........................................................................ ** **** ****** ******** ********** ************ ************** **************** ****************** ******************** ___________________________________ * ASTRAL * BOUT * 2 * * SOUGOU * KAKUTOUGI * * THE * TOTAL * FIGHTERS * *FAQ * GUIDE* By: Fire_Pro_Fan ___________________________________ ******************** ****************** **************** ************** ************ ********** ******** ****** **** ** ======================================================== ******INTRODUCTION****** ======================================================== Astral Bout 2: Sougou Kakutougi - the Total Fighters was the second installment in the Astral Bout series of video games released exclusively in Japan. Featuring an improved battle system, tougher A.I. and a roster inspired from Akira Maeda's FIGHTING NETWORK RINGS promotion, many would argue that the Astral Bout series was the world's very first authentic mixed martial arts video game. ======================================================== ******THE CONTROLS****** ======================================================== While standing: Back: Move back Forward: Move forward Up: Move up Down: Move down Y: Light punch X: Hard punch B: Kick A: Hard kick Forward + A: (while standing close) Lockup R + Y/X/B/A: charge attack L: Charge (used for combos) R: Charge (used for standard attacks) /: meaning either button can be used to perform the specific move, While locking up: Y: Light punch X: grapple B: Light kick A: Hard kick/ grapple (Hold)R: used in conjuction with Y,B,A or X for grapples (Hold))R+Y/A/B/X + back/forward/down/up Note: lockup commands vary from fighter to fighter. After opponent has initiated a lockup: Forward/back: reverse upper attacks/grapples. Up/down: reverse lower attacks/grapples. -while opponent is laying on the ground: A/Y/X/B: apply a submission hold -while on the ground: Forward/back: get up Forward/Back: reverse opponent's grapple (when timed correctly) While applying a submission hold: (Hold)L/R + forward/back: drag opponent SELECT: cancel submission hold While in an opponent's submission hold: (Hold) L/R + forward/back: drag yourself towards one of the ropes for an "ESCAPE". ========================================================= ******THE MODES****** ========================================================== -1P VS COM ASTRAL STEP: The first half of the RINGS Championship mode. Fight against a series of opponents situated in the USA to win the first half of the RINGS Championship. -1P VS COM MEGA BATTLE: The second half of the RINGS Championship mode. Fight against a series of opponents situated in JAPAN to win the second half of the RINGS Championship. -1P VS COM EXHIBITION MATCH Fight against a computer controlled opponent with fully customizable versus options. {Options} - SITUATION MENU POWER: select the attack power of both fighters. RULE: select between A) 30 minutes, 1 round or B) 3 minutes, 5 rounds. TIME: select the time limit of this match. POINT: select the number of battle points for this match. -1P VS 2P VS BOUT: The standard versus mode. The first player faces off against the second player in fully customizable versus options. {Options} RULE: select between A) 30 minutes, 1 round or B) 3 minutes, 5 rounds. TIME: select the time limit of this match. POINT: select the number of battle points for this match. HANDICAP: select how much health both fighters will have. STAGE: select the arena the match will be fought in. The stages are as followed: A) Standard ring B) Training dojo C) Battle Dimension championship ring CONTROLLER: adjust controls and button inputs. EXIT: start the match. OPTIONS: Customize Astral Bout's in game settings. {Options} OPTIONS MENU CONTROLLER: Adjust controls and button inputs. LEVEL: adjust the difficulty setting SOUND: choose the sound setting of either STEREO or MONOAURAL (mono), EXIT: return to the main menu. ***HIDDEN MODES*** -BATTLE DIMENSION: Fight against the standard roster and the secret boss characters in a tournament setting located in HOLLAND. ======================================================== ******THE GAMEPLAY****** ======================================================== -Lockup When a fighter successfully attempts to grab their opponent, a lockup is initiated. During a lockup, the fighter that initiated the lockup has the opportunity to perform a throw, submission hold or close range strike attack (varying from character to character). Also during the lockup, the defending player caught in the lockup has an opportunity to reverse the lockup and initiate their own throw, submission hold or strike attack in their favor. -Throw: A close range slam, suplex or drop applied after