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Buriki One

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Buriki One: World Grapple Tournament '99 in Tokyo
Brochure for the arcade version of the game featuring Gai Tendo
Developer(s)SNK
Publisher(s)SNK
Director(s)Takashi Tsukamoto
Platform(s)Hyper Neo Geo 64
ReleaseMay 21, 1999 (JP)
Genre(s)Versus Fighting
Mode(s)Up to 2 players simultaneously
Arcade systemHyper Neo Geo 64

Buriki One: World Grapple Tournament '99 in Tokyo, otherwise known simply as Buriki One (Japanese: 武力 ONE), is a 3D fighting game produced by SNK and released as a coin-operated arcade game in 1999. It is the seventh and final game developed for SNK's short-lived Hyper Neo Geo 64 hardware and like most games released for the platform, it has never been officially ported to home consoles. The game features 12 martial artists all of released exclusively for the game with the exception of Ryo Sakazaki, a guest character originating from SNK's franchise Art of Fighting. The gameplay involves a more realistic design than the ones explored in previous IPs created by the company resulting in struggles and grabs similar to wrestling games without super moves like projectiles. The story involves a tournament from 1999 in Tokyo where the twelve characters compete to decide who has the best martial art.

Buriki One was primarily designed by SNK game designer Hiroaki Hashimoto who worked as motion capture and created most of the fighters while studying martial arts. The inclusion of Ryo Sakazaki but as an older fighter than the one seen in Art of Fighting was his own idea in order to make him more fearsome based on his personal taste. Although the game was never released in Western regions, several game journalists have regarded the gameplay as one of SNK's most unique works for being so different from their previous IPs. The characters of Gai Tendo and Silber have also been featured in SNK's fighting game The King of Fighters XI as guest characters while Ryo's older persona has also been featured in other SNK's titles as a stronger alterego.

Gameplay

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Example of a Buriki One fight.

Buriki One is a one-on-one fightng game whose controls are a departure from traditional works by SNK. The control system uses two buttons for movement, keeping the player on a 2-D axis, despite the 3D arena. Pressing the left button moves the character in the left direction, pressing the right moves in that respective direction. Double tapping each button produces a dash in each corresponding direction for evasion and closing distance. Pressing both buttons makes the character block.[1]

By using the joystick, the player can execute attacks of varying damage levels. By pressing in the forward direction, the player executes a medium attack, up forward a stronger attack, and down, forward is the weakest, but fastest attack. By combining various combinations of the movement of the stick, a special attack is performed for increased damage. Unlike the 2-D iterations, however, no ranged attacks are present, keeping the preferred fighting distance between players at close quarters.[2]

A fighter can win by knocking out his opponent, forcing his opponent to surrender, or by winning a judgment by a panel of three judges if time runs out.[3] The judges are allowed to cast ballots for either fighter or a tie ballot that does not contribute to the decision. A tie will force a player to either give up or buy a continue. Should a fighter fall outside of the ring, the fight is paused until both fighters are sent back into the ring to resume the fight. Only the winner of the World Grapple Tournament can participate in the finals of each qualifying frock. In order to enter the finals, the playher must win three matches in the first round.[4]

Plot and characters

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The game takes place in the Tokyo Dome.

The game is set in 1999 as fighters from across the world gather at the Tokyo Dome to compete in the World Grapple Tournament. Each contender has their own fighting discipline, ranging from the popular styles of boxing, karate and professional wrestling, to the lesser known arts of aikido, tai chi and Muay Thai. The winner will prove their fighting style is the superior one.[5] The fighters are:

