Kishin Douji Zenki FX: A Lost PCFX Gem From Japan’s Gaming Golden Age

Introduction

In the mid-1990s, when the 32-bit console wars were heating up, NEC’s ill-fated PC-FX console quietly released a handful of titles that would become collector’s items decades later. Among these forgotten treasures is Kishin Douji Zenki FX: Vajura Fight, a vibrant beat ’em up based on the popular anime and manga series that never made its way outside of Japan. Released in 1995 by NEC Home Electronics, this Japan-exclusive title remains one of the most compelling reasons to own a PC-FX system, despite the absence of any English translation for its extensive voiced dialogue.

As a rare but surprisingly enjoyable action game that perfectly captures the essence of its source material, Zenki FX deserves recognition as one of the standout titles in the PC-FX’s limited library. Let’s dive into what makes this obscure gem worth seeking out for dedicated collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts alike.

Developer Background

Kishin Douji Zenki FX was developed by Hudson Soft, a company that had already established itself as a major player in the Japanese gaming industry by the mid-90s. Hudson Soft, founded in 1973, had previously created hits like Bomberman and Adventure Island, and had a strong relationship with NEC, having developed numerous titles for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16.

The game was published by NEC Home Electronics as part of their strategy to support their new PC-FX console with titles that would showcase the system’s strengths, particularly its video capabilities. The development team clearly understood the source material, faithfully adapting the supernatural action of the anime series into an engaging gaming experience.

According to the Hudson Soft historical archive, Kishin Douji Zenki FX represented one of the company’s attempts to leverage popular anime licenses during this era, a common strategy for Japanese developers looking to ensure a built-in audience for new games.

Visual Presentation

The PC-FX was designed with video playback capabilities as a primary selling point, and Kishin Douji Zenki FX takes full advantage of this strength. The game features gorgeous anime-style cutscenes that could easily be mistaken for episodes of the television series. These sequences are frequent and substantial, advancing the story between gameplay segments with impressive voice acting (though, sadly, there has never been an English translation of these voiced segments).

The in-game graphics are equally impressive for the era, with large, detailed character sprites that capture the distinct look of protagonists Zenki and Chiaki. Environments are colorful and varied, ranging from traditional Japanese settings to supernatural realms filled with demonic enemies. The animation is fluid, especially during special attacks, where flashy effects fill the screen in a satisfying display of the console’s capabilities.

As RetroFX Archives notes, “The game stands as one of the most visually impressive titles on the system, showcasing what the PC-FX could achieve when developers properly leveraged its strengths in 2D gaming and video playback.”

Soundtrack and Audio

The game’s soundtrack perfectly complements its supernatural themes, blending traditional Japanese instruments with energetic rock elements that kick in during intense battles. The music shifts dynamically between contemplative exploration themes and pulse-pounding combat tracks. The audio quality is exceptional for a mid-90s console, taking advantage of the PC-FX’s sound capabilities.

What truly stands out is the extensive voice acting featuring the original anime cast. Nearly every story sequence is fully voiced, bringing an unprecedented level of immersion to the experience. This was relatively uncommon for action games of this era, especially with such high-quality performances. It’s a shame that non-Japanese speakers miss out on this aspect of the game, as no fan translation has ever tackled the daunting task of localizing the substantial amount of dialogue.

Gameplay

At its core, Kishin Douji Zenki FX is a side-scrolling beat ’em up with some light platforming elements, but it incorporates several features that set it apart from similar titles of the era. Players can control either Zenki, the powerful demon god with devastating close-range attacks, or Chiaki, the teenage Shinto priestess who relies more on magical abilities and agility.

The combat system features a surprising amount of depth for a mid-90s action game. Beyond the standard combos, both characters can execute special “Vajura” techniques that consume energy but deal massive damage to enemies or provide screen-clearing effects. The game also incorporates a simple but effective upgrade system, allowing players to enhance their characters’ abilities by collecting power-ups throughout levels.

Enemy variety is impressive, with dozens of unique demon designs based on Japanese mythology. Boss battles are particular highlights, featuring massive creatures that fill the screen and require specific strategies to defeat. The difficulty curve is well-balanced, gradually introducing more complex enemy patterns without ever feeling unfair.

John Reynolds of the Retro Replay community offers high praise for the gameplay:

“Kishin Douji Zenki FX doesn’t reinvent the beat ’em up formula, but it executes it with such polish and personality that it deserves recognition alongside genre classics. The boss fights alone make this worth seeking out – they’re some of the most creative I’ve seen in a 32-bit era action game. As a Retro Replay member who’s played through countless obscure Japanese titles, I can confidently say this ranks among the PC-FX’s finest moments.”

Story

The game follows the adventures of Chiaki Enno, a young Shinto priestess, and Zenki, an ancient demon god she can summon. Set in modern Japan, the narrative centers around their efforts to collect powerful artifacts called “Seeds of Evil” before they fall into the hands of Karuma, a malevolent entity seeking to resurrect an ancient evil.

Each level advances the story through gorgeously animated cutscenes, with the relationship between the reluctant partners Zenki and Chiaki providing both dramatic tension and comic relief. The plot is surprisingly engaging for a beat ’em up, featuring multiple antagonists with distinct motivations and several unexpected twists.

The game follows the anime’s continuity fairly closely, but introduces some original elements and characters specifically for the game. Fans of the series appreciated these additions, which expanded the lore without contradicting established canon.

Reception and Legacy

Upon release in 1995, Kishin Douji Zenki FX received generally positive reviews in Japanese gaming publications. Critics praised the game’s presentation and faithful adaptation of the source material, though some noted that the gameplay, while solid, didn’t break new ground for the genre.

The game’s release coincided with the peak popularity of the anime series in Japan, which helped drive initial sales despite the PC-FX’s limited install base. However, as the console itself failed to gain traction against competitors like the PlayStation and Sega Saturn, Zenki FX became increasingly obscure.

Today, the game is primarily known among dedicated collectors and PC-FX enthusiasts, with complete copies commanding high prices on the secondary market. Its status as a rare Japan-exclusive title has only enhanced its mystique among Western collectors.

Interesting Facts

1. Kishin Douji Zenki FX was one of only 62 games ever released for the PC-FX console, making it part of one of the smallest libraries for a major gaming system.
2. The game features over 40 minutes of animated cutscenes, an impressive amount for a mid-90s action title.
3. Unlike many licensed games of the era, the development team had direct input from the anime’s creators, ensuring character designs and story elements remained consistent with the source material.
4. Despite the PC-FX’s 3D capabilities, the development team chose to focus entirely on 2D sprites and backgrounds, resulting in a visually cohesive experience that has aged better than many early 3D titles.

Replay Value

The game offers significant replay value through its dual-character system. Playing as either Zenki or Chiaki provides distinctly different experiences, with unique abilities, attack patterns, and even some character-specific routes through certain levels. A scoring system and unlockable difficulty modes provide additional incentives for multiple playthroughs.

Hidden collectibles scattered throughout levels unlock bonus content, including concept art and special moves. Finding everything requires thorough exploration and mastery of the game’s mechanics, giving dedicated players plenty of reasons to return even after completing the main story.

Conclusion

Kishin Douji Zenki FX represents a fascinating piece of gaming history – a high-quality licensed title on an unsuccessful platform that nevertheless delivered an exceptional experience for those lucky enough to play it. Its beautiful presentation, engaging gameplay, and faithful adaptation of the source material make it one of the PC-FX’s standout titles.

For collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts with an interest in Japanese action games, seeking out this rare gem is worth the effort, even with the language barrier. It stands as a testament to what developers could achieve when they fully understood both their source material and the strengths of their chosen platform.