)
------------
KAITEN KICK		CHARGE, then DOWN.
			(A rolling kick, longer range with higher CHARGE)
			(As Ranma-chan, this is a rolling elbow move instead)

FUMITSUKE		Jump towards your opponent, then press DOWN and B.
			(A head-stomp move)

HIRYUU SHOUTENHA	Press Y and B at the same time.
			(Hurricane Punch, a little like a dragon punch)

MOUKO TAKABISHA		CHARGE, then TOWARDS or AWAY from your opponent.
			It goes towards them either way.
			(An explosion of blue [or yellow, if Ranma-chan]
			energy appears directly in front of you.  Longer
			CHARGE time = bigger explosion)

KACHUU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN	Press Y or B rapidly.
			(A fast-hands move, like E. Honda's 100-hands punch
			in SF2)


RYOUGA
------

KASA TSUKI		TOWARDS and B.
			(Pokes an umbrella at your opponent)

TOBI KASA TSUKI		JUMP TOWARDS, then press DOWN and B.
			(Comes down on their heads with your umbrella)

SHISHI HOUKOUDAN	Y and B at the same time.
			(An explosion of energy appears before you, like
			a full-strength version of Ranma's MOUKO TAKABISHA
			move.)

BAKUSAI TENKETSU	CHARGE, then DOWN.
			(The 'exploding point' technique.  Rocks roll along
			the ground at your opponent, CHARGE=Range)

BANDANA NAGE		CHARGE, then TOWARDS or AWAY.
			(Throws bandannas at your opponent.  CHARGE=Number.)


SHAMPOO
-------

KAKATO OTOSHI		JUMP TOWARDS, then push DOWN and B.
			(Head stomp)

RYOUGA RETSUSHOU KYAKU	Y and B at the same time.
			(Leaps into the air feet-first, to the top of the
			screen, then comes back down.)

MOUGEKI TOTSUJINHA	CHARGE, then TOWARDS or AWAY.
			(Rushes at your opponent with Chinese maces.
			CHARGE=Distance)


AKANE
-----

NIDAN MAWASHI GERI	TOWARDS opponent and B.
			(Two high kicks)

SHOUMAKUUHAKEN		Y and B at the same time.
			(A leaping uppercut.  A Dragon Punch, plain and
			simple.  She's not invulnerable in it, though.)

SHIPPU BAKURETSUKEN	CHARGE, then TOWARDS or AWAY.
			(Rushes at your opponent with fist out.  CHARGE
			affects distance.)


PANDA (GENMA)
-----

CHICHI NO IKARI
(OSHIOKIHEN)		Y and B at the same time.
			(Can't get this to work.  Looks the same as an
			attack with just B at long range.)

CHICHI NO IKARI
(TAIBATSUHEN)		CHARGE, then TOWARDS or AWAY.
			(A rush-at.  CHARGE=Distance.)

PANDA HYAKURETSUKEN	Y or B, quickly and repeatedly.
			(A "100-hands" move, like Ranma's TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN.
			Seems more effective with B.)


GOSUNKUGI
---------

DAIKAITEN WARANINGYOU	Y and B at the same time.
			(Spins around twice with a large voodoo doll in his
			hands.)

WARANINGYOU NAGE	CHARGE, then TOWARDS or AWAY.
			(Looks just like DAIKAITEN WARANINGYOU, but he throws
			the doll afterwards.)


UKYOU
-----

KONJOU GIRI		B and TOWARDS.
			(Looks just like B, to me.  A long-range swing with
			her big spatula.)

TENKASU KANSHAKUDAMA MIKKSU
			CHARGE, then DOWN.
			(Throws some exploding mix at the opponent.)

KOHERA NAGE		CHARGE, then TOWARDS or AWAY.
			(Throws spatulas at the opponent.  CHARGE=Number)


MOUSSE
------

KATANA			B and TOWARDS.
			(Extends several long blades from the arm of his robe)

KEIRANKEN		CHARGE, then TOWARDS or AWAY.
			(Throws exploding eggs at the opponent.  CHARGE=Number)

HYAKURETSU ANKI		Y or B, quickly and repeatedly.
			(A fast-hands move, but with ranged weapons from
			the arm of his robe.)

TAKATSUMEKEN		JUMP, then DOWN and B.
			(Comes down from his jump with claws extended from
			his feet, which can hit the opponent.)


GAMBLER KING
------------

TEN BOW			CHARGE, then TOWARDS or AWAY.
			(Fires something at the opponent from a bow.)

JOKER SHOWER		JUMP AWAY, then DOWN and B.
			(Throws some cards diagonally down, forward.  Only
			useful if the opponent is close or chasing you.)


PANSUTO TAROU (HUMAN)
-------------

SUKASHIKI KIKKU		JUMP, then DOWN and B.
			(A head-stomp)

SENPORAKU		B and TOWARDS.
			(Swings some pantyhose at his opponent.  That's
			what the 'PANSUTO' in his name means.)

IPPATSU GYAKUTEN OTOKOGERI
			Y and B at the same time.
			(Leaps at the opponent, feet first, but with his
			leading foot on fire.)


PANSUTO TAROU (AKUMA)
-------------

MOUGYUU TOTSUSHIN	CHARGE, then TOWARDS or AWAY.
			(Charges at his opponent.  CHARGE=Distance)

JET ATTACK		JUMP, then DOWN and B.
			(Comes down at his opponent, diagonally, from his
			jump... with his fist outstretched.)


For those of you who've read this far, thus making all my typing worthwhile...
:-)

Here's a cheat for you.  Pick DUEL mode.  From the title screen, the
first choice is SCENARIO (1-player), the second is KETTOU (DUEL, player-vs)
the third is TEAM (5 matches, person who wins most matches wins), and finally
OPTION.

Pick any two characters.  When you reach the screen that asks you to pick
a background to fight on, press the R, X, and A keys, simultaneously.
You are now in DEBUG mode.  Enjoy.  (You can play Happosai from here.
He has a throw, a CHARGEd 'towards/away' move, a 'Y+B' move, and another
CHARGEd move, I think it's UP.)

If you find anything else of interest, let me know.

-------
Robert DeLoura
deloura@noaapmel.gov
Newsgroups: rec.games.video