Arcade Game #07: Battle Circuit

バトルサーキット, Batoru Sākitto

This time, we review the 1997 Capcom arcade game Battle Circuit, which, in fact, was not released in the North American arcades or any other part of the world… until we get the Capcom Beat ’Em Up Bundle for the Switch, the PS4, and the Xbox One, which marks the first home console release. The game contains manga-like characters in a futuristic science fiction setting. Battle Circuit was Capcom’s last beat ’em up game developed for the arcades. The game’s music was composed by Syun Nishigaki (nowadays spelled as “Shun Nishigaki”) of Capcom Arcade Sound Team, and has a recurring pop and electronic theme present throughout the game.

Plot and Gameplay

Taking place in the future year 20XX, Battle Circuit follows the exploits of a group of super-powered bounty hunters as they apprehend wanted criminals (identified by special serial numbers) in the city of Neo Koba. The game begins with the player attempting to apprehend criminal 9696X, a scientist named Doctor Saturn and his blob-like sidekick aboard his spacecraft orbiting Earth. After the battle, the character selected by the player returns to his employer, Harry, and is promptly given another assignment to capture a member of the “Delete Gang”, Johnny, who holds a valuable floppy disk in his possession. The bounty hunter then confronts Johnny at his disco hideout and learns that the disc contains a malicious computer program known as the “Shiva (Tentei) System”, which is capable of controlling all computerized systems in the world. After selecting one of the available characters, players must travel through various levels- fighting through a variety of enemies from the Delete Gang- to obtain the disc and claim their bounty.

Players must progress through a number of levels made up of horizontally scrolling screens filled with enemy characters that must be defeated using a combination of attacks and movement abilities each character utilizes. Every character is given a selection of these abilities that can be expanded as gameplay progress by purchasing special “upgrade discs” after the completion of each level using coins obtained by defeating enemies. These techniques are often a combination of either of the two action buttons and the joystick, and can add additional varieties to a given character’s arsenal. A player must attack enemies until their health (indicated by a bar under the player’s when the enemy is attacked) is reduced to zero and they are thus knocked out. If a player’s health bar is depleted, they will also become knocked out and must use up one life to continue. If all of a player’s lives are depleted in this fashion, the game will end unless more credits are purchased.

Pressing both action buttons while on the ground executes a super move that drains life on contact. But when two players perform their super moves at the same time, they will form a team-up attack that provides greater crowd control. There are also special techniques called “Battle Downloads”, which can be used by pressing both action buttons while jumping, resulting in the player and his allies (if any are present) gaining a certain attribute, the effect of which is unique to each character. Cyber Blue, for example, can use his Battle Download “Power Up” to increase the amount of damage dealt by attacks, while Yellow Iris’ “Speed Up” increases attack speed. A character will start with a stock of two of these techniques to use per life, and can obtain more from capsules scattered throughout the levels, up to a maximum of five.

Various items can be found inside destructible objects such as barrels and crates, and can provide the player with additional health or add points to their total score. Once a player’s score reaches a set amount, they are rewarded with an extra life that will give them another chance to continue from where they were knocked out by an enemy.

Playable Characters

• Brian Bruno (Cyber Blue, v.b. Morikawa Toshiyuki): A seasoned bounty hunter with several cybernetic attachments to his body, giving him the ability to discharge electricity and project energy from his fists. Cyber Blue makes a cameo appearance in Project X Zone 2 in Captain Commando’s Solo Unit attack.
• Andrey Mishucin (Captain Silver, v.b. Nagasako Takashi): A highly accomplished bounty hunter who can stretch and shape his body at will. His powers give him the ability to project ice particles from his body, as well as create a number of objects from his suit. Because of the vast nature of his powers, they will threaten to overwhelm him if he should ever lose concentration.
• Diana Martines (Yellow Iris, called Yellow Beast in the original Japanese version, v.b. Yamamoto Miyuki): A part-time fashion model whose feral appearance gives her access to a number of clawing and agility-based techniques. She is also skilled with a whip and is accompanied by her pet fox “Fin”. Yellow Iris makes a cameo appearance in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 as a DLC costume for Felicia.
• Pinky (Pink Ostrich, v.b. Yoshino Miki): A large, sentient, pink ostrich with an eye patch and jewel necklace who is always accompanied by her owner, a young girl named Pola Abdul (who is named after Paula Abdul). Purportedly, she is the “only ostrich in the world who can fly”, and attacks with an assortment of aerial and spinning techniques.
• Unknown (Alien Green): An alien creature of unknown origin who resembles a large venus flytrap with leglike roots, a small lizardlike growth on its neck and a large eye in its abdomen. Its attacks mostly center around its vinelike arms, which it can quickly swing to create whirlwinds, as well as grab opponents and slam them against the ground.

If you have your digital copy of Capcom Beat ’Em Up Bundle, you and your buddy can play the game, and it is the first time that the North and South American players can play this video game.