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Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle

Neo Geo AES

Neo Geo AES

The Kizuna Encounter system is similar to the Real Bout system. Notable additions include the tag system. Players have the ability to switch characters in game by pressing a special button while standing in a special zone. If a player is to lose one character, regardless of their other character'...

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Developer
SNK

Released on
1996

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Neo Geo AES

Requirements
SNK Neo Geo AES

Downloads
Fighting

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

The Kizuna Encounter system is similar to the Real Bout system. Notable additions include the tag system. Players have the ability to switch characters in game by pressing a special button while standing in a special zone. If a player is to lose one character, regardless of their other character’s hit point, he or she loses the match. A roll system similar to the one used in The King of Fighters is also present in Kizuna Encounter.

Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle

Overview & History

Released by SNK in 1996 for the Neo Geo AES and MVS arcade hardware, Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle serves as the sequel to Savage Reign and stands as a unique entry in the SNK fighting game canon. Set in the dystopian South Town in the year 2000, the narrative follows a martial arts tournament hosted by the enigmatic King Lion, where fighters seek ultimate glory and personal vengeance. While fighting games of the era heavily favored 1v1 formats, Kizuna Encounter refined SNK's tag-team experiments by allowing players to seamlessly swap between two characters on the fly, introducing a tactical depth that predated modern tag fighters. The AES home version is notoriously rare and commands high collector value today due to its limited production run, making it a prized jewel of 16-bit-era SNK history.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike traditional fighters, the battlefield features two distinct planes of movement inherited from Savage Reign, allowing players to leap between foreground and background tiers. The core mechanic revolves around the Tag System: fighters can swap places instantly by standing in designated "Tag Areas" near the center of the screen or by executing a dizzy-state tag. Teammates can also perform devastating dual-character desperation moves when conditions are met. The four-button layout utilizes A (Light Punch), B (Heavy Punch), C (Light Kick), and D (Heavy Kick). Iconic roster members like Sho Hayate, Kim Su Hwan, and the boss King Lion utilize complex motion inputs—such as half-circle and 360-degree rotations—to execute signature projectiles and multi-hit aerial combos, requiring precise execution to master the frantic pacing.