World Heroes 2

Last updated
World Heroes 2
World Heroes 2 arcade flyer.jpg
Developer(s) Alpha Denshi [a]
Agenda [b]
(PC Engine Arcade CD-ROM²)
Saurus (SNES)
Publisher(s)
Alpha Denshi
  • Hudson Soft
    (PC Engine Arcade CD-ROM²)Super NES
    ADK (Neo Geo CD)
Director(s) Akira Ushizawa
Producer(s) Kenji Sawatari
Designer(s) Kimitoshi Yokoo
Programmer(s) Yuji Noguchi
Artist(s) Hiroyuki Ryū
Composer(s) Hideki Yamamoto
Hiroaki Shimizu
Yuka Watanabe
Series World Heroes
Platform(s)
Release
  • Arcade
    • WW: 26 April 1993
    Neo Geo AES
    • WW: 4 June 1993
    PC Engine Arcade CD-ROM²
    Super NES
    • JP: 1 July 1994
    • NA: September 1994
    Neo Geo CD
Genre(s) Fighting
Mode(s){Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade system Neo Geo MVS

World Heroes 2 [c] is a 1993 fighting arcade game developed and published by ADK with the assistance of SNK. It was originally released for the Neo Geo MVS arcade cabinet on April 26, 1993. [1] It is the sequel to the 1992 fighting arcade game World Heroes , as well as the second title of the World Heroes series. It was the first game with the ADK logo labeled within the game after the developer changed from its previous name Alpha Denshi; however, the "Alpha" logo was last used on one of the arcade flyers of World Heroes 2.

Contents

It was followed by a sequel released a year later, titled World Heroes 2 Jet .

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot showcasing a match between Kotaro Fuma and Ryoko Izumo NEOGEO World Heroes 2.png
Gameplay screenshot showcasing a match between Kotaro Fūma and Ryoko Izumo

World Heroes 2 uses most of the elements of its predecessor, such as the same three out of four button layout, movements and motion commands performed using an 8-way joystick, and the "Normal Game" and "Death Match" modes. However, the "C" button can either be used to throw when close enough to the opponent, or taunt against the opponent. New additions include six new characters, new and modified moves and fighting statistics added to the original eight playable characters returning from the first World Heroes, projectile-reflecting, counter-grabbing and a slightly faster movement. There are fourteen playable characters in all.

In "Normal Game" mode, the object is to first defeat all six playable characters introduced in World Heroes 2, then defeat four of the original eight characters introduced in the original World Heroes chosen by the game randomly. After that, the player must defeat the two bosses, Neo Geegus and Dio to win the game. The rule in each battle against a character, like in most fighting games at the time of its release, requires the players to win two-of three rounds to completely win against the opponent. If the timer runs out before anyone is knocked out, the one with the most health in his/her lifebars wins.

In "Death Match" mode, the object of this mode is the same as "Normal Game" mode, but with new stages that feature new environmental hazards and a unique lifebar called the "seesaw lifebar". Unlike most fighting games at the time, the seesaw lifebar in "Death Match" mode has a different rule. If the player hits his or her opponent, the arrow on the lifebar will move toward the opponent's side at a distance depending on certain moves performed against the opponent. If the arrow scrolls at the end of the opponent's side, he/she will have to constantly press any button to stand up as fast as possible before the referee counts to ten. If the arrow is perfectly in the middle with the time running out, the battle becomes a draw game.

Plot

One year ago, Dr. Brown had created the World Heroes tournament in order to find out on who the strongest fighter of history is, but because of the unexpected arrival and interference of Geegus, Dr. Brown was unable to get his answer. Now Dr. Brown is prepared to hold the tournament once again, not only having to invite the eight original fighters back for a second round, but also having to bring forth six new fighters as well, each and every one of them seeking to prove themselves in being the strongest fighter of history. Dr. Brown hopes that this time around, a definite winner will truly come out of the World Heroes tournament and emerge as the strongest fighter of history without interference from Geegus or other threats.

