Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein

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Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein
Developer(s)	Capcom
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Platform(s)	Arcade, Dreamcast
Release date	1999
Genre(s)	Fighting
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players simultaneously
Cabinet	Upright
Arcade system	System 12

Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein (スターグラディエイター 2 Suta- Guradieita- Tsu, Star Gladiator 2 in Japan) is the sequel to Star Gladiator. It was developed and published by Capcom While the original was released on Namco's System 11 Arcade Board and then ported over to the PlayStation. Plasma Sword was release on Namco's improved System 12 Arcade board and then ported over to the Sega Dreamcast.

Contents 1 Story 2 Gameplay 3 Characters 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Story

The fall of the Fourth Empire and death of Bilstein were momentous occasions when they happened last year, but all is not well in the galaxy. Rumors circulate about the appearance of Bilstein's ghost haunting the Planet Zeta and the rebuilding of the Fourth Empire.

[edit] Gameplay

Players are given an arsenal of four usable buttons. Two buttons are attacks from the fighter's weapon and one for a kick. The final button enabled a "guard", which could double in effect similar to the one found in Last Blade. All characters have a super meter with three being the maximum level and desperation moves were dubbed Plasma Strikes. Fighters fought on an endless 3d plane, meaning ring outs or other interactive background elements were unavailable. Like other 3d fighters, set combos were implemented through tapping a sequence of buttons, however, characters could perform special moves akin to 2d fighting games (similar to the treatment found in Street Fighter EX series).

Unique to the series, characters were granted a damaging skill called a Plasma Field. With the use of one super meter, the character who activated it will emit a sphere of energy. If the opposing character is hit by it, the playing field will be temporarily boxed with four invisible walls, making escape from the Plasma Field effects difficult. The effects of the skill vary with each character, ranging to infinite Plasma Strikes, growing to gigantic sizes, and even stopping time.

The returning characters from the original Star Gladiator also have alternative-egos of their incarnations that are selectable from the slot directly underneath them. These newer characters share the same manner of weaponry yet differ with a unique moveset, new design, and original story. Both characters shared the same Plasma Field Technique. The exceptions to this rule are Rain, Byakko, Kaede, and Rai-on.

[edit] Characters

Depending on the performance of the player, the characters will have an alternative ending. If the player has to continue while fighting their eighth opponent or during earlier competitors, they will have an abridged ending ^[1]. A one-credit play will reward the player with a longer ending which includes an extra fight with another character - which is safe to continue from - and an extended conclusion.

The summaries listed below are arranged based on character egos and assume the player has accomplished the "complete" ending. As of August 2007, Capcom has yet to create a sequel to solidify what is canon so the interpretation of these events are left to the player.

Hayato Kanzaki:

An intergalactic bounty hunter who defeated Bilstein from the last game ^[2]. Hayato settles down with June and spends his days peacefully rebuilding the orphanage with the bounties he earned. During the events from the first struggle, he has also befriended Gamof, Gantetsu, Zelkein, and Saturn ^[3]. One day, June suddenly disappears with his friends telling him what happened ^[4]. He sets out to find her and to finish things with Bilstein once and for all.

Black Hayato:

In his fight with Hayato, Bilstein managed to implant some kind of "genotype" in the hero. It eventually took control of Hayato, turning him into Black Hayato. While he is evil, B. Hayato still hates Bilstein for what he did. If the player beats the game with him, he'll try to kill June but the small bit of consciousness that Hayato has left attempts to stop him. Should Black Hayato win, the effects of the chip remain permanent and "Hayato" will be gone forever ^[5]. It should be noted that in Gantetsu's ending he is shown as a separate entity from Hayato when he is actually in the former's body ^[6].

June Lin Milliam:

A skilled gymnast who fights with plasma rings. She settled with Hayato after the events of the first game and develops feelings for him. When she heard of Bilstein's return, she painfully left him to avenge her father's death and to prevent the monster from hurting anyone else she has cared about. Hayato eventually catches up to her and shields her from a blow from Bilstein's ghost, angering her to defeat the fiend for good.

