The Killing Blade FAQ v1.02 by Merlin INTRODUCTION ************ The Killing Blade is a one on one 2D fighting game by IGS from 1997/8. The game is a bit similar to the Samurai Shodown games by SNK. There are 12 characters to choose from and 2 bosses and all are armed with a weapon of some kind except the final boss. I couldn't find an FAQ in English anywhere so decided to make one myself. My hope is that for people starting out playing the game this FAQ will make things a little easier. It's worth noting that IGS did release an enhanced version of this game called The Killing Blade Plus. The main differences in this enhanced version are that you get to pick three characters rather than two and also the bosses are selectable on the character select screen. I haven't actually played it myself so am not sure what other differences there might be between the two versions. STORY ***** After the Mongol invasion of Central China the Yuan Dynasty was founded by Kublai Khan. The people suffered greatly under the Yuan Dynasty with pestilence, floods and drought. There was an unprising by anti-Yuan forces in the central plains and against this background of great turmoil twelve fighters came together in battle. Perhaps there are also sinister forces at work during this time of great strife. GAMEPLAY BASICS *************** Abbreviations Used ------------------ u up d down b back f forward qcf quarter circle forward i.e. d,df,f qcb quarter circle back i.e. d,db,b hcf half circle forward i.e. b,db,d,df,f hcb half circle back i.e. f,df,d,db,b A light punch/slash B light kick C heavy punch/slash D heavy kick Basics ------ Each character has two different strengths of punches and kicks. Press up to jump. You can also jump higher by pressing up twice. Press down to duck. Press backward to move backwards and also to block attacks. Pressing down back will block low attacks. You can block in mid-air and on the ground. Press forward to move forward. Press forward twice to dash in that direction. Press backward twice to dash in that direction. Press towards or away from the opponent and C to throw them. Press B and C together to perform a middle attack. This can hit an opponent who is blocking while crouching. Press A and B together to dodge an attack. Press and hold A and C together to charge your defensive power meter. Press A and D together to tag. Press C and D together followed by a particular series of button presses to perform a special combo. Press A, B and C together to become 'raged'. Press B, C and D together while raged to perform a special attack. Taunts happen automatically once a character has been standing still for a while. Offensive Power Meter --------------------- This is the red meter at the bottom of the screen. It gradually fills up as you perform attacks whether they hit your opponent or not and also as you take damage. When the meter is just under half full it will start flashing and you can tag and therefore switch fighters. Tagging reduces the meter by just under one half. Once the meter is full you will be able to peform one of your character's super moves. Defensive Power Meter --------------------- This is the blue meter at the bottom of the screen just below the offensive power meter. This meter gradually fills up whenever you block your opponent's hits. Also you can charge the meter by pressing and holding A and C together. The character Ling has the unique ability of being able to increase her defensive power meter by taunting her opponent. Once the meter is full you can perform a 'CD combo' which is a special combo. Performing a CD combo will drain the meter completely. Tagging ------- You can switch fighters during a round by tagging. To tag you press A and D together. However you can only tag if your offensive power meter is at least just under half full. Whenever you tag your meter decreases by just under a half. It's possible to start a combo with one character, switch characters and then still carry on with the combo. CD Combos --------- The CD combos are special combos you can perform once your defensive power meter is full. These work in a similar way to the CD combos in Samurai Shodown IV by SNK. When your defensive power meter is full press C and D together followed by a series of button presses to pull off the special combo. Raged Mode ---------- You can press A, B and C at the same time to become 'raged'. This works in a very similar way to the rage explosions in Samurai Shodown IV. You can do this at any point in a round but only once per match. This can be useful when an opponent is attacking you and allows you to escape from a combo. The timer temporarily stops and both the offensive and defensive power meters turn yellow and start to slowly drain. During this time you cannot tag or perform supers. Before the meters have completely drained you can