Slap Happy Rhythm Busters (Game)

Slap Happy Rhythm Busters

GAME » on July 29, 2000

A cel-shaded fighting game for the PlayStation, featuring a Japanese street culture aesthetic and a unique rhythm-based super move system.

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Overview

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Some of the game's loading screens are shown as small manga strips.

Slap Happy Rhythm Busters is a 2.5D fighting game developed by Polygon Magic (Company) and published by ASK for the PlayStation (Platform) exclusively in Japan on June 29, 2000.

Made by the studio behind Fighters' Impact and ShaoLin (Game), Slap Happy Rhythm Busters features cel-shaded 3D graphics and a unique visual and musical style inspired by modern Japanese street and DJ culture. It also features a unique super move system called "Beat Combo", where players perform a rhythm-based minigame (inspired by the Dance Dance Revolution (Franchise) series) to determine the move's effectiveness. and includes some reworked characters from the fighting game Vs.

Set in Down Town, the game's story involves a tournament behind held by "Rude Boy", the mysterious young leader of the Cloud gang. At the same time, a UFO has landed nearby, catching various eccentric characters with interest.

It later received a digital PSone Classics (Concept) release by Polygon Magic for supported PlayStation Network (Concept) consoles on July 6, 2011.

Gameplay

The Beat Combo minigame.

Slap Happy Rhythm Busters plays like most typical four-button fighting games, but the game's most notable addition is the Rhythm mechanic. Throughout the fight, the player will slowly fill up their Beat meter while dealing and receiving damage. Once the player has stored three bars of the Beat meter, they can perform a Beat Combo. When used, this is where the game's Rhythm aspect comes into play, in the form of a DDR-style minigame. The player must match the oncoming "beats" on a corresponding 4-directional pad. If the player manages to beat the opponent in this mode, they will be treated to a Fever finishing move. The player is able to practice this minigame in DJ Practice in the main menu, where they can also unlock additional extras by perfecting the minigames as each character. In battle the opponent can attempt to interfere with your beat combo by altering the direction some of the "beats" come from.

The Beat meter can also be used to perform conventional supers (referred to in this game as "rave attacks"); these cost one bar rather than three. If a player is heavily damaged in a short period of time, they begin to flicker yellow instead of becoming dizzy. While in this state they cannot block attacks.

After each fight, the player can choose between two opponents to fight next.

Characters

Base Roster

Ramos

The chief protagonist of the game, Ramos is a 17 year old "Fighting DJ". He's very hot blooded and gets very worked up in clubs, especially if anyone criticizes his "beat". He's also rather foul-mouthed; despite all this he's actually a good person.

Like Mia and Oreg, he is based on the character of the same name from Vs..

SPECIAL MOVES:

Burning disc: QCF, square or triangle
Burst flare: back forward, square or triangle
Queuing upper: down down, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Club cannon: QCF, square and triangle
Jangling rush: back forward, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher is a barrage of sound using his mixing deck and speakers, followed by a physical attack on his deafened opponent.

Mia

A 16 year old kung-fu practitioner, she's always getting in street fights... but only for justice! She is friends with Ramos and Oreg, although she refuses to ride in Oreg's taxi...

Like Ramos and Oreg, she is based on the character of the same name from Vs..

SPECIAL MOVES:

Haganshou: QCF, square or triangle
Kyuudankyaku: down down, X or circle
houhoko: back forward, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Resshin saihaiken: QCF, square and triangle
Oukagiten enbu: Down down, X and circle

Her Beat Combo Fever finisher involves dance moves before unleashing a series of punches on her opponent.

Oreg

A tough and crazy 29 year old taxi driver obsessed with speed. His taxi has been dramatically souped-up by Dr. Volt. He and Sledge (who shares many of the same moves) are buddies; Sledge is responsible for the checkered tattoo on Oreg's face.

Like Ramos and Mia, he is based on the character of the same name from Vs..

SPECIAL MOVES:

Jerky upper: QCF, square or triangle (can be held)
Wheel head: back forward, square or triangle
Rejection ride: QCB, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Wheelspin head: back forward, square and triangle
Overheat full course: QCF, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher is him bringing his opponent along in his speeding taxi before ejecting him out of his car and into the sky.

Nitro

A hulking cyborg created by Dr. Volt who has escaped. He's quite destructive and has a bad temper.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Crane throw: QCB, square or triangle
Drill crusher: QCF, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Death crush crane: QCB, square and triangle
Melt ray down: down down, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher involves him hijacking an orbital laser cannon and obliterating his opponent.

Euri

She is sixteen year old "gas girl" (apparently this is fashionable in the Slap Happy universe). She has a huge crush on Trash and is candy-obsessed; she spends most of her time hanging out at the Candy Shop. She is capable of air-dashing!

SPECIAL MOVES:

Gas shot: While on the ground or in the air: QCF, square or triangle
Hip pack shot: While on the ground or in the air: QCB, square or triangle
Shooting Sugar: While in the air: QCF, X or circle
Gumgum thow: back forward, X or circle

SUPERS:

Gas over shoot: QCF, square and triangle
Sugar rave limit: While in the air: QCF, X and circle

Her Beat Combo Fever finisher is a psychedelic romp through a town made of candy with her opponent, followed by their demise.

