Game:

Rival Schools: United by Fate (1997)

Duration: 32:00

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This is a play-through using Hideo Shimazu and Kyoko Minazuki in the PS1 version of Rival Schools (Arcade disc). Read on below for more information...

Hideo and Kyoko are generally the sub-bosses in the story modes. Both are available from the start, which means that they are regular playable characters.

I have alternated between the two characters for each round.

===== About Hideo =====
Capcom have designed him to be the stereotypical Japanese middle-aged school teacher, and they have pulled it off superbly. He is such a dramatic character, both in personality and gameplay... the metal shoulder pads reflect his fiery fighting style.

Gameplay-wise, just ask yourself what Ryu would be like in Rival Schools game... and Hideo is your perfect answer. I think he's one of the best characters in the game, his ability to combo is very good, and his Shin Shoryuken inflicts high depletion.

===== About Kyoko =====
Capcom: "Hey, we are making a fighting game with school students, teachers and principals right? Let's have the nice school nurse as well!"

Gameplay-wise, Kyoko is designed to be both an aggressive and tactical character, her Sidestep strike and One Wing Stance moves are used to avoid and confuse, yet her Spinning Kick and Grapple moves are used to put pressure. Her combo ability is pretty good as well.

===== Additional information =====

---- In the story when you reach Chapter 4, both characters have their colour palettes changed to an alternative palette. This is to signal that they're brainwashed. Their colours return to normal once they "recover" in the story.

---- The game is known as Shiritsu Justice Gakuen: Legion of Heroes in Japan.

===== About PS1 Rival Schools =====
In my opinion, this is one of the best fighting games on the PS1. Both Japanese and USA versions come in 2 discs - the Arcade disc and the Evolution disc. The Arcade disc is the one with the basic features - namely the arcade character select screen and story dialogues. The Evolution disc does not have the arcade storylines and dialogues, but is instead PACKED with additional modes, bonus games, extras, etc.

The Japanese version of the Evolution disc had the superb 'school life' simulation mode, where you create your own custom character and then take on the role of a student to spend a year in school. You basically choose your own paths, interact with the characters in the games, form relationships, dates, take exams/fights, etc. At the end, depending on what you did, your custom character will have his/her own special and super moves (if any) and can be used in the other game modes.

Overall, aside from the loading times, this is almost arcade perfect. The 3D models are slightly more "blockier" than the arcade version, but you probably won't notice this. Other differences include the fact that at the end of each round when you can choose to switch characters, the character icons are new and are MUCH better on the PS1 version. The arcade character select screen is also much simpler on the PS1 version as well, with less animation (the background colour areas for each icon are gone), and the character's faces in each icon are zoomed up closer. The arcade USA version shouts the voice when your select your character, but this is gone in the PS1 USA version... however in the PS1 Japanese version, when you select a character they actually say something! Other differences between the versions include Kyoko's, Natsu's, Akira's, etc. versus screen portraits, etc.

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