Battle Circuit
Capcom's final arcade beat 'em up, set in a futuristic sci-fi world.
Battle Circuit is a 1997 beat 'em up game developed and published by Capcom for arcades. Set in an alternate future Earth, it follows bounty hunters pursuing the mad scientist Dr. Saturn and a computer disc containing the "Shiva System." It was Capcom's last arcade beat 'em up and initially released only in Japan and Europe, later appearing in home console compilations.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Capcom
- Producer
- Noritaka Funamizu; Yoshiki Okamoto
- Designer
- Ken Kun; Tomoshi Sadamoto
- Composer
- Syun Nishigaki
- Genre
- Beat 'em up
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Arcade system
- CP System II
- Platforms
- Arcade
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Battle Circuit supports up to four simultaneous players, each choosing from five characters. Players progress through horizontally scrolling levels, defeating enemies with a combination of attacks and movement abilities. Each character can expand their arsenal by purchasing upgrade discs with coins earned from defeated enemies after completing a level. Techniques are performed using the two action buttons and the joystick. An enemy is knocked out when its health bar reaches zero; a player knocked out loses a life, and the game ends if all lives are depleted unless more credits are inserted. Pressing both action buttons while on the ground executes a super move that drains life on contact; when two players perform super moves simultaneously, a team-up attack with greater crowd control occurs. Battle Downloads are special techniques activated by pressing both action buttons while jumping, granting the player and allies a unique attribute—for example, Cyber Blue's Power Up increases damage, and Yellow Iris's Speed Up boosts attack speed. Characters start with two such techniques per life and can collect more from capsules, up to a maximum of five. Destructible objects like barrels and crates contain items that restore health or add score points. Reaching a score threshold awards an extra life.
Plot
In the year 20XX, super-powered bounty hunters apprehend criminals in Neo Koba. The game begins with the player capturing Doctor Saturn and his blob-like sidekick aboard his spacecraft. Afterward, the bounty hunter is assigned by employer Harry to capture Johnny of the Delete Gang, who possesses a floppy disk containing the Shiva System, a program capable of controlling all computerized systems worldwide. Players travel through various levels fighting Delete Gang enemies to obtain the disc and claim their bounty.
Characters
Battle Circuit offers five playable characters, each with unique attacks and a Battle Download ability. Their real names appear in the opening demo, but they are mostly known by codenames indicating physical attributes and colors. Brian Bruno (Cyber Blue) is a seasoned bounty hunter with cybernetic attachments that allow him to discharge electricity and project energy; he cameos in Project X Zone 2. Andrey Mishucin (Captain Silver) can stretch and shape his body, project ice particles, and create objects from his suit, though his powers may overwhelm him if he loses concentration. Diana Martines (Yellow Iris, called Yellow Beast in Japanese) is a part-time fashion model with feral appearance, clawing techniques, and a whip, accompanied by her pet fox Fin; she appears as a DLC costume for Felicia in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Pinky (Pink Ostrich) is a large sentient pink ostrich with an eye patch and jewel necklace, always with her owner Pola Abdul; she is said to be the only ostrich that can fly, using aerial and spinning attacks. Unknown (Alien Green) is an alien resembling a venus flytrap with leglike roots, a lizardlike growth, and a large eye in its abdomen; it attacks with vinelike arms, creating whirlwinds and slamming opponents.
Development
Battle Circuit was initially developed as an unreleased racing game for up to eight players with artwork by Haruki Suetsugu. In 1997, a new version was created by producers Noritaka Funamizu and Yoshiki Okamoto. Stylistically, it employs a manga-style science fiction approach, with character artwork by Ikeno Metaka overseen by Ohnishi Hiroki and Yamamoto Kouji, featuring elements reminiscent of older Capcom characters and comic book elements. The game was translated quickly for simultaneous release in Japan and parts of Europe; no gameplay differences exist between versions, though some Japanese dialogue was omitted from the European release. It was not released in North American arcades. Capcom initially stated no home console release was planned, but it appeared in Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle on September 18, 2018, for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Windows. The background music, composed by Syun Nishigaki, features pop and electronic themes recorded with synth-based computer-generated sound on the CPS-2. An official soundtrack was released in Japan by Victor Entertainment on July 2, 1997. Pinky borrows moves from Zelkin of Star Gladiator.
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