World Heroes
World Heroes
Developer(s)	Alpha Denshi, SNK
Publisher(s)	Sega, Sunsoft, Takara, Hudson Soft
Release date(s)	US 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
Genre(s)	Versus fighting game
Mode(s)	Single player, 2 player Competitive
Platform(s)	Arcade Game, Neo-Geo, Sega Mega Drive, TurboGrafx-16, Super NES, Game Boy, Sega Saturn, Playstation 2, Virtual Console
Input	8-way Joystick, 3 Buttons
Arcade cabinet	Horizontal
Arcade sound system(s)	1xYM-2610
Arcade display	Raster 304 x 224

World Heroes is a fighting game series that was created by ADK for the Neo-Geo, though some of the games in the series were also ported to the Sega Saturn, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis and Game Boy. The general premise was that a scientist, Dr. Brown, having perfected a time travel machine, organized a tournament for various fighters throughout all of history to combat each other. True to this plot, many of the fighters are based on actual historical figures.

Gameplay

The game plays like many other fighting games, but instead of a 6-button layout, the original World Heroes uses only 3 of the standard 4 Neo-Geo buttons: one for punching, another for kicking, and the last for throwing. The former two buttons can be held pressed longer in order to deliver stronger attacks which is similar to the first Street Fighter control scheme, only there are only 2 levels of strength here and it uses standard buttons instead of pneumatic buttons. In the SNES version (and later games, starting with World Heroes 2 Jet), it is possible to assign the 4 basic attacks to different buttons. In World Heroes Perfect, each character had a traditional four-button attack layout, but could also achieve stronger attacks by pushing down two respective punch or kick buttons at the same time.

In World Heroes Perfect, every character has an ABC Special Move that can be activated by pressing the A, B, and C buttons at the same time. Moves vary by character, though they all require strategic use and are easy to activate, allowing for more tactical battles. For example, the character Fuuma's ABC Special allows him to fake a special move; J. Max's ABC Special allows him to catch, hold onto, and throw back projectiles; and Kim Dragon's ABC Special allows him to perform counters while blocking.

Aside from the normal tournament mode, there is also a popular Deathmatch mode (which was removed in World Heroes 2 Jet and World Heroes Perfect). In it, the arenas are filled with different kinds of traps that can change conditions in the bouts or even damage the characters (such as spikes, bombs, greasy or sticky floors, etc.). Deathmatch mode might have been inspired by the growing popularity of deathmatch style professional wrestling in Japan at the time, mostly made famous by Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling.

Marketplace

Created during the years when Street Fighter II was at its peak in popularity, many dismissed World Heroes as another generic "SF clone." Though it has some unique concepts, the clunky controls and its "ripoff" reputation harmed sales. Due to this, the series was discontinued with World Heroes Perfect, although it has received a cult following, mainly around the Neo Geo fans.

Since World Heroes Perfect, ADK games has gone out of business and all intellectual properties and copyrights to the games and characters have passed to SNK Playmore. Some World Heroes characters returned in the fighting game NeoGeo Battle Coliseum as a result.

Games

• World Heroes (1992)

Originally released for Neo-Geo. Also ported onto Sega Genesis and SNES by Sega and Sunsoft, respectively. A Japanese and U.S. Virtual Console re-release of the Neo-Geo version was confirmed.

• World Heroes 2 (1993)

Originally released for Neo-Geo. Also ported onto SNES and TurboGrafx CD by Takara and Hudson Soft, respectively.

• World Heroes 2 Jet (1994)

Originally released for Neo-Geo. Also ported onto Game Boy by Takara.

• World Heroes Perfect (1995)

Originally released for Neo-Geo. Also ported onto Sega Saturn.

• World Heroes Gorgeous (2007)

A World Heroes collection for Playstation 2, featuring all World Heroes games and online multi-player capability. To be released in Japan on October 18.

Characters

This section lists the characters in the original game, and characters added or removed in subsequent releases.

World Heroes

• Hanzō Hattori

Hanzō Hattori (服部　半蔵, Hanzō Hattori^?) is considered the main character and uses many moves similar to Ryu from Street Fighter series which is a common occurrence in fighting games. Hanzo also appeared in Neo Geo Battle Coliseum as a playable character. He is based on the historical person of the same name.

• Kotaro Fūma

He is considered the rival of the main character Hanzo Hattori and as such they both share many similar moves (albeit using different names) which is a common occurrence in fighting games. In addition Fūma also appeared in both Aggressors of Dark Kombat and Neo Geo Battle Coliseum as a playable character. He is based on the actual Kotaru Fūma who was allegedly the one that killed the real life Hanzou. In the ADK universe Fūma is portrayed as a fun-loving bandit who is willing to adopt new ideas (sometimes he will stay in the modern era after the time-traveling, a fact not lost on his Aggressors of Dark Kombat appearance.