  • Gai Tendo - The lead protagonist, a 17-year-old fighter who uses a self-styled martial art. He has been training by himself at Okinawa ever since graduating middle school. Voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama.[6]
  • Rob Python - A 35-year-old super heavyweight boxer residing in LA. CV:Kōji Ishii[7]
  • Jacques Ducalis - A 32-year-old open-weight Gold medalist and current Director of the French judo Society. CV:Eiji Tsuda[8]
  • Seo Yong Song - An 18-year-old taekwondo master who was the Middleweight champion in the World Taekwondo Championship during the previous year. Currently attending college with a major in quantum physics. CV:Jun Hashimoto[9]
  • Takato Saionji - A 17-year-old private high school student from Kyoto who has thoroughly mastered aikido from his grandfather Takayuki. CV:Eiji Yano[10]
  • Payak Sitpitak (พยัคฆ์ สิทธิพิทักษ์) - A 40-year-old Muay Thai ranker who is the currently the Top Welterweight athlete in the Muay Thai circuit. CV:Atsushi Yamanishi[11]
  • Song Xuandao - A 70-year-old tai chi master who is well known within the Chinese fighting world. Voiced by Keiichiro Sakagi[12]
  • Patrick Van Heyting - A 37-year-old popular pro wrestler from the Netherlands. Voiced by Franky Nakamura[7]
  • Ivan Sokolov - A 27-year-old freestyle wrestler and a 191-pound class Gold Medalist. Despite his rough-like posture, he has won against his opponents due to his technical skills. Voiced by Hiroyuki Arita[13]
  • Akatsuki-Maru - A 28-year-old sumo wrestler who currently holds the title of Sekiwake.[a] Voiced by Eiji Yano[14]
  • Ryo Sakazaki - The 32-year-old instructor of the Kyokugen School of karate. Originally the main character from the Art of Fighting series. Voiced by Masaki Usui.[15]
  • Silber - The final boss in the game. A one-eyed martial artist from Germany who uses his own style of karate. Although Silber has never officially competed in a fighting tournament, he has been sight at numerous parts of the world over the past 30 years, fighting against numerous well known martial artists. Silber is a computer-only character initially and only becomes a controllable character after the computer-controlled Silber is defeated by the player with each of the other characters. Voiced by Hiroyuki Arita[16]

Development

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Sketches of the cast of Buriki One by Hiroaki Hashimoto featuring in the top: Gai Tendo, Ryo Sakazaki, Payak, Sitipak, Seo Yong-Song, Ivan Sokolov, Rob Python. In the bottom: Akatsuki-Maru, Saionji Takato, Jacques Ducalis, Song Xuandao, Patrick Van Heyting and Silber.

There was little known the game's content in early promotion of the series with the exception of Ryo Sakazaki's inclusion as well as a protagonist named Gai Tendo who uses selftaught martial arts. The main appeal by SNK was creating realism. According to SNK, the game focuses on "more realistic fighting" and employs a completely new control system that has been carefully designed.[17] In Ryo's case, his gameplay was developed to convey a sense of realism alongside the rest of the cast to the point he cannot perform projectile maneuvers.[18] Buriki One was the only title Hiroaki Hashimoto was involved in from the early stages of development to release while at SNK, and participated in a wide range of aspects, from design to motion capture actors. Changing the design of a central and popular SNK character was risky, but Hiroaki's seniors gave him freedom with the stipulation that the design should look cool.[19] Gai is greatly influenced by former Shooto Lightweight Champion Rumina Sato,[20] mixed martial artist Kazushi Sakuraba and the protagonist of the Baki the Grappler manga series, Baki Hanma. Hashimoto gave the protagonist red hair as it symbolizes champions as well as his personality.[21]

Several characters and settings were made before he joined into the making of the game following his inclusion, he was given free rein. However, Hiroaki still did several retakes in order to be faithful to their ideas. Hiroaki had to research Muay Thai and Sumo in order to be able to properly create the characters. As a first-year employee, he had fun every day. At that time, a senior colleague told him to draw with speed to fit at SNK. He took it seriously and completed one poster illustration per day. Although Hiraoki was later told it was a joke, he still expressed satisfaction with his work. Ryo Sakazaki's redesign in his older persona was created by Hiroaki as he disliked the original orange gi and wanted to mix it more with black colors. Hiroaki was the model for the protagonist Gai Tendo.[22] Hiroaki aimed to make every character look cool, which made it easy to draw Rob Python based on his charismatic personality.[23]

The concept behind the boss character Silber was, "What would happen if a real fighter fought a fighting game character?"; SNK's staff members started by coming up with ideas to make a character that looked scary and strong.[24] He started from there, so at first it was "spiky silver hair", but at the time there was a limit to the number of polygons that could be displayed, so Hiroaki was told "Make it three spikes on the head!" and panicked. In the end, Hiroaki begged and the team settled on the current hairstyle.[25] There was also a competition of "Buriki Girls" which fans voted. The five who beat out the strong competition to become "Buriki Girls" were Tono, Sakai, Koda, Marugame, and Sakurada.[26]

Reception and legacy

[edit]
The poor performance of the Hyper Neo Geo 64 led to the game's oscure status outside Japan.

