Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes

Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes
Climax Heroes cover for the PS2
Developer(s)	Eighting
Publisher(s)	Bandai Namco Games
Series	Kamen Rider Series
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2
Release date(s)	JP August 6, 2009
Genre(s)	Fighting game
Mode(s)	Single-player Multiplayer
Rating(s)	CERO: A (all ages)

Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes (仮面ライダー クライマックスヒーローズ, Kamen Raidā Kuraimakkusu Hīrōzu^?, Masked Rider: Climax Heroes) is a Bandai Namco and Eighting PlayStation 2 video game featuring the protagonists of the Heisei Kamen Rider Series. It is the first Kamen Rider fighting game to be released onto the PlayStation 2 since Kamen Rider Kabuto. The game was released as part of the 10th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series by Toei, TV Asahi, Ishimori Productions, and Bandai.^[1]

Gameplay

Combat in the game operates on a basic three-button system, encompassing Weak Attack, Strong Attack, and Special Attacks (such as the various Rider Kicks). In addition to this, each Rider has the ability to perform a Form Change once the Rider Gauge at the bottom of the screen fills, whether by dealing or receiving damage or by charging the meter. Form Change can be used as a counter or to extend combos. A number of Riders also have the ability to summon Strikers, such as Ryuki's Contract Monster Dragredder or Den-O's DenLiner. Also, each Rider has a unique finisher called Rider Finale. This attack can only be activated when the Rider Gauge is full and press the R2 button.

Decade Mode

In Decade Mode, the player follows Tsukasa Kadoya's journey through the nine Heisei Kamen Rider worlds as Kamen Rider Decade, fighting the other Riders and attempting to prevent the destruction of the worlds. Decade Mode differs from standard gameplay in that Decade's Form Change and Special Attacks are customizable with KamenRide Cards and Final FormRide Cards earned as the player progresses. The missions in the mode are divided by three levels, with the easiest missions can be played in Level 1 while the hardest can be found in Level 3. Level 2 and 3 can be unlocked as the player progress in Level 1.

Characters

Climax Heroes prominently features the titular heroes of the Heisei Kamen Rider Series, as well as a few secondary characters.

Playable

• Kamen Rider Kuuga Mighty Form
  • Dragon Form
  • Pegasus Form
  • Titan Form
  • Rider Finale: Turns into Kuuga Amazing Mighty Form and executes the Amazing Mighty Kick.
• Kamen Rider Agito Ground Form
  • Trinity Form
  • Burning Form (Special Moves and Finisher only)
  • Rider Finale: Turns into Burning Form and repeatdly punches the opponent with Burning Rider Punch, then proceeds to finish the enemy with Burning Bomber.
• Kamen Rider Ryuki
  • Ryuki Survive
  • Rider Finale: An original attack, Ryuki Survive and Dragranzer rams through the enemy while engulfing in flames.
• Kamen Rider Faiz
  • Axel Form
  • Rider Finale: Performs Axel Crimson Smash.
• Kamen Rider Blade
  • King Form
  • Rider Finale: Uses his signature Royal Straight Flush while in King Form.
• Kamen Rider Hibiki
  • Kurenai
  • Rider Finale: In Kurenai form, Hibiki uses his Ongekida Bakuretsu Shinku form attack.
• Kamen Rider Kabuto Rider Form
  • Clock Up Mode
  • Rider Finale: Uses his Clock Up, the punches the enemy while pressing the button on Kabuto Zecter three times. Then, he sends the enemy flying, and finishes him with Rider Kick. Kabuto then uses his trademark pose.
• Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form
  • Rod Form
  • Ax Form
  • Gun Form
  • Rider Finale: Den-O takes full action by himself and assumes Liner Form. He then executes his Train Slash attack. After that, he faints due to the sword is heavy. His health does not deplete however.
• Kamen Rider Zeronos Altair Form
  • Vega Form
  • Zero Form (Special Moves and Finisher)
  • Rider Finale: Like Agito, Zeronos uses his special moves and finisher using the same form: Zeronos Zero Form. He attacks the opponent with his Buster Nova attack.
• Kamen Rider Kiva Kiva Form
  • Emperor Form
  • Rider Finale: Performs Emperor Moon Break, the transforms back to Kiva form.
• Kamen Rider Ixa Save Mode
  • Burst Mode
  • Rider Finale: Performs Ixa Judgement
• Kamen Rider Decade
  • Decade Kuuga Mighty Form
  • Decade Agito Ground Form
  • Decade Ryuki
  • Decade Faiz
  • Decade Blade
  • Decade Hibiki
  • Decade Kabuto Rider Form
  • Decade Den-O Sword Form
  • Decade Kiva Kiva Form
  • Rider Finale: Like Ryuki, he also uses an original attack. He transforms into Complete Form, then executes the Final Dimension Kick, which has the nine Heisei Riders's symbol instead of golden cards. The opponent who are hit by this attcak receives heavy damage.
    • Can be used only when Decade's customizable attacks been set to default
• Kamen Rider Diend
  • Kamen Rider Ouja (Special Moves and Form Change only)
    • Kamen Rider Ouja cannot be controlled, and randomly attacks the enemy on his own.
  • Rider Finale: Instead of his deadly Dimenson Shoot, he uses a new unnamed attack that was created for this game.
• Kamen Rider Dark Decade (仮面ライダーダークディケイド, Kamen Raidā Dāku Dikeido^?): Kamen Rider Dark Decade is original to Climax Heroes and exists as a palette swap of Kamen Rider Decade. He is stronger than other Kamen Riders that he can give much damage with his attack while the attacks of other Kamen Riders give him less damage.
  • Dark Decade Kuuga Mighty Form
  • Dark Decade Agito Ground Form
  • Dark Decade Ryuki
  • Dark Decade Faiz
  • Dark Decade Blade
  • Dark Decade Hibiki
  • Dark Decade Kabuto Rider Form
  • Dark Decade Den-O Sword Form
  • Dark Decade Kiva Kiva Form
  • Rider Finale: Same as Decade's

