Kensei: Sacred Fist
Encyclopedia
Kensei: Sacred Fist, known in Japan
as , is a 3D
-based fighting game
developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo and published by Konami
. It was first released in Japan on November 19, 1998, in North America
on November 30, 1998, and in Europe the same year. It was later re-released in 2001 under the reissue title Kensei: Sacred Fist Value Series. The game is a straight-to-console release, without an arcade counterpart.
, the model technology used allowed programmers to make 3D models, but the stages are 2D, with little to no motion effects. The characters sprites look less "blockier" than Tekken series', but the backgrounds are far more minimal. Breast effects are visualized, in a manner similar to the Dead or Alive series, and loading times are slightly higher than Tekken 3's.
Kensei uses a button distribution style similar to the Virtua Fighter series, separating them into punch, kick, throw and guard. The system provides the player with a large array of moves and combos, and multi-step throws are available, though both normal and multi-throws can be countered by pressing a button that flashes on the screen. Game speed is rather slow (one of the reasons for it not to become an arcade game), and relies more on timing, strategy and accurate knowledge of attack ranges to land successful combo strings and juggles. Button-mashing is often a bad tactical choice, since the characters remain vulnerable for long times after performing an unsuccessful combo. Jumping is realistic, albeit for some extra height. Sidestepping is allowed but is a much slower move, aside from some characters who integrate special sidesteps in their movesets.
The guard button acts rather as a "dodge" button, as the characters' animation shows them avoiding the attacks rather than taking them on their guard. Characters may assume rapidly a counter-offensive position or be "bounced back" to dodge, and the recovery time relies on the player's ability to press the guard button with sufficient time. Low attacks must be guarded by pressing Down + Guard Button, while pressing Up + Guard Button may allow the character to sidestep at the end of a combo.
The Arcade game structure of Kensei comprises of 10 stages, with the first eight being made up of random opponents. Much like Tekken 2
, the specific playing character will encounter a sub-boss that is somehow connected to them in the ninth stage while the tenth one will have them facing off against the bodyguard Zhou and the eleventh (and final) one will have the playing character battle against the main boss Kaiya. Alongside with the classical Survival, Training, and Time Attack modes, a special mini-game can be activated once all characters have been unlocked: it's a "racing" mode where the player controls a character and makes it run through a circuit, using button mashing to gain speed.
The following is a list of the 9 main characters, with their unlockable counterparts:
Other unlockable characters are:
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as , is a 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
-based fighting game
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo and published by Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
. It was first released in Japan on November 19, 1998, in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
on November 30, 1998, and in Europe the same year. It was later re-released in 2001 under the reissue title Kensei: Sacred Fist Value Series. The game is a straight-to-console release, without an arcade counterpart.
Gameplay
Sharing most of its characteristics with the contemporary Tekken 3Tekken 3
Tekken 3 is the third installment in the popular Tekken fighting game series. It was released for Arcades in March 1997, and for the PlayStation in mid-1998. The original Arcade version of the game was released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 as part of Tekken 5s Arcade History mode...
, the model technology used allowed programmers to make 3D models, but the stages are 2D, with little to no motion effects. The characters sprites look less "blockier" than Tekken series', but the backgrounds are far more minimal. Breast effects are visualized, in a manner similar to the Dead or Alive series, and loading times are slightly higher than Tekken 3's.
Kensei uses a button distribution style similar to the Virtua Fighter series, separating them into punch, kick, throw and guard. The system provides the player with a large array of moves and combos, and multi-step throws are available, though both normal and multi-throws can be countered by pressing a button that flashes on the screen. Game speed is rather slow (one of the reasons for it not to become an arcade game), and relies more on timing, strategy and accurate knowledge of attack ranges to land successful combo strings and juggles. Button-mashing is often a bad tactical choice, since the characters remain vulnerable for long times after performing an unsuccessful combo. Jumping is realistic, albeit for some extra height. Sidestepping is allowed but is a much slower move, aside from some characters who integrate special sidesteps in their movesets.
The guard button acts rather as a "dodge" button, as the characters' animation shows them avoiding the attacks rather than taking them on their guard. Characters may assume rapidly a counter-offensive position or be "bounced back" to dodge, and the recovery time relies on the player's ability to press the guard button with sufficient time. Low attacks must be guarded by pressing Down + Guard Button, while pressing Up + Guard Button may allow the character to sidestep at the end of a combo.
The Arcade game structure of Kensei comprises of 10 stages, with the first eight being made up of random opponents. Much like Tekken 2
Tekken 2
Tekken 2 is the second installment in the popular Tekken fighting game series. It was first released in arcades in 1995, and later released for the PlayStation in 1996...
