Waku Waku 7

Waku Waku 7
Japanese arcade flyer of Waku Waku 7.
Developer(s)	Sunsoft
Publisher(s)	SNK
Platform(s)	Arcade Sega Saturn Neo Geo Virtual Console
Release date(s)	Arcade JP November 21, 1996 (1996-11-21) NA November 20, 1996 (1996-11-20) Neo Geo JP November 21, 1996 (1996-11-21) Saturn JP June 20, 1997 (1997-06-20) Virtual Console JP April 27, 2010 (2010-04-27)
Genre(s)	Versus fighting
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players simultaneiously
Cabinet	Upright
Arcade system	Neo-Geo
Display	Raster 320 x 224 pixels (Horizontal), 4096 colors

Waku Waku 7 (わくわく7, WakuWaku Sebun) is a SUNSOFT fighting game initially released as an arcade game for the MVS / Neo Geo system in 1996. It was later ported to the Sega Saturn. An arcade-perfect port is included in the 2008 Playstation 2 release, Sunsoft Collection. The Neo Geo version will be ported to the Japanese Virtual Console in April 2010. The game is not a sequel; it is instead named after its seven main characters. It remains the first and so far only Waku Waku game. The word "Waku Waku" is Japanese onomatopoeia for sounds of excitement. It was later ported in a two-in-one game collection titled Sunsoft Collection (サンソフトコレクション), along with Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors, another fighting game developed by Sunsoft.

Plot

"It is said that the person who collects all sevens of the legendary Wheenisian balls will have their dearest wish granted. Those who find one of the balls become obsessed with the ruthless desire to obtain the others, who will be victorious in the bitter battle to become the owner of all the balls. Victory or defeat - it all lies in your hand."

Gameplay

Waku Waku 7 has an irregular feature set for a fighting game of its time, and includes features common to SNK fighting games (four basic attacks, screens zooming, etc.).

• The game has a roster of nine characters (Two of which were available only in the Versus mode of the console ports). Each has a significantly different playstyle and parodies a well-known character from another game.

• Each character has a powerful special move (Referred to as the Harahara movement, or Harahara motion). They had several factors that made them unique, including:
  • They were easy to execute;
  • They needed to be charged. (during which the character concentrates, says something, strikes a pose or blows a fanfare)
  • They were unblockable and difficult to dodge, but could be interrupted while charging.
  • While charging, the game flashes a warning and sounds an alarm.

• Characters could be launched through the screen to hit the other corner, and attacked while on the ground; but could also dodge or attack while getting up.

Characters

Loading screen portraying the seven player characters (arcade / Neo Geo version)

Rai

Rai Bakuoh, a cocky 15-year old boy. In his stage, he practices BMX tricks. Most of his special moves use some sort of dark electric power. He is able to jump very high, and even double-jump. His color is red.

Arina

Arina Makihara, a 17-year old girl with bunny ears, clad in a leotard and short-sleeve jacket. She is said to have learned to fight in an extracurricular compulsory class in high school. She is often seen with her friends and little brother. Orange is her color.

Dandy-J

A treasure hunter hired to go after the Waku Waku balls. In this quest, he's accompanied by his friend's daughter Natsumi Hazama and pet cat "Rampoo" (sometimes mentioned as Ramp or Rump). Dandy-J uses a whip in his battles, with Natsumi and Rump sometimes making single attacks at the opponent. His color is blue.

Mauru

Mauru (known as Marurun in the Japanese version), is a purple forest creature resembling Totoro. He carries a lost little girl named Mugi Rokujoh. He likes fruit and singing [1]. Mauru's play style is similar to Darkstalkers' Sasquatch, with many moves mimicking near-verbatim. His color is green.

Politank-Z

Politank-Z is a tank-mecha of the police department. It is piloted by the Chief and his trusty sidekick, the Mechanic, who is a dog. The Politank is large and slow, making it easy to hit; but is able to deal large amounts of damage. Aquamarine is its color.

