This article is a stub. You can help Ranma Wiki by expanding it.
Ranma ½: Chougi Rambuhen (らんま1/2 超技乱舞篇, Ranma ½: Chougi Rambuhen?), alternatively spelled as Chougi Ranbu Hen, is one of three Ranma ½ fighting games that was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It was to have been released in the United States as the sequel to Ranma ½: Hard Battle as Ranma ½ II: Anything Goes Martial Arts by DTMC, which had adapted Bakuretsu Rantou-hen into Hard Battle. However DTMC's going out of business precluded this from happening, resulting in cancellation. The title directly translates as "Super Skill Wild Dance Chapter", but it is commonly referred to as "Super Hard Battle".[1]
Overview[]
In the story mode, the player's chosen character gets a letter explaining that they just received the recipe to the most valuable of all treasures, the Maneki Neko, which has the ability to grant any wish. The character must then set out to find the 12 ingredients of the Maneki Neko, located all over the world, before one of their rivals does the same.
Gameplay[]
Chougi Rambuhen has three modes of play: story, versus and tag team, where players can choose two characters to play as and can switch players by walking to their edge of the screen and holding Select, but only if the fighting character's health bar is lower than the other character. Whilst out of the fight, the other character will slowly regain health. There are twelve characters in the game, thirteen if Ranma's cursed form is counted, with eleven playable at the start of the game. By holding L and R before the character selection screen appears, Herb also appears as a playable character.
Playable Characters[]
The character selection screen.
- Ranma Saotome (male and female): Hopes to get rid of his curse, but at the sight of the Maneki Neko quickly begins suffering from his Ailurophobia and accidentally wishes it would get away from him, which it subsequently does.
- Ryoga Hibiki: Wishes to get rid of his curse, but instead of making the Maneki Neko he instead makes a Mannequin.
- Akane Tendo: Wishes to finally be able to swim, but can't mix the ingredients together due to her lack of cooking skills.
- Mariko Konjo: Is in search for the ultimate boyfriend, but when she asks the Maneki Neko to introduce her to him, the Neko tells her she's looking at him.
- Genma Saotome (panda): Longs for a full head of hair, but unfortunately when he asks the Maneki Neko he's in his panda form with no hot water around, so puts up a sign with his wish, but the Neko can't read.
- Tatewaki Kuno: Wants his two loves, Akane Tendo and the pigtailed-girl, but the Maneki Neko tells him he can only have one, so Kuno decides on the pigtailed-girl.
- Kodachi Kuno: Wishes to have a date with Ranma, but because she wasn't specific enough Ranma appears in her female form, leaving Kodachi unable to find her Ranma.
- Ukyo Kuonji: Wants better business for Okonomiyaki Ucchan's, so ends up taking the Maneki Neko and putting in her restaurant like an ordinary Maneki Neko for good luck.
- Hinako Ninomiya: Hinako doesn't a specific wish, but when she makes the Maneki Neko she ends up wishing for lots of different snacks to gorge on.
- Shampoo: Also wants a date with Ranma, she gets her wish, much to Ranma's disappointment.
- Mousse: Desperately wants to be Shampoo's groom, but has also lost his glasses. Once he finishes making the Maneki Neko he accidentally asks it find his glasses and as the Neko's purpose was fulfilled it leaves.
- Herb: After making the Maneki Neko, he demands it as the heir to the throne of the Musk Dynasty that it serve him forever. Terrified, the Neko agrees and Herb becomes the wisest ruler of them all.
Planned Western Release[]
The planned cover for the game's western release.
Magazine flyer for the second game.
After the successful release of Hard Battle, Toho had planned to release Chougi Rambihen as a sequel under the title "Ranma ½ II: Anything-Goes Martial Arts". The game was advertised[2] but unfortunately Toho cancelled the game due to poor sales of their prior Japanese game that was published in the US, Super Godzilla. Since then a rumour developed regarding Rumiko Takahashi claiming to have been appalled by the poor voice acting in Hard Battle,[2] possibly indicating another reason why the game was never released.