Holemon

A creepy, disturbing and often silent butcher. He absolutely loves the art of cutting meat; having heard about the cow thefts and the UFO, he intends to invade the UFO and steal all the cows to supply his shop on the cheap. He is 40 years old.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Butcher press: down down, X or circle
Mince cleaver: back forward, square or triangle
Birdcage: QCF, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Endless butcher press: down down, X and circle
Maniac slaughter: back forward, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher involves him running over the opponent with a silly looking tricycle.

Trash

Trash is a cool sanitary worker who has made it his personal quest to totally clean up "Down Town". He apparently has a nihilistic streak, and is constantly cleaning up Tomtom's graffiti and messes left by Chad and Gram. His special vacuum can suck up objects of virtually any size! He's 18.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Cleanup: QCF, square or triangle
Struck dust: QCB, square or triangle
Triple dart: back forward, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Vacuum box: QCF, square and triangle
General cleaning: QCB, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher involves him sucking up his opponent in his vacuum cleaner.

April

A Cowgirl proficient with her knives and guns who closely takes after her father. Her prize bull has been stolen by a mysterious UFO, and she's looking to find him. She is 15 years old (!!)

SPECIAL MOVES:

Western edge: While in the air or on the ground: QCF, Square or triangle
Hanging Shotgun: While in the air or on the ground: down down, square or triangle
Howling Lasso: Back, X

SUPERS

Agile Dance Edge: QCF, both square and triangle
Eternity Pendulum: Down Down, Square and triangle

Her Beat Combo Fever finisher brings out a large bull, which attacks the opponent and sends them into the air, allowing her to finish them off with dual 6-gauge shotguns.

Garia

A wise, strong, and beautiful fortune teller apparently from Morocco. She senses both the threat of the UFO and the evil of Marcantile and sets out to prevent anyone from getting hurt. She is 25 years old.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Somtam: QCF, square or triangle
Gaichie: QCF, X or circle
Nuasadoun: QCB, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Somtam Gaiyan: QCF, square and triangle
Moosate Bobian: QCF, X and circle

Her Beat Combo Fever finisher involves her summoning a large behemoth which rises up and swallows her opponent.

Zeköo

A cool American samurai who is half Japanese. He inherited his sword from his father and is looking for his evil brother. He shares most of his movelist with Jacköo.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Nami slash: QCF, square or triangle
Tenshouken: down, down, square or triangle
Shouji-otoshi giri: QCF, X or circle

SUPERS:

Kurofune raiko: QCF, square and triangle
Hayate tenshouken: Down down, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher is a brutal attack from his blade.

Vivian & Roxy

Vivian-Roxy

A pair of young girls who go everywhere and do everything together. Even though they're young, in combination they are quite skillful! Marcantile is attempting to kill them for unknown reasons; he may be their grandfather. What an awful guy!

SPECIAL MOVES:

One, two, bang: QCF, square or triangle
Guruguru bang: QCB, square or triangle
Reverse bang: QCF, X or circle

SUPERS:

Bokoboko bang: QCF, square and triangle
Mechyamechya bang: QCF, X and circle

Their Beat Combo Fever finisher involves them doing a backflip before kicking their opponent into the sky.

Unlockable Characters

Chad & Gram

Chad and Gram are a pair of freakish (and lazy) brothers who are employed by Holemon at his butcher shop. Gram, the larva-like older brother, is essentially unintelligent and serves as a mount for the younger, hammer-wielding Chad. They are 22 and 24 respectively. Chad decided to name most of their moves after himself, even though Gram does most of the work!

They are a mid-boss who can be unlocked for play by clearing Arcade Mode.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Rising Chad: down down, square or triangle
Bad Smell: QCF, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Skydive Chad: down down, square and triangle
Chad missile: QCF, square and triangle

Their Beat Combo Fever finisher is a series of violent blows, sending the opponent into the air followed by an explosion.

Baron & Volt

Doctor Volt is a 48 year-old mad scientist who, like any mad scientist, delights in experimentation. He created Nitro, who promptly ran away; Baron, a gorilla from the Congo, is a much more controllable individual. Still, he gets up to all sorts of hijinks which embarass Volt to no end. Dr. Volt does not fight, he simply stands in the background while Baron does all the work.

They are a mid-boss who can be unlocked for play by clearing Arcade Mode two times.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Bolgani-turn: back, forward, square or triangle
Nara congo: QCB, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Bolgani Over Spin: back, forward, square and triangle
Tando Nara congo: QCB, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher is a brutal uppercut, sending his opponent into the air before being struck down into the ground by another attack.

Tom Tom

Tom Tom is an 11 year old troublemaking graffiti artist and street urchin. Apparently his graffiti is so well done that it can take on a life of its own, as in the ghost that assists him in a number of attacks. Having heard about the UFO, he would love to paint graffiti all over it so even the residents of space can see his work.

