I. Game Background
1.1 World Setting
The story of Knights of Valour 2 (Knights of Valour 2) picks up immediately after the ending of its predecessor (1999). In the first tournament, the generals of Shu successfully thwarted Cao Cao's ambitions—but the chaos of the land was far from over. Cao Cao retreated to the north to rebuild his strength; Sun Quan watched hungrily from Jiangdong; and Liu Bei, aided by Zhuge Liang, prepared to embark on the true "Three Kingdoms" chapter of history.
Unlike the original, which focused solely on the Shu camp, Knights of Valour 2 significantly expands the narrative. Players are no longer limited to Shu generals—famous figures from Wu (Zhou Yu, Sun Quan, Sun Shangxiang) and Wei (Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Zhang He, Xu Huang, Xu Chu) are all playable. The game's narrative evolved from a "single-line epic from the Shu perspective" to a "panoramic view of the Three Kingdoms"—a major leap in IGS's deep exploration of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms lore.
1.2 Development History
Knights of Valour 2 was developed by Taiwan's IGS (International Games System) and launched in 2000 on their proprietary PolyGame Master (PGM) arcade hardware. Following the phenomenal success of the original game in mainland China and Taiwan, IGS began development on the sequel almost immediately.
The development goal was clear: "Bigger, More, Deeper." The roster expanded from the original 10 characters to over 20 (including subsequent updates), marking the first time the full lineups of Wei, Shu, and Wu were playable. The game introduced 4-player simultaneous co-op—double the capacity of the original—making "four-player arcade sessions" one of the most iconic social experiences in early 2000s arcades.
In terms of systems, while retaining the original's item combination and command-input special moves, the game added three new growth paths: weapon synthesis, spell upgrades, and faction-specific skills. If the first Knights of Valour was IGS's "testing ground" for RPG-style side-scrolling, Knights of Valour 2 is the "complete castle built upon that ground."
In 2001, IGS released the enhanced version, Knights of Valour 2: Nine Dragons, adding more characters and stages. In 2023, the IGS Classic Arcade Collection brought Knights of Valour 2 to the Nintendo Switch—the first time the series officially landed on a modern console.
II. Character Introduction
The final roster of Knights of Valour 2 exceeds 20 characters, divided into four factions: Shu, Wei, Wu, and Others. Below are the core characters from the initial arcade release.
2.1 Shu Han Faction
| Character | Weapon | Type | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guan Yu | Green Dragon Crescent Blade | Power | The fan-favorite returns. Largest attack range and highest single-hit damage, but slower speed. |
| Zhang Fei | Serpent Spear | Power | Explosive melee damage with the highest throw damage in the game. His roar can briefly stun nearby enemies. |
| Zhao Yun | Qinggang Sword | Speed | Fastest speed and smoothest combos. New "Seven-Fold Dash" special allows him to pass through enemies during combos. |
| Ma Chao | Long Spear | Balanced | Long reach with his spear, excellent for mid-range suppression. |
| Huang Zhong | Bow & Arrow | Ranged | The only pure ranged physical attacker. New "Hundred-Step Sniper" super deals massive long-range damage. |
| Zhuge Liang | Feather Fan | Magic | Lightning/Fire/Ice spells. New "Eight Trigrams Formation" creates a zone of continuous damage. |
| Liu Bei | Dual Swords | Support | New to this entry. Fast attack speed with dual blades and team buffs—"Benevolence" briefly boosts team attack power. |
2.2 Cao Wei Faction (New)
| Character | Weapon | Type | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiahou Dun | Great Cleaver | Power | One-eyed warrior. Charged heavy slash can hit across the entire screen—"One Glance Decides Fate." |
| Xiahou Yuan | Long Bow + Short Blade | Balanced | Xiahou Dun's brother. Can switch between ranged bow and melee blade modes for flexible play. |
| Zhang He | Hooked Spear | Speed | Known for flashy kicks and hooked spear combos. Speed second only to Zhao Yun. |
| Xu Huang | Great Axe | Power | Heavy axe—single-hit damage tied with Guan Yu for the highest in the game. |
| Xu Chu | Great Hammer | Power | Largest character, with attacks covering a wide frontal arc. Slowest movement. |
| Cao Cao | Yitian Sword | BOSS | Appears as an enemy in the arcade version. Unlocked as a playable character in the Nine Dragons version. |
2.3 Sun Wu Faction (New)
| Character | Weapon | Type | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhou Yu | Long Sword | Balanced | Grand Viceroy of Wu. Fire-based specials leave burning zones on the ground. |
| Sun Quan | Wu King Sword | Support | Ruler of Wu. Has a team healing skill—"Royal Decree" restores HP to nearby allies. |
| Sun Shangxiang | Dual Rings | Speed | Sun Quan's sister, Liu Bei's wife. Fast attacks with small range—requires precise control. |
| Gan Ning | Chain Blade | Mid-Range | Longest reach of any character—perfect for keeping bosses at a safe distance. |
2.4 Other Factions
| Character | Weapon | Type | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lu Bu | Sky Piercer Halberd | BOSS | Hidden character—strict unlock requirements. Highest damage and widest range in the game—a true "God of War." |
| Diaochan | Dual Swords | Speed/Charm | Extremely fast, possesses a charm skill—briefly makes enemies attack each other. |
III. Controls and Gameplay
3.1 Basic Controls
Uses the standard IGS 8-way joystick + 3-button (Attack A / Jump B / Item C) layout, with added 4-player support:
| Action | Input | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Normal Combo | A × N | Continuous attacks—each character has a unique combo rhythm. |
| Special Move | ↓↘→ + A / ↓↑ + A | Fighting game-style command inputs—unique to each character. |
| Super Move | Consume Rage Gauge | Available when the Rage gauge is full. |
| Item Use | C Button | Switch and use magic items/weapons/tactics books. |
| Weapon Switch | Select in Item Menu | Switch equipped weapons during combat. |
| Team Combo | Multiple players release specials simultaneously | 4-player team combos feature spectacular visual effects. |
3.2 New Core Systems
Weapon Synthesis System: Introduced in this entry. Collect specific materials (e.g., Meteor Iron, Dragon Scales, Phoenix Feathers) in stages to forge powerful weapons. Different combinations yield different elemental properties—Ice (freeze), Fire (burn), Lightning (paralysis).
