Asuka 120%
Front cover of the FM Towns version of Asuka 120% BURNING Fest.
Genre(s)Fighting game, bishōjo
Developer(s)Fill-in-Cafe
Success (Final and Return)
Publisher(s)FamilySoft, NEC Avenue, ASK-Kodansha
Creator(s)Masatoshi Imaizumi
Artist(s)Aoi Nanase
Composer(s)Keishi Yonao
Platform(s)FM Towns, Sharp X68000, PC-Engine, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
First releaseAsuka 120% BURNING Fest.
  • JP: March 11, 1994
Latest releaseAsuka 120% Return BURNING Fest.
  • JP: September 24, 1999

Asuka 120% (あすか120%) is a Japanese bishōjo fighting game series developed by Fill-in-Cafe and published by FamilySoft. It is set in a school where members of school clubs fight each other in a fighting tournament. Originally released on the FM Towns home personal computer in 1994, it was released for multiple systems through the years. Masatoshi Imaizumi led development with artwork provided by manga artist Aoi Nanase and music by Keishi Yonao.

Plot

The game is set at the Ryōran Private School for Women, which educates the daughters of the upper echelons of society. Every year, the school's clubs hold a martial arts tournament called the "Club Rivalry Budget Contest Mega Fight" to compete for increased budget to the winning school club. After repeated poor performances at previous tournaments, the Chemistry Club president, Tetsuko Ōgigaya, scouts and trains Asuka Honda to become this year's winner. Asuka now has to defeat members of several school clubs in order to succeed.

Gameplay

Asuka vs. Kumi in BURNING Fest.

The game is a 1v1 fighting game in the vein of Street Fighter II, but in Asuka 120% each character employs a fighting style and techniques unique to each club as opposed to particular martial arts. The game has a standard input system for special moves across the entire cast which had not been seen in other fighting games at the time.[1] Asuka 120% would switch from a 2-button to a 3-button game depending on the console it was released.

Also, unique to Asuka 120% is its "clash system". If both characters hit each other neither take damage; rather, they go into the next phase of the move until one character takes damage.[1] During a clash, players can cancel into a special move, a movement option or a throw, which makes for explosive battles.

The "120%" portion of the game's name comes from the special meter gauge filling up at 120% instead of 100%. Once a full bar of meter is reached, it will begin draining slowly. During this state, characters have unlimited access to super meter.

All these systems, along with expanded mobility options compared to contemporary fighting games of that time, give Asuka 120% a flair of its own.[2]

Characters

Introduced in Asuka 120% BURNING Fest.

  • Asuka Honda (本田飛鳥) of the Chemistry Club
Voiced by Riko Sayama[3]
Asuka is a first year student and the titular character of the series. She is best friends with Karina Toyota and more recently, Kumi Ōkubo. Asuka was scouted and trained by the Chemistry Club president, Tetsuko Ougigaya, while still in middle school. Her main attacks involve volatile projectiles such as throwing chemical-filled beakers.
  • Kumi Ōkubo (大久保久美) of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Club
Voiced by Miki Nagasawa (original – Limited), Masaki Miki[3] (Final – Return)
Kumi is a first year student who met Asuka during the Ryōran entrance exam and has been friends ever since. Kumi's attacks involve her rhythmic gymnast skills and props.
  • Tamaki Shindō (新堂環) of the Tennis Club
Voiced by Juri Shiina (Original – Maxima), Masako Katsuki (Special – Limited), Rieko Ogawa[3] (Final – Return)
Tamaki is a third year student and reigning champion of the tournament. Loved by seniors and juniors alike, she works hard to uphold a good image since she is also the daughter of the school principal. Her moves involve the use of her tennis racket.
  • Ryūko Yamazaki (山崎竜子) of the Volleyball Club
Voiced by Akira Morimoto[3]
Ryūko is a second year student. She is popular for her energy in sports, though schoolwork is another matter. Ryūko mainly uses volleyball tactics to attack her opponent, such as tackles and serves.
  • Megumi Suzuki (鈴木めぐみ) of the Cheerleading Club
Voiced by Shizuka Hōjō (original – Limited), Yukana Nogami[3] (Final – Return)
Megumi is a second year student who is popular in school but a lousy student. She fights using pom-pons and cheerleading routines.
  • Torami Hōjō (北条虎美) of the Karate Club
Voiced by Mio Itō[3]
Torami is a third year student and runner-up from the previous year's tournament. A tomboyish yet popular girl, she returns to the tournament seeking a rematch against Tamaki. Torami fights using powerful karate moves.

