Battle Arena Toshinden 2

Battle Arena Toshinden 2

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Founded	1995
Founder	Tamsoft
Parent	Takara (publisher)

Battle Arena Toshinden 2, known in Japan as Toshinden 2 (闘神伝2), is a fighting video game developed by Tamsoft and released by Takara in 1995. Unlike its predecessor Battle Arena Toshinden, which was only available on home consoles, this sequel initially appeared as a coin-operated arcade title running on Sony's ZN-1 hardware in November 1995, with distribution handled by Capcom. It was later adapted for both the PlayStation and Windows platforms.

This installment brought faster-paced combat and introduced the Overdrive meter mechanic. The character lineup expanded with newcomers Chaos and Tracy, while former boss Gaia returned without his armor, effectively reducing his status. Critics generally responded favorably, though some pointed out that enhancements in gameplay and visual presentation were modest compared to the original. A revised PlayStation edition, named Plus, was released exclusively in Japan, featuring refined gameplay and improved graphics. Meanwhile, Battle Arena Toshinden URA (Ultimate Revenge Attack), a sequel exclusive to the Sega Saturn, followed Toshinden S / Remix and introduced new fighters, story arcs, and unique content distinct from Toshinden 2.

Gameplay

The fundamental mechanics closely resemble those of the original Battle Arena Toshinden, with the addition of a straightforward combo system and an 'Overdrive' energy bar. Adjustments were made to the 3D movement system to enhance balance; notably, dodge rolling no longer provides temporary invulnerability as it did previously. Players can now execute attacks against opponents while they are downed. Ring outs occur when a fighter is knocked outside the arena boundaries; if both combatants fall simultaneously, victory is awarded to the player who fell last.

Battle Arena Toshinden 2

The final confrontation between Eiji Shinjo and Gaia at the conclusion of the previous Toshinden Tournament was unexpectedly cut short. Only the competitors and members of the Secret Society—the tournament's organizers—are privy to what truly happened.

Gaia, a member of the "Divine Four" within both the Secret Society and Gerard Foundation, intended to use the tournament as a means to unite fighters against the Secret Society's leader known as the Master. Disappointed by the Master's authoritarian rule rather than protection from ancient adversaries, Gaia aimed to depose him.

Breaking from traditional deadly dueling, Gaia invited skilled martial artists from ordinary society to demonstrate their abilities in a format more appealing to spectators. Despite these efforts, he failed to enlist any Toshinden warriors, alienating them through either intimidation or enigmatic propositions. His rival Uranus, also part of the Divine Four, revealed Gaia’s treachery to Master, resulting in Gaia’s banishment.

One year later, Uranus issues ominous summonses to former participants and perceived threats alike, compelling their return to uncover hidden secrets at this clandestine underground gathering.

Battle Arena Toshinden URA

Following the events of the initial Toshinden title, police scientist Ronron develops an android fighter called the Replicant, designed in likeness of Sho Shinjo—the world’s premier combatant. However, before completion, this prototype is stolen. Concurrently, a series of brutal killings targeting renowned fighters raises suspicion among Toshinden participants. A mysterious figure named Ripper searches for Sho Shinjo, suspecting Sho’s involvement in his sister’s disappearance. Each clue ties Ripper to multiple crime scenes, positioning him as a key suspect within a larger conspiracy entangling Toshinden warriors.

Characters

All returning fighters from the previous PlayStation installment appear again in Toshinden 2:

• Eiji Shinjo - Fueled by his unfinished battle against Gaia and a need to validate his strength, Eiji enters the new Battle Arena Toshinden tournament with heightened resolve.
• Kayin Amoh - Discovering that Sho was responsible for his adoptive father's death, Kayin takes in Sho's orphaned daughter Naru and competes to dismantle the Secret Society and protect her.
• Sofia - Driven by clues about her enigmatic origins and their link to the Secret Society, Sofia participates in the tournament seeking both answers and a remedy for their affliction.
• Rungo Iron - Conflicted between feelings of betrayal and conscience after his family’s abduction, Rungo accepts the tournament challenge aiming to confront Gaia and reveal concealed truths.
• Fo Fai - Making a comeback following an early defeat, this seasoned assassin displays an unusually cheerful attitude, raising curiosity about his true intentions.
• Mondo - Motivated by client demands and a desire to atone for previous shortcomings, Mondo enters determined to secure victory on his own terms.
• Duke B. Rambert - Haunted by past defeats and linked mysteriously to Uranus, Duke joins the competition in search of redemption.
• Ellis - Struggling with shock upon learning that Gaia is her father, Ellis battles inner turmoil but participates as her father’s life hangs in the balance.
• Gaia - After failing his mission, Gaia isolates himself, discarding his Armor Basara to intensify training for a direct clash with Uranus and affirm his standing within the Secret Society.
• Sho Shinjo (hidden boss) - Known by the aliases "Etranger" and "Blood Drenched Red Angel," Sho observes from the shadows, awaiting a challenger worthy of facing him.

Introduced newcomers include:

• Chaos - A near-deranged Sri Lankan Secret Society executive assigned to eliminate Gaia; wields a scythe paired with a Genbu Shield.
• Tracy - A resolute NYPD officer investigating the fate of Gaia’s late wife and child; fights using twin tonfas.
• Uranus (sub-boss) - A merciless executive of the Secret Society dubbed 'angel of death'; armed with a Suzaku bow.
• Master (final boss) - The Secret Society's leader who possesses psychic powers capable of worldwide domination; employs psychic attacks alongside a summonable broadsword.
• Vermilion (hidden final boss) - An enigmatic gunslinger equipped with a long-barreled shotgun and revolver.