• Rasputin

A philosopher of the XIII Century Russia, was also a known alchemist and sorcerer. He discovered a way to expand his fists and feet so he could fight at distance. Accepted to fight Geegus because he saw Geegus as a Dark Angel. He keeps pleading that loving one another is important and won't give into people who don't listen to his constant persuasion. He is based loosely on the actual person with the same name.

• Janne D'Arc

Janne D'Arc (ジャンヌ・ダルク, Janne D'Arc^?) is a XV century feminist, who protects the circus who raised her, proved to be one of the toughest fencers of her time. Accepted the invitation to defeat Geegus, only to prove that women are tougher than men. She puts all her worries about getting married into her blows. She is loosely based on Jeanne d'Arc.

• Julius Carn

One of the top officers and personal bodyguard of Genghis Khan, was fierce and merciless in hand-to-hand combat. He joined the World Heroes tournament to fight Geegus by boring. He's become a tyrant and wants to be victorious by hurling his raw brawn. He and Ryofu respect each other's power. He is loosely based on the actual Genghis Khan.

• Brocken

Brocken is part-robot, and his moveset contains techniques involving mechanically-extended limbs and missile 'fists'. Since he is billed from Germany, it's possible his gimmick is that of (watered-down) Nazism, but a cyborg in Nazi Germany is clearly an anachronism. He is based on Brocken Jr. from the Anime/Manga Kinnikuman and also bears great resemblance with Capcom villain M. Bison.

• Kim Dragon

Kim Dragon (金龍) is a famous martial artist and a star of martial arts films. Accused of false fighter, he accepted the invitation to fight against Geegus. He is based on the real life martial artist and actor Bruce Lee.

• Muscle Power

Muscle Power (マッスルパワー, Muscle Power^?), an American wrestler from the XXI century, was the first competitor to win every Heavyweight Championship from every wrestling association. He accepted Doc Brown's invitation to fight Geegus because he took Geegus as a challenger of his multiple belts. He was based on Hulk Hogan but his looks were slightly altered in World Heroes 2 and subsequent titles making it so that he doesn't resemble the famous wrestler as much.

• Geegus

Geegus is an extraterrestrial who can changes his shape to any of the eight fighters and use their moves at will. Geegus wants to conquer the Earth, so the World Heroes tournament was created to stop Geegus' evil plans. Before the final battle Geegus asks for the Champion to fight him with the threat of destroying the entire planet if he is refused.

World Heroes 2

• Captain Kidd

He was based on the historical person William Kidd.

• Erick

He is loosely based on the historical person Erik the Red.

• Johnny Maximum

His design was based on the famous football player Joe Montana.

• Mudman

A generic Pacific Islander wizard with a wooden mask.

• Ryoko Izumo

Ryoko Izumo (出雲 亮子, Izumo Ryōko^?) is a 16 year old girl who is a master in Judo and wants to prove her power against the rest of the fighters of this tournament. She admires Janne and Hanzo, considering them her role models; Janne for her beauty and strength, Hanzo for his skill. She is based on the famous real-life judoka Ryoko Tamura.

• Shura Naikanom Tom

Shura is a Muay Thai fighter who has joined the tournament to prove his worth to his feared dead brother. He's a copycat of Joe Higashi.

• Dio

This mutant being, who at one time was a human, appears for first time in World Heroes 2, only known as "Dio" and reappears in World Heroes Perfect, where he had became "Neo Dio" with stronger techniques though both Dio's have unfair priority in their dash moves. Either way, Neo Dio is an extremely tough boss and he's one of the chosen World Heroes characters (along with Hanzo, Fuuma and Mudman) to appear in Neo Geo Battle Coliseum as one of the game's final bosses. WAREZ recovered this data after Dio destroyed Dahmond and it created a perfected prototype, adding its own technology. This new being which surpassed all human abilities along with intelligence continues to vigilanty watch for its chance to break its bonds. The word "DIO", means "GOD" in Italian and since you fight him in Italy. Perhaps it is not based on Ronnie James Dio. In addition, Geegus appears as Neo Geegus, the sub-boss of the game. In this game he is not as vulnerable in his normal form but can only transform into either of the six new characters; Kidd, Erick, Ryoko, Mudman, Shura and Johnny.

World Heroes 2 Jet

• Ryofu

He is based on the warlord Lü Bu of the Three Kingdoms era.

• Jack

He is loosely based on the historical serial killer Jack the Ripper.

• Zeus

He may be based on the Greek god of the same name. He also appears in another ADK game called Ninja Commando although he is referred to as Spider in that game.

World Heroes Perfect

• Son Gokū

He is based on the famous mythological character of the same name

External links

• World Heroes at the Killer List of Videogames
• World Heroes at GameFAQs

• World Heroes review at Neo-Geo.com
• World Heroes 2 review at Neo-Geo.com
• World Heroes 2 Jet review at Neo-Geo.com
• World Heroes Perfect review at Neo-Geo.com, Review 2

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