Introduced in Asuka 120% Maxima BURNING Fest.

  • Karina Toyota (豊田可莉奈) of the Biology Club
Voiced by Kae Araki[3]
Karina is the biology club representative and Asuka's best friend and self-proclaimed rival since childhood. A lot of her special moves involve her pet frog "Kero-pyon".
  • Cathy Wild (キャシィ・ワイルド, Kyashii Wairudo) of the Pro-Wrestling Club
Voiced by Judy Monroe (Maxima - Special), Urara Takano (Excellent - Limited), Reika Inoue[3] (Final – Return)
Cathy is a third year exchange student from a sister school in Florida. Cheerful and sociable, she joins the tournament for fun. Her special moves involve pro-wrestling throws.
  • Kiyoko Mitarai (御手洗清子) of the Softball Club
Voiced by|Yumiko Fukuda (Maxima), Noriko Hidaka[3] (Special – Return)
Kiyoko is a second year student and the elected future student council president. She is a diligent yet cheerful girl. Her special moves involve a sharply thrown underhand pitch.
  • Nana Owada (小和田奈々) of the Japanese Dance Club
Voiced by Miki Takahashi (Maxima - Limited), Yūki Asakura[3] (Final – Return)
Nana is a second year student and the eldest daughter of notable house Owada. She has a stoic and serious personality. Her special moves involve attacking with her folded fan and her naginata.

Introduced in Asuka 120% Special BURNING Fest.

  • Shinobu Kawasaki (川崎忍)
Voiced by Hiroka Nishizawa[3]
Shinobu is a second year gang leader from Touyou Harimadana Institute. While traveling on a quest to defeat the strongest opponents from 100 different schools, she ran into Asuka who was her 100th opponent and the only one to beat her. She enters the tournament seeking a rematch against her.

Introduced in Asuka 120% Limited BURNING Fest.

  • Tetsuko Ōgigaya (扇ヶ谷鉄子) of the Chemistry Club
Voiced by Minako Hino (original – Limited), Saeko Shimazu[3] (Final – Return)
Tetsuko is a third year student and the Chemistry Club president. In order to stop losing the club tournament every year, she scouted Asuka while in middle school and subjected her to a year of arduous training. Hence, her special moves resemble Asuka's.
  • Genichirō Shindō (新堂源一郎)
Voiced by Seizō Katō (original – Excellent), Daisuke Gōri[3] (Limited), Tohru Sakura (Final – Return)
Genichirō is the school principal and a boss character in the earlier games.

Introduced in Asuka 120% Final BURNING Fest.

  • Ichiko Furutachi (古館伊知子) of the Journalism Club
Voiced by Yūko Mizutani (original – Limited), Kaoru Morota[3] (Final – Return)
Ichiko is the journalism club representative who before Final serves as the game's narrator. Her special moves involve attacks with her microphone.

Development

Asuka 120% was produced by just two full-time programmers who comprised the company Fill-in-Cafe. The franchise was programmed and designed by Masatoshi Imaizumi, its music was composed by Keishi Yonao,[4] and the games' illustrations were designed by Aoi Nanase.

Asuka 120% Burning Fest was just one fighting game of the era which had female characters, humor, and fan service. Similar games from that era include games such as Tōkidenshō Angel Eyes, Pretty Fighter X, and Variable Geo.[5]

Categorized as a bishōjo game, eleven versions were released for various platforms between 1994 and 1999. The combat system of Asuka 120% was based on the beat-em-up Mad Stalker, and is also similar to Makeruna! Makendō 2: Kimero Youkai Souri.[6] Development of Mad Stalker for the X68000, FM Towns and PlayStation (PCE CD port was co-developed by Kogado Studio); the PlayStation port of Makeruna! Makendō 2: Kimero Youkai Souri (Super Famicom version was developed by Success) was done by Fill-in-Cafe.

Games

Title Details
Asuka 120% BURNING Fest.