Ele:

Mysterious young girl who traveled from a distant future. She was taught how to fight by her mother and fights with halo weapons. In her time, Bilstein's ghost - who was obsessed with his hunt for Hayato - attacked Elle's home; the status of her father is unknown but her mother died during the incident. As she has a time limit of how long she can stay in the past, Ele hurries to vanquish Bilstein's ghost and prevent the event from ever happening ^[7]. She is highly implied to be Hayato and June's daughter^[8].

Saturn Dyer:

A green skinned alien with a cone-shaped head who is quite the joker and fights with plasma yo-yos. He hails from the planet of the same name (though not the one we know in our solar system). On his planet, he is a street performer and after hearing of his planet's downfall to the Fourth Empire, he goes to defeat the tyrant, Bilstein.

Prince:

The royal prince of the planet Saturn, Saturn Kuida-Ore the 3rd^[9], fights with a special set of yo-yos and his own style of elegant performances. He grew jealous of Saturn as he got more attention from the citizens. After adopting the alias, Prince, he allies himself with Bilstein and uses the empire's influence as a front for chasing his rival.

Gamof Gohgry:

Gamof is the leader of the people of the forest planet De Rosa, but he is challenged by an evil contender (who is playable as a palette swap). He swings his plasma axe to ensure his planet's safety and to help his friends. June visits the planet many years later together with her daughter, saying that Earth has no real nature left.

Gantetsu:

Gatetsu is a heavy drinker and extremely strong soldier, he goes looking for Gerelt for his war crimes. However, having captured Gerelt he quickly forgives him and takes him to a bar.

Franco Gerelt:

Gerelt was captured by Bilstein and had a bomb implanted^[10], forcing him to join the 4th Empire. He committed heinous crimes against humanity and even when Bilstein was defeated he hesitated to return to his family. However, Claire's sacrifice and his wife and daughter's love convinced him that everyone can be forgiven.

Claire:

Claire is a friend of Gerelt and works with him under Bilstein. She is known as Scarlet Del Sol and is a master at fencing. Unlike her counterpart, she remains loyal to her master and holds the button to the bomb planted in Gerelt. Luca confronts them before she can use it, under orders from Gore to eliminate her. When Luca explodes from a plasma energy overload, she shields Gerelt from the blast and dies in his arms^[11].

Vector:

A cyborg created by Bilstein to become the ultimate killing weapon. He implants a program to make the robot self-evolutionary and unleashes the robot to test it. Should Vector prove successful, Bilstein will then unleash an army of Vectors to destroy anything against him.

Omega:

An older prototype of the current Vector model, it was long deemed faulty by its creator for being too compassionate ^[12]. After hearing that it has a "heart", it searches to know what it is before its energy runs out. After failing to gain answers from Bilstein, it encounters Ele who thinks it is another killer Vector. She soon realizes its true nature and explains that the "heart" the robot wants is something that is felt. As soon as it figures out what she means, its energy runs out. Years later, it is found by a pack of kids, one of who points out that the robot is smiling.

Zelkin Fiskekrogen:

An avian humanoid hailing from the planet Krondyke who uses flight and a plasma blade in battle. His race are valiant warriors and treasure honor and power found in true battle ^{[13] [14]}. His former alliance with Bilstein was formed because of his hatred for humans, due to their prejudice against his people. However, after fighting Hayato from the last game, he found that earthlings had honor as well. Feeling responsible for the tragedy he has caused, the warrior defected from the 4th Empire ^[15] and was obligated by honor to "repay the debt". If he fights and wins against Hayato, he will give him one of his head feathers as a sign of respect.

Eagle:

A man who used to work at Gorakuem Amusement Park ^[16] with a pair of artificial wings. The tyranny Bilstein cause motivated him to become a hero of justice and he expresses it in a typical superhero fashion. He maybe CAPCOM's in-joke character as he'll claim that he is the real Zelkin ^[17], harking back to films where animals are really actors in a suit.