Slash

Slash fits the stereotype of a 'cool bishōnen'. He's a calm and collected elf, with light green hair and blue trench coat who battles with a laser sword. Purple is his color.

Tesse

The seventh robot built by Dr. Lombrozo, Tesse was made to cook and keep the house clean. She pursues the Waku Waku gems to achieve her dream of becoming human. She fights using an assorted array of cleaning utensils, electricity attacks, and a syringe. Her color is yellow.

Selectable only in the versus mode

Bonus-kun and Fernandez poised, ready to fight.

Bonus-Kun

A living punching bag whose looks, motives and attacks directly lampoon Ryu from Street Fighter. His origins lie in Galaxy Fight; he was Rouwe's punching bag, until it became alive and was then trained by him. Due to lack of limbs, he cannot crouch or grab opponents. His color is white.

Fernandez

Makaitaitei Fernandez (known as Fernandeath in the Japanese version), is a black sphere with stubby arms, legs and wings, a large grin and an irritating modulated voice. Fernandez is the game's final boss, and is as tall as a skyscraper. Through a variety of magical means, the other characters are enlarged so as to fight him on equal terms. Black is his color.

Music

Waku Waku 7
Soundtrack album by Masato Araikawa
Released	May 7, 1996 (1996-05-07)
Genre	Video Game
Length	55:04
Language	Japanese
Label	Pony Canyon, Scitron Label

The music was composed by Masato Araikawa, who also composed music for Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors. A soundtrack of the music was released by Pony Canyon's Scitron label on May 7, 1996 exclusively in Japan.

