Power Instinct
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Power Instinct (豪血寺一族: Goketsuji Ichizoku, in Japan), is a fighting game series created by Atlus released in 1993.
The Power Instinct series is renowned for its more humorous take on fighting games, its music and its weird characters. A lot of the characters tend to be broad caricatures of known fighting game characters (such as Reiji Oyama, whom is somewhat of a parody of Ryu).
One of the most remarkable features of the series was the introduction of transformable characters. Otane, Kinta, Kanji and Kurara can change their appearance and fighting style by simply pulling out certain moves. Other features include the ability to perform a double jump and attacking while dashing.
While the series has never been on the same level of success as The King of Fighters or Street Fighter outside of Japan, it had gained enough attention to warrant the sequels to be released, and in recent times has become a cult favorite.
[edit] Games
| Power Instinct | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | Atlus |
| Publisher(s) | Atlus |
| Designer(s) | Atlus |
| Release date(s) | November 1993 |
| Genre(s) | Versus fighting |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players simultaneously |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Super Nintendo, Sega Mega Drive |
| Input | 8-way joystick, 4 buttons |
| Arcade cabinet | Upright |
| Arcade display | Horizontally oriented, 320 × 224, 2048 palette colors |
[edit] Power Instinct (Goketsuji Ichizoku)
- Eight playable characters, one unplayable character (Oume Goketsuji)
- The Super Famicom version has a Karaoke Mode with the lyrics for "Tatanka no Uta" and
"Otoko no Karatemichi"
Story
Those of our clan inherit the fighting spirit of our bloodline
"Goketsuji"
The name responsible for the ongoing feud for control of the clan.
As outined in the family code, the bloodline must continue to grow even stronger and eliminate all those who are weak.
The Goketsuji Clan is currently the 3rd wealthiest family in the world. As a result, there are many who seek control the clan and the family fortune.
Some train endlessly building up their strength, others polish up their fighting skills with experience, and still others concentrate on their fighting spirit, all for control of the clan.
Because there were so many fighters vying for control of the clan Oshima, the 3rd Goketsuji Leader, declared the following to all.
The clan will hold a fighting tournament every 5 years.
The winner of this "test of strength" tournament will assume immediate control of the Goketsuji clan until the next tournament, at which time seat for control will be open once again. Any member with blood ties to the clan may enter.
- Decreed this day in the 14th year of the taisho era -
And presently..............
Staff
Producer : Fuuuu
Sub producer : Chuuko
Programmers : Mako MK2, 680*0 Freak Yan
Sound : Dencyu
Front designers : Pa Pi Pu Pe, Masada-M, Super K!, Yie-Yah!, Ohryu-S
Back designers : [Chikuwa] Henacyoko, Moto. I, Range, Asaki
| Power Instinct 2 | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Developer(s) | Atlus/CAVE |
| Publisher(s) | Atlus |
| Designer(s) | Atlus |
| Release date(s) | April 1994 |
| Genre(s) | Versus fighting |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players simultaneously |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, PlayStation |
| Input | 8-way joystick, 4 buttons |
| Arcade cabinet | Upright |
| Arcade system(s) | CAVE 1st generation |
| Arcade display | Horizontally oriented, 320 × 240, 10240 palette colors |
[edit] Power Instinct 2 (Goketsuji Ichizoku 2 Chottodake Saikyou Densetsu)
- Power Instinct 2 features five new characters, giving a total of 13 playable characters and one boss (Otane Goketsuji)
- Introduction of the "Stress" meter into the series, which increases when one's attacks are blocked or when attacked. A super attack can be executed when it is full. In addition, when the Stress meter fills up, a character becomes engulfed in a flame of their own energy for a brief moment, which protects from any incoming attacks from the opponent and knocks them away if they are too close.
- The version for playstation was only released in Japan and has some characteristics from Power Instinct Legends like the team battle and the possibility to play as Chuck and Kuroko, but these characteristics are only available for Versus (player vs player) mode.
Story
Oume Gouketsuji, Leader of the Goketsuji clan for the last 60 years, finally was defeated by her younger sister, Otane, the day where she surpassed her older sister finally had arrived.
One night, Oshima Goketsuji unexpectedly appeared in front of Oume and offered her help to take revenge of Otane.
According to the rules of the clan, if the leader dies or quit, one new tournament should be holded inmediately to find a successor.
That same night Oshima and Oume sent their servants to dispose of Otane, so while Otane slept, she was kidnapped and throwed to the ocean.
Next day Kuroko found a letter supposedly written by Otane, where she declined to her right te be the leader of the clan.
One week later all the competitors from the previous tournament and other family members were convoke to be informed about Otane's decision and the beginning of a new tournament.
