Red Earth / War-Zard ウォーザード / Wōzādo

Red Earth, released in Japan as War-Zard (ウォーザード, Wōzādo), is a fantasy-themed 2D fighting game released by Capcom as a coin-operated video game in 1996. It was the first game for Capcom's CP System III hardware, the same hardware which Street Fighter III and its derivatives ran on. After not releasing a home platform for 26 years, it was finally announced on February 20, 2022 that Red Earth would receive its first port ever as a part of the Capcom Fighting Collection on June 24, 2022 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Gameplay

Red Earth features two different game modes: a single-player Quest Mode and a two-player Versus Mode. In Quest Mode, the player chooses from one of the four main characters, and progresses through their character's storyline while fighting against a series of eight computer-controlled adversaries in one-on-one battles (like in the first Street Fighter), gaining experience points during each battle, which are used to improve the character's attack and defense and access new moves. In Versus Mode, two players fight against each other, each using any of the four main characters (including the same character as the other player). Red Earth uses a password feature that allows the player to play the game later on the same skill level their character reached when it ended the last time. The character is able to acquire new abilities depending on the skill level that has been reached.

The fighting system itself is similar to previous Capcom fighting games such as the Street Fighter series with a few key differences. First of all, the vitality gauge of each computer-controlled opponent fought by the player during Quest mode is displayed across the bottom of the screen, and is much larger than the player's own vitality gauge. Also, as the player lands hits on their opponents, various coins and treasure chests come out. Collecting coins provides experience points, while various items can be found in treasure chests such as orbs (used to perform super moves) and food (which replenishes the player's vitality). These elements make the game very similar to a side-scrolling action game rather than a traditional fighting game, similar to Capcom's own adaptation of the Dungeons & Dragons beat 'em up game.

Red Earth is one of the few Capcom games with fatalities. They include splitting the opponent in half, decapitation, artery rupture, organ removal, and limb slicing. It also features multiple endings and hidden endings influenced by the player's actions, given choices (akin to Chun-Li's ending in Street Fighter II), amount of continues used and the manner of killing enemies.

Characters
Red Earth takes place on an alternate version of Earth sometime in the 14th century (the Japanese version states a post-apocalyptic 1999 however) where the world did not experience any technological revolutions or Renaissance and was still in a medieval/mythological state. A new country has risen by the evil Scion, who sends out various monsters to take over the world.

Heroes

The character select screen, from left to right: Tessa, Leo, Mai-Ling and Kenji
Leo (voiced by Daisuke Gōri) - The King of Savalia (Greedia in War-Zard), who was transformed into a half-lion half-man state when an unknown force invaded his kingdom. The three wise men tried to remove the curse but couldn't. Now Leo uses the curse as his strength to "repay his debt to his countrymen" only to return to Savalia and find a large number of people (civilians and soldiers) have been kidnapped, and the monster Hauzer awaiting him.
Kenji (Mukuro in War-Zard, voiced by Yukimasa Kishino) - The head of the Ramon family and leader of the Oniwabanshu, an elite ninja squadron who serve the Shogun of Zipang. When an unknown army of invaders attacks his country with flying blackships, the Shogun orders Kenji to assess the situation. Although Kenji secretly distrusts his Shogun and believes that he may be betraying the country, he goes along with everything during his investigation.
Tessa (Tabasa in War-Zard, voiced by Tomoko Naka) - A female "sorcerologist" who studies the scientific aspects of magic. She lives in Icelarn and excels in the use of magic. When a large series of thunderstorms began occurring in her area, Tessa starts to investigate their cause, believing that they're not natural. When she meets an opponent, she can easily tell everything about him or her, whether the opponent is evil or good.
Mai-Ling (Tao in War-Zard, voiced by Megumi Urawa) - A young talented martial artist from Gora. She finds her hometown in ruins after returning from a martial arts tournament.

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Developer(s) Capcom
Publisher(s) Capcom
Composer(s) Takayuki Iwai
Platform(s) Arcade
Release
JP: October 23, 1996
NA: November 21, 1996
Genre(s) Fighting
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade system CP System III

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