Original release date:
  • JP: March 11, 1994
 Release years by system:
1994 – FM Towns, Sharp X68000
Notes:
  • The Sharp X68000 release has 3 versions of the original release soundtrack and slightly updated graphics.
Asuka 120% Excellent BURNING Fest.

Original release date:
  • JP: December 22, 1994
 Release years by system:
1994 – FM Towns
1997 – PlayStation
2011 – PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network)
Notes:
  • Story mode in this release was updated from the original using adventure mode elements.[7]
  • Excellent was later remade for the Sony PlayStation using graphics from Asuka 120% Special BURNING Fest.
  • The PlayStation version was released on PlayStation 3 as a PS one Classic on February 9, 2011.[8]
Asuka 120% Maxima BURNING Fest.

Original release date:[9]
  • JP: July 28, 1995
 Release years by system:
1995 – PC Engine Super CD-ROM²
Notes:
  • Maxima added 4 new characters to the roster, bringing the total to 10 playable characters.
  • Controls were simplified due to the NEC PC-Engine having a limited number of buttons.
Asuka 120% Special BURNING Fest.

Original release date:[10]
  • JP: March 29, 1996
 Release years by system:
1996 – PlayStation
2010 – PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network)
Notes:
  • This version adds a new hidden character bringing the total roster to 11.
  • A reprint nicknamed Special Version 2 featured rebalancing and slight graphical adjustments. It can be identified by a black dot on the bottom right corner of the game's cover.[11][12]
  • Special Version 2 was released on PlayStation 3 as a PS one Classic on December 8, 2010.[13]
Asuka 120% Limited: BURNING Fest. Limited

Original release date:[14]
  • JP: October 9, 1997
 Release years by system:
1997 – Sega Saturn
Notes:
  • This version adds 2 new hidden characters bringing the total roster to 13.
  • For this release, graphics were heavily altered to larger sprites and new artworks.
  • An Kaneko Super Nova-based arcade version was planned, but got canceled, likely due to Fill-in-Cafe's bankruptcy in 1998.[15]
  • An unofficial updated version titled Asuka 120% LimitOver BURNING Fest was released by former Fill-in-Cafe employees in September 1998.[16]
  • Story mode has been removed, replaced by an all-new 'Death Match Mode'. and extensive additions have been made to the gameplay. Changes include new moves, new techniques, and balance changes.[17]
  • LimitOver was fan translated to English in 2015.[18]
Asuka 120% Final BURNING Fest.

Original release date:[19]
  • JP: May 27, 1999
 Release years by system:
1999 – PlayStation
2011 – PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network)
Notes:
  • Developed by Success Corporation.
  • This version adds a new hidden character bringing the total roster to 14.
  • It was released on PlayStation 3 as a PS one Classic on April 13, 2011.[20]
Asuka 120% Return BURNING Fest.

Original release date:
  • JP: September 24, 1999
 Release years by system:
1999 – Microsoft Windows
Notes:

Reception

Famitsu review scores
Game Famitsu
Asuka 120% Maxima BURNING Fest. 21/40[9]
Asuka 120% Special BURNING Fest. 23/40[10]
Asuka 120% Final BURNING Fest. 28/40[19]

Japanese game magazine Famitsu reviewed several versions of the game. Maxima Burning Fest was given a score of 21 out of 40, Special Burning Fest was given a score of 23 out of 40, and Burning Fest Final was given a score of 28 out of 40.[10][9]

Ted Thomas from Viz Media's online magazine wrote that Special BURNING Fest. is not worth importing.[21]

GameSpot reviewed Excellent BURNING Fest. and gave it 7.1 in its review.[22]

The game has been featured at fighting game tournaments, such as EVO Japan 2020.[23] Additional to the games, Asuka 120% has had novels, soundtrack CDs, and other merchandise released during the 90s.[24]