Spell Upgrade System: Spells for magic-type characters like Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu can be upgraded through repeated use. Upgraded spells gain increased damage, range, duration, and added effects.
Faction-Specific Skills: Characters gain passive abilities based on their faction (Shu/Wei/Wu). Shu characters gain attack boosts at low HP ("Last Stand"); Wei characters gain speed boosts after defeating enemies ("Pursuit"); Wu characters gain defense bonuses during co-op ("Unity").
4-Player Team Combo: When 4 players release their special moves simultaneously, the screen shifts to a full-screen cinematic animation—dealing over 3x the damage of a 2-player combo. It is the most adrenaline-pumping moment in Knights of Valour 2.
IV. Stage Flow and Boss Strategy
The number of stages varies by version, with the original arcade version having about 6 to 8 stages (including branching paths).
| Stage | Setting | Main Enemies | Boss | Strategy Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yellow Turban Rebellion | Yellow Turban remnants | Zhang Jiao Brothers | Introductory stage. The three bosses use wind/fire/lightning—take them down one by one. |
| 2 | Hulao Pass | Dong Zhuo's Elite | Lu Bu (First appearance) | Lu Bu's halberd has massive range—don't fight head-on. Use Zhao Yun's speed or Huang Zhong's arrows to chip away. |
| 3 | Battle of Guandu | Yuan Shao's Army | Yan Liang + Wen Chou | Dual bosses—split their attention. Yan Liang has high damage, Wen Chou is fast—coordinate with teammates. |
| 4 | Battle of Red Cliffs | Cao Cao's Navy | Cao Cao (Phase 1) | Water stage—fire traps hurt everyone. Lure the boss near burning ships. |
| 5 | Huarong Trail | Cao Cao's Remnants | Cao Cao (Phase 2) + Xiahou Dun | Dual boss fight—Cao Cao's projectiles cover the screen; Xiahou Dun's heavy slash has long reach. |
| 6 | Three Kingdoms Duel | Depends on faction | Faction Leader | The final boss and ending depend on your chosen faction—three complete ending paths. |
V. Tips and Advanced Strategy
5.1 Survival Tips
- Faction Synergy is Key: A balanced team of Shu (low HP burst) + Wei (kill speed) + Wu (defense) provides the best passive coverage. The fourth player should fill the gap (magic or power).
- Weapon Synthesis Priority: Ice (control) > Lightning (interrupt) > Fire (damage). Ice is essential for creating safe windows against fast bosses.
- Long-term Spell Investment: Focus on upgrading one or two core spells rather than spreading usage across all of them.
- Item Combinations: The original item combo system remains the most effective way to clear mobs or burst down bosses.
- Unlock Lu Bu: His halberd has the highest damage and range in the game. He is a game-changer.
VI. Trivia and Arcade Legends
6.1 "Four Brothers Co-op"
Knights of Valour 2 was the social peak of early 2000s arcades in China. Choosing characters and coordinating item usage was a social event in itself. The 4-player team combo on a CRT screen was a legendary sight.
6.2 Nine Dragons: The "Complete" Version
Released in 2001, Knights of Valour 2: Nine Dragons is considered the definitive version, featuring balanced gameplay, more characters, and new routes. If you are playing today, always choose the Nine Dragons ROM.
6.3 IGS's "Three Kingdoms Empire"
Following Oriental Legend (1997), IGS turned the Three Kingdoms into a goldmine. Their product matrix, ranging from side-scrollers to card games, remains a rare commercial achievement for a non-Japanese Asian developer.
