Tenchi Wo Kurau (Capcom)

[PukeSter]

Here's another under the radar game, that truly doesn't get it's due worth. One of my favorites.

Tenchi Wo Kurau, or Dynasty Wars, is an arcade port of a Capcom Beat em up, based on a ROTK Manga. The words "Capcom", "Beat em up" and "ROTK" should definitely grab any PCE fan's attention. As a side note, Dynasty Wars is also the predecessor to Warriors of Fate, which I know some of you guys have played.

There are four characters/generals, who ride a horse during the entire game. It's kinda like Side Arms, since you have two buttons but each one faces your horse rider in the other direction. Pressing run also destroys everything on the screen, but takes a chunk off your health. There's also a slight RPG side to it as you gain XP and accumulate weapon upgrades from fallen foes. 

The music is pleasant chip tune stuff. Nothing outstanding, but there are one or two standouts. The backgrounds are static but are extremely long and detailed. Difficulty is moderate, with 3 lives but unlimited continues, though you have to restart the level you keep any weapon upgrades or levels gained.

Fans of ROTK or Dynasty Warriors will love this game, especially since you can play as the four generals fighting the Yellow Turban Revolution. Now go kick Dong Zhao's ass!

Sunteam_Paul page: http://www.pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Dynasty_Wars.htm
Warriors of Fate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warriors_of_Fate
ROTK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_of_the_Three_Kingdoms
Dynasty Warriors 8 XL: http://www.dynastywarriors8.eu/xl/uk/#home

[NightWolve]

Woah...

[CrackTiger]

One of the few non-fmv games with streaming content.

Unfortunately, it's as poorly optimized for sprites as other NEC AVE CPS1 ports, such as Forgotten Worlds and Strider.

[SignOfZeta]

WTF is ROTK?

EDIT: Nevermind, I see Romance of Three Kingdoms in your link there.

I was trying to remember a Return of the King manga...couldn't recall, there must be one.

[ToyMachine78]

One of the few non-fmv games with streaming content.

Unfortunately, it's as poorly optimized for sprites as other NEC AVE CPS1 ports, such as Forgotten Worlds and Strider.

Shut your mouth!!!! PCE Forgotten Worlds is a great game! Dem fightin' werds!

[Digi.k]

One of the few non-fmv games with streaming content.

Unfortunately, it's as poorly optimized for sprites as other NEC AVE CPS1 ports, such as Forgotten Worlds and Strider.

I haven't tried Forgotten Worlds or Strider.  But I certainly think they could have done a bit better with this port.

Gameplay is alright and despite the small sprites there is a lot of sprite flicker but personally I think the worst kicker is that stuttering during the in-game loading it sure is distracting.

[ToyMachine78]

Well there's a thread somewhere, that shows PCE v Sega v Arcade, and the PCE is clearly a more faithful port of the arcade.

I've never played pce strider, but from what I've read around the interwebs, the Sega port is best.

[WoodyXP]

Tenchi is a good game, but it really could have used an AC treatment. 

[CrackTiger]

The problem sprite-wise with these ports, is that the devs layered the sprites the same as the arcade, so in TWK you have the horse sprite overlapped with the rider sprite which is all overlapped with the weapon sprite and I think that each isn't as efficient as they could be for the sprite sizes that they're built from. Strider swinging his sword eats up something like 3/4 or the horizontal sprite bandwidth, even though it only visually represents like 1/4 or the screen.

[Gredler]

The problem sprite-wise with these ports, is that the devs layered the sprites the same as the arcade, so in TWK you have the horse sprite overlapped with the rider sprite which is all overlapped with the weapon sprite and I think that each isn't as efficient as they could be for the sprite sizes that they're built from. Strider swinging his sword eats up something like 3/4 or the horizontal sprite bandwidth, even though it only visually represents like 1/4 or the screen.

I wonder if this is because they took assets from the development of the arcade game, or if the programmers were trying to construct it in the same way. It does appear that they did not build the three components you mentioned into single sprites, almost tripling their cost I would imagine.

[esteban]

Our own JapanTokei made a nice video:

https://youtu.be/VkgN0hYTh8M

And there is a thread somewhere, too....

[SavagePencil]

I've debated between taking the plunge between this and the (more arcade-like?) Saturn version.

[PukeSter]

I've debated between taking the plunge between this and the (more arcade-like?) Saturn version.

The pce version is the only console port.

The Saturn game is the sequel, but it's more popular

[SavagePencil]

The pce version is the only console port.

The Saturn game is the sequel, but it's more popular

Oh right, I remembered something was different about them.  The Saturn version looks like it's got a little more depth to it, or am I underestimating the PC Engine ver?

[Gredler]

Often I hear complaints of the lack of 4 way directional scrolling fighting games like this, great one to point out luke.

I might need to find my CDrs this weekend

[geise]

One of the few non-fmv games with streaming content.

Unfortunately, it's as poorly optimized for sprites as other NEC AVE CPS1 ports, such as Forgotten Worlds and Strider.

I haven't tried Forgotten Worlds or Strider.  But I certainly think they could have done a bit better with this port.

Gameplay is alright and despite the small sprites there is a lot of sprite flicker but personally I think the worst kicker is that stuttering during the in-game loading it sure is distracting.

Strider's poop, but Forgotten Worlds is really good!  No 2 player or scrolling, but the sprites blow away  the genesis/md version and is fairly close to the arcade.  Not 1:1, but a hell of a lot better.  Not to mention the extra levels.  Some might rather have fewer levels and 2 player, but I'd rather have more levels.