Toshinden URA introduces four exclusive fighters—Ripper, Ronron, Replicant, and Wolf—who replace Gaia, Chaos, Uranus, and Master from the original roster.

Development and release

This installment features intricately designed backgrounds utilizing 2D parallax scrolling reminiscent of Tekken 2, contrasting with the more three-dimensional settings of the original Battle Arena Toshinden. Takara initially planned an arcade debut for late 1995. Capcom managed the arcade version exclusively, marking their first venture into 3D fighting games before producing Star Gladiator and Street Fighter EX, both developed on hardware identical to that used for Battle Arena Toshinden 2.

Battle Arena Toshinden URA builds upon the original game but introduces modified gameplay mechanics, new fighting stages, an alternate storyline, a CGI introduction, pre-rendered cutscenes, and four unique characters (Ripper, Ronron, Replicant, Wolf) who replace four originals (Gaia, Chaos, Uranus, Master). The acronym "URA" also holds combat-related significance in Japanese.

The Windows port was handled by American developer Kinesoft, adapting the PlayStation version with arcade-quality visuals at higher resolutions and enhanced control customization beyond just shoulder buttons. It includes saving unlocked fighters and configurations but excludes the introductory cinematic.

Book bonus disc

Like the original, Toshinden 2 was accompanied by an official strategy guide that included a supplementary PlayStation CD-ROM. This bonus disc contained computer-controlled battle demonstrations and unlockable alternate costumes such as Eiji wearing a school uniform, Ellis sporting a sailor skirt, and Sofia appearing in a translucent form, with Ellis serving as a vocal referee. Players could insert this disc into the main game to activate these additional features.

Soundtrack

The game's music was composed by Yasuhiro Nakano and Fumio Tanabe, with Yasuhiro Itoh credited for the opening theme. The PlayStation edition presented enhanced audio tracks that differed from the arcade version’s soundtrack. Sony Records released the official soundtrack CD on April 21, 1996. Additionally, NEC Avenue issued an arranged album titled Power to the Techno Groove on November 21, 1996, featuring reinterpretations by Dota Ando, Yoshiyuki Ito, Naoyuki Horiko, Kiyoshi Yoshikawa, and Hiroshi Iizuka.

Commercial performance

In February 1996, Game Machine magazine listed Battle Arena Toshinden 2 as the tenth highest-grossing arcade title in Japan.

For the PlayStation platform, sales reached 435,712 copies in Japan and 133,491 units in the United States, amounting to a combined total of 569,203 copies sold. The Saturn release, Battle Arena Toshinden URA, sold 13,432 units during its first week in Japan. This brought the aggregate home console sales across Japan and the U.S. to at least 582,635 units.

Reviews

Overall, critics regarded Battle Arena Toshinden 2 as a step forward from its predecessor but still inferior when compared to contemporaries such as Virtua Fighter 2 and Tekken 2. Electronic Gaming Monthly complimented its visual presentation and the addition of Vermillion but noted it did not surpass Virtua Fighter 2. Next Generation acknowledged improvements in graphics and move sets but criticized its limited gameplay depth and slower pace relative to competitors. The arcade version was also considered disappointing due to its close resemblance to the PlayStation release.

In contrast, Hyper magazine awarded it pick of the month status, praising smoother graphics and enhanced arcade gameplay. Game On! USA highlighted faster pacing compared to the original game. Rich Leadbetter of Maximum appreciated the new characters’ contribution but advised waiting for Tekken 2 because of its more polished gameplay. Despite graphical upgrades, GamePro pointed out restricted combo options and superficial fighting mechanics. IGN cited choppy animation sequences and difficult camera angles, ultimately deeming the title average.

Patrick Baggatta from Game Players lauded the detailed backgrounds and character designs while noting ongoing issues with animation fluidity and controls. Another reviewer described the game as competent yet uneven with limited strategic depth. Jer Horwitz of Intelligent Gamer's Fusion praised the PC version’s faster gameplay and character aesthetics but criticized repetitive music tracks, camera difficulties, and downgraded background visuals.

Reviews for Battle Arena Toshinden URA

The reception of Battle Arena Toshinden URA was predominantly negative. Although it featured high-resolution textures, many reviewers found its graphics to be muddy and animations choppy. The introduction of the character Ronron was met with widespread disapproval. Significant gameplay flaws included glitches such as AI opponents running away or falling off the stage, poor collision detection systems, and severe character imbalances where instant knockout moves compromised match duration and diminished special attacks’ effectiveness. Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot described sluggish controls paired with weak combo execution; Dan Hsu from Electronic Gaming Monthly considered it more style than substance. According to Next Generation, the game could be easily defeated through button mashing alone. Overall scores from GamePro were low, labeling it inferior to earlier series entries. Releases within PAL regions faced similar criticism for subpar graphics and shallow gameplay amidst stronger competition.

Toshinden 2 Plus

Released exclusively in Japan on August 9, 1996 by Takara under The Best label (Japan’s equivalent to Greatest Hits), Toshinden 2 Plus, developed by Tamsoft for PlayStation, offered enhanced visuals along with refined control mechanics. Adjustments were made to CPU difficulty levels and character balancing for improved gameplay experience. Additional features included saving match outcomes, customizable options settings, and unlocking characters via memory cards.

On November 22, 2016, Tamsoft reissued this edition digitally on the Japanese PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3, PSP, and Vita platforms under license from Takara Tomy.

External links

• Tamsoft official site: BAT2+
• Archived page of Playmates Interactive Entertainment, Incorporated: [1]
• Archived Kinesoft Development Corp. website: [2]
• Archived Gamebank information page: [3]
• Archived Cyberfront Corporation product page: [4]