Characters

New characters are marked below in bold:

Development

According to ADK World, other famous people considered for the cast included Yagyu Jubei, Siegfried Fischbacher, Vlad Dracula, Sindbad the Sailor, Ramesses III, and Gors who was the female version of Geegus, intended sub-boss, she was scrapped due to animation issues. Other characters who didn't make the cut were an Aztec hero whose motions are that of an animal, a European fencer who rivals Jeanne D'Arc, a Native-American tribal warrioress, and a Mexican professional-wrestler who was served as the basis for Muscle Power.[ citation needed ]

Erick was conceived due to two scrapped world heroines named Ellis and Musha; One was a young Valkyrie and the other was a "Western fantasy" based character, both of them wielded blunt melee weapons. Much like the Musashi Miyamoto-based character Haohmaru who was also scrapped in the original game, Yagyu Jubei on the other hand would also later go on to also become a playable character in Samurai Shodown (1993).[ citation needed ]

World Heroes 2 was later ported to the Neo Geo AES in both Japan and North America on June 4, 1993, which is identical to the Neo Geo MVS version, but designed for home gaming, just like nearly every AES versions of Neo Geo titles. World Heroes 2 was later ported to the Neo Geo CD in Japan by ADK on April 14, 1995, which everything in it is identical to the MVS and AES versions, but with arranged background music. Outside of SNK's platforms, it was first ported by Agenda with graphics handled by ADS and published by Hudson Soft to the PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² exclusively in Japan on June 4, 1994, as part of a series of titles that use the Arcade Card expansion for the PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² along with three Neo Geo titles also equally ported by Hudson Soft: Art of Fighting , Fatal Fury 2 and Fatal Fury Special . It features a mixture of arranged and chiptune BGM (different compared to the Neo-Geo CD version's BGM), as well as nearly identical graphics, sound effects and voice samples to the original Neo Geo versions. Later, World Heroes 2 was ported and published by Saurus to the SNES in Japan on July 1, 1994, while this specific port was later published in North America by Takara in September 1994. This port, unlike the other versions, allows players to choose the boss characters with a secret code. [2] [ better source needed ]

On October 18, 2007, SNK Playmore added it along with its predecessor and successors to the arcade game compilation World Heroes Gorgeous: Neo Geo Online Collection Vol. 9 (ワールドヒーローズ ゴージャス) in Japan for the PlayStation 2. It was later published in North America on March 11, 2008, and on November 7, 2008, both titled as World Heroes Anthology . This compilation was reprinted as part of a series of best-sellers subtitled "The Best" in Japan on June 18, 2009. The Neo Geo AES version was later re-released on the Wii Virtual Console in Japan on November 15, 2011.[ citation needed ]

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed World Heroes 2 on their June 1, 1993 issue as being the most-successful table arcade unit of the month. [9] In North America, RePlay reported World Heroes 2 to be the fifth most-popular arcade game in May 1993, [10] and Play Meter listed World Heroes 2 as the nineteenth most-popular arcade game in June 1993. [11] RePlay later listed World Heroes 2 as America's top-grossing arcade software kit in July 1993. [12]

On release, Famicom Tsūshin 's four reviewers scored the Neo Geo version of the game a 25 out of 40. [5] GameFan's four reviewers scored the Neo Geo version 349 out of 400 (average 87.25%), stating that SNK has come "closer in their quest for fighting perfection" and concluding that it is "the best Neo Geo fighting game next to Fatal Fury 2 " and "is as good as SF2 ." [6]

GamePro applauded the SNES version for its massive size (24 megabits) and accurate translation of the arcade game, commenting that "WH 2 is so faithful to the arcade graphics that you have to look closely to see what (if anything) was lost in the conversion." They additionally praised the game for its large selection of characters and options. [8] Electronic Gaming Monthly 's five reviews scored it 37 out of 50 (average 7.4 out of 10), calling it "another excellent conversion of an arcade game to the Super NES platform." They cited the ability to play as the boss characters and the speed settings as good bonuses. [4]

