Toshinden 4

Toshinden 4
Developer(s)	Tamsoft
Publisher(s)	Takara (JPN) Studio3 (EUR)
Platform(s)	PlayStation
Release date(s)	JP August 12, 1999 PAL June 30, 2000
Genre(s)	Versus fighting game
Mode(s)	Players: 1-2
Rating(s)	ELSPA: 3+

Toshinden 4 (Toshinden Subaru in Japan) is the fourth installment of the fighting game series Battle Arena Toshinden. Unlike previous installments, it only saw release in Japan and the PAL region. It was released a total of three times in the UK.

It originally came out on June 30, 2000, and it was re-released on The White Label Range on April 12, 2001. It was re-released again by Play It On, November 20, 2003.

Story

Eiji Shinjo, the new leader of an organization called the "Gerard Foundation", has organized a fourth Toshinden tournament which revolves around the gathering of four holy weapons that can be used to save the world or to destroy it. However, Eiji's old enemy from the third tournament ten years ago, Vermillion, is also after the four weapons. Can Eiji stop Vermillion before it's too late?

Characters

Initially playable characters

Team 1

• Subaru Shinjo
• Naru Amoh
• Rook Castle

Team 2

• Puella Marionette
• Lancelot Lakeknight
• Fen Barefoot

Team 3

• Genma
• Miyabi
• Bang-Boo

Unlockable characters

Team 4

• Eiji Shinjo
• Eos
• Zero

Team 5

• Vermilion

Four Sacred Arms

A plot point introduced in this game focused on the Four Sacred Arms. Though seen in full since Battle Arena Toshinden 2, their relevance was never previously brought up. Each weapon bears a reference to one of the Chinese cardinal beasts, Byakko, Suzaku, Seiryu and Genbu. The weapons also seem to change appearance depending on the user. While the Byakko no tachi (White Tiger Fang) is usually seen as a rather plain katana, the Seiryuu no yari (Azure Dragon Spear) was a long leaf tipped spear while held by Mondo, yet altered to an ornate golden rod in the hands of Eos. As a purely cosmetic addition, when using a certain attack, an image of the beast associated with the weapon will display in the background.

Plotwise, it was said that when all four weapons were gathered together, they would bestow tremendous power on a person. Most characters in the game have their endings based around uniting the weapons and receiving the power of them. In some endings, they use this power to speak to a parent or loved one. However, Eiji's ending reveals the true nature of the power behind the weapons: It is the "Toshin", or god of fighting. This being is definitely not the one worshiped by the main antagonist group of Toshinden 3, Agon Teos, since Vermilion makes a clear distinction between the two in his own ending.

Toshinden Subaru, the New Generation

An anime version for television (Chinese: 鬥神傳 新的産生; pinyin: Toshinden xinde chansheng; literally "Toshinden New Generation") was released in Hong Kong, with a Cantonese soundtrack featuring a number of pop stars.

External links

• Toshinden 4 at MobyGames
• Toshinden Subaru, the New Generation at the Internet Movie Database