Flying Dragon, known in Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 as , is a fighting game

Fighting game

Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...

 with RPG elements. Released for the Nintendo 64

Nintendo 64

The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...

 in 1998, it was developed and published in Japan by Culture Brain

Culture Brain

, formally known as , is a small Japanese video game developer and publisher founded on October 5, 1980.Culture Brain's first arcade video game was Monster Zero, released in . In North America, Culture Brain is mostly known for its six video games for the Nintendo Entertainment System and its three...

, while it was published in North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 and Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

 by Natsume

Natsume Co., Ltd

is a Japanese video game developer and publisher in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan founded on October 20, 1987. Its American branch, Natsume Inc., is located in Burlingame, California...

. The game received relatively low scores on specialized reviews at the time of its release. It had a sequel a year later titled as S.D. Hiryu no Ken Densetsu.

Its most notable feature was the game's SD mode that featured a character progression system, in which characters advance in level

Experience point

An experience point is a unit of measurement used in many role-playing games and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's progression through the game...

s as they become more experienced, and in which it is possible to collect credits and treasure items to equip characters with.

Flying Dragon

Flying Dragon: The Secret Scroll

Flying Dragon: The Secret Scroll is a 1989 side-scrolling platform video game, which includes some role-playing elements, developed by Culture Brain for the NES. It is the second title in the Hiryū no Ken series.-Storyline:...

was also an NES game released by Culture Brain in 1989, where the player controlled a martial artist trying to recover magical scrolls stolen by the evil Tusk Soldiers. It was afforded a nominal sequel with Flying Warriors

Flying Warriors

Flying Warriors is a action/fighting video game developed by Culture Brain and published by Culture Brain USA exclusively for the NES in North America in February 1991. It is a mixture of two Family Computer video games in the Hiryū no Ken franchise: Hiryu no Ken II: Dragon no Tsubasa and Hiryu no...

.

Characters

The game consists of two different fighting modes, though the two share many common characters.

SD Version

• Ryuhi - This hot blooded fighter is the leader of the "Dragon Warriors" and an expert with Kung Fu. His home country is China and his fighting style is Kung Fu. Ryuhi is considered to being the main character of the Hiryu No Ken series, due to the fact that he appears in neary every game of the series and that the storyline of Hiryu No Ken is often focused around him.

• Hayato - This calm, gifted fighter, is familiar with all types of fighting styles. His Home country is Japan and his fighting style is Kobujutsu. Hayato is known best for being Ryuhi's friendly rival and a member of the "Dragon Warriors".

• Suzaku - This mysterious evil man, set on revenge, plans on conquering the world. His home Country is the Underworld and his fighting style is Kung Fu. Suzaku is known for being the right-hand man of Ryumaou, the series' dark antagonist, until he eventually realizes his destiny isn't determined by Shun Ryomaou and joins the warriors.

• Yuka - A master of "Aiki-Jyujyutsu" with telekinetic powers, she can throw any opponent. Her home country is Japan and her fighting style is Jyujyutsu.

• Robo no Hana - The Yokozuna of Robot Sumo, who dreams of becoming the best hero in the universe. He has no home country and his fighting style is Robot Sumo. It is to be noted that Robot Sumo is held on the distant planet of Dousokui, which probably means that Robo no Hana is an alien visiting Earth. It is also to be noted that Robo no Hana had originated from the Super Chinese
  Super Chinese
  is a series of adventure and action role-playing games for the arcade and various Nintendo video game systems. The plot of several of the games follow two young boys, Jack and Ryu, as they adventure through their home, Chinaland....
  
   series, in which he appears in Super Chinese Fighter
  Super Chinese Fighter
  is a 1995 fighting game developed and published by Culture Brain for the Super Famicom exclusively in Japan. It is part of the Super Chinese series, but is not in the main series of the games. Fighter allows players to fight in fighting game battles using characters from the Super Chinese games,...
  
   for the Super Famicom.

• Wiler - This Warrior is strong and reliable. He uses Martial Arts learned in the US Army. His home country is the United States and his fighting style is a mix of Martial Arts and amateur wrestling. Wiler is also known for being a member of the "Dragon Warriors"

• Powers - The top wrestler of the NCW, he plans on being the strongest in the world. His home county is the United States and his fighting style is Pro Wrestling. His physical appearance makes him resemble the former professional wrestler The Ultimate Warrior.

• Shouryu - This young ghost hunter uses ESP and he is currently training in Mexico. His home country is the United States and his fighting style is a mixture of martial arts and Lucha Libre
  Lucha libre
  Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
  
   wrestling. Shouryu is known for being a member of the "Dragon Warriors". It is hinted by their pre-battle quotes that Shouryu and Suzaku know each other from the past.

• Bokuchin (unlockable character) - Possibly the most mysterious character of the bunch. His physical appearance makes him look like a doll brought to life. He has no known fighting style, home country, or even his own stage. He also has the most limited moveset of all the characters. Like Robo no Hana, Bokuchin had originated from the Super Chinese
  Super Chinese
  is a series of adventure and action role-playing games for the arcade and various Nintendo video game systems. The plot of several of the games follow two young boys, Jack and Ryu, as they adventure through their home, Chinaland....
  
   series, first appearing in Super Chinese 3
  Super Chinese 3
  Super Chinese 3 is an action RPG video game released in 1991 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the last of the NES Super Chinese games and was not released outside of Japan.-Gameplay:...
  
   for the Famicom.

• Ryumaou (unlockable character) - He is usually the main boss of both the SD and the Virtual modes. He rules the Underworld as the Devil King and is one of the fiercest and dangerous characters in the game. It is to be noted that the playable Ryumaou is a clone created by Shin Ryumaou, who is the boss for the clone.

Version 1.5 (set a few years after the SD version; only four characters return)

• Adult Ryuhi - returning from the SD tournament to fight against Ryumaou yet again, now apart of Dragon Warriors.
• Adult Hayato - friend of Ryuhi and Yuka returns in the tournament.
• Red Falcon - Replacing Suzaku as Ryumaou's apprentice, with an even wicker attitude.
• Min Min - A young Hong Kong Chinese girl, replacing Yuka, who practices the Kochouken style of Kung Fu. Min Min is also a member of the "Dragon Warriors". Like Yuka previously before, Min Min may have a crush on Ryuhi.
• Kate - A Swedish police officer who uses lightning-fast kicks, and rival to Min Min.
• Raima - A Japanese ninja robot who is given the mission of protecting the world's peace.
• Gengai - Ryuhi's sensei who is the grandmaster of Shorinji.
• Adult Shouryu - After taking down Suzaku, now he must face Red Falcon, his newest rival.
• Adult Ryumaou (unlockable character)
• Adult Shin Ryumaou (boss)

Sequel

An updated version of the game entitled was released in Japan only, and added more characters (such as Jack, Ryu, and Gofire from the Super Chinese series), items and a new gameplay mode. It also removed the more realistic "Virtual mode", favoring the super deformed

Super deformed

Super deformed or SD is a specific style of Japanese caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby, with stubby limbs and oversized heads, to make them resemble small children...

"Quest mode".

Playable Characters:

Ryuhi,
Hayato,
Min Min,
Wiler,
Shouryu,
Yuka,
Suzaku,
Powers,
Robo No Hana,
Bokuchin (unlockable),
Jack,
Ryu,
Raima,
E. Quaker,
Ellie,
Gofire,
Ryumaou (unlockable)