Kaiser Knuckle
Encyclopedia
, sometimes known outside of Japan
as Global Champion, is a 1994
fighting game
released for the arcades
by Taito
. Kaiser Knuckle was released during the fighting game trend of the 1990s that began with Capcom
's Street Fighter II
. Despite the arcade game showing highly-detailed graphics and animations, it didn't catch much attention and was never ported to any home console.
Another unique feature is that it introduced the power zones, which can be utilized via a successful hit of a special move when a player's "Crush Meter" is full. The power zones (either fire or electric) can affect the certain special move a character has. Backgrounds can be destructible when players get hit to charge up, and when those meters are full, the next special move that a player connects with his/her opponent will destroy the background's properties at will (other parts of stages, such as floors and walls are also destructible). Unusually for a game of this type, Kaiser Knuckle features blood; something that was often associated with Midway
's Mortal Kombat series, as well as those influenced by it (this feature can be switched off in the game's dip settings).
ka from Japan. (voice actor: Kazuki Yao
) - A swordswoman from Taiwan
. (voice actor: Saeko Shimazu
) - A mixed martial arts
-skilled biker from USA
. (voice actor: Ryōtarō Okiayu
) - A kung fu detective from China
. (voice actor: Yasushi Horibata) - An Amazon
from Brazil
. (voice actor: Aya Hisakawa
) - A breakdancing master from USA. (voice actor: Andrew Holms) - A ninja
from Japan
. (voice actor: Hideo Ishikawa
) - A boxer
from USA. (voice actor: Kazunari Tanaka
) - A mutated human from Germany
. (voice actor: Hisayoshi Ogura
)
Bosses - A judo
ka from Russia
. (voice actor: Hisao Egawa
) - An Aztec warrior from Mexico
. (voice actor: Ryu Kuzu) - The final boss of the game, who is the commander of a space station in orbit. (voice actor: Steve Yamashita)
Other
" screen, the "super moves" were cut, and the portraits of Kazuya, Liza and Lihua were re-drawn. After players choose their characters and their first opponents, first to begin their first fight, players and viewers can see a little sequence that shows the prologue of their chosen character's story. The title screen is also different, but strangely, the letter "K" from both words in the Kaiser Knuckle logo can still be seen in some of Global Champions backgrounds.
Dan-Ku-Ga An updated version of Kaiser Knuckle was planned to be released in December 1994 as , but it discontinued; however, the prototype was dumped onto the Internet
as a ROM
. This version allows the first two bosses, Gonzales and Azteca to become playable characters. You can no longer choose your first opponent in a one-player game, except on the Training difficulty level.
Other differences are the CPU
AI
being altered. Players choose the difficulty levels Normal, Professional, or Training before their game. Players also can backdash with all characters. Gonzales becomes the 5th opponent, Azteca becomes the 9th opponent and the doppelgänger
of the player's chosen character becomes the 10th opponent. Kazuya, Lihua and Liza has been redesigned on the character select screen, and all characters each have a third costume color. Also, some of the basic attacks that are executed with two punch or kick buttons are taken out, but the rest are still present and now executed with a single button plus a joystick direction. The third boss, General, can now be fought against without meeting certain conditions.
Apart from this, was also planned as a sequel
to the arcade board used in making the transition to 3D, but the planning board canceled. Later, it was retitled as Psychic Force
, which replaced old models with new ones.
Global Champion / Dan-Ku-Ga Global Champion at arcade-history Dan-Ku-Ga at arcade-historyDan-Ku-Ga at The Large Cult Fighting Game March
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 Global Champion, is a 1994
1994 in video gaming
-Events:*Nintendo calls this year "1994: The Year of the Cartridge".*Nintendo Australia Pty. Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd is established and opened by Hiroshi Yamauchi and effectively ends Mattel Australia's distribution of Nintendo's products throughout Australia.*"Project...
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...
released for the arcades
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
by Taito
Taito Corporation
The is a Japanese publisher of video game software and arcade hardware wholly owned by publisher Square Enix. Taito has their headquarters in the Shinjuku Bunka Quint Building in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, sharing the facility with its parent company....
. Kaiser Knuckle was released during the fighting game trend of the 1990s that began with Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
's Street Fighter II
Street Fighter II
is a competitive fighting game originally released for the arcades in . It is the arcade sequel to the original Street Fighter released in and was Capcom's fourteenth title that ran on the CP System arcade hardware...
. Despite the arcade game showing highly-detailed graphics and animations, it didn't catch much attention and was never ported to any home console.
Gameplay
Kaiser Knuckle follows the same fighting game conventions established by Street Fighter II. The player's character fights against his or her opponent in best two-out-of-three matches in a single player tournament mode with the computer or against another human player. The player has a character roster of nine fighters to choose from, and three bosses, each with their own unique fighting style and special techniques. The control layout is set to the six-button standard (a la most Capcom fighting games), but it can be switched to a five-button layout via dip settings. One unique feature is that Kaiser Knuckle was the first and only fighting game that has five strengths of basic attacks.Another unique feature is that it introduced the power zones, which can be utilized via a successful hit of a special move when a player's "Crush Meter" is full. The power zones (either fire or electric) can affect the certain special move a character has. Backgrounds can be destructible when players get hit to charge up, and when those meters are full, the next special move that a player connects with his/her opponent will destroy the background's properties at will (other parts of stages, such as floors and walls are also destructible). Unusually for a game of this type, Kaiser Knuckle features blood; something that was often associated with Midway
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
's Mortal Kombat series, as well as those influenced by it (this feature can be switched off in the game's dip settings).