perform a powerful move by pressing B, C and D together. Once the meters have completely drained the timer starts to count down again. Your offensive power meter will stay empty for the remainder of the match so you will be unable to tag or perform supers. Your defensive power meter on the other hand can be filled in the normal way. CHARACTER MOVE LIST ******************* Note: Moves marked with an asterisk can only be performed after another attack has been used first. They can't be used on their own. LONG ---- Age: 24 Weapons: long sword Hobbies: chess ---------- Special Moves qcf + A or C Meteor Light f,d,df + A or C (ground or mid-air) Rising Sword qcb + A or C Sword Dash qcf or qcb + A or B or C or D (mid-air) Aerial Slash Super Moves d,df,hcb + A or C (mid-air) One Hundred Sword Strike d,df,hcb + A or C Shadow Sword Swing * CD Combo C+D, A, A, C, C, D, D, A, C, C, C Notes: The Shadow Sword Swing super move can only be performed immediately after the final hit of Long's CD combo. Long's Aerial Slash moves when pressing A, B or C can all be followed up by an additional Aerial Slash when pressing D. ********** ZHUGE ----- Age: 29 Weapons: knife Hobbies: drinking, revenge ---------- Special Moves qcb + A or C Yan Knife f,d,df + A or C Flying Chop qcf + A or C Shadow Knife qcb + A (mid-air) Arc Moon qcb + C (mid-air) Flame Kick qcf + A or C (mid-air) Diving Slash b,d,db + C Whirlwind Grab * qcf + B or D Wind Kick * Super Moves qcfx2 + A or C Overhead Spinning Blade qcbx2 + A (mid-air) Blade Dance qcbx2 + C (mid-air) Firestorm CD Combo C+D, A, C, D, B, A, C, D, B, A, C Notes: Zhuge's Whirlwind Grab move can only be performed after connecting with a standing C attack first. However it won't work if you are standing too close to the opponent when connecting with the standing C. The Wind Kick move can only be performed immediately after a crouching A. The Shadow Knife move can be followed up by A, C, A, C and then either A or C for some extra hits. ********** YIZHEN ------ Age: unknown Weapons: dharma stick Hobbies: unknown ---------- Special Moves qcf + A or C Whirl Split qcb + A or C Hui Days qcb + B or D Hook Leg Sweep f,d,df + A or C Rising Staff Strike f,d,df + B or D One Hundred Hit Staff b,d,db + A or C Shadow Dive qcb + A or C (mid-air) Extending Staff Strike b,d,db + A or C (mid-air) " " f,df,d + A or C (mid-air) " " qcb + D Wake Up Call * Super Moves d,db,hcf + B or D Hurricane Staff CD Combo C+D, B, B, C, C, D, D, B, C, C, C Notes: Yizhen's Whirl Split, Hui Days and Hook Leg Sweep moves can all be followed up by the Wake Up Call move. The Whirl Split move can be cancelled after the first hit by pressing A. The Rising Staff Strike move is used to counter an opponent's attack. ********** LING ---- Age: 23 Weapons: whip Hobbies: sightseeing ---------- Special Moves qcf + A or C Horsewhip qcb + A or C Jade Belt b,d,db + A or C Rising Tiger Claw qcb + B Charging Attack qcb + D Jumping Shadow Kick qcf + A or C (mid-air) Air Horsewhip Super Moves qcfx2 + A or C Whip of Fire qcbx2 + B or D (mid-air) Sliding Kick Storm CD Combo C+D, B, B, C, C, D, D, B, C, C, C Notes: When Ling taunts her opponent after standing still for a while her defensive power meter increases. ********** TSAN ---- Age: 53 Weapons: two swords Hobbies: meditation ---------- Special Moves qcf + A or C Electric Charge qcf + B or D Drilling Slash b,d,db + A or C Dual Sword Swing b,d,db + B or D Bamboo Slicer qcb + B or D (ground or mid-air) Sky Launcher (followed by A or C OR B or D) qcb + A or C (mid-air) Yan Scissors qcf + B or D Dragon Spin * f,d,df + A or C Spinning Blade * Super Moves d,db,hcf + A or C (mid-air) Meteor Storm CD Combo C+D, A, C, D, B, A, C, D, B, A, C Notes: Tsan's Sky Launcher (when followed up by B or D), Dual Sword Swing and Yan Scissors moves can all be followed up by the Spinning Blade move. The Dragon Spin can only be performed immediately after a crouching A or B or a standing A or B. ********** JINLUN ------ Age: 17 Weapons: metal hoops Hobbies: eating candied fruit, visiting the temple ---------- Special Moves qcf + A or C Throwing Ring qcf + B or D Rotating Back Spin f,d,df + A or C Ring of Fire qcb + C Ring Smasher qcb + B (ground or mid-air) Escaping Jump (alternatively qcf + B in mid-air) qcb + D (ground or mid-air) Eagle Dive (followed by A or B or D to attack or C to cancel) qcb + C Tiger Bite * qcf + D Dragon * Super Moves qcfx2 + A or C (mid-air) Energy Ball Shower CD Combo C+D, A, A, C, C, D, D, A, C, C, C Notes: The Throwing Ring move is enhanced if one or both of the power meters are full. If one meter is full the move does 2 hits and if both meters are full it does 3 hits. The Escaping Jump move is simply a dodging move. The Tiger Bite move can only be used immediately after f + C or C, C. The Tiger Bite move can be followed up by the Dragon move. ********** CHINHU ------ Age: 42 Weapons: two spiked clubs Hobbies: stealing the wages of Yuan soldiers ---------- Special Moves qcf + A or C Roaring Hammer f,d,df + A or C Dual Hammer Smash hcb + A or C Rising Hammer Attack hcb + B or D (close) Tiger Hold Super Moves d,db,hcf + A or C Energy Shockwave CD Combo C+D, B, B, C, C, D, D, B, C, C, C ********** HADES ----- Age: unknown Weapons: book of life and death Hobbies: unknown ---------- Special Moves qcf + A or C Book Of Death qcf + B or D Book Of Death Next Paragraph qcb + A or C Brush Spin qcb + B or D Reverse Shadow Attack (followed by A or B OR C or D) qcf or qcb + A or C (mid-air) Green Phantom qcb + B or D (mid-air) Flying Energy Bolt f,d,df + A or B or C or D (mid-air) Ghost Summoning f,d,df + A or C Raging Fury * Super Moves qcfx2 + A or C Soul Ghost qcbx2 + A or C Ghost Insanity CD Combo C+D, A, C, D, B, A, C, D, B, A, C Notes: The Green Phantom move must be performed close to the opponent when pressing A. It can be used from further away when pressing C. The Raging Fury move can only be used immediately after connecting with f + D. ********** BUTO ---- Age: 54 Weapons: two scimitars Hobbies: meditation, preaching, wandering through the land ---------- Special Moves qcf + A or C (ground or mid-air) Spinning Knife f,d,df + A or C Rising Arc Blade qcb + A or C Sumersault Grab qcb + B or D Cross-Legged Tornado b,d,db + A or C Dual Blade Slicer b,d,db + B or D Fire Sphere (followed by A or C to attack or D to cancel) qcb + B or D Aerial Dive * Super Moves qcfx2 + A or C (ground or mid-air) Spirit Summoning CD Combo C+D, A, A, C, C, D, D, A, C, C, C Notes: Buto's Aerial Dive move can only be used after pressing up twice to jump high. ********** ABACUS ------ Age: 50 Weapons: abacus Hobbies: making money, counting money, hoarding money ---------- Special Moves qcf + A or C Abacus Fire qcb + A or C Flying Yan qcb + B or D Handstand Kick f,d,df + A or C Wheel Slice b,d,db + A or C Ground Fire Sweep b,d,db + B or D Abacus Surprise Attack (followed by B or D to attack OR A or C to cancel) Super Moves qcbx2 + A or C Disembowelment Frenzy CD Combo C+D, A, C, D, A, C, D, A, C, D, C ********** ONISKA ------ Age: 25 Weapons: sword and shield Hobbies: ninjutsu ---------- Special Moves qcb + A Energy Shield qcb + B or D Insect Walking qcb + C (close) Pheonix f,d,df + A or C Rising Ground Slash b,d,db + A or C (ground or mid-air) Crab Knife b,d,db + D Cicada (followed by b or f to control direction) Super Moves d,db,hcf + A or C Shield Energy Wave d,db,hcf + B or D Kamikaze Flurry CD Combo C+D, A, C, D, A, C, D, A, C, D, C Notes: Oniska's Energy Shield move is enhanced if performed while the defensive power meter is full. ********** SHANGUAN -------- Age: 33 Weapons: Guan knife Hobbies: unknown ---------- Special Moves qcf + A or C Guan Knife Thrust f,d,df + A or C Rising Slicing Spin qcb + A or C Blade Cutter qcb + B or D Rotating Blade Frenzy qcb + B or D (mid-air) Diving Lance qcb + A or C Overheard Strike * Super Moves qcfx2 + A or C Flames of Justice CD Combo C+D, A, C, D, A, C, D, A, C, D, C Notes: Five of Shanguan's Guan Knife Thrust moves can be linked together when pressing A and seven if pressing C. The Rotating Blade Frenzy move can be followed up by the Overheard Strike move. ********** THE BOSSES ********** TWIN TARTARS ------------ Special Moves qcf + A or C Duwu f,d,df + A or C Swinging Chop hcb + A or C Death Strike Super Moves d,db,hcf + A or C Ghost Flame CD Combo C+D, A, C, D, A, C, D, A, C, D, C ********** LORD WIZARD ----------- Special Moves qcf + A or C (ground or mid-air) Evil Yan qcb + A or C Evil Yan Shot qcb + A or C (mid-air) Air Evil Yan Shot (followed by b or f to control direction) qcb + B or D (ground or mid-air) Huo-Yen Spin Kick (followed by b or f to control direction) b,d,db + A or C Into The Earth b,d,db + B or D Heaven Super Moves qcfx2 +A or C (ground or mid-air) Evil Magic Power CD Combo C+D, A, A, C, C, D, D, A, C, C, C ********** ENDINGS ******* Long ---- "It's over now..." "So many beauties to make heroes bow..." "What have I got..., what have I got" They say they saw Long helping people like old days, but no one knows where he went. Zhuge ----- "I disguise myself as Lu Tong to tease Confucious" "Hahah... good wine... good poetry, drink up!" Zhuge has exacted revenge for his arm. Now he has hidden himself from the world and enjoys life in nature. Yizhen ------ "Brother, can you tell me more about Blood Clothes sect?" "Talk less, work more!" Yizhen returned to Shaolin temple. He dedicates himself to martial arts and finally becomes one of the 18 Golden Lohan who protect the temple." Ling ---- "Lady it's done!" "For your lover?" "........." "Why am I a Mongolian, and you, a Han. Are we not cursed enemies..?" Ling was the princess of King Nuyang. At that time in China there was rebellion against Yuan dynasty in