, the specific playing character will encounter a sub-boss that is somehow connected to them in the ninth stage while the tenth one will have them facing off against the bodyguard Zhou and the eleventh (and final) one will have the playing character battle against the main boss Kaiya. Alongside with the classical Survival, Training, and Time Attack modes, a special mini-game can be activated once all characters have been unlocked: it's a "racing" mode where the player controls a character and makes it run through a circuit, using button mashing to gain speed.
Playable Characters
The game features 9 initial playable fighters from around the world with their own varied fighting styles and 14 hidden characters that can be unlocked through the completion of the game. Most of the unlockables share a moveset with one of the main characters, with slight modifications regarding the attacking range and combo length.The following is a list of the 9 main characters, with their unlockable counterparts:
- Yugo Sangunji (KarateKarateis a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
): A young Japanese man who specializes in Karate. Yugo was forced into fighting his older brother Akira as a result of their parents' disagreement over training methodologies. Now, Yugo finds himself leaving home and embarking on a journey in a bid to test his own strength.- Akira Sangunji (Karate, Japan): A young Japanese man who specializes in Karate. Akira is Yugo's older brother and wants to find him so that he can ask Yugo for his help in having to avenge their father's death at the hands of Kaiya.
- Hong Yuli (Drunken Fist, ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
): A young Chinese woman who specializes in the Drunken Fist style of Kung Fu. Yuli became curious about the true art of Drunken Fist Fighting while training under a Drunken Kung-Fu master named Su Qingtao. She is determined to prove herself as a first-class Drunken Kung-Fu artist. Also...Yuli seeks to avenge her parents' deaths at the hands of Kaiya.- Su Qingtao (Drunken Fist, China): An elderly Chinese man who specializes in the Drunken Fist style of Kung Fu. Qingtao is the teacher of Yuli and upon learning of her personal mission to fight Kaiya and avenge her parents' deaths, Qingtao wants to find and prevent Yuli from getting killed.
- Douglas Anderson (Jeet Kune DoJeet Kune DoJeet Kune Do is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non classical and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works they believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of...
/Koppo, USA): An American narcotics officer who specializes in Jeet Kune Do and Koppo. Douglas has spent years trying to hunt down a global crime syndicate known as the Tsubaki Corporation and after a major breakthrough in the case, his partner and old friend Jim was gunned down in cold blood at the hands of an unknown female assassin. Douglas is looking for a little payback. (Note: Douglas' character design is strongly based on real-life actor and martial artist Steven SeagalSteven SeagalSteven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
.)- Yoko Cindy Matsudaira (Koppo, USA): An elegantly-dressed Japanese-American young woman who specializes in Koppo. Cindy works for Kaiya as a contract assassin and is apparently the former girlfriend of Douglas.
- Allen (Muay ThaiMuay ThaiMuay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
, "AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
"): An unknown Asian man who specializes in Muay Thai. Parentless since infancy and raised in an orphanage, his Muay Thai expertise was acquired to defend himself against a dangerous and pitiless world. Allen fights only for survival, one day at a time. He has extremely pale skin, sports GothicGothic fashionGothic fashion is a clothing style worn by members of the Goth subculture; a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress. Typical Gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, black lips and black clothes. Both male and female goths wear dark eyeliner and dark fingernails. Styles are...
-like eye makeup, and has spiky black hair.- Steve Laettner (KickboxingKickboxingKickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, USA): An afro-haired American black man with sunglasses who specializes in Kickboxing. His main outfit resembles Blood, a character from VendettaVendetta (1991 video game)Vendetta, known in Japan as , is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up arcade game developed and published by Konami. It is the sequel to the 1989 Konami game Crime Fighters.-Storyline:...
, an arcade game also made by Konami. Steve works as a bodyguard for Kaiya and wants to fight Allen in order to prove his kickboxing superiorty over Allen's Muay Thai.
- Steve Laettner (Kickboxing
- Ann Griffith (Amateur wrestlingAmateur wrestlingAmateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
, Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
): A young British woman who specializes in Amateur Wrestling. Ann loves amateur wrestling and plans to expand public interest in the sport by staging a street fight event.- Arthur Stewart (Amateur wrestling, Great Britain): A dapper, suit-clad British man who specializes in Amateur Wrestling. Arthur is a childhood friend of Ann and seeks to help her out while attemping to eliminate Kaiya and his organization.
- Hyoma Tsukikage (NinjutsuNinjutsuor may be:*the arts associated with espionage and assassination in feudal Japan, see Ninja*modern schools of martial arts claiming to be based in these traditions, see Modern Schools of Ninjutsu*fictional depictions, see Ninja in popular culture...