Notes

  1. Additional work by SNK
  2. Additional work by ADS
  3. Japanese: ワールド・ヒーローズ 2, Hepburn: Wārudo Hīrōzu Tsū

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neo Geo (system)</span> Cartridge-based arcade system board and home video game console

The Neo Geo, stylized as NEO•GEO and also written as NEOGEO, is a ROM cartridge-based video gaming system released on April 26, 1990, by Japanese game company SNK Corporation. Designed as both an arcade system board and home video game console, the Neo Geo was marketed as the first 24-bit system; its CPU is actually a 16/32-bit 68000 with an 8-bit Z80 coprocessor, while its GPU chipset has a 24-bit graphics data bus. It was a very powerful system when released, more powerful than any video game console at the time, and many arcade systems such as rival Capcom's CPS, which did not surpass it until the CP System II in 1993. Neo Geo hardware production lasted seven years; it was succeeded by Hyper Neo Geo 64.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SNK</span> Japanese video game company

SNK Corporation is a Japanese video gaming and interactive entertainment company. It was founded in 1978 as Shin Nihon Kikaku by Eikichi Kawasaki and began by developing coin-op games. SNK is known for its Neo Geo arcade system on which the company produced many in-house games and now-classic franchises during the 1990s, including Aggressors of Dark Kombat, Art of Fighting, Fatal Fury, King of the Monsters, Metal Slug, Samurai Shodown, The King of Fighters, The Last Blade, Twinkle Star Sprites, and World Heroes; they continue to develop and publish new titles in some of these franchises on contemporary arcade and home platforms. Since the 2000s, SNK have diversified from their traditional arcade focus into pachislot machines, mobile game development, and recently character licensing.

<i>Art of Fighting</i> Video game series

Art of Fighting is a fighting game series originally released for the Neo Geo platform in the early 1990s. It is the second fighting game franchise created by SNK, following the Fatal Fury series, and is set in the same fictional universe. The original Art of Fighting was released in 1992, followed by two sequels: Art of Fighting 2 in 1994 and Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior in 1996. A new Art of Fighting game is currently in development.

<i>The King of Fighters 98</i> 1998 Video game

The King of Fighters '98, subtitled Dream Match Never Ends in Japan or The Slugfest elsewhere, is a 1998 2D arcade fighting game released by SNK for the Neo Geo system MVS, AES, CD. It is the fifth game in The King of Fighters series and was advertised by SNK as a "special edition" of the series, as it features most of the characters who appeared in the previous games from KOF '94 to '97. The game provides no storyline in contrast to the previous games and instead is labelled as a "dream match" like its subtitle where the player selects a team composed of three characters to participate in a King of Fighters tournament until reaching the boss Rugal Bernstein even though the character dies in The King of Fighters '95. Two fighting styles can be selected to fight and several characters have alternate personas to select with their classic moves from previous games.

<i>The King of Fighters 99</i> 1999 fighting video game

The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle, also called KOF '99, is a 1999 fighting game developed and published by SNK for the Neo Geo MVS arcade and home consoles in 1999. It is the sixth installment in The King of Fighters series following The King of Fighters '98, introducing a new story arc known as the "NESTS Chronicles" which is centered around a young man named K', who is formerly associated with a mysterious organization known only as NESTS. The game introduces several changes to the established KOF format, most notably an assisting character labeled "Striker". The game was ported to the Neo Geo CD and the PlayStation. Dreamcast and Microsoft Windows versions were also released under the title The King of Fighters' 99: Evolution whose stages were remodeled in 3D.