Despite lacking console ports and fame outside Japan, video game writers praised Buriki One as one of the most obscure fighting games that have a notable fighting system different from other IPs. The game was by GameDeveloper for its realistic style similar to the samurai Game Bushido Blade, finding it different from previous SNK games that kept the same usage 2D fighting game designs and instead feel like a wrestling game. Nevertheless, me still felt that mastering the gameplay takes time.[27] Time Extension said the game lacked fame due to the poor execution of the Hyper Neo Geo 64 arcade system but the gameplay still stood out thanks to the layout involving punches and kicks. This has led to years of players looking means to properly emulate the game.[1] Game Hihyou called it a departure from common fighting games as a result of how it works. He praised the response that allows players to launch a big attack with little effort, instead of relying on human thought and reaction. However, he felt the game takes some time to get used to. He found himself enjoying more the martial arts rather than just characters. The control system also allows players to reset their control skills.[28] Player One also found it different from traditional fighting games due to the depth explored in the martial arts and rules. The writer also found the character designs more realistic and mature, using Ryo as an example due to how different are his techniques from supermoves seen in previous games.[2] MSN referred to Buriki One as the only time SNK decided to make a realistic fighting game, and thus, like other website journalists, considered the product outstanding, citing the control and conditions to win fights.[3]

GameRant said the game should be rereleased in modern consoles owing to its notorious release in Japanese arcades.[29] Ryo in Buriki One received this response especially with older gamers based on SNK artist Falcoon's illustration of him of his black gi with the artist aiming to model after the black gi from the Netflix TV series Cobra Kai.[30] Den of Geek considered the boss character Silber as "a ripped off" Akuma from the Street Fighter fighting game series by Capcom but still found his design and moves be appealing enough to leave longtime fans to see him in SNK's fighting game The King of Fighters XI as a guest character.[31] In another list, Den of Geek said that Buriki One is remembered by fans due to its first despiction of Ryo as a middleaged man and lamented that fellow character Gai Tendo did not have outstanding moves in The King of Fighters XI despite having a lively personality.[32]

In Japan, Game Machine listed Buriki One on their June 15, 1999 issue as being the most-successful arcade game of the month.[33] Hiroaki said he wanted Gai in The King of Fighters which becomes true in as assistant in The King of Fighters 2000 and as a fully playable characters in The King of Fighters XI.[34][35] The addition of mid-bosses from Buriki One were meant to surprise gamers; since their original moves did not "fit" in The King of Fighters XI, developers had to change some of them.[36][37] For the SNK crossover game NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, Ryo was chosen to be playable based on his Buriki One persona but with his father's nickname Mr. Karate to evoke his type of supermoves rather than the realistic style of Buriki One.[38] In 2016, Watanabe said he wanted to make a new Buriki One, now that consoles come with two analog sticks. He thinks the game can be refined for more fun.[39] Game designer Yasuyuki Oda that creating another Buriki One was possible in 2023.[40]