Playable in Decade Mode only

• Kamen Rider G3-X
• Auto Vajin (Cannot use a Striker while playing as Faiz in Decade Mode)
• Kamen Rider Gatack Rider Form^{[Note 1]}

Non-playable characters

These characters, except for Ouja, only appear in Decade Mode as enemies.

• Kamen Rider Ryuga
• Kamen Rider Ouja (Diend's Striker only)
• Kamen Rider Nega Den-O Nega Form
• Kamen Rider Dark Kabuto Rider Form

Climax Heroes W

Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes W
Climax Heroes W cover for the Wii
Developer(s)	Eighting
Publisher(s)	Bandai Namco Games
Series	Kamen Rider Series
Platform(s)	Wii
Release date(s)	JP December 3, 2009
Genre(s)	Fighting game
Mode(s)	Single-player Multiplayer
Rating(s)	CERO: A (all ages)

A version for the Nintendo Wii console titled Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes W (仮面ライダー クライマックスヒーローズＷ（ダブル）, Kamen Raidā Kuraimakkusu Hīrōzu Daburu^?) was announced in the October 8, 2009, issue of Weekly Famitsu for a December 3, 2009, release.^[2] It features Kamen Rider Double from Kamen Rider W, which premiered after the release of the original Climax Heroes, as a playable character, as well as various kaijin such as Worms and Dopants. Although a reading for the letter "W" in the title is not given, it refers both to the new series W and the Wii platform for the game.

Climax Heroes W was retooled in the West into the Wii version of the Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight licensed game.

New playable characters in W

In addition to all of the playable characters from the original PS2 version, these characters can be used in Climax Heroes W.

• Kamen Rider Double CycloneJoker/CycloneMetal/CycloneTrigger
  • HeatMetal/HeatTrigger/HeatJoker
  • LunaTrigger/LunaJoker/LunaMetal

  Kamen Rider Double is unique in that only form changes to other right side forms requires energy from the Rider Gauge meter (transforming from CycloneJoker to HeatMetal or LunaTrigger). Changes between left side forms do not require Rider Gauge energy (transforming from CycloneJoker to CycloneMetal or CycloneTrigger).

  • Rider Finale: Joker Extreme attack

The following characters were originally unique to the Decade Mode in the PS2 version.