Characters
There are nine playable characters, and three unplayable bosses. - The protagonist of the game, who is a karateKarate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
ka from Japan. (voice actor: Kazuki Yao
Kazuki Yao
is a veteran voice actor and actor currently represented by Mix Max.- Television animation :* Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple * Astro Boy * Beast Wars * Beast Wars Neo...
) - A swordswoman from Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. (voice actor: Saeko Shimazu
Saeko Shimazu
is a Japanese voice actress from Isehara. Shimazu is notable for having had voice roles in all four of the major TV anime series based on the works of Rumiko Takahashi - she played Shinobu Miyake in Urusei Yatsura, Sayako Kuroki in Maison Ikkoku, Kodachi Kuno in Ranma ½, and Abi-hime in InuYasha...
) - A mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
-skilled biker from USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. (voice actor: Ryōtarō Okiayu
Ryotaro Okiayu
is a Japanese voice actor, who was born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, and raised in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture. He has been active since 1989, and is currently affiliated with Aoni Production....
) - A kung fu detective from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. (voice actor: Yasushi Horibata) - An Amazon
Amazons
The Amazons are a nation of all-female warriors in Greek mythology and Classical antiquity. Herodotus placed them in a region bordering Scythia in Sarmatia...
from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. (voice actor: Aya Hisakawa
Aya Hisakawa
is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer born in Kaizuka, Osaka. In addition to releasing various solo CDs, she is well known for her anime voice roles, and has also done some work in video games. She is best known for her role of Sailor Mercury of the Sailor Moon fame and also Cerberus from...
) - A breakdancing master from USA. (voice actor: Andrew Holms) - A ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
from 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...
. (voice actor: Hideo Ishikawa
Hideo Ishikawa
is a male Japanese voice actor born in Hyōgo, Japan. His nicknames are "Hide" and "Hide-chan" and he works for Aoni Production. He is married and has two children....
) - A boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from USA. (voice actor: Kazunari Tanaka
Kazunari Tanaka
is a Japanese voice actor from Osaka Prefecture who works for Aoni Production.-Notable voice roles:*Air Gear *Air Master *Blue Submarine No...
) - A mutated human from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. (voice actor: Hisayoshi Ogura
Hisayoshi Ogura
is a former member of Taito Corporation's "house band" Zuntata. He is best known for his musical compositions in the Darius arcade series. His musical style is often experimental electronica; however, in Zoids Infinity Ex he focused on more on an orchestrated soundtrack...
)
Bosses - A judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
ka from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. (voice actor: Hisao Egawa
Hisao Egawa
is a Japanese voice actor from Tokyo who works for Aoni Production. Egawa is most known for the roles of Shin'ichi Maki in Slam Dunk, Geki Kuroiwa in Brave Command Dagwon, Geki Hyūma and Goldymarg in The King of Braves GaoGaiGar, Killer Bee in Naruto Shippuden, and Falco Lombardi in the Star Fox...
) - An Aztec warrior from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. (voice actor: Ryu Kuzu) - The final boss of the game, who is the commander of a space station in orbit. (voice actor: Steve Yamashita)
Other
- Announcer (voice actor: Randy Sexton)
Global Champion
Global Champion is a modified international version of Kaiser Knuckle, the Japanese version. Global Champion has the "Winners Don't Use DrugsWinners Don't Use Drugs
Winners Don't Use Drugs is an anti-drug slogan that was included on all arcade games imported into North America for 11 years from 1989—2000. The slogan appears on a screen that is shown during a game's attract mode....
" screen, the "super moves" were cut, and the portraits of Kazuya, Liza and Lihua were re-drawn. After players choose their characters and their first opponents, first to begin their first fight, players and viewers can see a little sequence that shows the prologue of their chosen character's story. The title screen is also different, but strangely, the letter "K" from both words in the Kaiser Knuckle logo can still be seen in some of Global Champions backgrounds.
Dan-Ku-Ga An updated version of Kaiser Knuckle was planned to be released in December 1994 as , but it discontinued; however, the prototype was dumped onto the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
as a ROM
Read-only memory
Read-only memory is a class of storage medium used in computers and other electronic devices. Data stored in ROM cannot be modified, or can be modified only slowly or with difficulty, so it is mainly used to distribute firmware .In its strictest sense, ROM refers only...
. This version allows the first two bosses, Gonzales and Azteca to become playable characters. You can no longer choose your first opponent in a one-player game, except on the Training difficulty level.
Other differences are the CPU
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
AI
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
being altered. Players choose the difficulty levels Normal, Professional, or Training before their game. Players also can backdash with all characters. Gonzales becomes the 5th opponent, Azteca becomes the 9th opponent and the doppelgänger
Doppelgänger
In fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune...
of the player's chosen character becomes the 10th opponent. Kazuya, Lihua and Liza has been redesigned on the character select screen, and all characters each have a third costume color. Also, some of the basic attacks that are executed with two punch or kick buttons are taken out, but the rest are still present and now executed with a single button plus a joystick direction. The third boss, General, can now be fought against without meeting certain conditions.
Apart from this, was also planned as a sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to the arcade board used in making the transition to 3D, but the planning board canceled. Later, it was retitled as Psychic Force
Psychic Force
is a 1995 fighting arcade game created by Taito which was later ported to the PlayStation in 1996. The PlayStation version was released by Acclaim in North America, and in PAL regions. The game was a 3D fighter which combined the normal features of an arcade fighting game with psychic powers. There...
, which replaced old models with new ones.
External links
Kaiser KnuckleGlobal Champion / Dan-Ku-Ga Global Champion at arcade-history Dan-Ku-Ga at arcade-history