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Neo Geo AES

Sengoku

Neo Geo AES

Neo Geo AES

A 2D side-scrolling beat 'em up, Sengoku casts you and a friend as two renegade fighters out to beat the crap out of the many assorted gangs that threaten the post-apocalyptic cities of the future. Unfortunately for them they also get caught in a time-warping scheme caused by the evil Nobunaga wh...

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Developer
SNK

Released on
1991

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Neo Geo AES

Requirements
SNK Neo Geo AES

Downloads
Beat 'em Up

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

A 2D side-scrolling beat ’em up, Sengoku casts you and a friend as two renegade fighters out to beat the crap out of the many assorted gangs that threaten the post-apocalyptic cities of the future. Unfortunately for them they also get caught in a time-warping scheme caused by the evil Nobunaga who attempts to invade the time period with mythical warriors and evil creatures from the Japanese sengoku period.

The game thus takes you from the city to a spirit-realm from time to time, in which you must fight all sorts of Japanese mythical figures, and release three haunted spirits that can aid you in your battle. Defeated enemies leave behind colored orbs, collect them to heal up, gain weapons and even get energy attacks. Collect green balls to increase the life gauge, red ball for a samurai sword, blue ball for double sword, purple for a larger holy sword.

Defeating certain enemies will prompt a “I will help you” message and the player collects their soul. Press C at any time to summon the warriors’ spirit and this will temporarily change your character’s form and give you a new collection of attacks and powers. The player can change form and fight as an armour-clad wolf, a samurai or an agile ninja who moves around with back flips.

Sengoku

Overview & History

Released by SNK in 1991 for the legendary Neo Geo AES and MVS hardware, Sengoku (originally titled Sengoku Denshou) is a dark, supernatural side-scrolling beat 'em up set in a fictionalized collision between feudal Japan and modern-day Washington D.C. Players assume the role of an unnamed warrior reincarnated from ancient samurai bloodlines to defeat the resurrected warlord Oda Nobunaga, who has unleashed hordes of ghostly samurai, modern military tanks, and bio-mechanical horrors upon the metropolis. Known for its distinct atmospheric blending of historical Japanese aesthetics and urban decay, the game stands out in SNK's early catalog for its aggressive pacing and bizarre thematic vision. Visually, it utilized the Neo Geo's powerful scaling and color capabilities to create striking transformations, cementing its cult classic status among arcade enthusiasts.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard brawlers of its era, Sengoku introduces a dynamic spirit-possession mechanic. As players progress through levels swarming with demonic forces, they can rescue trapped ancestral spirits that allow them to morph mid-combat into distinct playable avatars: a fast-moving samurai wielding a razor-sharp katana, a hulking wolfman with ferocious claw combos, and a ranged elemental ninja hurling devastating magic shurikens. Each form possesses unique special moves activated by timing directional inputs and attack buttons. Additionally, players can pick up and wield various physical melee weapons dropped by fallen enemies, including double katanas and heavy broadswords. The control scheme utilizes a standard 4-button Neo Geo layout: Button A executes standard weapon strikes, Button B handles jumping, Button C triggers special screen-clearing elemental magic, and Button D is used to instantly transform between your base human warrior and your currently acquired spiritual alternate forms.