Lethal Enforcers 3
Encyclopedia
Lethal Enforcers 3, known as Seigi no Hero (正義のヒーロー—Heroes of Justice) in Japan is a 3D arcade light gun game which is the third installment to Konami's Lethal Enforcers
series.
Lethal Enforcers 3 is similar to World Combat
which players shoot outside the screen to activate the shield. Unlike Warzaid, simply pointing outside the screen performs the same shield-activating mechanism as described herein. Raising the shield guard allows players to protect themselves from incoming bullets at the expense of not moving forward.
Unlike Lethal Enforcers and Lethal Enforcers II: Gunfighters
, players must compete with other in making their way to checkpoints in various areas and capturing the wanted criminals allowing their ranks to be promoted. Also, players do not lose lives when they shoot innocent civilians but rather have their ranks demoted.
Much of the game's gameplay and mannerisms are reminiscent of Police 911
, so much to the point where it could be considered a quasi-sequel.
The premise of this stage is to guide two Japanese police officers to chase after Man Tak Wah, a Chinese wanted burglar. The stage's BGM is borrowed from "Police 911" and will take the player through the streets of Akihabara, through the shopping malls, and finally a parking garage.
Special Security officers from the Japan Coast Guard must stop a boat carrying illegal narcotics, subdue members from the Hong Kong mafia Ryuuto, and capture drug dealer Akihito Kawanishi to protect Japan from the threat of illegal narcotic distribution.
Two rival detectives (Masa and Yoshi) must follow Gokudo-Kai executive Masaru Yoshioka, arrest any mafia remnants throughout the chase, and terminate an underground weapon smuggling network before guns can be distributed to world-class criminals.
Riot troopers representing the Special Investigation Team are sent to stop the violence occurring throughout Narita International Airport. Violent Uyoku (Japanese right-wing
) militant
s called the Bakudankakumeirengou (爆弾革命連合) must be removed from both short- and long-range to resume peaceful diplomacy in Japan.
Terrorists with a single motive to explode the nuclear plant have captured the facility in an effort to contaminate Japan. The JSDF's Special Forces Group, acting on orders by the Japanese National Police Agency, executes this assignment to secure the plant, capture Kifaf Nadhir, and protect Japan from nuclear contamination.
A coup d'etat
through an act of dissatisfaction against the Japanese government has erupted. A rogue Rikujou Jieitai regiment, the Eighth Imperial Kanto Army, are demanding the prime minister to enact 12 provisions into the Japanese constitution within a certain amount of time. This situation is deduced as a violation of Japan's Article 9
. Only a dedicated group of SAT operatives (called "Tokushu Kyoushuu Butai" in this version) can take on Colonel Yoshiki Tokita, and rescue both the Prime Minister and Japan from such act of treason.
Lethal Enforcers
Lethal Enforcers is a 1992 shooting game released for the arcades by Konami. It is best known for its revolver-shaped light gun known as the Konami Justifier, its digitized graphics, and the controversy over its content.Home versions were released for the Super NES, Sega Genesis and Sega CD during...
series.
Background
In Lethal Enforcers 3, players play as six different law enforcement roles in various scenarios in present day Tokyo, Japan. Players make their ways to checkpoints while shooting criminals, terrorists, or fugitives along the way.Lethal Enforcers 3 is similar to World Combat
World Combat
World Combat is a military themed first-person light gun rail shooter. The arcade game comes in two types of cabinets, one for four players and one for two players. The game possesses many similarities to Namco's Time Crisis series, not the least of which is the ability of players to take cover at...
which players shoot outside the screen to activate the shield. Unlike Warzaid, simply pointing outside the screen performs the same shield-activating mechanism as described herein. Raising the shield guard allows players to protect themselves from incoming bullets at the expense of not moving forward.
Unlike Lethal Enforcers and Lethal Enforcers II: Gunfighters
Lethal Enforcers II: Gunfighters
Lethal Enforcers II: Gunfighters is a 1994 arcade prequel to the original Lethal Enforcers, takings place in the American Old West.-General information:...
