Line #89 VideoGame/SuperChinese


1	[[quoteright:199:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/superchinese.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:199:Meet Ryu and [[strike:Ken]] Jack!]]
3
4	''Super Chinese'' (known as ''Ninja Boy'' outside of Japan) is a little-known series of games developed by Culture Brain, starring young martial artists Jack and Ryu in their quest to protect their home of Chinaland, the world, and eventually the entire universe with the power of kung-fu and the help of an oddball cast of characters.
5
6	''Super Chinese 2'' introduced the unique gameplay that the series is known for, making it one of the earliest {{Action RPG}}s in existence. Eventually more FightingGame elements were brought in with ''Super Chinese World 2'', culminating in an update to the battle system, a VS. Mode, and eventually a spinoff. ''Super Chinese World 3'' had the ability to select from "Command RPG" and "Action RPG" modes, which changed the plot in certain ways. These were also some of the first multiplayer {{RPG}}s in existence, with player one controlling Jack and the other playing Ryu.
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8	The games were the subject of a comic series that ran in ''Magazine/GamePro'' magazine in 1990, as a promotion for the NES version of Super Chinese 2 (called "Little Ninja Brothers" in North America.) The comic gained a small bit of infamy by adapting the entire story of the game until just before the final boss battle, where it abruptly ends with a message telling readers that they'll have to buy the game if they want to see how the story ends.
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10	Sadly, ''Super Chinese'' ran out of steam at the end of the 90's, and Culture Brain has moved on to the CasualVideoGame market. The future of the series is uncertain, though there is the faint hope that [[http://getnews.jp/archives/94767 the company's decision to develop games for the Nintendo 3DS]] will lead to a revival.
11	----
12	!!'''The series consists of the following games:'''
13	* ''Chinese Hero'' (1984, Arcade)
14	* ''Super Chinese''/''Kung-Fu Heroes'' (1986/88, [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem FC/NES]])
15	* ''Vs. Super Chinese'' (1988, Arcade)
16	* ''Super Chinese 2: Dragon Kid''/''Little Ninja Brothers'' (1989/90, [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem FC/NES]])
17	* ''Super Chinese Land''/''Ninja Boy'' (1990, [[UsefulNotes/GameBoy GB]])
18	* ''Super Chinese 3'' (1991, [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]])
19	* ''Super Chinese Land 2: Uchū Dai Bōken''/''Ninja Boy 2'' (1991/93, [[UsefulNotes/GameBoy GB]])
20	* ''Super Chinese World''/''Super Ninja Boy'' (1991/93, [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SFC/SNES]])
21	* ''Super Chinese World 2: Uchū Ichi Budō Taikai'' (1993, [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SFC]])
22	* ''Super Chinese Fighter'' (1995, [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SFC]]): A FightingGame spinoff.
23	* ''Super Chinese Land 3'' (1995, [[UsefulNotes/GameBoy GB]])
24	* ''Super Chinese World 3: Chō Jigen Dai Sakusen'' (1995, [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SFC]])
25	* ''Super Chinese Land 1-2-3’'' (1996, [[UsefulNotes/GameBoy GB]]): Comes with a patched version of 3 with tweaked gameplay balance.
26	* ''Super Chinese Fighter GB'' (1996, [[UsefulNotes/GameBoy GB]]): A port of the original ''Super Chinese Fighter''.
27	* ''Super Chinese Fighter EX'' (1999, [[UsefulNotes/GameBoy GBC]]): A colorized version of the above with new features.
28	* ''Super Chinese 1+ 2 Advance'' (2004, [[UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance GBA]]): Includes ''Suchai Labyrinth'', a MazeGame.
29	----
30	!!'''This series provides examples of:'''
31	* ActionGirl: Lin-Lin, notable for being [[TheSmurfettePrinciple the only female main character]] in the series.
32	* AmazonBrigade: The Planet Angels in ''Super Chinese Land 3'', led by recurring character B.B. Virgo/Virgo Vixen. One member bears a [[{{Expy}} striking resemblence]] to a certain [[Franchise/SailorMoon Pretty Soldier]]...
33	* AnimalJingoism: Vigilante Dog and Vigilante Monkey's 9,999,999-year-old rivalry.
34	* BadassAdorable: Jack and Ryu, of course. Don't you just want to pinch their cheeks?
35	* BelligerentSexualTension: Jack and [[YouGoGirl Lin-Lin]] have the beginnings of one, for example her ''Super Chinese Fighter GB'' ending where [[IWasBeatenByAGirl he pouts over having lost to her]]. They do get along outside of the fighting scene, though.
