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Neo Geo AES

Savage Reign

Neo Geo AES

Neo Geo AES

The evil King Lion has crowned himself as the master of Fuun-Ken, a new style of martial arts that includes throwing weapons in addition to hand-to-hand combat. This does not sit well with the rest of the Fuun-Ken fighters around the world, so they all decide to beat each other up in classic 2 ro...

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Developer
SNK

Released on
1995

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Neo Geo AES

Requirements
SNK Neo Geo AES

Downloads
Fighting

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Description

The evil King Lion has crowned himself as the master of Fuun-Ken, a new style of martial arts that includes throwing weapons in addition to hand-to-hand combat. This does not sit well with the rest of the Fuun-Ken fighters around the world, so they all decide to beat each other up in classic 2 round fights to decide who gets to get down with King Lion himself.

Savage Reign is a one-on-one 2D fighter in which you select your character and try to defeat all challengers using your basic attacks and special moves. The game features 2 different horizontal planes to which the characters can freely jump to in order to avoid attacks a la Fatal Fury. You cannot escape completely however, as all characters have a throwing weapon they can use in different ways to reach each other no matter where they are.

Savage Reign

Overview & History

Released by SNK in 1995 for the Neo Geo MVS and AES arcade and home systems, Savage Reign (known as Fu-Un Mokushiroku: Kakutou Sō创 in Japan) is a cult-classic fighting game that dared to experiment in an era dominated by traditional 2D brawlers. Set in a dystopian, neo-industrial 21st-century city called Jipang, the game’s storyline revolves around the mysterious King Lion, who hosts a brutal martial arts tournament to find a successor to his realm. Featuring a diverse roster of nine fighters wielding unconventional weaponry—ranging from a boomerang-wielding street kid named Buffalo Hill to a futuristic knight named King Lion himself—the title stands out for its unique steampunk-meets-mythology aesthetic and a gritty, atmospheric presentation that pushed the Neo Geo hardware to deliver multi-layered stages.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

What truly sets Savage Reign apart is its revolutionary dual-plane fighting system. Instead of the standard single-plane arena, stages are split into a foreground and a background. Players can leap between these planes at will using dedicated buttons, allowing for sudden evasive maneuvers, flanking attacks, and dynamic environmental interactions. The combat engine relies on a four-button layout: Weak Punch, Strong Punch, Weak Kick, and Strong Kick, complemented by two plane-switching buttons. Characters possess devastating 'Power' moves and hyper-violent Desperation Attacks that can turn the tide of battle. Additionally, the weapon system introduces a layer of vulnerability; fighters can drop their signature arms if hit by specific heavy attacks, forcing them to scramble to retrieve them before their opponent capitalizes on the disarm.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move and Crouch (Double tap to Dash; Up/Down to switch planes)
Action Keys: Punch, Kick, and Plane Jump (A: Weak Punch, B: Strong Punch, C: Weak Kick, D: Strong Kick, E/F: Foreground/Background Switch)
Enter: Start / Pause