Punch Mania Hokuto no Ken 2

Punch Mania Hokuto no Ken 2: Gekitō Shura no Kuni Hen
-From Rage Quitter 87's Fist of the North Star site


Late on in the year 2000, Konami released a sequel to their Punch Mania game. This sequel had everything from the original game, but also added several new stages, featuring characters from Hokuto no Ken 2. A deluxe version was also available which had two cabinets linked together, allowing two players to either fight each other or take on two opponents together in a new co-operative mode. A survival mode was also added. Unlike the previous game, Punch Mania 2 was never officially released outside Japan. However, several American arcades did import it and some still have it to this day. Like the previous game, this was only available to play in arcades, no console version was ever made.


Contents
1) Single player stages
2) Co-operative mode stages
3) Gameplay



Single player stages

Hokuto no Ken stages:

Stage Name
Difficulty
Character
Opponents
Basics of Hokuto Shinken
Practice
Kenshiro
Ryuken, Zeed
Southern Cross
Easy
Kenshiro
Zeed, Heart, Shin
Nanto Roku Seiken
Medium
Kenshiro
King Fang, Rei, Shuu, Souther
Ken-Oh, Conqueror of the Century
Medium
Kenshiro
Colonel, Devil Rebirth, Uighur, Ken-Oh
Nanto Roku Seiken, Star of Justice
Medium
Rei
Ken-Oh, King Fang, Amiba, Yuda
Messiah of the Century Legend
Hard
Kenshiro
Jagi, Amiba, Toki, Ryuga, Raoh
Conqueror of the Century Legend
Hard
Raoh
Toki, Juuza, Fudo, Kenshiro


Hokuto no Ken 2
stages:

Stage Name
Difficulty
Character
Opponents
The New Hokuto Shinken Legacy
Easy
Kenshiro
Barona and Bask, Geira, Ein
The Kenka Martial Art Legacy
Easy
Ein
Bazori, Bat, Jakoh
Assault at the Imperial Capital
Medium
Kenshiro
Solia, Harn Bros., Jakoh, Falco
The Land of Shura
Medium
Kenshiro
Akashachi, Nameless Shura, Alf, Han
The Legend of the True Messiah
Hard
Kenshiro
Shie, Shachi, Hyo, Kaioh

 


Co-operative mode stages

Stage Name
Difficulty
Characters
Opponents
Departing to a Death Match
Easy
Kenshiro & Rei
The Fang Clan, Raiga & Fuuga, Uighur & Royal Guards
The Birth of a New Legend
Medium
Bat & Ein
Bazori, Geira, Jakoh
Hokuto's Mightiest Legacy
Hard
Kenshiro & Raoh
Falco & Solia, Han & Kaiser, Hyo & Kaioh




Gameplay

Punch Mania 2 has the same gameplay as the previous one. There are 6 punching pads, 3 on either side of the screen, which will pop out as you fight your opponent. By hitting them in time (not too fast or slow) you will damage your opponent and wear his health gauge down. Missing a pad will result in your character being hit, wearing his own health gauge down. As you progress through a stage, you will fill up a special technique gauge. Once this is full, you can perform a special move to finish your opponent off with. However, the opponents you fight also have their own special moves they will use against you at least once.

Along with all of the stages from the previous game, Punch Mania 2 has several new single player stages, all to do with the Hokuto no Ken 2 storyline. New opponents include the likes of Falco, Han and Kaioh, and the backgrounds feature locations such as the Imperial Capital and the land of Shura.

New to Punch Mania 2 is a co-operative mode, where two players can work together to defeat pairs of enemies. The gameplay is largely the same as in the single player mode, however, you will share a health gauge rather than having separate ones. Survival mode has you fighting through every stage in the game, with the life gauge being slightly replenished between stages. Vs. mode lets you and another player fight each other.


Return to Hokuto no Ken video games list