36	* BlindIdiotTranslation: Lots of it, one example involves the words "Psychic" and "Psyche" being mistranslated as "Scichic" in ''Super Ninja Boy'' and "Psyky" in ''Ninja Boy 2''.
37	* {{Bowdlerise}}: Quite a lot. Notable examples include the Tiger Tank enemy in ''Little Ninja Brothers'' originally having a [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazi motif]] (they're even called "Hittora"), Bongoman in ''Super Ninja Boy'' turning the male population of Edo City into {{Crossdresser}}s instead of just "idle men," and Miss Finny from the same game would send Jack and Ryu to MarshmallowHell.
38	* BringIt: Jack's opening taunt in ''Super Chinese Fighter''.
39	* CallingYourAttacks: In EVERY RPG battle. In ''Super Chinese World 2'' and ''Super Chinese World 3'', this trope also applies to regular battles.
40	* CaptainErsatz: ''Super Chinese Land 3'' introduces four bosses who totally aren't [[Franchise/StreetFighter Fei Long, Dhalsim, Chun-Li]] and [[VideoGame/FatalFury Billy Kane]].
41	* ChefOfIron: Don Chūka, who also has elements of EvilChef.
42	* ChineseVampire: Kyonkyonshī in ''Super Chinese Fighter''.
43	* ComicBookAdaptation: ''Magazine/GamePro'' magazine once ran a short comic series to promote the release of ''Little Ninja Brothers'', the last of which can be found [[http://www.flickr.com/photos/38435815@N07/sets/72157618199687160/ here]].
44	* DefeatByModesty: How the Evil Queen in ''Little Ninja Brothers'' is defeated in the comics adaptation: Ryu shreds her dress and she runs away in embarrassment.
45	* DifficultyByRegion: The difficulty of ''Super Ninja Boy'' is toned down considerably from the original ''Super Chinese World''. For example, one had to go through a Special Stage in order to get to Notruedamus (who is simply right next door to Emperor Chin in the English release); the area in question was relocated much farther along in the game.
46	* DivergentCharacterEvolution: SingleMindedTwins Jack and Ryu began to develop a RedOniBlueOni dynamic and a handful of unique moves during the SNES era. It was bad enough that you couldn't tell which one was talking. (Chances are it's Jack, since Ryu's TheQuietOne.)
47	* EasternZodiac: 12 characters were introduced in ''Little Ninja Brothers'' with this motif - Savior Mouchee Mouse (Rat), Moo-Man/Ragyu (Ox), Savior Rogee Rabbit (Rabbit), [[TheCameo Rick/Ryuhi]] (Dragon), Cheerful Snake Brothers (Snake), The Wise Stallion (Horse), The Wise Ram (Sheep), Vigilante Monkey (Monkey), Princess Leila (Rooster), Vigilante Dog (Dog), and Ms. Oinker/Sweet Lady (Pig).
48	* EverybodyMustGetStoned: A recurring minor plot in the series that started with Cilly City in ''Little Ninja Brothers'', where a town becomes affected by a spell that makes its inhabitants gibber nonsense.
49	* EvilKnockoff: Robotic Jack and Ryu clones appeared in ''Super Ninja Boy'' to terrorize the populace of Athletown. They copy whatever the originals say.
50	* FantasticVoyagePlot: Early in ''Super Chinese 3'', Jack and Ryu must enter Prince Bonbon/Bokuchin's body after he accidentally ingests some [[IntoxicationEnsues mind-altering bacteria]] that Dr. Justice had in his laboratory. Naturally, solving the problem involves beating up a bunch of bad guys.
51	* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Aside from the obvious [[ImperialChina Chinaland]], there's a representative for damn near everything under the sun.
52	* TheFourGods: May be another source of inspiration for Jack and Ryu's names aside from the NamedAfterSomebodyFamous example below. They're written in kanji as 雀 and 龍, both characters used for the names of Suzaku and Seiryuu in their native Chinese. Their ElementalPowers also correspond with the affinities of the two gods ([[PlayingWithFire Fire]] and [[ShockAndAwe Lightning]]). Byakko and Genbu don't seem to have representatives.
53	* FrothyMugsOfWater: The "Pop" you're required to exchange for the Talisman-γ in ''Little Ninja Brothers'' is actually booze.
54	* GameOverMan: Only happens in ''Little Ninja Brothers'', where Mentor would give you the option to continue, get a password or know how many experience is needed to level up. The rest of the games simply send you back to the last Convenience Store visited.
55	* GenreRoulette: A number of dungeons in the series are in the style of a PlatformGame, and boss battles are often turn-based, like a typical EasternRPG.