, Japan): A young Japanese man who specializes in Ninjutsu. He was left as an infant at the Oomiwa Temple, along with his older sister Kazane, by their parents who subsequently disappeared. Raised by a Ninjutsu master named Sessue, Hyoma has been in training at the temple since his arrival. but one day, he comes across a clue to his parents' possible whereabouts and decides to go search for them. In the process...Hyoma also learns that his older sister was kidnapped by a criminal organization known as the Tsubaki Corporation and decides to go rescue her along with his master.- Sessue Kanoh (Ninjutsu, Japan): A middle-aged Japanese man who specializes in Ninjutsu. Sessue is the head ninja master of the Oomiwa Temple and has raised both Hyoma and Kazane since their arrival at the temple. Upon learning that Kazane was captured by the Tsubaki Corporation during a reconnaissance mission, Sessue embarks on a rescue mission alongside his pupil Hyoma.
- Heinz Streit (Pit FightingPit FightingPit fighting is a martial art developed in the United States from indigenous fighting methods, namely street fighting.Pit fighting is primarily a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes but also involves basic grappling techniques...
, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
): A young German man who specializes in Pit Fighting. He was born into a family of known aristocratic ancestry but quickly grew tired of his wealthy and pampered life, as well as his parents' strict control over him. Running away from home at the age of 19, Heinz now spends his days as a street brawler, picking and joining fights for the thrill of it.- Natsuki Kornelia (Pit Fighting, Germany): A young Japanese-German punkPunk fashionPunk fashion is the clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, jewelry, and body modifications of the punk subculture. Punk fashion varies widely, ranging from Vivienne Westwood designs to styles modeled on bands like The Exploited. The distinct social dress of other subcultures and art movements, including...
-looking woman who specializes in Pit Fighting. Much like Heinz, Natsuki was also born into a wealthy and pampered life, but she too had gotten tired of it and ran away from home in search of the thrill and excitement. Upon meeting up with Heinz and learning how to defend herself in Pit Fighting, Natsuki now seeks to find Heinz so that she can test her own skills out against him.
- Natsuki Kornelia (Pit Fighting, Germany): A young Japanese-German punk
- David Human (Professional wrestlingProfessional wrestlingProfessional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, USA): A popular American pro wrestler who specializes in Professional Wrestling. One day, David hears rumors that his old friend and rival Mark has joined forces with a criminal organization known as the Tsubaki Corporation and decides to go on a personal mission find out the truth. (Note: David is one of the few notable characters in 3D gaming that uses male breast physics.)- Mark Galeon (Professional wrestling, USA): An American pro wrestler who specializes in Professional Wrestling. He sports silver shoulder-length hair and a purple sleeveless turtleneck shirt with a white vest and rich maroon pants. An old friend and rival of David, Mark is determined to have a rematch with him so that he can determine on who's the better wrestler, and also...to avenge his daughter's death at the hands of Kaiya.
- Saya Tsubaki (KenpoKenpois the name of several Japanese martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel...
, Japan): A young Japanese girl who specializes in Kenpo. Saya had a father (Kaiya) who walked out five years ago, and a family who avoids answering her questions about him. Tired of her family's constant evasions about her father, Saya decides to go search for him herself, despite her grandfather's attempts to stop her.- Genya Tsubaki (Kenpo, Japan): An elderly Japanese man who specializes in Kenpo. The father of Kaiya and grandfather of Saya, Genya is an expert Kenpo fighter who wants to stop Saya from getting into danger.
Other unlockable characters are:
- Zhou Leimeng ("Original Style", Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
): The first boss of the game who specializes in his own original style of fighting. A Hong Kong Chinese man dressed in a business suit who serves as Kaiya's right-hand man and the second-in-command of the Tsubaki Corporation. He is far shorter than the other characters in the game, therefore moves that target at his head's height usually fail against him.
- Kaiya Tsubaki (Kenpo, Japan): The second and final boss of the game. A middle-aged Japanese man who specializes in Kenpo. The father of Saya and son of Genya, Kaiya is the ruthless leader of the Tsubaki Corporation and seeks to expand his criminal corporation's power over the world.
- Jelly Thomas/Billy Thomas ("Original Style", USA): Two American twin brothers who wear animal masks over their heads: Jelly wears a parrot mask while Billy wears a penguin mask. The two of them share the same character slot, much like Kuma/Panda in the Tekken series. Their own fighting style is a combination of other moves present in the game.
- Kazane Tsukikage (Ninjutsu, Japan): A young Japanese woman who specializes in Ninjutsu. Kazane is the older sister of Hyoma and that she also happens to be a kunoichiKunoichiis the term for a female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu .-Etymology:The term is thought to derive from the names of characters that resemble the three strokes in the kanji character for ; said in the order they are written: ku - no - ichi...
dressed in mikoMikois a Japanese term that anciently meant a "female shaman, spirit medium" who conveyed oracles from kami , and currently means a "shrine maiden; virgin consecrated to a deity" who serves at Shinto shrines.-Word:...
-like attire. She was sent on a reconnaissance mission to spy on the Tsubaki Corporation, but was captured from within her time, thus both her brother Hyoma and her master Sessue had set forth on a rescue mission to save her.