Waku Waku 7

Waku Waku 7

Japanese arcade flyer of Waku Waku 7
Developer(s) Sunsoft
Publisher(s) SNK (Neo-Geo MVS / AES)
Sunsoft (Sega Saturn)
Platform(s) Arcade
Sega Saturn
Neo Geo
Virtual Console
Release date(s) Arcade
  • JP November 21, 1996
  • NA November 20, 1996
Neo Geo
  • JP November 21, 1996
Saturn
  • JP June 20, 1997
Virtual Console
  • JP April 27, 2010
Genre(s) Versus fighting
Mode(s) Up to 2 players simultaneously
Cabinet Upright
Display Raster 320 x 224 pixels (Horizontal), 4096 colors

Waku Waku 7 (わくわく7 WakuWaku Sebun) is a 1996 2D fighting game developed and published by SUNSOFT initially as an arcade game for the Neo Geo MVS arcade system in 1996 worldwide.

Gameplay

Waku Waku 7 has an irregular feature set for a fighting game of its time, and includes features common to SNK fighting games (such as four basic attacks and screens zooming).

The game has a roster of nine characters (Two of which were available only in the Versus mode of the console ports). Each has a significantly different playstyle and parodies a well-known character from another game. Each character has a powerful special move (Referred to as the Harahara movement, or Harahara motion). They had several factors that made them unique, including need to be charged (during which the character concentrates, says something, strikes a pose or blows a fanfare) and being unblockable and difficult to dodge, but can be interrupted while charging; while charging, the game flashes a warning and sounds an alarm. Characters could be launched through the screen to hit the other corner, and attacked while on the ground; but also could dodge or attack while getting up.

Plot

"It is said that the person who collects all sevens of the legendary Wheenisian balls will have their dearest wish granted. Those who find one of the balls become obsessed with the ruthless desire to obtain the others, who will be victorious in the bitter battle to become the owner of all the balls. Victory or defeat - it all lies in your hand."

Characters

Selectable only in the versus mode:

Development

It was Sunsoft's third fighting game after their 1994 Super Famicom spin-off of their Hebereke series, Sugoi Hebereke, and their 1995 Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors, their first 2D fighting game. Although numbers in titles of games and other types of media are used to tell if they are sequels, the title of the game actually refers to its seven playable characters in the roster. The word "Waku Waku" is a Japanese onomatopoeia for sounds of excitement. Two years later, Sunsoft worked with a small company SANTACLAUS in producing the 1998 airborne-based fighting game Astra Super Stars for the Sega ST-V arcade system.

Home releases

Waku Waku 7 was later ported to the Neo-Geo AES home console, which includes easy-to-access difficulty settings and limited credits.

A Neo-Geo CD version was in development, but became canceled due to the Neo-Geo CD failing in the market. This version was later ported to the Sega Saturn, instead, but exclusively in Japan.

In 2008, the original Neo-Geo version was included with the Neo-Geo CD version of Sunsoft's other fighting game Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors in Vol.11 of the Neo Geo Online Collection series for the PlayStation 2, titled Sunsoft Collection (サンソフトコレクション). While the Neo-Geo CD soundtrack of Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors was added in this version, the soundtrack of Waku Waku 7 is completely different from the unreleased Neo-Geo CD version that was later ported to the Sega Saturn. SNK was unable to add the Neo-Geo CD / Sega Saturn version of the soundtrack because of licensing issues.

The Neo-Geo AES home console version was ported to the Wii Virtual Console in Japan on April 27, 2010.[2]

Soundtrack

Waku Waku 7
Soundtrack album by Masato Araikawa
Released August 21, 1996
Recorded Unknown
Genre Video game soundtrack
Length 55:04
Label Pony Canyon
Scitron Label

A soundtrack album of the Neo-Geo version was released by Pony Canyon and Scitron Label on August 21, 1996 exclusively in Japan under the catalog number PCCB-00215. It contains nearly every background music, as well as sound effects and voice samples from the arcade version. It was composed and arranged by Masato Araikawa.

Reception

In 2012, Complex ranked this "underrated and virtually unknown fighter" as the 12th best SNK fighting game ever made, commenting, "Waku Waku 7 was a trip. Most of the cast was full of colorful beasts and parodies of popular fighting game characters. Mauru had to be the strangest looking creature on the roster (he was also one of the most fun guys to play with). We appreciate this game’s tight gameplay, super cheery graphics, and hilarious super moves. Do yourself a favor and import a copy of this joint."[3] That same year, GamesRadar included "this cheery, colorful Neo Geo fighter" among the little-known classic fighting games that deserve HD remakes, adding: "Though the zany roster is only seven fighters strong (not including goofy secret characters like a sentient punching bag), Sunsoft crafted quite the fun brawler that gives you super meter and glitzy special moves as often as modern-day Marvel Vs. games."[4]

References

External links