56	* GigglingVillain: Robo-Doc and his "EEHEEHEEHEE!" in ''Super Chinese 3''.
57	* GlobalCurrency: All of the games use Sen except for ''Super Chinese Land 2'', which uses "Star" instead. Sen actually exists as a unit of currency in Japan, making up 1/100ths of a yen.
58	* GodWasMyCopilot: [[spoiler:Late in ''Little Ninja Brothers'', it's revealed that Mentor is a heavenly being called Ten-Jin The Great.]]
59	* GottaCatchThemAll: Type A. {{Cosmic Keystone}}s come in sets of [[LuckySeven seven]] or eight!
60	* GratuitousForeignLanguage: Gratuitous Chinese is used exclusively in ''Super Chinese 2''. It's most apparent with the shopkeepers, who greet you with "Ni hao" and thank you for your patronage with "Xie xie."
61	* GuideDangIt: The manual of ''Kung-Fu Heroes'' does not tell you how to equip the Sword once you find it (it's A+B with any d-pad direction held). Since some enemies can only be killed with the Sword, meaning you most likely need to use it to finish the game with your sanity intact, this is quite the glaring omission.
62	* HollywoodToneDeaf: Ryu is supposedly said to be tone deaf in the [[AllThereInTheManual instruction manual]] for ''Super Chinese World 2'', even though he's always had the exact same voice as Jack when applicable.
63	* HonestAxe: ''Little Ninja Brothers'' plays this straight, where you can obtain the [[PenultimateWeapon Golden Claw]] at the town of Shorin. You have to throw the Iron Claw into the lake twice, however - it gets stuck in the Wise Ram's head and then returned to you after the first attempt.
64	* HopelessBossFight: The first Nargi encounter in ''Super Ninja Boy'' and Shubaban's surprise attack at the beginning of ''Super Chinese World 2''.
65	* HostileShowTakeover: Robo-No-Hana's dream is to become the main character by defeating Jack and Ryu.
66	* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: The initial mindset of Princess Animal in ''Super Chinese 3''. Luckily, she softens up after the heroes prove themselves by saving Animal Town.
67	* HyperactiveMetabolism: Sweet Buns (''anman'') and Meat Buns (''nikuman'') are the staple HP-recovering items in the series. ''Little Ninja Brothers'' takes this literally, as the heroes are capable of [[BalloonBelly stuffing themselves silly]] and only require a little bit of walking to return to their normal weight. The [[VideoGameRemake remake]] has a weight-lifting minigame instead, but it's still a speedy process.
68	* IdenticalStranger: Leah in ''Super Chinese World 3'' is the spitting image of Lin-Lin, which becomes a minor plot point early on when the latter is mistaken for the former.
69	* ImAHumanitarian: Tub-A-Tummy kidnaps some people from Deli-Chous to fatten up and later eat them; he plans to do the same to Jack and Ryu after [[ForcedTransformation turning them into]] [[NightmareFuel still-sentient meat buns]].
70	* InconsistentDub: Culture Brain had some problems with this for certain characters' names.
71	* JamesBondage: Poor, poor Emperor Chin.
72	* LastOfHisKind: Shubabān is the sole remnant of the Shubaban Empire, which once ruled the galaxy with an iron fist. (And was possibly a PlanetOfSteves.)
73	* LionsAndTigersAndHumansOhMy: There's also aliens, robots, and even a guy with a water jug for a head.
74	* TheManBehindTheMan: It took until ''Super Chinese World 2'' before we see Gingara-Maō, the REAL leader of the Galands.
75	* MirrorBoss: ''Super Chinese World 3'' has one where you face copies of either Jack, Ryu or Lin-Lin.
76	* MultipleEndings: ''Super Chinese World 3'' is the only title with multiple endings. There are at least 5 total, though most of them consist of mode-specific variations involving Shubabān and Shun.
77	* MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours: The series runs on this trope.
78	* NakedPeopleAreFunny: The mayor of Cilly City and his subordinates strip nude as a result of the Evil Queen's curse. In ''Super Chinese 2'', they wonder what Jack and Ryu think of their bodies instead of making animal sounds like in ''Little Ninja Brothers''. (For example, the woman refers to her "impressive jugs.")
79	* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: Jack and Ryu are named after Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee - the latter by way of his nickname of "The Dragon." There's also Jacky and Lee in ''Super Chinese''.
80	* NoCommunitiesWereHarmed: The map of Chinaland in ''Little Ninja Brothers'' closely resembles that of real-world China, to the point where the locations of cities are practically identical. Hynen corresponds with Hainan Island, Deli-Chous is Guangzhou, Cilly City is either Shanghai or Hangzhou, etc.