Staff
Producer : Tama
Sub producer : Chuuko
Main programmers : Mako MKIISR, Shuhta. Garyuh ?!, >Nari Chan
Sub programmers : Toshiya, Jake
Sound : Dencyu
Object designers : M. Masada, Yie-Yan-II, Pa Pi Pu Pe, N.I-1486-7, Man Man-Chan, Haruko Chan, Pochi, Suzuki
Scroll designers : Moto. I, Araki-Dorifu, Range, Asaki, naru, Monko, Yu-Ki, Chuuko, Mid
Planners : Super-K!, Markey, Helen
Voices : Mitsuishi Kotono, Ryusei Yaro, Aihara, Chuuko, Pa Pi Pu Pe, Dencyu
| Power Instinct Legends | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Developer(s) | Atlus |
| Publisher(s) | Atlus |
| Designer(s) | Atlus |
| Release date(s) | 1995 |
| Genre(s) | Versus fighting |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players simultaneously |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Input | 8-way joystick, 4 buttons |
| Arcade cabinet | Upright |
| Arcade system(s) | CAVE 1st generation |
| Arcade display | Horizontally oriented, 320 × 240, 10240 palette colors |
[edit] Power Instinct Legends (Goketsuji Gaiden: Saikyou Densetsu)
- The battles are in teams of two characters.
- Super Kurara and Pochi are individual characters; because of this, Kurara and Kinta gained new moves. Otane is also made playable, bringing the cast to 16 characters.
- A Super Block and a Charge Attack was brought into the gameplay. A Super Block can nullify the opponent's blow and allow for a counter attack, and a Charge Attack can immediately knock down the opponent.
- There is one new playable character (Kuroko) and a new boss (Chuck).
Story
Otane Goketsuji, leader of the Goketsuji clan was kidnapped. A new tournament was held to find a successesor. Otane managed to arrive at the tournament to defend her title as clan leader against the winner of the tournament. Unfortunately to Otane, she was too tired to fight and was defeated by Kokuin Kanji!
After his victory in the Goketsuji tournament, Kanji taught that would be fun to test the strength of the Goketsuji family members, so he invited them for a new tournament.
"Welcome to the Goketsuji Clan friendly Exhibition Match! As a special guest, I have invited the strongest and most powerful man in the world. Surely none from the Goketsuji clan will be defeated by such an outsider.
Let the game begins! -Kanji"
Staff
Producer : Chuuko
Main Program : Mako MkIITr, Shuhta. Garyuh, Narita Seiji
Sub Program : Toshiya, Jake, M.Y
Object Design : M. Masada, Yie_Yan_II, Suzuki, Pa Pi Pu Pe, N. I_1496_7, Manman_Chan, Pochi, Haruko, Chan
Scroll Design : Moto. I, Range, Araki_Dorifu, Asaki, Naru, Monko, Yu_Ki, Chuuko, Wife_K.
Sub Designer : Brook, Subtle. Y, You, Shiina
Sound: Dencyu
Planner : Super_K!, Markey, Heren, Komori, Bugta
Voices : Mitsuishi Kotono, Ryusei Yaro, Aihara, Chuuko, Pa Pi Pu Pe
| Groove on Fight | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | Atlus |
| Publisher(s) | Atlus |
| Designer(s) | Atlus |
| Release date(s) | April, 1997 |
| Genre(s) | Versus fighting |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players simultaneously |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Sega Saturn |
| Input | 8-way joystick, 6 buttons |
| Arcade cabinet | Upright |
| Arcade system(s) | Sega Titan Video |
| Arcade display | Horizontally oriented, 704 × 513, 6144 palette colors |
[edit] Groove on Fight (Groove on Fight Goketsuji Ichizoku 3)
The story of this sequel of the Power Instinct series takes place 20 years after the last Goketsuji tournament. It also has a darker and more serious tone than its predecessors, but still maintains a little of the same humor that is particular to the series.
The players can choose from eleven characters, all of them, save Otane/Oume, being new. The graphic style of Groove on Fight is very different from its predecessors, as the sprites are smaller, but are more fluid and have an animated look to them.
In the Sega Saturn port of the game, many animation frames were cut, but it included some interesting features like being able to play as Damian, Bristol Weller and Bristol-D once the player beats the game with certain characters, the possibility of four players to play at the same time by way of the Saturn's multi-tap and an "Omake Mode" where the players can view artwork of the characters for the game. The Saturn version also features an arranged version of the soundtrack that has some new music themes that were not present in the original, like the theme "Mystic" and the vocal version of the title song.
Story
The weak shouldn't pronounce the name Gouketsuji.
The Gouketsuji family is the wealthiest family in the world. The rules of the clan establish that a fighting tournament must be held once every five years to decide who is going to be the leader.
The winner of this tournament takes absolute control of the immense family fortune. There are not too many people that have won the tournament.
