Mitsurugi
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| Heishirō Mitsurugi | |
|---|---|
 Mitsurugi in Soulcalibur IV |
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| Game series | Soul series |
| First game | Soul Edge |
| Voiced by (English) | Scott Keck (Soulcalibur II and III) |
| Voiced by (Japanese) | Toshiyuki Morikawa (Soul Edge (arcade), Soulcalibur I, II, and III) Wataru Takagi (Soul Edge (PlayStation)) |
| Information | |
| Age | 22 (Soul Edge, Legends) 25 (Soulcalibur) 29 (Soulcalibur II, III, and IV) |
| Birthplace | Bizen Province, Japan |
| Birthdate | June 8, 1562 |
| Blood type | AB |
| Weapon | Japanese sword (tachi) |
| Weapon name | Korefuji (Soul Edge) Shishiō (Soulcalibur I, II, III, and IV) |
| Fighting style | Tenpu-Kosai-Ryū (Soul Edge) Tenpu-Kosai-Ryū Kai (Soulcalibur I, II, III, Legends, and IV) |
| Family | Immediate family (parents and 3 brothers), taken by sickness |
Heishirō Mitsurugi (御剣 平四郎 Mitsurugi Heishirō?) is a video game character designed for the Soul Series of fighting games. Mitsurugi is the staple samurai character of the series, holding out the precepts of honor and pride, and seeking a fair battle against enemies of his same level of skills. His name is a combination of the Japanese words mi and tsurugi, both of which translate to sword. He is based on the real-life swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, famed for his amazing skill and lack of defeats. In early designs, he's also shown wielding dual katanas, another possible reference to Miyamoto Musashi and his infamous style of swordplay: Niten-Ryu.
Mitsurugi has been one of the series' most recognizable character ever since his first appearance in Soul Edge. With the exception of the specific arcade version of Soulcalibur where he was replaced by Arthur, he hasn't been dropped from the character roster on any of the following sequels. He has also appeared in Namco x Capcom as a playable character.
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[edit] Background Story
Ever since his first appearance in Soul Edge, Mitsurugi has remained a regular character on every sequel released of the series, up to Soulcalibur IV.
As detailed in Mitsurugi's Edge Master Mode, Mitsurugi was originally the son of a farmer in Bizen, which after suffering years of witnessing his homeland being ravaged by bandits and war, decided to take up swordsmanship under the tutelage of the Murakami Clan. Mitsurugi's skill and strength spread quickly over Japan, and he was recognized as a force to be reckoned on the battlefield, even being noted by both Uesugi Kenshin and Oda Nobunaga as a great warrior. After leaving the Murakami Clan, and having refused all military commendations offered for his services, Mitsurugi continued to fight in every war in Japan as a hired mercenary.
It was during this time he heard about a new weapon, the Rifle, said to be changing the way wars were fought. At first Mitsurugi dismissed the weapon as a novelty, but soon learned that it was capable of obliterating the Takeda cavalry and realized its real power. Deciding that a strong weapon was the only way to combat it, he started a quest in order to find the rumored Soul Edge.
In the sequel of Soul Edge, Soulcalibur, he returned as a regular character with an improved fighting style and design. But in the world release of the arcade version (SOC14/VER.C), Mitsurugi was exclusively replaced by a character named Arthur. Other than being of British nationality, Arthur is essentially Mitsurugi with blonde hair and an eye patch; the samurai outfit and katana blade remains unaltered. Arthur returned in Soulcalibur III as a bonus character.
As detailed in his profile for the game, Mitsurugi was unable to find any trace of Soul Edge, and in his frustration he carelessly challenged a man wielding the rifle Tanegashima to a duel in front of his lord, which he ultimately lost after receiving a bullet in his right shoulder. He later departed in a new quest to perfect his swordsmanship, in order to defeat the rifle . During his training he learned of Nightmare's rampage on Europe and started a new quest to the west.
Mitsurugi's profile for Soulcalibur II explained he was once again unable to find his target, but he did not renounce to his quest. Stumbling on a castle in Xiwei (present-day Xi'an), Mitsurugi saved a man that was being attacked by assassins, and as reward he received a fragment of Soul Edge the man possessed. After an incident in which a servant of the Ming Emperor refused to hand over the "Sword of Heroes", Mitsurugi sensed that war was coming.
In Soulcalibur III's profile, Mitsurugi is said to have grown dissatisfied with every battle he has participated in, even considering Soul Edge meaningless and the rifles no more a threat. Having lost concern over the rifle, his greatest enemy, Mitsurugi started to seek without success a challenger of his strength. After fending off a group of unknown attackers that were after the fragment he obtained in Xiwei, Mitsurugi noticed their style resembled that of Taki and decided to return to Japan to find out what was happening at the time, as well as to seek a showdown with Taki.