<i>Fatal Fury 2</i> 1992 video game

Fatal Fury 2, known as Garō Densetsu 2: Aratanaru Tatakai in Japan, is a 1992 fighting video game developed by SNK as the sequel to Fatal Fury: King of Fighters (1991), and the second game in the Fatal Fury franchise. Originally released by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home platforms, it was later ported to several other home systems, including Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis by Takara. Its updated version, Fatal Fury Special, was released in 1993.

Fighter's History is a series of fighting games that were produced by Data East during the 1990s. The original Fighter's History was first released for the arcades in 1993 and ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1994. Two different sequels were produced: Karnov's Revenge for the Neo Geo in 1994, followed by Fighter's History: Mizoguchi Kiki Ippatsu!!, released in Japan for the Super Famicom in 1995.

<i>World Heroes</i> Video game series

World Heroes is a series of four fighting games created originally by ADK with assistance from SNK for the Neo Geo family of arcade and home consoles.

<i>The King of Fighters 96</i> 1996 video game

The King of Fighters '96(KOF '96) is a fighting game released by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home consoles in 1996. It is the third game in The King of Fighters series, following The King of Fighters '95. The game made a few changes to gameplay, such as the introduction of new techniques, and made various changes to the composition of some teams, with a few of them introducing new characters. The plot follows a new King of Fighters tournament created by Chizuru Kagura, the heir of the Yata Clan, who wants to find and recruit the protagonist, Kyo Kusanagi, who defeated the previous host Rugal Bernstein. She seeks to recruit him to ask him and his bitter rival, Iori Yagami, to help her in the sealing of the Orochi demon like her predecessors. The final boss of the game is Goenitz, one of the servants of Orochi. Developers made several changes to the cast when compared to The King of Fighters '95, with special focus on a Boss Team composed of famous villains from their other two IPs, Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting.

<i>World Heroes Perfect</i> 1995 video game

World Heroes Perfect is a 1995 fighting arcade game developed and published by ADK with the assistance of SNK. It was originally released for the Neo Geo MVS arcade cabinet on May 25, 1995. It is the fourth and final title of the World Heroes series.

<i>World Heroes 2 Jet</i> 1994 video game

World Heroes 2 Jet is a 1994 fighting arcade game developed and published by ADK with the assistance of SNK. It was originally released for the Neo Geo MVS arcade cabinet on April 26, 1994. It is the sequel to the 1993 fighting arcade game World Heroes 2, as well as the third title of the World Heroes series.

<i>Neo Geo Battle Coliseum</i> 2005 video game

Neo Geo Battle Coliseum is a fighting game designed for the Atomiswave arcade board developed and released by SNK in 2005. The game features characters from several SNK and ADK titles. Subsequently, a PlayStation 2 version of the game was released in Japan, North America, and Europe. The Xbox Live Arcade version was released worldwide on June 9, 2010. In 2020, a homebrew conversion was released for the Dreamcast.

<i>Street Smart</i> (video game) 1989 video game

Street Smart is a 1989 beat 'em up arcade video game developed and published by SNK. The game's objective is to win money, girls, and glory on the streets all over the West. Taking place in a once-in-a-lifetime "Champion Tag Match in USA" tournament where players take the roles of two young hand-to-hand combat experts who have to brawl with the toughest street fighters of the entire nation.

<i>Aggressors of Dark Kombat</i> 1994 video game

Aggressors of Dark Kombat, known in Japan as Thrilling Intense March or GanGan, is a 1994 fighting arcade game developed by ADK and published by SNK. It was originally released on SNK's Neo Geo MVS arcade platform, then on Neo Geo AES and Neo Geo CD home consoles, and in later decades appeared on retro compilations and digital storefronts. The English game title uses the same initials as the developer. The game's defining feature was that, while it uses a generally 2D format, characters can move towards or away from the screen. While some reviews praised this mechanic, critics generally remarked that it offers no meaningful innovation and that the game is generic and lacking in depth. Though a modest success, Aggressors of Dark Kombat failed to match the popularity of the leading SNK fighters.

