Impressions and General Tips

[Gaiden]

First off, I gotta say I was very impressed with this game. Lots of nice touches from slacking in class, looking out the window to smokin' a butt with your boys after a beatdown. It's a high school-life simulator like a Persona game mixed with classic River City Ransom combat. But best of all is definitely the story events tucked away as the school days go on. It's probably going to take some time for everyone to pitch in and figure out all of its secrets. So here's what I got:

Early tips - in the beginning it's hard not to get the crap beaten out of you without your crew so grab your gang before heading out. Goro is on the roof, Masaru usually in front of the school - sometimes on the roof. Shiro is often in the first classroom - floor 3. He can sometimes be found on floor 2 as well. The "green" and "white" shirt gangs are neutral so you can go for an easy victory if you group up with them. Always be looting bodies. Getting knocked out is risky because you lose quite a bit of time and it can sometimes throw off your routine. Also, don't study too late into the early morning hours or you will be forced to sleep very late into the next day - possibly missing school and/or your training regime at various gyms.

Sleep - develop good habits - or don't. But getting a full nights rest will restore all your health, priming you for tomorrow's gang wars. I liked going to bed by 1 am - getting up at 7 gives you time to run to the gym for some reps before class starts.

Money - You can pilfer off of other gang fights - so sit back, light up, and watch the other punks duke it out before taking their money. You can also work part time at the video store. Look at the flier outside your apartment and then work M, W, F at noon for a quick 4k. If you miss your shift twice you're fired though so be careful at least in the beginning when money is tight. A great place to grind in the evenings is by the bar. Cycle screens until the mobs appear and then just pick off the stragglers. Bait kicking tends to work really well until you learn some new moves.

Training:

Gym - I don't know if you need the 30k or not to join the gym. After talking to the owner enough he just let me start training - never took my money so maybe a bug. Each session gives you +25 HP. Life maxes out at 999. You can also train at the park doing pull ups and squats. 3 HP per exercise first but eventually scales to 9 HP as you get stronger.

Mechanic - Not sure if this is triggered by enough days going by or not but if you get beat up in the forest, the mechanic will save you and you can then train with him. 4 moves.

Boxing Arena - After a certain event, becomes available to train. 4 moves.

School Gymnasium - Again, not sure what triggers but possibly after you've learned all of the other movesets from the other trainers - mid to late game. Teaches a bunch of rad moves to grapple opponents.

Academics - Two classes per day (see schedule on first floor). During class, actively writing the whole time nets you the largest increase in the "know" stat for that subject. Hold the "punch" button - don't slack and stare out the window - although that's cool too on some days.
If you read all of the books in the library you can gain the speed reading ability which allows for a larger bonus. This also increases you stat bonus during home study from the initial 1% to 2%. Often, a day of total home study will net you far more "know" stats than attending school, ironically. Tests are Saturdays. If you pass with A's and B's, you can get a scholarship of 10k. I was getting A's and B's by about 50% "knowledge" of all subject matter. Straight A's will allow you to do research papers (2) for an additional 10k per paper - but they take a long time to complete.

Food - This one is a bit of mystery still to me. Two burgers will get you sated. Three will get you nice and full. Not sure how it effects combat but I'm guessing it might act similarly to vitality/defense - you might be able to take more hits. I spent most of my playthrough starving and chain-smoking and didn't die. However, I did lose weight... no surpise.

Hobbies - You can buy and read books from the store. Not sure if they increase stats but reading them all nets you an achievement. Speed reading helps a lot with this. You can read while sitting - park bench, cafe, burger joint, etc. Buying a TV lets you buy movies from the store. Watching certain movies will teach you special moves. Watching with friends is more fun - in between smoke breaks on the patio. You can also buy a Famicom and play one game - although I couldn't finish playing it so not sure if any stat gains. You can buy a ping pong table from the coach in the gymnasium in the mornings. It will be on the roof the following day where you can play a sweet mini game with your friends. You can play pool at the bar and also poker on the machine for cash. You can also amusingly drink until the screen is blurry and then go for some drunken brawls.

Unsolved Mysteries - I really wanted a girlfriend. I never got one. But it may be possible? Aiko seems like a winner. The mysterious "light blue" dudes that chill under the bridge. Always happy to light me up but never saw them fight. I did destroy them late game - for science - but no repercussions that I'm aware of. That cool karate kid impersonator outside my apartment with the bandana - he must have a story? The two silent chicks in homeroom that won't give me the time of day. The golden chain. And probably loads more secrets just waiting to be unearthed.

There's some really great dialogue and a pretty deep story if you give this game a chance. It's a bit of a slow start but it really picks up steam toward the end and you'll find yourself generally caring about the characters and their life choices. There are some extremely cool moments - some of the best I've seen in a beat 'em up. What other game can you beat the snot out of rival gangs, have a comrade light up your cigarette for you, and then thug-walk to the cafe for some ramen? And that ending... you'll have to see for yourself!

[shin-yeo]

> The boxing gym segment reminded me very much of a cross between Ippo

I'm a huge fan of Ippo actually. And I designed Watanabe to resemble Kamogawa visually.

It's hard to make real boxing experience in 2D. But I'll try. Haven't decided on aesthetics yet. But I'll give it a try someday (maybe tomorrow day...)

[DonnieLove]

I'd say just limit strength somehow when wearing gloves. That'd be how I would do it. Either that, or jack up HP ten-fold while in the ring like a temporary buff to simulate the padding effect of the gloves. But hey, I'm not a coding wizard so I don't know just how difficult either of those suggestions really are.

I'd also totally leave kicks in but make it a disqualifier if used, because honestly, I think trying to take them out would be way harder after they're pretty much hardcoded in the game. Plus, realism. Seen it happen before, kickboxers (especially Muay Thai kickboxers) tend to want to throw those legs the second they get in a match. Force of habit can be hard to break.

[Big Trader]

Great game i wish i could find a gf in da game Q_Q

[128th]

Originally posted by Big Trader:

Great game i wish i could find a gf in da game Q_Q

Bros before hoes.

[Gentle Soul]

I saw ken fighting with RIngo in the trailer video. Is it possible? Can Ken join the party?
Also any sucess in finding girlfriend Aiko or Mariko(dont know if i spelled it correct)?

[One World]

Hey,

I can't seem to trigger the scenario where it allows me to start learning moves from the mechanic?
I'm not sure which one is the forest aforementioned in the guide.

Please help!

[Dechtsu]

How can i press skill " Flying Knee"?
I've learned skill already but I can't press button [forward+jump+kick]
Not the same as "Flying Elbow" which easy to press button

[Retro]

that boxing thing would probably bring a whole slew of new people to purchase this game, there was that one PIXEL game that revolved around underground pit fighting like fight club..but i feel it'd be better with this game. I'd pay for a DLC of it.

[Luiz_Alex007]

Originally posted by Gaiden:

Hobbies - You can buy and read books from the store. Not sure if they increase stats but reading them all nets you an achievement. Speed reading helps a lot with this. You can read while sitting - park bench, cafe, burger joint, etc.

I bought all books and read them, as well as the one Ringo already owned, but the achievement isn't popping up. I wonder if it's because I spent the first 30 days maxing out Ringo's knowledge of every subject to a 100%. Or are there other books than the seven you buy and one in his shelf?