Konami Fighting Game #04: Dragoon Might

ドラグーンマイト

This time, Shinkansen Retrogamer will pay two tributes: First Kazunari Tanaka (born April 8th, 1967 — deceased October 10th, 2016), the original Keishin Ukai from Haikyu!!…

…and Hiromi Tsuru (born March 29th, 1960 — deceased November 16th, 2017), the original Bulma from Dragon Ball (Aya Hisakawa replaced her, albeit, we’re somewhat behind the anniversary)…

…and that’s it. Move on to the game…

Dragoon Might is a 2D competitive fighting game produced by Konami and released as a coin-operated video game in August 1995. This game does not have a console release.

Dragoon Might features two distinct game modes. A single match mode in which the player must defeat their opponents in round-based matches, and a team match mode similar to The King of Fighters series in which two teams of three members must battle each other until the members of one team are all defeated.

The game’s controls consist of an eight-way joystick for moving the character and six attack buttons (three punches and three kicks) of different strength and speed levels. Like most fighting games, special moves are performed by inputting a specific series of directional commands and/or buttons. The game features a unique type of special moves known as “Bomber Moves” (aka “Super Attacks” in the US version), which can deliver greater damage than standard special moves in exchange for some of the player’s vitality. These moves act like those from most beat ’em up games and are performed by pressing all three punch buttons. There are also “Super Bomber” moves (also called “Final Attacks” in the US version) that can only be performed while the player’s vitality gauge is flashing. The player can also jump onto trees or cranes to avoid attacks by pressing all three kick buttons. The player can attack an opponent who is lying on the ground, as well as do an emergency escape roll when their character is knocked to the ground.

Hisao Egawa (pictured below) later became the second Keishin Ukai from Haikyuu!!, as he is the arcade game’s only surviving voice actor, though the game was released 25 years ago!

Now, here are the game’s characters:

• Yamato (v.b. Toshikazu “Kaneto” Shiozawa): The lead character. A katana-wielding warrior. In his ending, he spends his time playing Pachinko after collecting the Medallion but ends up destroying the machine when he continues losing all the time.
• Tsugumi (v.b. Hiromi Tsuru): The lead heroine. A shrine maiden descended from a tengu. She seeks to collect the Medallion in order to maintain world peace. She fights using a hand-held fan.
• Kodama (v.b. Hisao Egawa): A ninja who serves the Sanada clan. He is the only playable character who fights barehanded.
• Tekkamen (v.b. Toshikazu “Kaneto” Shiozawa): A masked ninja who is also a serial killer. He wields a claw in one hand and a crescent-shaped blade in the other.
• Reggie (v.b. Kazunari Tanaka): A stern-looking underground professional wrestler with the title “Reggie the Black Hole” who wishes to be on the front stage with his younger brother. He wields a jackknife.
• Layla (v.b. Hiromi Tsuru): A tonfa-wielding female warrior who seeks to save her ill mother. In her ending, her mother is saved.
• Ryan (v.b. Toshikazu “Kaneto” Shiozawa): A sinful monk who seeks material wealth. He fights using his monk staff. In his ending, he has a huge collection of treasure as a reward as for collecting all the pieces of the Medallion.
• Yoitora/Suiko (v.b. Hisao Egawa): A gluttonous monk who spends most of his time eating and drinking. He fights using his large prayer beads.
• Drake (v.b. Kazunari Tanaka): A smug spear-wielding warrior.
• Sarumaru (v.b. Kazunari Tanaka): The comical leader of a tribe of monkeys living in Monkey Mountain. He wields two large blades which are equipped under his sandals.
• Jaoh (v.b. Hisao Egawa): A large warrior in dark purple and red armor who wields a bladed yoyo.
• Zack (v.b. Hiromi Tsuru): A young zweihänder wielding knight.
• Doguma/Dogma (v.b. Hisao Egawa): The final adversary in the single-player mode. A computer-only character. An evil sorcerer who seeks to rule the world.

The composers for this video game are identified as “Ary” and “Kage” and Inoue Masahiro produced this video game. Even though, there wasn’t much information about this game. This is the fourth Konami fighting game to be reviewed on Medium.