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Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein
Capcom's 3D space opera fighting game gets a second outing, bringing a new conflict between the Star Gladiators and the revived Fourth Empire.
Overview
Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein, known in Japan as Star Gladiator 2: Nightmare of Bilstein, is a 3D sci-fi fantasy fighting game developed and released by Capcom for arcades (using PS1-based Sony ZN-2 hardware) on March 1998.
The sequel to Star Gladiator Episode I: Final Crusade, Plasma Sword continues the story of Capcom's swashbuckling space opera while reworking some of the original's gameplay mechanics, including the replacement of a dedicated block button with one focused on 3D movement and the addition of several techniques making use of the new Plasma Power Gauge (such as the Plasma Field, which grants a temporary character-specific enhancement).
Taking place one year after the initial defeat of the Fourth Empire at the hands of the Star Gladiators, the story of Plasma Sword brings a new conflict to Planet Zeta, where it's believed that the Fourth Empire is being rebuilt by the mysterious return of the evil Dr. Bilstein.
Despite running on hardware based on the Sony PlayStation, the game was instead ported to the Sega Dreamcast in 1999 (December 9 in Japan) and 2000 (March 31 in North America, August 25 in Europe). It was later included in the 2025 compilation Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (Game) for the Xbox One (Platform), PlayStation 4 (Platform), Nintendo Switch (Platform), and PC (Platform).
Gameplay
Drawn into the Plasma Space, Hayato's Plasma Sword buff improves his sword attacks.
Like the original Star Gladiator, Plasma Sword uses a four-button control setup, with the three attack buttons being Vertical Slash (A), Horizontal Slash (B), and Kick (K). The Guard (G) button from the original game has been replaced with a new Sidestep (M) button for 3D movement, with blocking now resembling more traditional Capcom fighting games (via holding back on the joystick).
Certain techniques utilizing the Giard button, such as some 3D movement, still use the Sidestep button. Some techniques, such as dashing, have an option to use the Sidestep button as an alternate (such as dashing forward using either tapping forward twice or pressing forward+M).
Some techniques, such as Plasma Finals, are no longer available to use.
Plasma Gauge
New to the series is the Plasma Power Gauge, a three-level super meter that builds up by attacking and is used for certain techniques:
- Plasma Reverse, a parry that can either perform a counter-attack (Plasma Revenge, A+M) or a temporary stun (Plasma Reflect, B+M) against most attacks. While it existed in the previous game, it is now limited in this one by expending half of a gauge level.
- Plasma Strike, which is a powerful super move that use a universal command (qcf+AB or qcb+AB). While it existed in the previous game (using a separate command), it is no longer limited to once per round and instead consumes one whole gauge level.
- Plasma Field, a new special attack (performed by B+K) which costs one whole gauge level. During this attack, the fighter is surrounded in a dome that, if it collides with an enemy (even while blocked), creates a Plasma Space that temporarily grants a unique character-specific buff (with a walled arena, allowing for wall-juggling).
Characters
All of the playable characters from the previous game, with the exception of Rimgal and Kappah, return as playable characters from the start, joining newcomers Rain and Byakko. All 12 characters have their own alternate characters that share their weapons and movelists (similar to the rivals in Battle Arena Toshinden 3 (Game)), with the newcomers's alternates being hidden opponents. Combined, this brings the total to 24 playable characters.
Unlike the previous game, each character has their own final boss and true boss, the latter of which can only be reached by earning enough Battle Ability points before completing all eight stages.
- Hayato Kanzaki (Character) - The series's main protagonist and a Japanese orphan-turned-bounty hunter who fights with the eponymous Plasma Sword. He joins his fellow Star Gladiators in confronting the revived Bilstein. His alternate character is Black Hayato, an evil alternate consciousness implanted in Hayato during his previous encounter with Bilstein.
- June Lin Milliam (Character) - A British-Chinese rhythmic gymnast and a Star Gladiator who is still set on avenging the death of her parents by Bilstein. She fights with the Plasma Ring. Her alternate character is Ele (Character), a cheerful girl with a mysterious connection to June.
- Saturn Dyer (Character) - An eccentric alien street performer and Star Gladiator from the distant planet Saturn. He fights with a pair of Plasma Yo-Yos. His alternate character is Prince Saturn Kuida-Ore III, a royal prince of Saturn and a rival of Dyer who ends up joining the revived Fourth Empire solely to challenge him.
- Gamof Gohgry (Character) - A normally-gentle alien woodcutter and Star Gladiator from the distant forest planet De Rosa. He fights with the Plasma Axe. His alternate character is Gantetsu (Character), a Japanese soldier and fellow Star Gladiator who is in pursuit of Gerelt for personal reasons.
- Franco Gerelt (Character) - A Spanish matador who was previously blackmailed to join the Fourth Empire, now joining the revived Fourth Empire under mysterious circumstances. He fights with a Plasma Saber. His alternate character is Claire (Character), a student of Gerelt with a strong allegiance to the Fourth Empire.
- Vector - A killer robot built by Bilstein. It fights with a Plasma Gun. Its alternate character is Omega (Character), an early Vector prototype who was disposed of, only to reawaken and search for the meaning of "heart".
- Zelkin Fiskekrogen - A nobile avian soldier from the distant planet Klondike, who previously joined the Fourth Empire due to his hatred for humans, now joining the Star Gladiators to atone for his past. He fights with a Plasma Claw. His alternate character is Eagle, an American superhero with a strong sense for justice.
- Gore Gajah - An Indonesian mutant with powerful psychic abilities and a member of the Fourth Empire. He fights with a Plasma Mace and has a hidden alternate appearance as a boss, who is playable with a cheat code. His alternate character is Luca (Character), Gore's mysterious and malicious subordinate.
- Blood (Character) - An American swordsman and Bilstein's former subordinate who overcame his brainwashing, now joining the Star Gladiators. He fights with a Plasma Broadsword. His alternate character is Shaker (Character), one of four murderous cyborg clones of Blood (who fights with a Plasma Chainsword) trying to find out which one of them is the original.
- Dr. Edward Bilstein - The series's main antagonist and the leader of the Fourth Empire, who was resurrected under mysterious circumstances and is now forging an ultimate weapon. His weapon is the Plasma Emperor Sword. His alternate character is Ghost Bilstein, a zombified version of Bilstein's former corpse endlessly seeking to kill Hayato.
- Rain - New addition to the series. A woman who has a mysterious connection with Bilstein. Fights with a Plasma Scythe. Her alternate character is Kaede, a Japanese kunoichi (wielding a large Plasma Hammer, sometimes for comedic effect) who is sent by the Earth Federation Force to assassinate those wielding Plasma weapons. Unlike most other alternate characters, Kaede has a modified movelist and is a hidden opponent that is only playable via cheat code.
- Byakko (Character) - New addition to the series. A supersoldier resembling a white tiger and a member of the Earth Federation Force's "Four Saint Beasts", sent to assassinate those wielding Plasma weapons. Fights with a pair of Plasma Claws. His alternate character is Rai-on, a fellow member who resembles a black lion. Unlike most other alternate characters, Rai-on has a modified movelist and is a hidden opponent that is only playable via cheat code.
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- Name
- Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein
- Release Date
- March 1998
- Platform
- Arcade (Platform)
Dreamcast (Platform) - Developer
- Publisher
- Genre
- Fighting (Genre)
- Theme
- Sci-Fi (Theme)
- Franchise
- Star Gladiator (Franchise)
- Aliases
- Star Gladiator 2: Nightmare of Bilstein