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BATTLE WORLD
Ninja Combat (which began development as Gang Wars 2) was the first belt scroller
beat em up released for the NEOGEO. This genre was still very popular at the arcades
when the NEOGEO system launched, and so SNK was also working on several of their own.
But the coin-op market was so over crowded with these fighters, that in order to stand
out from the crowd, you had to have unique elements and themes. Konami was the master
with Crime Fighters, Turtles, Simpsons, Sunset Riders, G.I. Joe, Cowboys, Mystic Warriors, etc.
In the late 80's/early 90's Konami and Capcom were both top earning coin-op leaders.
And Capcom's Final Fight (released November 1989) was the number one arcade beat em up.
So SNK was working hard on their clone, Burning Fight, and was also developing original
themed beat em ups as well, such as a "zombie apocalypse" themed game Dream Over (later
became Mutation Nation) and a "robot's go crazy" themed" game (Robo Army).
Again, it's important to remember that during this time (the neogeo's launch and
first year of development) the belt scrolling beat em up was the top earning and most
popular genre at the arcades. Yes, just 1 year later, the entire industry changed focus
as the one on one versus fighter took center stage and became the new king. But this
had not yet happened! Which was why SNK put so much time and effort into this genre at
this time.
ENTER SENGOKU
Originally called "Battle World", early screenshots of Sengoku (and Sengoku 2)
actually show the 2 main characters without weapons in their hands. So at some point
during development, it was decided to implement swords for the characters. But while
in Sengoku 1, the characters begin and can progress through the game without weapons,
the final build of Sengoku 2 never has nor allows the players without weapons in hand.
ENTER SENGOKU 2
There are several early screenshots for Sengoku 2 that show the 2 main characters
with bare knuckles. They also show different backgrounds and stages. And we know from
former Gamelord Chad Okada, that Sengoku II originally had 6 stages rather then just 2.
One of the cut stages actually time warped the players back to Sengoku 1. Ok, I was
just making sure you hadn't fallen asleep.
July 1990 -SNK releases Ninja Combat.
February 1991 - SNK releases Sengoku.
May 1991 - SNK releases Burning Fight.
October 1991 - SNK releases Robo Army.
March 1992 - SNK releases Mutation Nation.
February 1993 - SNK releases Sengoku 2.
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