Rokudenashi Blues: Taiketsu! Tokyo Yon Tengu (1994)
Rokudenashi Blues: Taiketsu! Tokyo Yon Tengu (literally "Rokudenashi Blues: Showdown! The Four Tengu of Tokyo") is a fighting game developed and published by Bandai for the Super Famicom, released on April 2, 1994. It is based on the popular manga and anime series Rokudenashi Blues, which follows the comedic and dramatic adventures of a high school delinquent, Taison Maeda. The game is a one-on-one fighting game where players control characters from the series, each with unique fighting styles and special moves. Bandai, the master of anime licensed games, brought their expertise to this title, creating a game that was both faithful to the series and fun to play.
Gameplay and Fighting Mechanics
Rokudenashi Blues: Taiketsu! Tokyo Yon Tengu is a 2D fighting game where players choose from a roster of characters, each with a unique set of martial arts moves and special attacks, based on the series' delinquent brawling style. The game features a "power meter" that fills up as players land hits, allowing them to perform devastating special moves. The game's controls are responsive and well-suited for the fighting game genre. The game's levels are inspired by locations from the series, including school grounds and city streets.
The game includes a story mode where players follow the series' narrative, a versus mode for two-player competitive matches, a training mode, and a "survival" mode. The game's visual style is faithful to the manga, with large, expressive character sprites and vibrant, detailed backgrounds. The soundtrack features energetic rock and electronic themes that match the action-packed, delinquent tone.
Rokudenashi Blues: Taiketsu! Tokyo Yon Tengu received positive reviews for its faithful adaptation and fun fighting mechanics, becoming a popular title among fans of the series. It remains a nostalgic classic for its delinquent theme and Bandai's licensed game expertise.