New announcements

In March 2021, a Japanese company called Opera House had announced two new entries in the Asuka 120% series on Twitter. The first was titled Asuka 120% Reborn, which is heavily based on the X68000 games set to release on the Mega Drive with a new character who was said to be a boxer girl, and new content. Additionally, Asuka 120% Reborn is also being planned for an enhanced release on the Nintendo Switch with an exclusive story mode. The second game was titled Asuka 120% O-Nyuu, which will feature the cast as 3D models for the first time and will be released on modern hardware.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Miller, Patrick. "17 mold-breaking fighting games that all developers should study". Archived from the original on 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  2. ↑ Treese, Tyler (2018-12-08). "This Forgotten Sega Saturn Game Is One of The Best Fighters Ever". GameRevolution. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Characters". SuperLite 1500シリーズ あすか120%ファイナル BURNING Fest.FINAL (in Japanese). Success Corporation. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Galgun And Asuka 120% Burning Fest Composer Creates Tunes In KORG M01D - Siliconera". Siliconera. 2013-07-02. Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  5. ↑ "This Week in Games - Delays All Around". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  6. ↑ Kalata, Kurt (February 9, 2018). "Asuka 120% Final Burning Fest". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on May 13, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018. Fill-In Cafe's Asuka 120% Burning Fest series' distinguishes itself by featuring a roster almost entirely made of high school girls.
  7. ↑ "Asuka 120% Excellent". NCSX. Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2021-03-28. Each battle is preceded by a dialogue screen where the fighters set up the reason for why they are battling. Whether it be an intense childhood rivalry or an insult, these girls are taking it to the streets with their exotic blend of fighting moves and special attacks.
  8. ↑ "2011年2月9日付けのPlayStation Store最新情報をお届け。シリーズ最新作「テイルズ オブ ザ ワールド レディアント マイソロジー3」などが登場". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). 2011-02-09. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  9. 1 2 3 "あすか120％マキシマ バーニング フェスト. [PCエンジン] / ファミ通.com". Famitsu. Archived from the original on 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  10. 1 2 3 "あすか120%スペシャル BURNING Fest. [PS] / ファミ通.com". Famitsu. Archived from the original on 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  11. ↑ "旧劇4作品紹介④ あすか120％スペシャル burning fest ver.2". 旧劇～格闘レトロゲーム対戦会～ (in Japanese). 2014-09-15. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  12. ↑ @necrosofty (November 7, 2019). "Found out recently that Asuka 120% Special for psx has a second version with a rebalance and minor graphical differences. You can spot the new one by this black dot on the cover, which the old one lacks. Otherwise even the discs are identical!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ "12月8日付けのPlayStation Store最新情報。注目作「シャイニング・ハーツ」のほか「悪魔城ドラキュラX 月下の夜想曲」「超兄貴」などが登場". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  14. ↑ "あすか120％ リミテッド 〜BURNING Fest.LIMITED〜 [セガサターン] / ファミ通.com". Famitsu. Archived from the original on 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  15. ↑ @saladbarM (May 1, 2023). "「あすか120%リミテッド」のアーケード版を報じるチラシを発見『アーケード未発売・未稼働ゲーム大全2』（三才ブックス）にも掲載されたこのタイトルは、システム基板「スーパーカネコノヴァシステム」による格闘ゲームになるハズだった未発売ゲーム" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ "『nero』で作ってみよう". 2008-07-30. Archived from the original on 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
  17. ↑ Moriya, Eiji. "about LimitOver". www.geocities.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
  18. ↑ De Meo, Misty (2015-06-21). "Release: Asuka 120% Limit Over English Translation". The Future Is Now. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  19. 1 2 "あすか120％ファイナル BURNING Fest.FINAL [PS] / ファミ通.com". Famitsu. Archived from the original on 2015-11-16. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  20. ↑ "PlayStation Storeの4月13日付け最新情報を掲載。「ガチトラ！」「ペルソナ2 罪」といった注目作が配信予定". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). 2011-04-13. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  21. ↑ Thomas, Ted. "Femme Fatales". J-Pop.com. Archived from the original on 2002-06-21. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  22. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (1997-05-27). "Asuka 120% Excellent: Burning Festival (Import) Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  23. ↑ 株式会社インプレス (2020-01-28). "格ゲー界最大の祭典「EVO Japan 2020」の醍醐味はサイドトーナメントにあり！サイドトーナメントはまるで格ゲー全盛時代のゲームセンター!! 夢のような2日間をレポート". GAME Watch (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  24. ↑ "Japanese listing of all known Asuka 120% releases". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
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