, players must compete with other in making their way to checkpoints in various areas and capturing the wanted criminals allowing their ranks to be promoted. Also, players do not lose lives when they shoot innocent civilians but rather have their ranks demoted.
Much of the game's gameplay and mannerisms are reminiscent of Police 911
Police 911
Police 911 is a light gun arcade game that casts the player as either a "one man SWAT team" working for the Tokyo police, or an American police officer of the LAPD, working to take down members of the , an internationally based yakuza group.-Gameplay:The gameplay in Police 911...
, so much to the point where it could be considered a quasi-sequel.
Scenarios
Lethal Enforcers 3/Seigi no Hero allows the player to play the stages in the order they desire (with the exception of the Diet Building a.k.a. "Lethal Enforcers 3/Seigi no Hero" stage). There are 6 stages in all with 5 selectable at the beginning of the game.Cops in the City
Note: This stage is called "The Keisatsukan: Mass line of duty during noon" in Japan
- Player character: Tokyo police officersTokyo Metropolitan Police DepartmentThe Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department serves as the police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a superintendent general, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission and approved by the prime minister.The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more...
- Suspect: Man Tak Wah (文 徳華)
- Munitions: Nanbu M60 revolver (15 rounds)
- Date: 2004-02-02
- Location: AkihabaraAkihabara, also known as , is an area of Tokyo, Japan. It is located less than five minutes by rail from Tokyo Station. Its name is frequently shortened to in Japan...
The premise of this stage is to guide two Japanese police officers to chase after Man Tak Wah, a Chinese wanted burglar. The stage's BGM is borrowed from "Police 911" and will take the player through the streets of Akihabara, through the shopping malls, and finally a parking garage.
Coast Intruders
Note: This stage is called "A desperate act to stop a rogue boat by the Maritime Safety Agency" in Japan
- Player character: Special Security Team officersSpecial Security TeamThe is the official counter-terrorist unit of the Japanese Coast Guard. Formerly known as the Kansai International Airport Marine Guard, it was renamed after a period of reorganization...
from the Japanese Coast GuardJapan Coast GuardThe , formerly the Maritime Safety Agency, is the Japanese coast guard. Comprising about 12,000 personnel, it is under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and is responsible for the protection the coast-lines of Japan... - Suspect: Akihito Kawanishi (河西 顕仁 Kawanishi Akihito)
- Munitions: 10-round Glock and HK MP5
- Date: 2004-04-11
- Location: Shinagawa pier
Special Security officers from the Japan Coast Guard must stop a boat carrying illegal narcotics, subdue members from the Hong Kong mafia Ryuuto, and capture drug dealer Akihito Kawanishi to protect Japan from the threat of illegal narcotic distribution.
Rival Heat
Note: This stage is called "Rival Detectives" in Japan
- Player character: "Masa" and "Yoshi", two rival Japanese detectives
- Suspect: Masaru Yoshioka (吉岡 賢 Yoshioka Masaru)
- Munitions: 10-round Glock and a pump-action shotgun
- Date: 2004-07-11
- Location: Tocho-mae StationToei Oedo LineThe is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation . It commenced full operations on December 12, 2000; using the Japanese calendar this reads "12/12/12" as the year 2000 equals Heisei 12...
and its underground area
Two rival detectives (Masa and Yoshi) must follow Gokudo-Kai executive Masaru Yoshioka, arrest any mafia remnants throughout the chase, and terminate an underground weapon smuggling network before guns can be distributed to world-class criminals.
Airport 2004
Note: This stage is called "Thrust inside the airport!" in Japan
- Player character: Mobile riot troopers
- Suspect: Tetsuya Nakamura (仲村 哲也 Nakamura Tetsuya)
- Munitions: 10-round Glock and sniper-modified Howa Type 64Howa Type 64The , is a Japanese battle rifle used exclusively by the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Japanese Coast Guard. It is a gas-operated, selective fire weapon which is chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO round and uses a detachable 20-round box magazine. The Type 64 was never exported outside of Japan...