Gore Gajah:

Sorcerer with an enigmatic appearance who fights with plasma magic. In his research for plasma energy, he joined Bilstein's forces as the man had a large library of forbidden plasma info but he was also secretly bidding his time to back stab his master and take everything for himself. His plans go awry when his master commands him to retire the artificial girl he made. He rebelled and went into hiding with Luca. To avoid easy detection, he changed his appearance with plasma magic and went into leisurely seclusion , possibly marrying Luca as well.

Luca:

An artificial girl made by Gore who also uses plasma magic. She is her creator's fiancée ^[18] and is only dedicated to Gore. Though cheerful, she has sadistic tendencies and is naive to the concept of pain and death, killing other people as if it's a game ^[19]. Omega will not recognize her as "human", sending her into denial about her existence. If Bilstein tells her that she isn't human, her mind will reach its breaking point and she will unintentionally murder Gore.

Blood:

A man who previously worked under Bilstein with a robotic arm and a plasma sword - akin to a more European look. The spell that Bilstein cast on him wears off and the warrior regains his freewill. Much to his dismay, the damage has been done and is irreversible; his left arm is dependent on Bilstein's existence and he has killed far too many people. Sickened by the chip that controlled him ^[20], he heads to the tyrant's side. He walks on a path of mortal redemption, intending to kill Bilstein and himself for the sins that were committed ^[21]. If he is the one to defeat Bilstein, the place where they fought begins to collapse and he will sacrifice himself to lessen the reactor's explosion.

Shaker:

One of the many clones of Blood who strangely shares his progenitor's levitating arm and plasma blade. The group of clones bicker over the identity which one of them is the original. This Shaker sets out to prove who's the original. All Shakers love punk music and especially love guitars.

Edward Bilstein:

Powerful tyrant and mad scientist who leads the Fourth Empire. He was killed in the last game, but was able to transcend his spirit to another host and lives again ^[22]. After rebuilding his forces and conquering other planets, he once again resume his plans for complete domination of the galaxy. He particularly focuses this new interest on Earth, the planet that evaded him the first time.

Ghost Bilstein:

The remains that Bilstein discarded. It is an unthinking entity and is purely obsessed with slaying Hayato. If it defeats Hayato, it will deem Hayato as too weak and will destroy anything in his path to find the "real" Hayato.

Rain:

Bilstein's ambitious daughter ^[23] who wields ice powers and a plasma scythe. She was sent by her father to capture all the male plasma masters and imprison them at Bilstein's lair. Later, her father planned to use their DNA - Hayato in particular - and impregnate his daughter, making her mother of "New Human Beings" - beings who would hypothetically have unstoppable plasma power ^[24] to the point of easy world domination. If she succeeds her mission in subduing Hayato, Rain will her father's plan boring and after beating her father, instead nominates herself queen with the men as her slaves.

Kaede:

A young, sly kunoichi hired by the Earth Federation to seal the plasma power of all the other plasma fighters with her ninjutsu and a huge hammer. When her benefactors turn on her, she escapes from their base but not before she steals all the money from their safe. She is a secret character and can be played using a code.

Byakko:

Mysterious tiger humanoid assassin who fights with incredible and dual plasma claws. He is a member of 'The Four Saint Beasts' (based on the Chinese constellations) which is created by the Union to foil Bilstein's plans. His mission is to destroy the source of the plasma weapons and any wielder he meets. He is also suspected by Gantetsu to be the one who decimated his troop. His win quotes suggest that he has a Zen-like nature ^[25]. If he succeeds in his mission, the Union will order Rai-on to execute him as he has become "too powerful" and a threat. He escapes, saying has much to live for.

Rai-on:

Another member of 'The Four Saint Beasts' and on the same mission as Byakko. He is more vicious by nature and is a wrathful ninja. He is a lion humanoid and is essentially a color swap of Byakko with black fur - instead of white - with red eyes. His ending is similar to Byakko's - with him defeating Bilstein first, but he will send the other Four Saint Beasts to hunt wounded Byakko down. He is another secret character playable through code.

[edit] References

All sources cited from the 1999 Dreamcast port using official English translations.

[edit] External links

• Official Japanese site
• Plasma Sword at Gamefaqs