He is a mid-boss who can be unlocked for play by clearing Arcade Mode three times.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Flash hand: down down, square or triangle
Graffiti shot: QCF, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Mad painting: QCF, X and circle
Scribble rise: QCF, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher involves him summoning a ghost and kicking his opponent into the sky.

Sledge

A 30 year old tattoo artist who has "tattoo mania". He fights in much the same as Oreg. He wants to go to Japan and learn more tattoo techniques from Japanese tattoo masters; he's also really keen to ask Zeköo who did his tattoos.

He is a mid-boss who can be unlocked for play by clearing Arcade Mode four times.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Flying bomb: QCB, square or triangle
Dengeki spike: down down, square or triangle
Wheel head: back forward, square or triangle
Drop shoulder: While airborne, down and X or circle

SUPERS:

Wheelspin head: back forward, square and triangle
Overheat full course: QCF, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher is a powerful punch, sending his opponent into the sky.

Marcantile

An incredibly cruel and evil old man from Russia whose attacks are in fact by his trained wolves, similar to the Pokémon Trainer in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. While he normally doesn't fight himself, if his wolf is ever guard-broken he is forced to enter combat and is severely at a disadvantage. He is an assassin, and has met and fought Galia before; he's trying to kill Vivian and Roxy for some unknown reason. He's 62 years old.

He is a mid-boss who be unlocked for play by clearing Arcade Mode five times

SPECIAL MOVES:

Suvoborg: down down, triangle or square
Duruuk: QCF, triangle or square
Liuvov: QCF, X or circle

SUPERS:

Dovall Chestova: down down, triangle and square
Munoga duruuk: QCF, triangle and square

His Beat Combo Fever finisher sends his wolf after his opponent, unleashing a barrage of attacks on them.

Stealth

An evil alien who is an homage to the Predator (Concept). He has the bizarre dream of collecting one of every type of cow, and has been kidnapping cows from all over the world. Soon, his collection will be complete! He apparently loves "wagyu" beef the best. Unsurprisingly, he is the kidnapper of April's prize bull.

He is a mid-boss who can be unlocked for play by clearing Arcade Mode six times.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Astroid flare: QCF, square or triangle
Cosmo fusion: QCB, square or triangle
Q-ball: down down, square or triangle
Magnet sphere: back forward, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Cosmo explosion: QCB, square and triangle
Q limit: down down, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher involves him flying up into space, charging up his arm and unleashing it on his opponent.

Dark-Ramos

Ramos who has apparently been somehow corrupted by Marcantile. He is very similar to the normal Ramos.

He is a final boss who can be unlocked for play by clearing 16 Beat Combos in DJ Practice Mode, then defeating him in Arcade Mode.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Burning disc: QCF, square or triangle
Burst flare: back, forward, square or triangle
Queuing upper: down down, square or triangle

SUPERS:

Club cannon: QCF, square and triangle
Jank death rush: QCF, X and circle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher is similar to Chad & Gram's.

Jacköo

Zeköo's mysterious and evil older brother, who wields a sword similar to Rude Boy's. Little is known about him, but he is apparently quite violent and destructive. He shares most of his movelist and regulars with Zeköo.

He is a final boss who can be unlocked for play by clearing 24 Beat Combos in DJ Practice Mode, then defeating him in Arcade Mode.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Nami slash: QCF, square or triangle
Tenshouken: Down down, square or triangle
Shouji-otoshi giri: QCF, X or circle

SUPERS:

Fuujinranbuken: QCF, square and triangle
Hayate tenshouken: down down, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher is a series of dance moves followed by a swift strike with his blade on his opponent.

Rude Boy

The leader of the Down Town gang called "Cloud". He put on a tournament to prove nobody is stronger than himself. He is filled with "chaos power" and can transform into another form thanks to this fact. He hates Ramos.

He is a final boss who can be unlocked for play by clearing 40 Beat Combos in DJ Practice Mode, then defeating him in Arcade Mode.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Interceptor: QCB, X or circle
Moon slicer: QCB, square or triangle
Pulse direct: back forward, square or triangle (can be held)
Spiral sword: down and X while airborne

SUPERS:

Chaos sword: QCB, square and triangle
Nuclear pulse direct: Both triangle and square when the player has three stocks of "beat" meter.
Rude change: QCF, square and triangle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher involves trapping his opponent into a ball of energy before striking them repeatedly with his sword.

Frosty

The creepy and psychotic mascot of the Candy Store. When he sees violence, he just can't control himself... and he really hates people who browse and don't buy!

He is a hidden opponent who is fought by finishing a match on his stage with a Beat Combo Fever, and can be unlocked for play by clearing 8 Beat Combos in DJ Practice Mode, then defeating him in Arcade Mode.

SPECIAL MOVES:

Frosty Beam: QCF, square or triangle
Head Hunting: QCF, X or circle

SUPERS:

Spread Bazooka: QCF, square and triangle
Sweet Manslaughter: QCF, X and circle

His Beat Combo Fever finisher involves freezing his opponent before smashing them into the sky.

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