Notes

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  1. ^ Sekiwake is the third highest rank in Sumo, behind only Yokozuna (the highest rank in Sumo) and Ōzeki (the second highest rank in Sumo).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Yarwood, Jack (July 14, 2022). "Fighting Game Fan Goes To Insane Lengths To Play Obscure Neo Geo 64 Game". Time Extension. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Player One" (in French). Média Système Édition. June 1999. p. 75. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Okninski, Jacek. "10 Bizarre MMA Video Games That You Didn't Know Existed". MSN. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  4. ^ "WORLD GRAPPLE TOURNAMENT '99 IN TOKYO". Neo Geo Freak (in Japanese). No. 23. SNK. December 1999. p. 22.
  5. ^ "大会概要" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 3, 2000. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 6, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ a b "ロブ・パイソン" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 8, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  8. ^ "徐竜誠" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 8, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  9. ^ "ジャック・デュガリ" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 4, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  10. ^ "西園寺 貴人" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 8, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  11. ^ "パヤック・シピタック" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 8, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  12. ^ "ジャック・デュガリ" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 8, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  13. ^ "イワン・ソコロフ" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 8, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  14. ^ "パトリック・ファン・ヒディング" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 8, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  15. ^ "坂崎　リョウ" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 8, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  16. ^ "Buriki One" (in Japanese). SNK. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  17. ^ "Buriki One". Neo Geo Freak (in Japanese). No. 48. SNK. November 1999. p. 126.
  18. ^ "武力 ～BURIKI ONE～". SNK. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  19. ^ Hiroaki Hashimoto [@SUPER_HIROAKI] (August 3, 2020). "SNKを代表する人気キャラのデザインを変える？普通だったら怒られて終わりですよね。ところが当時の上司や先輩から「やってみろ、でも絶対カッコ良くしろよ！」と言ってもらえまして・・・「リョウ・サカザキ」は「坂崎リョウ」になりました。" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved February 21, 2025 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Hiroaki Hashimoto [@SUPER_HIROAKI] (May 24, 2023). "あと赤毛とは関係ありませんが『凱』の格闘スタイルは、元修斗環太平洋ライト級王者の『佐藤ルミナ』さんの影響が大きいです。" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Hiroaki Hashimoto [@SUPER_HIROAKI] (May 24, 2023). "Sleepmodeさん、ご連絡ありがとうございます。はい、凱の見た目は『桜庭和志』選手や、グラップラー刃牙『範馬刃牙』の影響が大きいと思います。あとは『凱』の勝ち気な性格から、チャンピオンカラーの赤を好みそうというところから赤毛になりました。" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "The Illustrators of SNK – 2001 Developer Interview". Shmuplations. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  23. ^ Hiroaki Hashimoto [@SUPER_HIROAKI] (April 30, 2020). "『武力〜BURIKI ONE〜』その3今日誕生日の皆さん、お誕生日おめでとうございます！👏5月1日はブリキのカリスマ担当「ロブ・パイソン」の誕生日！ どう描いてもカッコよくなる条件が揃ってますので、デザインは全く苦労しませんでしたw" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ Hiroaki Hashimoto [@SUPER_HIROAKI] (July 9, 2020). "ズィルバーは、「リアルファイター」が「格ゲーのキャラ」と闘うとこんなにやべー！というコンセプトで、とにかく怖くて強そうなキャラにするところからアイデア出しをしました。名前は最初から決まっていたんですが、みなさんはシルバーから連想する怖いものはありますか？" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ Hiroaki Hashimoto [@SUPER_HIROAKI] (July 9, 2020). "そこからスタートしたので最初は「銀髪のトゲトゲ頭」だったんですが、当時はポリゴンの表示数の制限があったので「頭のトゲ3本にして！」と言われて焦りました。😅 最終的には頼み込んで現在の髪型に落ち着きましたが、今ならどんなデザインになってたんでしょうね。" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ "BURIKI・GIRL Grand Prix winner decided!!". Neo Geo Freak (in Japanese). No. 23. SNK. December 1999. p. 126.
  27. ^ Miller, Patrick (February 10, 2016). "17 mold-breaking fighting games that all developers should study". GameDeveloper. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  28. ^ "Review". Game Hihyou (in Japanese). No. 28. Micro Magazine. November 1999. p. 114.
  29. ^ "8 Cult Fighting Games That Deserve a Re-Release". GameRant. March 24, 2023. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  30. ^ Falcoon [@falcoon_master] (May 25, 2017). "サカザキさんちの長男坊。初代の頃は板を粉砕するのに都合６発もの「覇王翔吼拳」が必要だったほど非力だったが（汗）今では立派な格闘家。かっこいい！黒胴着にすると武力っぽくなっちゃうけど、よく見ると「脚を狙え！」のコブラ会のようでもある。知ってる人は３０代以上だろう！" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved July 28, 2017 – via Twitter.
  31. ^ Jasper, Gavin (February 8, 2021). "50 Best Fighting Game Final Bosses from Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and More". Den of Geek. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  32. ^ "King of Fighters: Clasificación de todos los personajes" (in Spanish). Den of Geek. Retrieved May 1, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  33. ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 589. Amusement Press, Inc. June 15, 1999. p. 17.
  34. ^ Kulata, Kurt (August 23, 2017). "King of Fighters 2000, The". HardcoreGaming. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  35. ^ "Remember KOF". KOF Aninnversary. Archived from the original on April 18, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  36. ^ "天童凱" [Gai] (in Japanese). King of Fighters 10th anniversary website. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  37. ^ "ズィルバー" [Silver] (in Japanese). King of Fighters 10th anniversary website. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  38. ^ "どれくらいの人数が登場する予定なのでしょうか？". SNK (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  39. ^ "新生SNKのモノ作りはここから始まる。「餓狼MOW2」の話題も飛び出した，「THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV」開発陣インタビュー". 4Gamer (in Japanese). Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  40. ^ "餓狼，龍虎，そしてサムスピへと。SNK大阪スタジオの小田泰之氏に聞く，IP再生の次なる一手。そして次の黄金期に向け，求める人材とは". 4Gamer (in Japanese). September 18, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
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