ADK Corporation, formerly known as Alpha Denshi Corporation (アルファ電子株式会社), was a Japanese video game developer founded in 1980. ADK began as a developer of arcade games and is best known for their library of SNK Neo Geo titles, including for its home consoles, produced in partnership with SNK. Most notable among these are their fighting games and, in particular, the World Heroes series and Aggressors of Dark Kombat. The company closed with properties sold to SNK Playmore in 2003.

<i>Breakers</i> (1996 video game) 1996 video game

Breakers is a fighting game developed by Visco Corporation, which was released for the Neo Geo. It was followed up by Breakers Revenge in 1998 and Breakers Revenge Chicago developed by exA-Arcadia and to be released in July 2024.

<i>Ninja Masters</i> 1996 video game

Ninja Master's: Haō Ninpō Chō,, is a ninja-themed 2D fighting game produced by ADK and originally released in 1996 for the Neo Geo arcade and home platform. Ninja Master's was the sixth and final fighting game produced by ADK, following the four games in the World Heroes series and Aggressors of Dark Kombat. It was later featured in the 2008 compilation ADK Damashii for the PlayStation 2. Ninja Master's was also re-released on the Neo-Geo X handheld system in 2012, and for the Virtual Console in 2013. In 2019 it was released as part of Arcade Archives developed by Japanese company Hamster. As of 2021, Ninja Master's was released worldwide on Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. The PS4 version remains exclusive to Asia but includes both Japanese and English releases.

<i>Ninja Combat</i> 1990 video game

Ninja Combat is a 1990 side-scrolling beat 'em up video game developed by Alpha Denshi and published by SNK. It was one of the launch titles for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and AES (home) systems.

<i>World Heroes</i> (video game) 1992 video game

World Heroes is a 1992 fighting arcade game developed and published by Alpha Denshi with the assistance of SNK. It was originally released for the Neo Geo MVS arcade cabinet on July 28, 1992. It is ADK's first game in the fighting game genre, as well as their earliest attempt in the fighting game trend of the 1990s that was popularized by Capcom's 1991 arcade hit Street Fighter II. It was the last game with the Alpha logo labeled within the game before the developer became ADK; however, the Alpha logo was last used on one of the arcade flyers of its sequel.

<i>Riding Hero</i> 1990 video game

Riding Hero is a hybrid racing/role-playing arcade video game developed and originally published by SNK on July 24, 1990. It was the first title for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms that featured "Multi Play" (Multi-Link) support, which allowed two systems to be connected via a phone jack port integrated into each cartridge for versus LAN play.

References

  1. "Oh! Neo Geo Vol. 11 - ワールドヒーローズ2". Beep! MegaDrive (in Japanese). No. 46. SoftBank Creative. July 1993. p. 142.
  2. "World Heroes 2 Cheats, Codes, and Secrets for Super Nintendo - GameFAQs".
  3. "World Heroes 2 (Neo Geo) Review". Archived from the original on 16 November 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Review Crew: World Heroes 2". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 61. EGM Media, LLC. August 1994. p. 32.
  5. 1 2 NEO GEO GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ワールドヒーローズ2. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.332. Pg.26. 28 April 1995.
  6. 1 2 GameFan, volume 1, issue 9 (August 1993), pages 11 & 90-91
  7. GameFan, volume 2, issue 8 (July 1994), page 31
  8. 1 2 "ProReview: World Heroes 2". GamePro . No. 62. IDG. September 1994. p. 94.
  9. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 450. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 June 1993. p. 25.
  10. "The Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Video Software". RePlay. Vol. 18, no. 8. RePlay Publishing, Inc. May 1993. p. 4.
  11. "Equipment Poll - Video & Pinball Combined". Play Meter . Vol. 19, no. 7. Skybird Publishing. June 1993. p. 8.
  12. "Top Coin-Ops of July 1993". Electronic Games . Vol. 1, no. 12 (September 1993). August 24, 1993. p. 14.