Alternate colors[]
Each character has a set of four colors to choose from selectable in the options menu or before starting a VS. mode match.
- Ranma (male)
- 1. Red shirt, black hair and pants.
- 2. Blue Shirt, dark teal hair and pants.
- 3. Pink shirt, dark purple hair and pants.
- 4. Orange shirt, dark blue hair and pants.
- Ranma (female)
- 1. Red hair, blue and yellow swimsuit.
- 2. Red hair, pink swimsuit, tanned skin.
- 3. Brown hair, black swimsuit.
- 4. Blonde hair, white swimsuit, tanned skin.
- Ryoga
- 1. Yellow shirt and bandana, black hair and pants.
- 2. Green shirt and bandana, blue hair and pants.
- 3. White shirt and bandana, black hair and pants.
- 4. Red shirt and bandana, purple hair and pants.
- Akane
- 1. Blue dress, white sleeves.
- 2. Pink dress, white sleeves.
- 3. Navy blue dress, pale blue sleeves.
- 4. Beige dress, red sleeves.
- Mariko
- 1. Blonde hair, yellow parts on outfit, blue dress and boots, pink pom poms.
- 2. Pink hair and parts on outfit, white dress and boots, blue pom poms.
- 3. Blonde hair, bellow parts on outfit, red dress and boots, yellow pom poms.
- 4. Strawberry blonde hair, salmon pink parts on outfit, purple dress and boots, light purple pom poms.
- Genma
- 1. Black and white fur.
- 2. Blackish red and pale red fur.
- 3. Blue and white fur.
- 4. Green and light yellow fur.
- Kuno
- 1. Dark blue hair and pants, white shirt.
- 2. Black hair and pants, blue shirt.
- 3. Black hair and pants, red shirt.
- 4. Burnt red hair and pants, black shirt.
- Kodachi
- 1. Dark blue hair and leotard, purple patterns.
- 2. Purple hair and leotard, red patterns.
- 3. Black hair and leotard, dark red patterns.
- 4. Red hair and leotard, yellow patterns.
- Ukyo
- 1. Red ribbon and straps, purple shirt, dark teal hair and stockings.
- 2. Yellow ribbon and straps, pale green shirt, blue hair and stockings.
- 3. Pink ribbon and straps, orange shirt, black hair and stockings.
- 4. Orange ribbon and straps, light Red shirt, purple hair and stockings.
- Hinako
- 1. Dark green hair and dress, white sweater.
- 2. Dark blue hair and dress, pink sweater.
- 3. Brown hair and dress, yellow sweater.
- 4. Black hair and dress, light purple sweater.
- Shampoo
- 1 Purple hair, red dress.
- 2 Blonde hair, blue dress.
- 3 Green hair, purple dress.
- 4 Brown hair, pink dress.
- Mousse
- 1. Navy blue hair and pants, pale blue outfit, dark yellow patterns.
- 2. Dark purple hair and pants, light purple outfit, blue patterns.
- 3. Black hair and pants, green outfit, purple patterns.
- 4. Dark green hair and pants, orange outfit, red patterns.
- Herb
- 1. Blue and cream pink hair, red straps, gold guard armor.
- 2. Red and pale blue hair, blue straps, red guard armor.
- 3. Green and cream pink hair, purple straps, black guard armor.
- 4. Purple and pink hair, blue straps, dark blue guard armor.
Trivia[]
- Kuno, Ukyo, Hinako, Shampoo, and Herb are the only characters who get their wishes without them backfiring in some manner.
- Oddly enough, Akane, Ukyo and Mariko's hair colors from the anime (dark blue and brunettes respectfully) are not used for any of their alternate colors.
- Shampoo's alternate colors resemble other characters, the 1st one resembles Lychee, the 2nd one resembles Princess Ori or Lum and the last one resembles Azusa Shiratori or Arisa Nanjo.
- Many of the in-game portraits of the characters are directedly lifted from the manga.
References[]