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Neo Geo AES

Sengoku 3

Neo Geo AES

Neo Geo AES

The third game in the Sengoku series of beat 'em ups, Sengoku 3 once again pits you and a friend against the undead forces of Nobunaga, however this time you can freely select from a group of different characters each with their own weapons and abilities, as well as choose which location in the w...

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Developer
Noise Factory

Released on
2001

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Neo Geo AES

Requirements
SNK Neo Geo AES

Downloads
Beat 'em Up

Publisher
SNK

ESRB Rating
E10+ - Everyone 10+

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

The third game in the Sengoku series of beat ’em ups, Sengoku 3 once again pits you and a friend against the undead forces of Nobunaga, however this time you can freely select from a group of different characters each with their own weapons and abilities, as well as choose which location in the world (or level) to tackle whenever you want.

The game incorporates a more complex fighting system similar to a one-on-one fighting game, by giving players different attack buttons, special moves based on directional inputs, combos and even a super bar used to unleash devastating super moves. You cannot change weapons or transform into other characters as in the previous games, but you can acquire different ranged weapons for additional attacks as well as unlock certain bosses to increase your available characters.

Sengoku 3

Overview & History

Released by SNK in 2001 for the Neo Geo MVS and AES hardware, Sengoku 3 (known as Sengoku Densho 2001 in Japan) represents a massive, dramatic pivot for the franchise. Eschewing the surreal, shape-shifting horror and bizarre historical-meets-alien landscapes of its two predecessors, this third installment trades campy B-movie aesthetics for a sleek, martial arts-heavy beat-'em-up experience. Developed by Noise Factory rather than SNK's internal teams, the game embraced a vibrant, comic-book-inspired visual style, highly detailed hand-drawn character sprites, and remarkably fluid traditional 2D fighting game animations, making it one of the absolute late-era technical showpieces for the aging 16/32-bit hardware architecture.

The storyline plunges players back into a supernatural feudal Japan overrun by restless historical spirits and demonic warlords. However, this time, an elite secret society of ninja warriors must traverse the globe—moving from burning Japanese fortresses and ancient Chinese pagodas to Western cityscapes—to banish an army of dead soldiers before a catastrophic eclipse fully awakens the dark entities.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Sengoku 3 radically overhauled the combat engine by introducing deep, combo-centric mechanics rarely seen in cooperative arcade brawlers. Instead of mere button-mashing, players can execute complex, ground-and-air juggles reminiscent of 2D competitive fighting games. The roster features four distinct starting characters: Kurenai (a swift female ninja armed with dual daggers), Kongoh (a massive brute wielding a giant club), Kagura (a balanced samurai with a katana), and Byakki (a disgraced warrior using twin swords), plus two unlockable veterans (Sasuke and Okuni).

The control layout utilizes a four-button configuration: Attack (A), Jump (B), Special/Grab (C), and Ninja Magic/Super Move (D). By inputting traditional fighting game motion commands (such as quarter-circles or charge inputs) combined with the attack buttons, players can execute devastating special moves, launcher attacks, and aerial combos. Furthermore, characters possess a "Ninpo" gauge that fills during combat, allowing them to unleash screen-clearing elemental magic spells, along with a "Just Guard" system that rewards perfectly timed defensive blocks with a split-second counterattack window. With branching path options and intense two-player cooperative synergy, it stands as a pinnacle of arcade beat-'em-up design.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move character / Crouch / Jump (Up)
Action Keys:
- A Key: Standard Attack / Combo Slash
- S Key: Jump
- D Key: Grab / Throw / Weapon Interaction
- F Key: Ninja Magic / Super Attack
Enter: Start / Pause