• Kamen Rider G3-X
• Kamen Rider Gatack Rider Form
  • Clock Up Mode
• Auto Vajin
• Kamen Rider Ryuga
• Kamen Rider Dark Kabuto Rider Form
  • Clock Up Mode
• Kamen Rider Nega Den-O Nega Form

These characters are original to Climax Heroes W.

• Kamen Rider Kaixa
• Kamen Rider PunchHopper
  • Clock Up Mode
• Kamen Rider KickHopper
  • Clock Up Mode

These villainous characters appear in the Climax Mode game mode as NPC characters the player must fight. They can later be unlocked for player use. However, they do not have Rider Finales, though they still have a Special Moves and it are stronger than any of the Riders' Special Moves.

• Gelnewt
• Worm (Salis Worm)
• Magma Dopant
• T-Rex Dopant

Climax Heroes OOO

Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes OOO
Climax Heroes OOO cover for the PSP
Developer(s)	Eighting
Publisher(s)	Bandai Namco Games
Series	Kamen Rider Series
Platform(s)	PSP Wii
Release date(s)	JP December 2, 2010
Genre(s)	Fighting game
Mode(s)	Single-player Multiplayer
Rating(s)	CERO: A (all ages)

Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes OOO (仮面ライダー クライマックスヒーローズ オーズ, Kamen Raidā Kuraimakkusu Hīrōzu Ōzu^?) was announced by Famitsu on August 9, 2010, released on both the PlayStation Portable and Wii on December 2, 2010. These versions of the games introduce Kamen Rider OOO of Kamen Rider OOO as a playable character, as well as Kamen Rider Accel from Kamen Rider W, the remaining Riders from Kamen Rider Ryuki, several other Riders, and the most powerful forms of all of the previous Heisei Riders as playable characters rather than aspects of the base forms' finishing attack. Dark Decade is not available as a playable character in OOO.^[3] The PSP version has a custom soundtrack feature.

New playable characters in OOO

In addition to all of the playable characters from the original Climax Heroes and Climax Heroes W, these characters can be used in Climax Heroes OOO.

• Kamen Rider OOO Tatoba Combo/Combo variations
  • Gatakiriba Combo/Combo variations
  • Latorartar Combo/Combo variations
  • Sagohzo Combo/Combo variations
• Kamen Rider Knight
  • Knight Survive
• Kamen Rider Scissors^{[Note 2]}
• Kamen Rider Zolda
• Kamen Rider Gai^{[Note 2]}
• Kamen Rider Raia
• Kamen Rider Ouja^{[Note 2][Note 3]}
• Kamen Rider Tiger
• Kamen Rider Imperer
• Kamen Rider Femme^{[Note 2]}
• Kamen Rider Verde
• Kamen Rider Odin
• Kamen Rider Garren
• Kamen Rider Accel
  • Accel Trial
• Kamen Rider Double CycloneAccel Xtreme^{[Note 4]}

Climax Heroes OOO also introduces the most powerful forms of all of the previous Heisei Riders as playable characters rather than aspects of the base forms' finishing attack.

• Kamen Rider Kuuga Ultimate Form
• Kamen Rider Agito Shining Form
• Kamen Rider Ryuki Survive
• Kamen Rider Faiz Blaster Form
• Kamen Rider Blade Jack Form
• Kamen Rider Blade King Form
• Kamen Rider Armed Hibiki
• Kamen Rider Kabuto Hyper Form
• Kamen Rider Den-O Super Climax Form
• Kamen Rider Zeronos Zero Form
• Kamen Rider Kiva Emperor Form
• Kamen Rider Decade Complete Form
• Kamen Rider Double FangJoker
• Kamen Rider Double CycloneJoker Xtreme

These villainous characters, along with those introduced in Climax Heroes W, appear as NPC characters the player must fight and can be subsequently unlocked for play.

