I. Game Background
1.1 Setting the Scene
Warriors of Fate (Tenchi o Kurau II: Sekiheki no Tatakai) takes place in 208 AD, during the chaotic final years of the Han Dynasty. With Dong Zhuo dead, Cao Cao has unified the North and is marching south with an army of 830,000 (boasted as a million). After being routed at Changban, Liu Bei is left with only a handful of men and his only hope lies in an alliance with Sun Quan of the East. Together, the strategists Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang devise a daring plan: to destroy Cao Cao's massive fleet with fire on the waters of the Yangtze at Red Cliff.
Based on Hiroshi Motomiya's manga Tenchi o Kurau, the game follows five legendary warriorsâGuan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Wei Yanâas they fight their way through Cao Cao's forces, from the rescue of Liu Bei's son at Changban to the final showdown on Cao Cao's flagship. Each warrior plays a unique role in the flow of historyânot because they changed the outcome, but because they chose to stand their ground against impossible odds.
1.2 Development History
Released by Capcom in 1992 on the CPS1 arcade hardware, this title stands as one of the crowning achievements of the golden age of beat-'em-ups. It builds upon the framework of the 1989 predecessor, Dynasty Warsâfeaturing horseback combat, the Three Kingdoms theme, and Motomiya's character designsâbut upgrades almost every aspect: the roster expanded from 4 to 5 playable characters (adding Huang Zhong and Wei Yan), the level count doubled, and it introduced some of the most sophisticated enemy AI seen in the genre at the time.
Capcomâs development team drew inspiration not from Chen Shouâs Records of the Three Kingdoms, but from the dramatized Romance of the Three Kingdomsâspecifically, Hiroshi Motomiyaâs manga adaptation. This explains why Guan Yu is depicted as a two-meter-tall muscle-bound giant rather than a scholarly general, and why Zhang Fei can grab two enemies and smash them together. It is a stylized, exaggerated take on history. The game was a massive success in Asia, topping arcade charts and selling over 30,000 CPS1 boards worldwide.
II. Character Roster
Each of the five playable characters offers a distinct playstyle, balancing power and speedâa classic design philosophy of Capcomâs beat-'em-ups.
| Character | Weapon | Type | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guan Yu | Green Dragon Crescent Blade | Balanced | Liu Bei's sworn brother. Excellent attack power and rangeâhis horizontal sweep is the widest in the game. The top choice for beginners. |
| Zhang Fei | Serpent Spear | Power | Another sworn brother. Highest attack powerâcan grab and smash two enemies together. Slowest speed, but can clear crowds with single strikes. |
| Zhao Yun | Dragon Spear | Balanced/Speed | The legend who saved the infant heir at Changban. Well-rounded statsâslightly less power than Guan Yu but faster. Often considered the most stylish character. |
| Huang Zhong | Bow | Ranged | The veteran. The only true ranged characterâcan fire arrows from a distance. Weakest in close combatârequires careful positioning. |
| Wei Yan | Twin Swords | Speed | A fierce warrior. Fastest attack and movement speedâbut shortest range. Best for hit-and-run tactics. |
III. Controls and Combat System
8-way Joystick + 2 Buttons:
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| A Button | Attack. Press repeatedly for a 4-hit combo (universal). |
| B Button | Jump. Jump attacks can knock down most enemies. |
| A+B | Special Move (consumes ~1/6 HP). Clears the screen or hits a wide area. |
| Grab | Automatically grab when close to an enemyâuse Direction + A to throw. |
| Dash | âââPerform a dash attack after sprinting. |
| Horseback | Automatically mount when near a horseâdoubles attack power and increases speed. |
IV. Levels and Boss Guide
| Level | Setting | Boss | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Changban | Li Dian | Beginner level. Use horseback dash attacks to interrupt his moves. |
| 2 | Bowang Slope | Xiahou Dun | Fire stageâwatch out for environmental damage. Corner him and spam throws. |
| 3 | White River | Xu Zhu | Massive hitboxâwatch for his heavy hammer attacks. Keep your distance. |
| 4 | Changban Bridge | Zhang Liao | Fast-paced boss. Clear the minions before focusing on him. |
| 5 | Red Cliff | Xiahou Jie | Shipboard combatâthe rocking deck affects movement. Horseback is a huge advantage. |
| 6 | Huarong Trail | Cao Cao | Two phasesâship combat followed by a horseback chase. Hit him to win. |
V. Pro Tips
- Master Horseback Combat: Attacks deal ~2x damage, movement is faster, and range is increased. You can knock enemies into the air. Horses can be stolen throughout levels.
- Zhao Yunâs Aerial Combo: Jump attack â press attack again before landing â drop kickâa unique technique for Zhao Yun.
- Keep Your Distance (Huang Zhong): Close combat is his weakness. Use arrows to harass enemies, dodge when they get close, and reposition.
- Use Special Moves: The HP cost for A+B is very low. Don't hesitate to use it when surrounded by three or more enemies.
- Temporary Weapons: Boxes and barrels contain swords, axes, and hammers. They have limited uses but deal significantly more damage than standard attacks.
VI. Trivia
The Manga DNA
The character designs are entirely based on Hiroshi Motomiyaâs manga. Guan Yu is a hulking giant, Zhuge Liang is a near-supernatural genius, and Zhang Fei is a barbarian. While this "Manga Three Kingdoms" sparked debate in 1992, many fans embraced it as the definitive version of the era. While later games like Knights of Valour took a more realistic approach, Motomiyaâs exaggerated style remains the most iconic visual identity of the Tenchi o Kurau series.
Cao Cao: From Boss to Playable
In later ROM hacks and emulated versions, Cao Cao became a playable character. Playing as Cao Cao and using his own army against his own forces is the ultimate "what if" fantasy. His moveset includes his boss-fight abilitiesâsuch as psychic control and energy projectilesâmaking him significantly more powerful than the base five characters.
