My Played Video Games Review: Ranma 1/2: Hard Battle for the Super Nintendo

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Ranma ½: Hard Battle, is a 2D fighting video game developed by Masaya and DTMC for the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom. It's based on the popular manga and anime series Ranma ½. It was released in Japan in 1992 and worldwide in 1993. This game is the second in the Ranma ½ series to be translated into English. In this release, the original graphics, music, and character names were preserved, but the character voices were dubbed into English. The English translation of the game was done by Viz Media.

The old anime series it was based on was so damn funny. Could its wackiness and naughty comedy be well-translated into the game?

Japan only Super Famicom box cover art. The game is called "Ranma ½: Bakuretsu Rantōhen[" over there. (Image source)

The Story

Step into the exciting universe of RANMA ½ Explosive Free-Fight, the thrilling new sensation inspired by the incredible world of MANGA!

Prepare for an action-packed journey like no other. The graphics will leave you amazed as if you've been hit in the head. Meet an eccentric bunch of characters who will challenge your sanity while keeping you on the edge of your seat. Get ready for RANMA ½ - Where twelve wild characters create chaos in an intense, mind-boggling clash of intelligence and strength!

Box, manual and cartridge of the game. (Image source)

The Graphics and Sound

The game's graphics are really enjoyable. They're vibrant, filled with lively colors, and detailed enough to resemble the anime. The backgrounds are decent, typical for a Super Nintendo game. Each character looks fantastic when fighting, with a strong anime-like vibe. The expressions on Ranma-chan's face when he/she's kicked or thrown are priceless and make up for the gameplay flaws. Humor is sprinkled throughout, in battles and cutscenes, some of which are oddly translated and quite amusing.

Ranma 1/2: Hard Battle also shines in sound effects and music. Every action in battle has a fitting sound effect. Many attacks are followed by a Japanese voice actor shouting the attack name in a humorous way. I think you'll enjoy this a lot. What I particularly love is the music. While there are a couple of forgettable tracks, there are three times as many catchy ones. The music when choosing a character and Mousse's Theme do stand out.

Gameplay video sample of Ranma 1/2: Hard Battle. Watch in 360p for near TV resolution of that time.

The Gameplay

Although it might seem like a poorly made copy of Street Fighter, this game manages to get several things right. Even though the gameplay is its weakest point, the game's atmosphere more than compensates for it.

Now, as mentioned, the weakest aspect of Ranma 1/2: Hard Battle is its gameplay. Oddly enough, despite the SNES controller being adaptable, the developers chose to make things more frustrating. Pressing Y leads to a weak attack, and B performs a strong one. L or R makes your character block, and the A button isn't used. You move left and right. Maybe I've gotten used to other fighting games, but what bothered me most was having to press X to jump instead of just pushing Up. You can change this in the options, but it's a bit of a hassle to do it each time.

Beyond the awkward controls, the game plays like an average fighter. There are twelve characters, with two needing to be unlocked during the main game. Each character possesses about five special attacks, although many of these are more for show than effectiveness. The fighting mechanics overall run relatively smoothly.

Replay value is decent. Since this game is a fighting game, you might not invest a lot of time in the story mode. However, you might feel motivated to complete the game with each character to experience the utterly crazy endings they have. The 2-player mode is enjoyable. Even though the combat system isn't the strongest, the sheer fun of the game makes it quite entertaining to play with a friend.

My Verdict

Ranma 1/2: Hard Battle isn't a terrible game, but it lacks depth. It might be recommended if you're a fan of the series or a fighting game enthusiast. The pace of the action is also somewhat sluggish, and it's unfortunate there isn't a Turbo version available. Nonetheless, it's not a bad game overall and worth giving a try.

Play it on the precious Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a chosen emulator. Play it with a friend.

Let's keep on gaming in the free world!