List of Ranma ½ video games

A total of 15 video games based on the Ranma ½ manga and anime series exist, generally in the form of fighting games, RPGs, and puzzle games. Of all of them, only two of the Super Famicom fighting games have been adapted for Western release. They are listed below by platform.

Super Famicom

Ranma ½: Neighborhood Combat Chapter (Ranma ½: Chōnai Gekitōhen)

The first fighting game for the Super Famicom by NCS Corp, Neighborhood Combat Chapter underwent Americanization by Irem to become Street Combat, replacing all characters and background music with American-themed characters. An example is Ranma, who was replaced by a blonde man in bright blue armor called Steven. This is the only fighting game in which Cologne appears.

Ranma ½: Hard Battle

Main article: Ranma ½: Hard Battle

Ranma ½: Hidden Treasure of the Red Cat Gang (Ranma ½: Akaneko-dan teki Hihou)

An RPG that was released on October 22, 1993.

Ranma ½: Super-Skill Wild Dance Chapter (Ranma ½: Chougi Rambuhen)

Ranma ½: Super-Skill Wild Dance Chapter

This game was supposed to be released in the USA as "Anything Goes Martial Arts" as the sequel to Hard Battle, but the company that owned the rights for it went out of business.[1] Eventually, that game got cancelled after the incident. This is the only game to feature Mariko Konjo and Herb.

Ranma ½: Rock-Scissors-Puzzle (Ranma ½: Ougi Jaanken)

A puzzle game based on rock, paper, scissors. Hands are dropped showing the rock, paper, and scissor signs and are used to remove other hands that have the opposite sign. Its Japanese name is composed of ougi (meaning secret) and jaanken, a play on the word janken (the Japanese name for the game of rock-paper-scissors) but using the characters for evil, dark and fist. However, the furigana reading above the Japanese name is Guu•Choki•Pazuru, which translates to Rock-Scissors-Puzzle.

On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the game a 20 out of 40.[2]

Mega-CD

Ranma ½: White Orchid Serenade (Ranma ½: Byakuran Aika)

Ranma ½: White Orchid Serenade

A video novel which uses a Rock-Paper-Scissors style battle system. It was released on April 23, 1993 for the Sega Mega-CD and introduces the character Arisa Nanjo (depicted in the center on the cover).

PlayStation

Ranma ½: Battle Renaissance

Ranma ½: Battle Renaissance

The only known 3D Ranma ½ video game for the PlayStation, published by RumicSoft. Changing weather conditions change the cursed characters who get soaked in cold or hot water to their cursed forms and affect strategy. This is the only fighting game in which Ryu Kumon and Rouge appear.

Game Boy

Ranma ½ (Rama ½: Kakuren Bodesu Match)

Similar to the Adventures of Lolo, this game featured Ranma pushing and breaking blocks around a maze-like environment. The player could change gender in order to move blocks greater or shorter distances as needed.

Ranma ½: Vehement Melee Chapter (Ranma ½: Netsuretsu Kakutouhen)

An RPG with fighting game elements, this game immerses you in a day in Ranma's life, traveling to various locations in the series and fighting various characters.

Ranma ½: Character Q&A!! (Ranma ½: Kakugeki Mondou!!)

Using a top-down view similar to the first Ranma ½ Game Boy game, this game primary focuses on trivia from the Ranma ½ TV series. The player moves Ranma around town and encounters various characters who ask you questions regarding the series.

PC Engine

Ranma ½

A side-scrolling fighting game similar to Final Fight, the player moves Ranma through various locations. Following the manga story line up to Ranma's second battle with Ryoga, the game also included animated cutscenes.

Ranma ½: The Captive Bride (Ranma ½: Toraware no Hanayome)

Similar to White Orchid Serenade, this game combines video novel elements with text based commands.

Ranma ½: Knockdown, The Founder's Anything-Goes Melee-Style! (Ranma ½: Datou, Ganso Musabetsu Kakutou-ryuu!)

Similar to the first Ranma ½ PC Engine game, this game follows the next major story arc of the Ranma ½ manga.