81	* OhMyGods: Prince Bonbon/Bokuchin in ''Super Chinese 3'' would exclaim "Oh my Buddha!" if you lost a boss battle.
82	* OlderAlterEgo: Jack and Ryu acquire the "Hyper Chinese" ability in ''Super Chinese World 2'', allowing them to temporarily become more powerful teenagers. Also counts as NextTierPowerUp because it's obtained at the beginning of the game, the only requirement being at level 3. The Hyper Chinese form is the default in ''Super Chinese World 3'', but it's still not permanent.
83	* PowerFist: The main weapon of choice, though swords and other miscellaneous temporary weapons can be used. Later games added [[ArmedLegs equippable shoes]] that increased the power of kick attacks.
84	* PublicDomainSoundtrack: At least three have been used - The "Infernal Galop" movement of Jacques Offenbach's ''Orpheus in the Underworld'' (popularly known as the "Can-Can"), Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's ''Scheherazade'' and even United States patrotic song ''Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean''.
85	* RecurringRiff: Let's just say that the series liberally makes use of this trope; the biggest offender being ''Super Chinese World 3'', with only about three tracks unique to it.
86	* RivalsTeamup: Shubabān will join the party in ''Super Chinese World 3'''s Command RPG Mode. [[spoiler:He still becomes a party member in Action RPG Mode, only under the guise of Shun.]]
87	* SchrodingersPlayerCharacter: Before ''Super Chinese World 2'', playing solo would essentially remove Ryu from existence unless he gets called on to assist in boss battles. References to him are still made within the dialogue, causing some awkwardness.
88	* SealedEvilInACan: [[spoiler: Dimetron in ''Super Chinese World 3'', within Leah's Aura Pendant.]]
89	* ShesAManInJapan: "Mistress" Banko in ''Little Ninja Brothers'' and Serpent Medusa in ''Ninja Boy 2''.
90	* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: In ''Super Chinese World 3'', Jack and Ryu's grandpa cracks a joke about Lin-Lin and Leah being their wives. Jack blushingly protests that they're too young to be married.
91	* SlippingAMickey: ''Little Ninja Brothers'' has the heroes eat drugged food prepared for them by the mayor of Deli-Chous (actually a disguised Tub-A-Tummy). This may also happen in ''Super Chinese Fighter'''s Adventure Mode by means of paralysis-inducing ramen, [[CharacterSelectForcing leaving only Robo-No-Hana usable for the following battle]].
92	* StayInTheKitchen: Jack and Ryu attempt this approach on Lin-Lin in ''Super Chinese World 3'' when she tries to join them in Action RPG Mode. Ryu ends up accepting her help more readily than Jack, who [[BreakingTheFourthWall breaks the fourth wall]] by complaining about his main character status being compromised. This doesn't happen in Command RPG mode, because they witness her strength first-hand.
93	* TheStinger: ''Super Chinese World'' has a short scene involving Gingara-Maō's theft of the Auraballs and Marvel Box (leading to the events of the following game), which was removed from ''Super Ninja Boy''.
94	* TagalongKid: Prince Bonbon/Bokuchin in ''Super Chinese 3'' insists on hanging around Jack and Ryu long after the capital city is saved, much to their chagrin. [[TheLoad Most of his attacks are ineffectual and he tends to cause trouble]], but every so often he does something right. At least he's treated as the series [[TheChewToy Chew Toy]].
95	* VideogameCrueltyPotential: Keep in mind that neither player is FriendlyFireProof... It's fun to toss enemies into enviromental hazards such as lava and spikes, too!
96	* WarpWhistle: The Whirly Bird in ''Little Ninja Brothers'' could take you to any previously visited town. Subsequent games replaced it with the spells Magiport (which only returns you to the last visited Convenience Store) and Magidoor (allows a quick escape from dungeons).
97	* WesternZodiac: There's a set of characters with this motif who made their debut in ''Super Chinese 3'' - Dr. Justice (Aries), Oldman Taurus (Taurus), Ninja Gems (Gemini), Kanimaru (Cancer), Ikōga Shishi-no-Shin (Leo), B.B. Virgo/Virgo Vixen (Virgo), Gangu-Ō (Libra), Samurai Scorpio/Samurai Happy (Scorpio), Chief Arrowhead (Sagittarius), Sheriff Baa (Capricorn), Fortune Teller (Aquarius), and Merman (Pisces).
98	* YourFavorite: In the opening of ''Super Chinese Fighter'', Lin-Lin prepares mapodōfu with egg foo young for Jack and Ryu following their sparring session.

Context VideoGame / SuperChinese