Savage Reign



Savage Reign (風雲黙示録, Fu'un Mokushiroku, which loosely translates to "Wind & Cloud Apocalypse") is a fighting game created by SNK for the Neo Geo, and was released both in arcades and on the console, as well as the Neo Geo CD.

Kizuna Encounter (風雲スーパータッグバトル, Fu'un Super Tag Battle in Japan) is a fighting game by SNK and is the sequel of Savage Reign.

A novelization of the first game was written by Osamu Kudou.

Savage Reign
Savage Reign is set in the first half of the 21st century in the fictional city of South Town (the same city used in the Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting series), which has now been upgraded and renamed as Jipang City. A mysterious legendary fighter known only as King Leo has risen up from the shadows of secrecy and issued a challenge on television for the strongest of fighters to battle against him in a fighting tournament known as the Battle of the Beast God. He promises immense wealth beyond anyone's dreams and legendary fame beyond imagination. Nine fighters have come to the tournament, each with their own sole purpose and reason for battling against King Leo.

Kizuna Encounter
Taking place one year after the first game, Sho Hayate won the tournament while defeating King Leo and his fake impersonator King Lion. To seek revenge against Hayate and those who caused his humiliating downfall, King Leo has organized a second version of the Battle of the Beast God tournament, but this time there's a new rule. Teams of two people must work together so that they can either ensure victory or face defeat. With the exception of Carol Stanzack (who decides to skip the tournament to continue her gymnastics training) and Nicola Zaza (who's too busy in having to work on his latest scientific project), the competitors from last year's tournament decide to join forces on either friendly or temporary terms; two new challengers enter the fray. The gathered fighters must be ready and prepared to not only fight against each other and King Leo from within this tournament, but also, they must deal with a possible unknown threat that lies directly from within the shadows of this competition as well.

Savage Reign
The game, much like Samurai Shodown, is a weapons fighter. However, Savage Reign has a few particular elements that makes it different from its predecessor. The weapons can not only be used for close combat, but can also be thrown at an opponent from a distance for more ranged attacks.

There are also two levels of playing field within the battles, the default lower one and the upper field, which both fighters can jump to with the push of a button, much like Fatal Fury.

The button layout was also slightly different at the time, resembling World Heroes somewhat--a button for punching, a button for kicking, a button for the weapon and a button for jumping between planes. Holding down the punch or kick buttons results in a stronger attack, tapping them wields a light attack.

Both games also have an alternate KO sequence from Art of Fighting, where players can shred their opponents' clothing with the finishing blow.

Kizuna Encounter
The Kizuna Encounter system is similar to 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.

Introduced in Savage Reign

 * Sho Hayate
 * Max Eagle
 * Gozu
 * Mezu
 * Carol Stanzack
 * Joker
 * Gordon Bowman
 * Chung Paifu
 * Nicola Zaza
 * King Lion
 * King Leo

Introduced in Kizuna Encounter

 * Rosa
 * Kim Sue Il
 * Jyazu