- Date: 2004-10-15
- Location: Narita International AirportNarita International Airportis an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
Riot troopers representing the Special Investigation Team are sent to stop the violence occurring throughout Narita International Airport. Violent Uyoku (Japanese right-wing
Political extremism in Japan
While Japan's political mainstream has the DPJ and the LDP as dominant forces, there is political extremism to the left and the right.Neither left- nor right-wing extremists managed to wrest power from the LDP in post-war history, but they managed to influence public opinion on certain topics....
) militant
Militant
The word militant, which is both an adjective and a noun, usually is used to mean vigorously active, combative and aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in 'militant reformers'. It comes from the 15th century Latin "militare" meaning "to serve as a soldier"...
s called the Bakudankakumeirengou (爆弾革命連合) must be removed from both short- and long-range to resume peaceful diplomacy in Japan.
Justice and Judgment
Note: This stage is called "Lethal Enforcers 3" in Japan
- Player character: JGSDF'sJapan Self-Defense ForcesThe , or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the unified military forces of Japan that were established after the end of the post–World War II Allied occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the JSDF was confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed...
Japanese Special Forces Group troopers - Suspect: Kifaf Nadhir
- Munitions: 10-round Glock and Howa Type 89Howa Type 89The , referred to as the , is a Japanese assault rifle used by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Japan Coast Guard's Special Security Team units, and the Special Assault Team. It was never exported outside of Japan due to its strict anti-hardware export laws...
automatic-firing assault rifle - Date: 2004-12-02
- Location: Nuclear power plant
Terrorists with a single motive to explode the nuclear plant have captured the facility in an effort to contaminate Japan. The JSDF's Special Forces Group, acting on orders by the Japanese National Police Agency, executes this assignment to secure the plant, capture Kifaf Nadhir, and protect Japan from nuclear contamination.
Lethal Enforcers 3
Note: This stage is called "Seigi no Hero" in Japan
- Player character: SAT (Special Assault Team/Tokushu Kyoushuu Butai)Special Assault TeamThe is a paramilitary counter terrorism unit under the Japanese National Police Agency. The SAT is mandated, along with the Anti-Firearms Squad and the Counter-NBC Terrorism Squad, for counterterrorism missions and incidents involving firearms or criminals which require an armed response beyond...
operatives - Suspect: Yoshiki Tokita (鴇田 芳樹 Tokita Yoshiki)
- Munitions: 10-round Glock and all power-ups from the 2004 stages
- Date: January 13, 2005 (The incident started January 11, 2005)
- Location: National Diet BuildingNational Diet BuildingThe is the place where both houses of the Diet of Japan meet. It is located at 1-chome, Nagatachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo.Sessions of the House of Representatives take place in the left wing and sessions of the House of Councillors in the right wing....
- Note: Players can't play this scenario unless the other 5 are completed, given the occurrence year being 2005
A coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
through an act of dissatisfaction against the Japanese government has erupted. A rogue Rikujou Jieitai regiment, the Eighth Imperial Kanto Army, are demanding the prime minister to enact 12 provisions into the Japanese constitution within a certain amount of time. This situation is deduced as a violation of Japan's Article 9
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution is a clause in the National Constitution of Japan that prohibits an act of war by the state. The Constitution came into effect on May 3, 1947, immediately following World War II. In its text, the state formally renounces war as a sovereign right and bans...
. Only a dedicated group of SAT operatives (called "Tokushu Kyoushuu Butai" in this version) can take on Colonel Yoshiki Tokita, and rescue both the Prime Minister and Japan from such act of treason.
Cultural references
- All Japanese hostiles are named after either famous Japanese people or people who worked for the game's developing firm, Polygon Magic.
- The game is spoken entirely in Japanese throughout gameplay (i.e. when players lose a life, the announcer will say "Player junshoku" (殉職) or "Player died on duty") — this was the case in The Keisatsukan and The Keisatsukan 2. The reason is to simulate the players' experience working as a Japanese authority.
- While it may seem that the player would assume that he/she might be fighting amongst him-/herself, given that players play as JGSDF troops in the 5th stage and fight against the Rogue JGSDF troops in the final stage, they are not related to each other, a reason why players don't see the JGSDF troopers during the end credits.