• Masquerade Dopant
• Raydragoon
• Riotrooper (Diend in Ragnarok Mode only)

Climax Heroes Fourze

Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes Fourze
Climax Heroes Fourze cover for the Wii
Developer(s)	Eighting
Publisher(s)	Bandai Namco Games
Series	Kamen Rider Series
Platform(s)	PSP Wii
Release date(s)	JP December 1, 2011
Genre(s)	Fighting game
Mode(s)	Single-player Multiplayer
Rating(s)	CERO: A (all ages)

Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes Fourze (仮面ライダー クライマックスヒーローズ フォーゼ, Kamen Raidā Kuraimakkusu Hīrōzu Fōze^?) is set for release on both the PlayStation Portable and Wii December 1, 2011. These versions of the games introduce Kamen Rider Fourze of Kamen Rider Fourze as a playable character, as well as the Showa Era Kamen Riders. Some new gameplay options will also be added such as tag-team battle.

New playable characters in Fourze

In addition to all of the playable characters from the original Climax Heroes, Climax Heroes W, and Climax Heroes OOO, these characters can be used in Climax Heroes Fourze.

• Kamen Rider Fourze Base States (Rocket/Launcher/Drill/Radar/Magichand/Camera/Parachute/Chainsaw/Hopping/Scissors/Beat/Chainarray/Smoke/Spike/Shield/Gatling Astro Switches)
  • Elek States (Elek Switch)
• Kamen Rider #1
• Kamen Rider #2
• Kamen Rider V3
• Kamen Rider Amazon
• Kamen Rider Black
• Kamen Rider Black RX (Bio and Robo Rider forms available)
• Shadow Moon
• Kamen Rider Birth (As Goto and as Date with different battle-styles and finishers)
• Kamen Rider Proto Birth

New playable Forms in Fourze

Along with new Riders some new forms will be playable.

• Kamen Rider OOO Shauta Combo
• Kamen Rider OOO Tajadol Combo
• Kamen Rider OOO Putotyra Combo
• Kamen Rider OOO Burakawani Combo

New Finishers in Fourze

Some old "incomplete" Riders will be given cutscene finishers

• Kamen Rider Faiz - Crimson Smash
• Kamen Rider G3-X - GX Launcher Perfect Marksmanship
• Kamen Rider Kaixa - Gold Smash
• Kamen Rider Garren - Burning Divide
• Kamen Rider Gatack - Rider Kick
• Kamen Rider KickHopper - Rider Jump>>>Rider Kick
• Kamen Rider PunchHopper - Rider Jump>>>Rider Punch
• Kamen Rider Dark Kabuto - Rider Kick
• Kamen Rider Nega Den-O - Nega Wild Shot

Theme songs

Climax Heroes & Climax Heroes W

• "Shūgō! Climax Heroes" (集合！クライマックスヒーローズ, Shūgō! Kuraimakkusu Hīrōzu^?, "The Gathering! Climax Heroes")
  • Artist: Tōru Furuya

Climax Heroes OOO

• "[O]=All Fight!" (オーズ・オール・ファイト！, Ōzu Ōru Faito!^?, "OOO All Fight!")
  • Artist: Akira Kushida

Climax Heroes Fourze

• "Endless Play"
  • Artist: Astronauts

Notes

1. ^ In Climax Heroes, Kamen Rider Gatack is called "Gatac".
2. ^ ^{a b c d} In Climax Heroes OOO, these playable characters are also available as options for Kamen Rider Diend to summon during a match.
3. ^ Climax Hero OOO is Kamen Rider Ouja's first appearance as a playable character; Ouja was previously available as one of Kamen Rider Diend's summons in older games.
4. ^ In Climax Heroes OOO, Double CycloneAccel Xtreme is a separate hidden character, referred to in the game as "WCAX" rather than "Kamen Rider Double".

References

1. ^ "平成ライダー集結！ 『仮面ライダー クライマックスヒーローズ』今夏参上！". 2009-04-24. http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/154/154165/. Retrieved 2009-06-14. 
2. ^ Weekly Famitsu, October 8, 2009
3. ^ "『仮面ライダー クライマックスヒーローズ オーズ』がPSPとWiiで登場 [pixiv]". August 9, 2010. http://www.pixiv.net/news/topic_article.php?id=11845. Retrieved August 9, 2010. 

External links

• Climax Heroes Portal site (Japanese)
  • Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes (Japanese)
  • Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes W (Japanese)
  • Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes OOO (Japanese)
  • Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes Fourze (Japanese)