The year 2015. The date for the next Gouketsuji tournament is approaching. Oume Gouketsuji, winner of the last tournament, aware of her deteriorated physical strength, decided to look for her younger sister Otane to offer to her share the leadership of the clan. However the Gouketsuji twins thought that their strength was not enough and decided to ask for the help of an outsider.
This forced them to modify the rules of the tournament, allowing the participation of people outside the family. Now the twins not only have to retain their leadership, they also have to defend the clan against a rival family that wants the destruction of the Gouketsuji clan.
Gameplay
Gameplay is in a 2-on-2 format with the ability to tag in and out at any time between players. Every time the player tag successfully between characters, the character who is one the sidelines slowly begins to get his or her energy back.
At difference of the previous games, Groove on Fight has a six buttons system. The two new buttons are for "Dodge" and for the "Powerful Blow" the "Dodge" allows the characters to evade attacks and then counterattack the opponent.
The "Powerful Blow" is an attack that inflicts more damage to the opponent than the normal strong attacks, but is also slower. The special guard and the shadow moves from Power Instinct Legends are still present in the game and some other new characteristics were introduced to the gameplay:
Body Toss: The character throws the body of a defeated character at the opponent.
Taunt: Pressing the start button will taunt the opponent. Introduced for the first time in the series.
Unblockable Attack: Each character has his/her own Unblockable Attack. This attack is very slow, but if hits cause a great amount of damage to the opponent.
Partner Attack: The character that is not fighting will perform a jump-in attack from the sidelines.
Dual Combo: Is a series of attacks performed by the two characters at the same time. This requieres one level of the Stress meter.
Pounce: Pressing up + Light kick, Hard Kick, as soon as the character knocks an opponent down, will attack the downed foe.
Staff
Planer : Super_K, Bugta +, Heren
Designers : YN_Dessy, Pa Pi Pu Pe, Range, Moto, Satoru. Y,
Mamoru. K, Uhio, H. Morita, Asaki, Mandai, Monko, Y. Ogawa
Programers: Missile, Toshiya, M. Yamasaki
Sound Creator: Dencyu
Helpers: M. Masada, Markey, Komori
Scenery: Clark Kent CO. LTD
| Power Instinct Matrimelee | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Developer(s) | Noise Factory |
| Publisher(s) | SNK Playmore |
| Designer(s) | Noise Factory |
| Release date(s) | 2002 |
| Genre(s) | Versus fighting |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players simultaneously |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Input | 8-way joystick, 4 buttons |
| Arcade cabinet | Upright |
| Arcade system(s) | Neo-Geo (646 Mbit cartridge) |
| Arcade display | Horizontally oriented, 320 × 224, 4096 palette colors |
[edit] Power Instinct Matrimelee (Shin Goketsuji Ichizoku: Toukon Matrimelee)
This new sequel features 4 totally new characters and one new boss (Princess Sissy). Jimmy, Elias, Lynn and Jones from Rage of the Dragons are guest stars, and are unlockable. A few of the game elements were borrowed from this same game as well. Transformations were excluded, and Angela Belti, Oshima Goketsuji, and Sahad Asran Ryuto do not appear from PI2. The Stress meter now could be filled up to three levels. Every character has a Stress Shot (1 bar), an Ippatsu Ougi (2 bars) and a powerful, hidden super attack called a Kinjite (3 bars).
It was one of the last games to be released on the Neo-Geo.
Story
The king of Certain Country wants to find a worthy successor for the throne and the ideal husband for his little daughter (or a beautiful and strong woman for his older son) So he holds a fighting tournament where the prize is the hand of the princess and the throne succession.
Staff
Producer : Keiko Ijuu
Directors : Keiko Ijuu, Marohie. M
Sub directors : Hidenari Mamoto, 55
Main programmers : Hidenari Mamoto
Sub programmers : Kazuaki Ezato, H. Hishikawa
Character designers : Marochie. M, Super Dotter K', Dessy, Shio Shio, Orie Kinugasa
Background designers : Miyukichi, Miyavi, Kuramoyan
Illustration : Range Murata, Tomokazu Nakano, Ooma Bunshichiro
Sound producer : Studio Aqua
Vocalists : Dencyu, Masanosuke Fujiwara, Momoeika, Ryuji Mutou, Moamo & Cheiko, Uchida, Nami Matusima, Aya Fujimoto
Voice actors : R. Riken, Shinya Moriguchi, Akihisa Muramoto, N. Chinatsu, Mina Yamamoto, Nahomi, Ikuro .I, Sayaka Misimura, Aumi Jinga
| Shin Gouketsuji Ichizoku Bonnou no Kaihou | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | Noise Factory |
| Publisher(s) | Noise Factory |
| Distributor(s) | Noise Factory |
| Release date(s) | May 25, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | Versus fighting game |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players simultaneously |
| Platform(s) | Playstation 2 |
| Input | 8-way Joystick, 4 Buttons |
[edit] Shin Gouketsuji Ichizoku: Bonnou no Kaihou (Liberation of Lusts)
The sequel of Power Instinct Matrimelee. It features enhanced graphics and sound, two new characters, and the return of the transformation system.