the central plains. The Yuan dynsty was overthrown in the next ten year. Ling fled to the north with royal family, and no one saw her thereafter... Tsan ---- "Master, you really want to quit?" "My disciple, there are neither eternal friends" "Nor eternal enemies in this world..." "The world is unpredictable, but man is more unpredictable," "You must bear in mind." "Yes, master." Tsan went north and vanished without a trace. In the Hungwu year of Ming dynasty, some one claimed he was his disciple and became a celebrity with the double swords. Jinlun ------ "You swindled food with your skill again, follow me home!" "Master! I just forget to pay, that's all..." Boy Jinlun found the recovery medicine from the Blood Clothes sect. But it didn't work and he never recovered his human form. Chinhu ------ "Hahahah, I hammer them until they cry out for mummy," "How can they beat me?" "Cheers!" Although the Yuan court offered to a position to Chinhu, he refused and continued his Robin Hood lifestyles and fought against the Yuan troops. Hades ----- "The Blood Clothes sect tortured my followers," "And I finally make them pay!" "I must restore the hell school and my country," "I need you all, comrades!" "Abracadabra..." The Judge Hades hid himself in Dali, restored the hell school, and his followers grew in numbers... In autumn 10 years later, he joined the Ming troops led by General Muying to drive out the Tartars (Mongolians). Buto ---- "No one looks alike, no one looks like me" "No lief form looks alike..." "Do you understand?" "Well forget it." Monk Buto regained power and lama in court and received great respect in Yuan court. He was knighted the first pirst of the country and stay in Dadu (todays' Beijing) to disseminate Buddhism. Abacus ------ "Follow me please, sir" "Family affairs, national affairs, world affairs..." "Making money is our affair!" Abacus took up his old job as entrepreneur in the south. Though he was very wealthy, he was mean. Oniska ------ "Hum, Chinese kungfu is really great!" "But..." "My ninja skills are greater!" Oniska returned to Okinawa and stay there during Yung-Le years in Ming dynasty. He accompanied the Japanese diplomatic delegation to China. By that time, he was a silver hair old men. Shanguan -------- "I fought in countless wars, I won so many battles..." "Who else can have attained such a glory? Except me..." "General Shanguan!" General Shanguan was promoted to Marshal for his work in eradicating the Blood Clothes sect. Four years later, he was defeat in combat by Xu Da of Ming sect in Anching. He turned to Chen Yo-Liang and became a member of his staff..." TIPS **** Using the Mame cheat file you can play as the bosses Twin Tartars and Lord Wizard. It's possible to start a match with both power meters already full. In single player mode after you have chosen your characters on the select screen press and hold A and D for both player 1 and 2. The CPU opponent will also start with full power meters. You can repeat this before every match in single player mode. In two player mode both players should press and hold start on the versus screen. Both power meters will be fully charged throughout the match in two player mode but in single player mode after the meters have been drained they need to be charged in the normal way. MISC **** I took a lot of information from a Chinese FAQ for the game so thanks to whoever wrote it. Thanks to Plexo for his useful advice. Thanks to Dixxen for his helpful advice about several moves including Long's second super move and also for the tip about starting a match with full power meters. The English in the characters endings contains a number of spelling and grammatical errors. I decided to leave the endings exactly as they are in the game rather than correct them. The move names are a mixture of a few translated Chinese move names and quite a few I made up. If I find out all the correct move names I'll add them in. It's possible to play The Killing Blade online on Kaillera using emulators such as Mame32++, Final Burn Alpha and Nebula. Please do not put this FAQ on another website or copy any part of it without first asking permission. If anyone has any comments to make about this FAQ then here are my contact details: tjeerd3 yahoo.co.uk VERSION HISTORY *************** v1.00 23/11/09 Initial version. v1.01 26/12/09 Added version history, added a name for Yizhen's super, listed Zhuge's qcb + C (mid-air) special as a seperate move, expanded basics section and slightly rewrote a few parts to improve them. v1.02 19/05/10 Added second super move for Long and additional special moves for Buto and Ling. Added note about Jinlun's Throwing Ring move. Also corrected the super move for Twin Tartars which was written incorrectly. Added tip about how to start the match with full power meters. Added info about how to play as the bosses.