Koihime Enbu - Game Review

Koihime Enbu - Game Review

Genre: Fighting
Developer: UNKNOWN GAMES, M2 Co., LTD
Released: January 28, 2016, May 19, 2016 for PC
Price: $57/40USD
Supplied: Imported via Yesasia.com
DLC: None

Update -December 6, 2016: This game is now available locally on Steam as well as being available for import on PS3/4. I also cleaned up some of the language and edited things to be more correct. I also added some points about the PC version noted with an asterisk(*).

Introduction
What is this game you ask? Why this is a 4-button fighting game based on an anime/visual novel about the Romance of the Three Kingdoms lore starring pretty ladies in place of all the men. Aesthetics aside, this is a very stripped down fighting game experience. That bare-bones sensation is felt elsewhere as well with the menus and interface being about as basic as possible. What does it offer and what are its mechanics? Well, let's dig in!

Menus and Options
We get all we need here with Scenario, Arcade, Versus, Online, Training, Replay, Gallery, Controls, and Game Options. What we get as far as basic game options is extremely limited.  2 screen sizes, volume dials, and an installation option. Menu translations(as close as I could get them) can be found here: Translated Menus

*Everything on the PC version is completely translated into English.

Training Mode
This actually possesses everything needed to train effectively in the game. It has a pretty complex retaliation system(post attack/guard) too. Any attack can be input for the dummy to follow up. A demo video can be found here: Demonstration Video

Netplay
I only managed to get a single match with someone. It actually played fantastic. I think it was a 3-bar connection but it's hard to say as my Japanese is limited.

*PC version plays pretty well too. No complaints. I have played a lot more matches there and it was good for the most part.

Controls and Movement
The game responds quite well. Movement options are standard on the ground and no additional jumps, high-jumps, or air-dashes in the air. Very simple.

Gameplay
Again, Very simple 1v1 with 100 seconds on the clock. Matches are a lot of poke and prod. Footsies are king here and patience tends to win the day. Basic combos are actually rather challenging, mixing links and cancels to create strings. Fatal Counter combos are actually pretty simple and can produce some devastating results.

Mechanics
As mentioned this game is extremely basic so do not be surprised to find a seeming lack of mechanics.

First Attack
Surprisingly beneficial, this mechanic gives an entire block of meter to the first person to land an attack in that round.

Counter hits/Fatals
Hitting your opponent while in the startup or recovery of their attack yields a Counter-Hit. This adds extra damage, and potentially, extra frames of hit-stun to make linking some things easier. The latter property is very hard to test and is potentially irrelevant in this game.

There is a very special version of this and it is called a Fatal Counter(like in BlazBlue). This counter is a potentially match-ending affair. The hit-stun from these is excessive and opens up the opportunity for huge combos. Only certain attacks activate this state and it varies by character so test it out(though most are similar)! During these combos the player can use one ground bounce, one wall bounce, and one launcher before it eventually fails. You can see what these are like at the end of all of my Simple "Character" Notes videos on my YouTube channel.

Throws
Throws are very basic in this game. They cannot be followed-up with anything. They do a respectable amount of damage but not enough to base an entire strategy. Throws can be performed forward or backward(with 4D). They cannot be done in the air.

Blocking
This is exactly how it sounds. The 3 zones of high/mid/low are present. All jump-ins are overheads. It also seems like blocking is not possible for a moment right after landing.

Chip
There is chip in the game, and yes, it can kill you. The game is not super fast and oppressive so this might not come up very often. However, if it does, watch out!

Knockdown and Recovery
If you get knocked down you can recover immediately upon contacting the ground. If you fail this check you stay down longer. While on the ground you cannot be damaged in any way. This same recovery option is available while being hit in the air. You can also follow-up that recovery with an attack if you wish but it can be baited and punished accordingly.

Assists
These attacks cost a block of meter and are they limited to the kingdom of the character chosen. The kingdoms are all aligned horizontally as well as sharing a common background color. It is not a mix-and-match like you find in Aquapazza or Nitro+.

Metered Specials
There are EX attacks(A+B) for every special attack which consume 1 block. There is also a 3-block Ougi special that does a whole lot of damage and has early invincibility and guard crushes on block. Then there is the 4-block Hiougi attack which is only usable after a Fatal Counter is landed. This attack does a huge amount of damage.

Aesthetics and Music
3D "anime" models tend to look a bit jarring to me. The game is, unfortunately, somewhat low resolution or lacking in anti-aliasing on the PS3(no idea on PS4). The particle effects are very pixelated too. This does not affect any of the game's overall gameplay quality and it looks just fine anyways.

*The PC version looks a lot better and is a huge improvement visually over the console version.

The music varies by stage rather than by character.  It actually has some pretty rockin' tunes.

Conclusion
This is an extremely basic fighting game. In fact, it is the most basic fighter I have ever played. It is most likely for the fundamentalists out there who relish the neutral game aspects the most. The game's combos tend to be very low-yield until a Fatal is landed. These combos can absolutely destroy the opponent in short order. While it can be swingy in that regard, I still think we will see less devastation in this game than we might in something like Nitro+.

I especially like the fact that there are no "do-over" defensive mechanics that help players easily recover from a mistake or a gamble. Players have to own their actions and I love it.

Recommendation
If you like the neutral game and being rewarded for your patience then check this out. The gameplay is very solid and quite a bit of fun. If you tend to like flashier and faster gameplay this may not be for you.  It also may not be for you if you hate all-female casts.