Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge

This article is about a video game. For an anime miniseries, see Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge (anime).

Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)	Capcom
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Series	Darkstalkers
Platform(s)	CP System II, Sega Saturn
Release date(s)	CP System II JP March 1995 Sega Saturn JP February 22, 1996
Genre(s)	Fighting game
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Distribution	CD-ROM

Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge (titled as Vampire Hunter: Darkstalkers' Revenge (ヴァンパイア ハンター Darkstalkers' Revenge, Vanpaia Hantā Dākusutōkāzu Rebenji) in Japan), is the first sequel in the Darkstalkers fighting game series, developed and released by Capcom originally for the arcades in 1995.

Night Warriors was ported exclusively for the Sega Saturn home console in 1996, receiving a generally very positive critical reception, especially for its smooth and detailed animation. Later, the game was also included in the Darkstalkers series compilation release Vampire: Darkstalkers Collection in 2005 and was remastered as part of Darkstalkers Resurrection in 2013.

Gameplay

A gameplay screenshot of Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge

Night Warriors is a 2D competitive fighting game. It features several changes to the gameplay system of its predecessor, Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors. One of these changes is an introduction of the chain combos. Players can also choose between a "normal" gameplay style or one that offers auto-blocking.

The main change in Night Warriors is the ability for the player to stock up on their Special gauge, allowing them to store more than one Special gauge and preserve them through the entire match. Two types of Super Moves are featured in the game: ES Specials, requiring a portion of the Special gauge, and EX Specials, requiring an entire stock of the Special gauge to perform.

The game also introduces two new playable characters, Donovan Baine and Hsien-Ko. In addition, the two bosses from the first game, Huitzil and Pyron, are now playable characters as well.

Plot

Pyron invades Earth to add to his collection of planets that he has devoured. Enter the world's most fearsome monsters who, ironically, are the last defense of mankind. Meanwhile, two darkstalker hunters make their presence known and join in the fray. Donovan Baine and Hsien-Ko are "Dark Hunters" who are out to hunt the other Darkstalkers in the game (hence the Japanese title, Vampire Hunter).

Home versions

A Sega Saturn port was released on February 22, 1996, featuring an "Appendix Mode" that allows players to customize the backgrounds, the opponents' colors and background music between the regular ones and the ones used in the original Darkstalkers.

The game was included in Vampire: Darkstalkers Collection, a compilation of all five Darkstalkers arcade games that were released in Japan only for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. It was also included in a remastered form as part of the 2013's Darkstalkers Resurrection for the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.

Related media

Several different licensed tie-ins were released for the game in Japan:

• All About Vampire Hunter (18362-06), a guide/art book published by Dempa Shinbunsha.
• Vampire Hunter (GMC-11), a special issue of Shinseisha's magazine Gamest Mook.
• Vampire Hunter Darkstalker's Revenge (ISBN 4-88199-192-2), a VHS video combo guide by Shinseisha.
• Vampire Hunter 4-Koma Ketteiban (ISBN 4-88199-183-3), a yonkoma manga collection published by Shinseisha.
• Vampire Hunter Comic Anthology (ISBN 4-88199-186-8) and Vampire Hunter Comic Anthology Vol.2 (ISBN 4-88199-206-6), two manga short story anthologies created by different artists and published by Shinseisha.
• Vampire Hunter (ISBN 4-88199-194-9 and ISBN 4-88199-261-9), a two-part manga adaptation by Takeshi Fujita and published by Shinseisha.
• The Vampire Hunter Sega Saturn Manual Ver.1 (ISBN 4-89366-493-X) and The Vampire Hunter Sega Saturn Manual Ver.2 (ISBN 4-89366-505-7), two guide books for the Sega Saturn version, written by Famitsu staff and published by ASCII.
• Vampire Hunter Perfect Guide (ISBN 4-88199-237-6), a guide book for the Sega Saturn version, published by Shinseisha.
• Dance Revolution Vol. 1: Vampire Hunter (VOCR-5011), a remix album released by MEM Records and distributed by BMG Victor.
• Vampire Hunter: Darkstalkers' Revenge Arcade Gametrack (SRCL-3197~8), a 2-CD original soundtrack released by Sony Records.

Vampire Hunter: The Animated Series, a four-part anime OAV miniseries by Madhouse Studios in association with DR Movie, was released in the West as Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
Publication	Score
Allgame
Electronic Gaming Monthly	7.62/10
Game Informer	7.5/10
VideoGames	9/10

The Sega Saturn version of Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge received positive reviews upon its release. VideoGames called the game "a must-purchase for fight fans and Saturn owners".Game Informer described it as a "truly unique fighter" because to its gameplay system, regarded as an unusual for a 2D fighting game, adding that the game is "definitely amazing to look at" due of its "outstanding" and "truly spectacular" animation.GameFan called it "one of Capcom's best fighters to date" and a big improvement over X-Men", with "quite possibly the best animation on a home fighting game yet" (rivaled only by Samurai Shodown III for the Neo Geo CD), describing it as "an amazing translation" and "a Saturn exclusive you must own."

In 2010, Robert Workman ranked it as the fifth best 2-D fighting game ever made, "thanks to its gorgeous animation, fun traditional 2-D gameplay and ridiculously cool character line-up." In a retrospective review, Jon Thompson of allgame called it "of the finest fighting games available at home". However, ScrewAttack's Arcade Recall criticized Night Warriors for having few changes and additions as compared to the original Darkstalkers.

External links

• Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge at MobyGames
• Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge at GameFAQs