The game also features an online mode and a 'lusts cards system' that consist in buy special cards that have different effects. Some allow to change certain characteristics of the characters, others are used to view special music video clips, and others to call some weird characters to help the player in the battle.
The game has the same backgrounds and all the characters from Matrimelee, because of that is catalogued as a port of Matrimelee, but in fact the game's story takes place after the events from the previous game.
Bonnou Kaihou was released only in Japan, much to the chagrin of international fans.
Story
Princess Sissy was sad. She just couldn't forget the excitement of the Matrimelee tournament. The King, worried about the emotional state of his daughter ( who is usually joyful and vigorous) invited worldwide strongest fighters to his country to convice them to enter to a new tournament, the "Bonnou Kaihou" tournament.
This time the prize is anything that the winner could wish ( except the throne succession). When the king told sissy about the Bonnou no Kaihou tournament, her characteristic smile returned to her face, finally she will have that feeling that only is present in battle once again.
[edit] Related Products
- Gouketsuji Ichizoku: The Novel
Release Date: 1995
Publisher: WANI BOOKS
It is a novel of 253 pages that relate the history of the Goketsuji family. The book contains some art made by Range Murata.
- Gouketsuji Ichizoku: THE CD-ROM
Release Date: December 9, 1998
Publisher: Toshiba Emi
Is a CD- ROM for PC and MAC. It contains information about the series like: characters profiles , correlation diagram, the family lineage, rejected designs, sounds and artwork. Also has wallpapers and screen savers.
- Gouketsuji Ichizoku original soundtrack
Release Date: January 21, 1994
Publisher: Pony Canyon / Scitron
It contains 20 tracks, voices and sound effects from the game.
- Gouketsuji Ichizoku 2 original Soundtrack
Release Date: December 16, 1994
Publisher: Pony Canyon / Scitron
It contains 37 tracks, voices and sound effects from the game
- Gouketsuji Ichizoku Saikyou Densetsu original soundtrack
Release Date: September 21, 1995
Publisher: Pony Canyon / Scitron
It contains 32 tracks, voices and sound effects from the game
- Groove on Fight original soundtrack
Release Date: June 18, 1997
Publisher: Pony Canyon / Scitron
It contains 24 tracks, voices and sound effects from the game
- Shin Gouketsuji Ichizoku Toukon Matrimelee original soundtrack'
Release date: 2003
Publisher: Noise Factory
It Contains 31 tracks from the game.
- Gouketsuji Ichizoku CD-BOX
In January of 2005, Noise Factory released a box set containing all the soundtracks from the Gouketsuji Ichizoku series. The Box set included a 2005 calendar featuring art from the series. The difference about these CDs and the original releases is that these does not include the sound effects collection and the Groove on Fight's CD has the arranged tracks from the Sega Saturn.
[edit] References
- Power Instinct Booklet
- Goketsuji Ichizoku 2 Booklet (PlayStation)
- Groove on Fight guide book
[edit] Trivia
- Literally translated, the Japanese title of the series is "Goketsuji Family".
- Range Murata has provided the character art and illustrations for the Power Instinct series since its debut.
- The music in Matrimelee was done by Toshikazu Tanaka, who also did the music for The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact, Metal Slug 5, and Rage of the Dragons.
- In the PlayStation RPG Persona, the hero's alternate self in the Well of Mind and Souls was playing Groove-On Fight.
- There have been some fans of the PI series who express dislike of Noise Factory's handling with it when Atlus collaborated with them to make Power Instinct Matrimelee. Some feel that it 'jumped the shark', especially with the overly-complicated input commands to execute the more advanced super moves, which in the heat of the battle only make it harder to play the game whereas in the previous games it was much more easier to get into, and there have even been some versions where the original music for the game was excluded and replaced with music from Rage of the Dragons.
[edit] External links
- Power Instinct at The Killer List of Video Games
- Power Instinct at GameFAQs
- Power Instinct 2 at The Killer List of Video Games
- Power Instinct 2 at GameFAQs
- Power Instinct Legends at The Killer List of Video Games
- Power Instinct Legends at GameFAQs
- Groove on Fight at The Killer List of Video Games
- Power Instinct Matrimelee at The Killer List of Video Games
- Power Instinct Matrimelee at GameFAQs
- Noise Factory
- Atlus Japan
- SNK-Playmore
- Noise Factory's site for Power Instinct Matrimee (Japanese)
- Classic Gaming's page to Power Instinct
- Game Ecxite's site for Power Instinct Bonnou no Kaiho (Japanese)
- Noise Factory's site for Power Instinct Bonnou no Kaiho (Japanese)