a lockup has been initiated. -Submission Holds: Throw techniques that requires button mashing to escape. It is also worth noting that some fighters excel in submission techniques over other fighters. -Strike Attacks: Punches, kicks, elbow strikes, knee bashes and other various attacks available to each fighter. -Special moves: Powerful strikes, grapples and submission moves that vary from fighter to fighter. -Grogginess: When a fighter receives enough damage from strike, grapple or submission attacks, a temporary state of grogginess occurs where the fighter will sway back and forth unable to move for a few seconds; giving the other fighter a window of opportunity to gain a free shot. Charge attack: By holding down the R button plus any of the punch or kick buttons, a series of stronger charge attacks will then be initiated which varies from fighter to fighter. -Charge attack combos : Custom made combos that can be created by the player by holding down the L button while inputting up to 8 different attacks and then releasing the L button. If done correctly, a quick succession of attacks will be chained together Creating a charge attack combo. It is also worth noting that the regular Charge attack moves can also be chained together to form a charge attack combo creating lots of possibilities. ========================================================= ******REVERSAL CHART****** ========================================================== Grapple reversals are performed using a two step process that is initiated by pressing full circle backwards + X followed by full circle backwards again + any one of the following moves: ARMLOCK can be countered by: Reverse achilles hold Cross Armbar Ankle lock Leg Lock ACHILLES HOLD can be countered by: Achilles Hold Cross Kneebar Cross Heel Hook CROSS KNEEBAR can be countered by: Achilles Hold Cross Kneebar CHICKENWING FACELOCK can be countered by: Forward Roll Armlock Ude Gatame Facelock REVERSE ACHILLES HOLD can be countered by: Cross Armbar CROSS HEEL HOLD can be countered by: Achilles Hold Cross Kneebar REAR NAKED CHOKE can be countered by: Facelock LEGLOCK can be countered by: Cross Kneebar ANKLE LOCK can be countered by: Achilles Hold "GABURISHIME"? can be countered by: Cross Armbar Rear Facelock UDE GATAME can be countered by: Cross Armbar Cross Kneebar FACELOCK can be countered by: Chickenwing Facelock Cross Armbar CROSS ARMBAR can be countered by: Cross Armbar Cross Heel Hook Cross Kneebar ========================================================= ******THE RULES****** ========================================================== -K.O.: When a fighter's lifebar is either fully depleted or the fighter is unable to rise to their feet before the 10 count,the fighter will lose the match under the grounds of a "K.O." or "Knockout". -T.K.O.: When a fighter loses all of their battle points they will lose the match by a Technical Knockout or "T.K.O.". -GIVE UP: When a submission hold is applied to a fighter and their life bar reaches (or is already at zero) the fighter will instantly tap and "GIVE UP" resulting in a loss. -BREAK: During a submission hold, if the fighter attempting to escape the submission hold is next to the ring ropes, the referee will call for a "BREAK" breaking up the submission hold. -ESCAPE: When a fighter who is put into a submission hold crawls towards one of the ring ropes to break free is referred to as an "Escape" and results in the fighter who had just escaped the submission hold losing a battle point. If a fighter initiates 2 successful "ESCAPES" from their opponent's submission hold, the escaped fighter will lose 1 battle point as a penalty. -TIME OVER: During a match, if the time limit is reached, the match will result in a "TIME OVER". -DRAW GAME: If the time limit of the match has ended where both fighters have the same amount of health and or battle points, the match will end in a "DRAW GAME" where neither fighter wins the match. -DOWN: When a player is knocked down after receiving a considerable amount of damage in a point system related match, the Referee will call a Down. During a Down, the Wrestler who was knocked down has up to 9 seconds to return to their feet. If the Wrestler is knocked down for a total of 10 seconds, the Wrestler will lose the match under a K.O.. =NO CONTEST: When both fighters knock each other out either by a double count out or by a double knockout, the match will end in a "NO CONTEST" resulting in both fighters losing the match. ======================================================== ******THE FIGHTERS****** ======================================================== In order of appearance on the character selection screen. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1. GEN KAJIWARA Real name: Yoshiaki Fujiwara Height: 185 cm Weight: 102 kg From: JAPAN Leg Lift Headbutt: Down, Up + X Headbutt: Forward, Back + Y Fujiwara Armbar: Back, Forward, Down-Forward, Down + X Trip kick: R + Y Sliding kick: R + A Scoop slam (during lockup) X/A ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Cross Armbar: Y (upper body, face up) Rear Facelock: X (Upper body, face up) Achilles Hold: B (Lower body, face up) Cross Kneebar: A (Lower body, face up) Facelock: X (Upper body, face down) Boston Half Crab: A (Lower body, face down) ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. BOLIS GOLDMAN Real name: Chris Dolman Height: 188 cm Weight: 124 kg From: HOLLAND Trip kick: R + Y Sliding kick: R + A Sambo toss: (during lockup) X/A Knee Lock: Forward, Back + A Front Facelock: Forward, Up-Forward, Up, Down + X ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Cross Armbar: Y (Upper body, face up) Gaburishime: X (Upper body, face up) Achilles Hold: A (Lower body, face up) Rear Naked Choke: X (Upper body, face down) Leg Lock: A (Lower body, face down) ------------------------------------------------------------- 3. NAOKI TAKAMURA Real name: Kiyoshi Tamura Height: 180 cm Weight: 90 kg From: JAPAN Wheel kick: R + Y Roundhouse kick: R + B Jumping high kick: R + X Knee dash: R + A Scoop slam (during lockup) X/A Taunt: (while holding L and R) (in this order) X, A, Y, B (then release L and R) Flying Headscissors: Up, Up + Back, Back + A Ankle Pick Heel Hook: Forward, Back, Down-Back, Down + B ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Cross Armbar: X (Upper body, face up) Cross Kneebar: A (Lower body, face up) Ude Gatame: X (Upper body, face down) Ankle Lock: A (Lower body, face down) ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. DUKE BRYCE Real name: Dick Vrij Height: 185 cm Weight: 110 kg From: HOLLAND High kick: R + Y Leap kick: R + X Knee dash: R + A Front Suplex: Forward, Back + X Machine Gun Knees: Back, Forward. Back + A Taunt: (while holding L and R) (in this order) X, A, Y, B (then release L and R) ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Cross Armbar: X (upper body, face up/down) Achilles Hold: A (Lower body, face up/down) ------------------------------------------------------------- 5. JAMES LOUIS Real name: Maurice Smith Height: 186 cm Weight: 93 kg From: U.S.A. High kick: R + Y Roundhouse kick: R + B Rising knee: R + X Trip kick: R + A Taunt: (while holding L and R) (in this order) X, A, Y, B (then release L and R) Neck Throw: Forward, Back + A Jumping Face Knee: Down, Up + A ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Cross Armbar: X (Upper body, face up/down) Cross Kneebar: A (Lower body, face up/down) ------------------------------------------------------------- 6. KENJI ASUKA Real name: Masaaki Satake Height: 185 cm Weight: 106 kg From: JAPAN High kick: R + Y Roundhouse kick: R + B Flip kick: R + X Trip kick: R + A Taunt: (while holding L and R) (in this order) X, A, Y, B (then release L and R) Neck Throw: Forward, Back + X Clinch Knees: Back. Forward, Back + A ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Cross Armbar: X (Upper body, face up/down) Achilles Hold: A (Lower body, face up/down) ------------------------------------------------------------- 7. AKIRA MAEDA Real name: Akira Maeda Height: 191 cm Weight: 102 kg From: JAPAN High kick: R + Y Sliding kick: R + A Wheel kick: R + X Suplex: (during lockup) X/A Capture Suplex: Down, Down-forward + X German Suplex: Down, Down-forward + A Taunt: (while holding L and R) (in this order) X, A, Y, B (then release L and R) ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Armlock: X (upper body - face up) Achilles Hold : B (lower body - face up) Cross Kneebar: A (upper body - face down) Chickenwing Facelock: X (lower body - face down) Reverse Achilles Hold: A (lower body - face down) ------------------------------------------------------------- 8. VOLK WARREN Real name: Volk Han Height: 191 cm Weight: 107 kg From: RUSSIA Spinning back fist: R + Y Spinning back palm: R + X Sliding kick: R + A Suplex:(during lockup) A/X Taunt: (while holding L and R) (in this order) X, A, Y, B (then release L and R) Standing Front Chickenwing Facelock: Half Circle Forward, Back + Y Flying Heel Hook: Half Circle Backwards + A Standing Armlock: Quarter Circle Up + X ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Cross Armbar: Y (Upper body, face up) Arm Lock: X (Upper body, face up) Achilles Hold: B (Lower body, face up) Cross Heel Hold: A (Lower body, face up) Forward Roll Armlock: X (Upper body, face down) STF: A (Lower body, face down) ------------------------------------------------------------- 9. GREGORY "LUCKY" HAWK Real name: Lee Hasdell Height: 185 cm Weight: 110 kg From: AUSTRALIA Strong punch: R + Y Low punch: R + B Uppercut: R + X Neck Throw: Forward, Back + A Liver Punches: Forward, Back, Forward + X ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Cross Armbar: X (Upper body, face up/down) Cross Kneebar: A (Lower body, face up/down) ****SECRET CHARACTERS**** ------------------------- 10. GARGANTUA BLIGHT Real name: Gary Albright Height: 191 cm Weight: 160 kg From: U.S.A. Dropkick (short range) R + Y/A Dropkick (long range) R + X German Suplex: Half Circle Forward + X/A Snap Belly To Belly Suplex: Half Circle Forward, Back + X ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Cross Armbar: X (Upper body, face up) Cross Kneebar: A (Lower body, face up) ------------------------------------------------------------- 11. DAVID HOOK Real name: Dale "Apollo" Cook Height: 183 cm Weight: 73 kg From: U.S.A. Spinning back fist - R + Y Roundhouse kick - R + B High kick - R + X Spinning back kick - R + A Hip Toss: Forward, Back + A Clinch Knees: Back, Forward, Back + A ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Cross Armbar: X (Upper body, face up/down) Achilles Hold: A (Lower body, face up/down) ------------------------------------------------------------- 12. TETSUZAN SHINDOH Real name: Mas Oyama Height: 173 cm Weight: ??? From: JAPAN High kick: R + Y Roundhouse kick: R + B Chop: R + X Jump kick: R + A Clinch Knees: Back, Forward, Back + A Neck Throw: Forward, Back + X ======================== Ground submission holds: ======================== Cross Armbar: X (upper body, face up/down) Achilles Hold: A (Lower body, face up/down) ======================================================== ******SECRETS, TIPS, AND TRICKS****** ======================================================== -Unlock Battle Dimension mode: At the title screen press L,R,A,X, Select -Play as the hidden bosses: On the "Battle Dimensions", Exhibition or Versus mode character select screen, hold the L and R buttons while placing the cursor over Asuka then press select ..Asuka's character sprite will now be changed to one of the hidden boss characters. Input the code again to alternate between the other two hidden boss characters. -Fight against Gargantuan Blight: To fight against the hidden boss character Gargantuan Blight, defeat all of the regular fighters in 1P VS COM ASTRAL STEP mode. After defeating the last regular fighter, Gargantuan will then appear as the final opponent. -Fight against David Hook: To fight against the hidden boss character David Hook, defeat the regular fighters in 1P VS COM MEGA BATTLE mode. David Hook will then appear randomly before the end of the MEGA BATTLE TOURNAMENT as a surprise opponent. -Fight against Tetsuzan Shindoh: To fight against the hidden boss character Tetsuzan Shindoh, defeat all of the regular fighters and David Hook in 1P VS COM MEGA BATTLE mode. Tetsuzan Shindoh will then appear as the final opponent. -***Gameshark Code*** Player 2 doesn't move: 7E096E00 ======================================================== ******FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS****** ======================================================== Q: How the heck do I get out of those annoying submission holds?!! A: By holding the L or R buttons while pressing left or right allows your fighter to drag themselves towards the left or right ring ropes to escape your opponent's submission hold. Q: Why do the fighters have weird, altered names in this game? A: This is a common practice in Japanese Wrestling games. The few characters that have altered names were simply not licensed by the real life Wrestlers the characters were based off of; so, fake names were used to avoid paying royalties and avoiding a potential lawsuit. ======================================================== ******SPECIAL THANKS****** ======================================================== I would personally like to thank: {Nintendo} for creating the Super Nintendo and Super Famicom {King Records} for publishing the second installment in the Astral Bout series. {Human Entertainment} for introducing me to the exciting world of Puroresu video games and creating the finest wrestling game series possible ...the Fire Pro Wrestling series. {GameFAQS} for creating and continuing to host the greatest FAQ website of all time. {PuroGeek} for inspiring me to write and contribute my own FAQ. {Emill J Morales & Emerson Bostwick} for providing boss codes, fighter identities, gameplay mechanics and each fighter's special moves. And ...{you}! Thank you for reading my FAQ! ======================================================== ******CONTACT****** ======================================================== Questions, comments, or corrections, email me at: justin.imprint.memory@gmail.com