As the girls battle on stage, their bosoms seem to shudder with every blow and animated clothing as well as swishy hair add to the kinetic motion of the visuals. Purists will enjoy the Story Mode which faithfully follows the events of the animation and starts off with gramps tricking Ran into a wrestling tournament. Before she battles however, Ran has to punch and kick her way through rain-soaked streets brimming with thugs. Two players may bout in the VS Mode and a Collection Mode allows peepers to check the fighting amazons out as they punch, kick, and otherwise perform according to the options selected on screen.
NCS Game Notes
» The title screen shows Mao Ran in a short tank top which covers only her breasts and neck. A circular cut-out is strategically placed in the bosom area to show a glimmer of cleavage.
» Game options are as follows:
STORY MODE / Select from EASY/NORMAL/HARD levels and live the life of Mao Ran
VS MODE / Bout against a second player; at the outset only 2 versions of Ran (t-shirt color distinguishes between them) are available to play - the other girls are unlocked after defeating them in STORY MODE. The ground is littered with bonus items to be picked up.
GALLERY MODE / View Mao as she performs various moves on top of a 4x4 wireframe grid. Twelve other girls may be unlocked by meeting certain conditions. A second version of Mao in a yellow t-shirt and red shorts is the first unlockable.
LOAD/SAVE DATA / Store or retrieve data to and from memory card
OPTIONS / Set BGM and SE volume levels
NONSTOP MODE / Enter a room and battle goon after goon followed by bosses without having to run around in STORY MODE. The default difficulty level is HARD for this mode.
» In the Now Loading screen, an SD anime version of Mao is yelling and appears to be readying for a run. The yin/yang symbols spin beside the "NOW LOADING" text.
» Controls are surprisingly smooth and Namco appears to have lent their fighting game expertise to the title. The button commands are as follows:
Δ / High punch - hit four times for a bone rattling attack sequence
□ / Low punch
O / Pirouette kick attack
X / Low kick
L1 / Jump
R1 / Guard [R1 + DOWN will make her crouch]
L1 + R1 / Special electricity spin attack
» Press L1 for jump and any face button will send Ran leaping in the air in a somersault where she crashes down on an opponent with flailing legs. To perform a dashing kick attack where Ran slides across the ground, move the L-analog in any direction and press X. This is particularly useful to make an enemy kneel, raise his arms, and cower on the ground. Also useful when trying to evade a pursuer.
» After starting a STORY MODE game, Ran emerges from a steamy shower in a flimsy pink negligee-towel and walks across the wooden floor with stomping noises. She stops and the camera moves up from her feet to the top of her body. Before it reaches her face, the camera cuts away as she performs a kung-fu move and gesticulates in the middle of the room to the viewer. She raises her hand as if performing crane-style before making a claw which turns into the "index + middle finger held up while the other fingers are bent down" position. She moves quickly around the room in her towel for some gratuitous eye candy while her hair billows around her shoulders. After a few more seconds of fast and funky kung-fu moves and hair flailing action, she ends her practice run with a back flip. Grandpa greets her from above and she screams at his lechery. The next screen that appears offers three tutorials on playing the game and a fourth option to start the game proper.
» In the first level of the game, Ran runs around the streets while rain pours from overhead. Beat down goons and break open creates. Follow the neon-lit arrows to reach new areas. There's one point where three thugs will gang up on her which presents a somewhat challenging scenario. Guard against their blows and then use fleet footed tactics to beat each one down instead of being caught in the center of a smash fest.
» In the EASY difficulty of STORY mode, there are no rewards or bonuses when destroying crates or vending machines. No life bonus or special powers are given up. Items are not dropped in EASY mode but they are dropped in NORMAL and HARD mode. Ran's life bar and Chi bar is shorter in NORMAL and HARD mode. To pick up items that are dropped by goons, hold the R1 trigger and press down on the L-analog while standing over the item. Only five items may be carried at any time.
» When Ran is defeated, she just lies there and laments before the game ends and the player is booted back to the title screen. There are no continues or second chances...
» Ran may use items during the course of a level by selecting them with the D-pad. To activate a highlighted item, press up on the D-pad. Cheese and energy drinks revive chi points while items that look like spinning blocks unleash special attacks. Fruit and items that look like grey stones recover health.
» When attacking a thug who's blocking your high punches, simply switch to low punches or low kicks to beat him. Switch it up when he's guarding low.
» After defeating the goons, Ran runs up an escalator to greet her first wrestling opponent - a blonde girl in a yellow body suit with large breasts, brown feathered hair, a brutish face, and a silver cross necklace. She wears red gloves and a green armband on her right arm. Her specialty is kick attacks and she'll knock a femme fatale out in a few seconds if not guarding properly.
» Items are not dropped in EASY mode but they are dropped in NORMAL and HARD mode. Ran's life bar and Chi bar is shorter in NORMAL and HARD mode. To pick up items that are dropped by goons, hold the R1 trigger and press down on the L-analog while standing over the item. Only five items may be carried at any time.
» The difficulty of the game is fairly high. The main reason is that the thugs don't hold back at all. If they're surrounding you, they'll attack all at once with a flurry of punches and kicks in a gangland beatdown. Although Ran has the ability to guard and perform special attacks, she can't defend or fend off four attackers all at once as they rain blows down from all directions. Unlike the SSM games, facing away from an enemy and then guarding won't protect her from an attack and she'll get hurt. The difficulty may be offputting but we liked it. The nuances of guarding high or low to fend off blows and attacking high or low to pierce goon defenses took a little practice but overall, the game is a satisfying 3D punch 'n kick beater with tough enemies.
Jan Code: 4582224491162