At the moment the Sengoku period had ended and Oda Nobunaga was dead. The leaders of the states were faced with the decision of whether or not to align with his successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The Murakami clan, with whom Mitsurugi stayed upon his return, refused to join with mainland Japan, choosing to protect their existence as fierce pirates of the sea. Soon they attracted Toyotomi Hideyoshi's attention, and a confrontation became imminent. Mitsurugi, having found no trace of Taki, decided to aid the Murakami in the upcoming nighttime raid. After the victory of the Muramaki, Mitsurugi was decorated for his services by the Murakami commander. The commander mentioned to him rumors about the resurface of Nightmare, and Mitsurugi, considering the knight a potential challenger, quickly set out to Europe once again.
Mitsurugi has been confirmed as returning for the series' newest installment, Soulcalibur IV. His profile has been already released in the official Japanese site, albeit no official translation has been revealed as of yet.
[edit] Default costumes
[edit] Gameplay
Mitsurugi has always been one of the characters that most succesfully combine fast and damaging attacks, but he does not excel at long range. It is mentioned in the official guide of Soul Calibur II and III that fighting a skilled Mitsurugi could be frustrating due to his poke game and stance. However a beginner Mitsurugi player could be torn apart, in an attempt to unleash some of his most difficult attacks.
[edit] Endings
- Soul Edge Ending
Mitsurugi reaches Soul Edge after his quest, but considering it not suited for him due to its evil nature, he destroys it. He's later seen in a ring standing against a rifleman, and both start a combat. The ending then changes to a first-person view, as the player can control Mitsurugi in order to avoid the rifleman's bullets and strike him down. Successfully defeating the rifleman will end in Mitsurugi recognizing his true strength, whereas losing against him would show he decides to restart his quest for a weapon mightier than "Tanegashima".
- Soulcalibur III Ending
Mitsurugi is shown slaughtering several soldiers in a Japanese town. He arrives to a bridge where one of his enemies holds a woman hostage. The player is then prompted to input a command in order to determine which of the two possible endings occur. Inputting the given command will result in Mitsurugi killing the samurai, only to be surrounded by several more. Mitsurugi, however, will kill them all with Soul Calibur and his selected weapon. Not inputting the command will result in Taki interfering in the battle, forcing the samurai and the woman to flee, and forcing Mitsurugi to reveal Soul Edge in a katana form to confront her.
[edit] Weapons
Korefuji (Jp. 是藤. meaning "Right Wisteria")
The original weapon used in Soul Edge, and later given to him as an extra in Soulcalibur II. Referred to as a Tachi in the official Soularchive site, Mitsurugi changed it after his defeat against the rifle. In Soulcalibur, it is said that he simply discarded it in favor of his new katana, Shishi-oh; whereas in Soulcalibur II it is stated his lord confiscated it after his defeat, and it eventually went missing.
Shishi-Oh (Jp. 獅子王. meaning "Lion King")
Mitsurugi's katana ever since Soulcalibur. It's said to have a wider blade than Korefuji, which he replaced after his defeat against the rifleman. Mitsurugi has used Shishi-oh and perfected many new moves.
Besides his official weapons, Mitsurugi has also been given as an extra weapon the Masamune, named after the famous Japanese swordsmith, in both Soulcalibur II and Soulcalibur III. In Soul Edge, his Ultimate Weapon is Murasame, which was later given to the Katana discipline in Soulcalibur III.
[edit] Stages
Pirate Fortress
Mitsurugi's stage in Soul Edge. A castle owned by the Murakami Clan and the Settouchi Pirates (also known as the Mori Sea Force). The castle is said to be built on a whole island and serve as both a port and a sea barrier, as well as to supplies pirate ships between raids.
Mitsurugi's stage in Soulcalibur, and based on the real-life Siege of Takamatsu, orchestrated by Hashiba Hideyoshi after he constructed a 3-kilometer bank around it in order to stop the flow of water and produce a flooding. Mitsurugi, as a trusted mercenary on the base of Mori's Murakami Navy, was assigned the defense of the castle during the conflict. The stage consists on a wooden raft amidst battle, with the castle as background and flaming arrows constantly flying around.
Xiwei Siege Ruins (SC2)
Mitsurugi's stage in Soulcalibur II, situated in Xiwei at the west border of the Ming Empire. It is said to be a vital stronghold for the Empire's keep of the western territories. As explained in Xianghua's profile, the castle was attacked when the Emperor believed the castle was hiding Soul Edge. The stage is shared with Xianghua for the same reason.
Battle in the Strait (SC3)
Mitsurugi's stage in Soulcalibur III. The stage resembles slightly his Soulcalibur stage, albeit this one is set atop a half-sunken battleship amidst a naval battle. As said in his game profile, the stage shows one of many sea battles held between the Murakami Navy and Hideyoshi's Kuki forces. It is said that the Murakami started with the advantage, but were eventually pressed back and defeated.
[edit] Series' appearances
- Soul Edge
- Soul Edge: Version II / Soul Blade
- Soulcalibur
- Soulcalibur II
- Soulcalibur III
- Soulcalibur III: Arcade Edition
- Soulcalibur Legends
- Soulcalibur IV
[edit] External links
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