Track List

1. わくわく7オープニング
   WakuWaku Seban Ōpuningu/Waku Waku 7 Opening
2. わくわくバトるぜ!(キャラクター選択)
   Waku Waku Batoru ze! (Kyarakutā Sentaku)/An Exciting Battle! (Character Selection)
3. VS画面
   Bi Esu Gamen/VS Screen
4. ライステージオープニング
   Rai Sutēji Ōpuningu/Rai Stage Opening
5. たたかえ!超冒険少年ライ(ライ・ステージ)
   Tatakae! Chō Bōken Shōnen Rai (Rai Sutēji)/Fight! Super Adventure Young Boy Rai (Rai Stage)
6. ポリタンクZステージオープニング
   Poritanku Zetto Sutēji Ōpuningu/Politank-Z Stage Opening
7. ゆけ!ゆけ!ポリタンクZ(ポリタンクZステージ)
   Yuke! Yuke! Poritanku Zetto (Poritanku Zetto Sutēji)/Go! Go! Politank-Z (Politank-Z Stage)
8. アリーナステージオープニング
   Arīna Sutēji Ōpuningu/Arina Stage Opening
9. わくわくがとまらない(アリーナ・ステージ)
   Waku Waku ga tomara nai (Arīna Sutēji)/The Excitement Doesn't Stop (Arina Stage)
10. まるるんステージオープニング
    Marurun Sutēji Ōpuningu/Mauru Stage Opening
11. 思い出の森
    Omoide no Mori (Marurun Sutēji)/Forest of Memories (Mauru Stage)
12. 勝ちテーマ
    Gachi Tēma/Win Theme
13. 負けテーマ
    Make Tēma/Lose Theme
14. ボーナスステージオープニング
    Bōnasu Sutēji Ōpuningu/Bonus Stage Opening
15. やさしくゆるして(ボーナス・ステージ)
    Yasashiku Yurushi te (Bōnasu Sutēji)/Kindly Forgive Me (Bonus Stage)
16. 乱入者来たる!
    Rannyū sha rai taru!/A Challenger Arrives!
17. ダンディーJステージオープニング
    Dandī Jei Sutēji Ōpuningu/Dandy J Stage Opening
18. 陽はまた沈む(ダンディーJステージ)
    hi ha mata shizumu (Dandī Jei Sutēji)/The Sun Also Sets (Dandy J Stage)
19. ティセステージオープニング
    Tise Sutēji Ōpuningu/Tesse Stage Opening
20. ドリーム・ワルツ(ティセステージ)
    Dorīmu Warutsu (Tise Sutēji)/Dream Waltz (Tesse Stage)
21. スラッシュステージオープニング
    Surasshu Sutēji Ōpuningu/Slash Stage Opening
22. 運命の肖像(スラッシュステージ)
    unmei no shōzō (Surasshu Sutēji)/Portrait of Fate (Slash Stage)
23. レリーフ(妖精登場デモ)
    Rerīfu(Yōsei Tōjō Demo)/Relief (Fairy Appearance Demo)
24. フェルナンデスステージオープニング
    Ferunandesu Sutēji Ōpuningu/Fernandez Stage Opening
25. プロローグ・オブ・デス(フェルナンデスステージ)
    Purorōgu obu Desu (Ferunandesu Sutēji)/Prologue of Death (Fernandez Stage)
26. 妖精(妖精デモ)
    Yōsei (Yōsei Demo)/Fairy (Fairy Demo)
27. ライエンディング1
    Rai Endingu Wan/Rai Ending 1
28. ライエンディング2
    Rai Endingu Tzu/Rai Ending 2
29. ポリタンクZエンディング1
    Poritanku Zetto Endingu Wan/Politank-Z Ending 1
30. ポリタンクZエンディング2
    Poritanku Zetto Endingu Tzu/Politank-Z Ending 2
31. アリーナエンディング1
    Arīna Endingu Wan/Arina Ending 1
32. アリーナエンディング2
    Arīna Endingu Tzu/Arina Ending 2
33. まるるんエンディング1
    Marurun Endingu Wan/Mauru Ending 1
34. まるるんエンディング2
    Marurun Endingu Tzu/Mauru Ending 2
35. ダンディーJエンディング1
    Dandī Jei Endingu Wan/Dandy J Ending 1
36. ダンディーJエンディング2
    Dandī Jei Endingu Tzu/Dandy J Ending 2
37. ティセエンディング
    Tise Endingu/Tesse Ending
38. スラッシュエンディング1
    Surasshu Endingu Wan/Slash Ending 1
39. スラッシュエンディング2
    Surasshu Endingu Tzu/Slash Ending 2
40. スタッフロール
    Sutaffu Rōru/Staff Roll
41. コンティニュー
    Kontinyū/Continue
42. ゲームオーバー1
    Gēmu Ōbā Wan/Game Over 1
43. ゲームオーバー2
    Gēmu Ōbā Tzu/Game Over 2
44. ゲームオーバー3
    Gēmu Ōbā Suri/Game Over 3
45. ライ Voice
    Rai Voice/Rai Voice
46. ポリタンクZ Voice
    Poritanku Zetto Voice/Politank-Z Voice
47. アリーナ Voice
    Arīna Voice/Arina Voice
48. まるるん Voice
    Marurun Voice/Mauru Voice
49. ダンディーJ Voice
    Dandī Jei Voice/Dandy J Voice
50. ティセ Voice
    Tise Voice/Tesse Voice
51. スラッシュ Voice
    Surasshu Voice/Slash Voice
52. フェルナンデス Voice
    Ferunandesu Voice/Fernandez Voice
53. ボーナスくん Voice
    Bōnasu-kun Voice/Bonus Kun Voice
54. etc.Voice
    etc. Voice/Etc. Voice
55. S.E.コレクション
    Esu Eto Korekushon/S.E. Collection

See also

• List of fighting games
• Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors
• Astra Super Stars

External links

• Waku Waku 7 at the Killer List of Videogames
• http://grblitz.overclocked.org/waku7faq.htm - Source of some material for this article
• Waku Waku 7 at GameFAQs
• Waku Waku 7 Review from http://neo-geo.com/