PC

Ranma ½: Flying Dragon Legend (Ranma ½: Hiryu Densetsu)

A point-and-click adventure for the NEC PC-9800 and MSX personal computers. In this game, the player takes the role of Ranma as he/she interacts with situations and characters via on-screen icons, only occasionally involving combat by using a multiple-option interface.

Pachinko

Fever Ranma ½: Hot Springs Athletic Chapter (Fever Ranma ½: Onsen Asurechikku Hen)

Released in February 2011 for the pachinko in Japan, Fever Ranma 1/2 has high-quality animations and sound effects with the newer anime style look from "Nightmare! Incense of Spring Sleep".[3]

Others

Two Nintendo DS games were released in 2009 titled Sunday x Magazine: Nettou Dream Nine and Sunday x Magazine: White Comic. The first is a baseball game that commemorates the 50th anniversary of Weekly Shōnen Sunday and Weekly Shōnen Magazine and features characters from manga series that ran in the magazines. The second is an RPG that features over 300 characters from the magazines' series. Ranma ½ characters appear in both these games; Ranma and Akane in the first and Ranma, Akane, Ryoga and Shampoo in the second.

Sortable Game List

English Title/Translation Japanese Title Developer Publisher Genre Console(s) Initial Release Date
Ranma ½ Ranma ½ Kakuren Bodesu Match Banpresto Banpresto Puzzle (Maze) Game BoyJP June 28, 1990
Ranma ½ Ranma ½ NCS Masaya Fighting
(Side Scrolling)
PC EngineJP December 7, 1990
Ranma ½: Battle Renaissance Ranma ½: Battle Renaissance Altelier-Sai Shogakukan Fighting PlayStationJP December 6, 1996
Ranma ½: The Captive Bride Ranma ½: Toraware no Hanayome NCS Masaya Digital Comic PC EngineJP December 6, 1991
Ranma ½: Character Q&A!! Ranma ½: Kakugeki Mondou!! Banpresto Banpresto RPG (Quiz) Game BoyJP August 6, 1993
Fever Ranma ½: Hot Springs Athletic Chapter Fever Ranma ½: Onsen Asurechikku Hen Sankyo Sankyo Arcade PachinkoJP February 2011
Ranma ½: Flying Dragon Legend Ranma ½: Hiryu Densetsu Microvision Bothtec Text Adventure PC-98JP
MSXJP
1992
Ranma ½: Hard Battle (Ranma ½: Explosive Brawl Chapter) Ranma ½: Bakuretsu Rantōhen Atelier Double Masaya
DTMC
Fighting SFJP
SNESNA EU
December 25, 1992
Ranma ½: Hidden Treasure of the Red Cat Gang Ranma ½: Akaneko-dan teki Hihou Rumic Soft Toho Company Ltd. RPG SFJP October 22, 1993
Ranma ½: Knockdown, The Founder's Anything-Goes Melee-Style! Ranma ½: Datou, Ganso Musabetsu Kakutou-ryuu! NCS Masaya Fighting
(Side Scrolling)
PC EngineJP October 2, 1992
Ranma ½: Rock-Scissors-Puzzle Ranma ½: Ougi Jaanken Rumic Soft Rumic Soft Puzzle
(Paper-Rock-Scissors/Tetris)
SFJP
PC-98JP
July 21, 1995
Street Combat (Ranma ½: Neighborhood Combat Chapter) Ranma ½: Chōnai Gekitōhen NCS
Irem
Masaya
Irem
Fighting SFJP
SNESNA
March 27, 1992
Ranma ½: Super-Skill Wild Dance Chapter Ranma ½: Chougi Rambuhen Rumic Soft Toho Company Ltd. Fighting SFJP April 28, 1994
Ranma ½: Vehement Melee Chapter Ranma ½: Netsuretsu Kakutouhen Banpresto Banpresto RPG (Fighter) Game BoyJP July 17, 1992
Ranma ½: White Orchid Serenade Ranma ½: Byakuran Aika NCS Masaya Digital Comic Mega-CDJP April 23, 1993

References

  1. "Hardcore Gaming 101: Ranma 1/2 SFC Fighters". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  2. NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: らんま1/2 奥義邪暗拳. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.345. Pg.30. 28 July 1995.
  3. "CR フィーバー らんま1/2". sankyo-fever.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2011-07-27.