Guidebook scans #9: SFPW2 | Critical Club: Fire Pro Wrestling Universe

Shadow Master
Super Kaiser

***Legendary Fire Pro Historian***

Posts: 1,634

Guidebook scans #9: SFPW2 Jun 18, 2023 15:34:15 GMT Melonbread likes this

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Post by Shadow Master on Jun 18, 2023 15:34:15 GMT

Super Fire Pro-Westing 2 Winning Strategy Special
Published by: Keibunsha
Pages: 79
Year: 1993

As the ninth guidebook I intend to scan, this book focuses on Super Fire Pro-Wrestling 2 on the Super Famicom. Besides
even more Wrestler illustrations and in-game secrets, this guidebook also includes an interview with a young Minoru Suzuki
(who had yet to be included in a Fire Pro-Wrestling game).

These days, Super Fire Pro-Wrestling 1 & 2 tend to get overlooked when discussing 16-bit Wrestling games. Yet, both entries
were truly the most in-depth wrasslin' depictions available on any console at the time. Ultimately, I hope this guide provides
a better glimpse at (yet another) underappreciated gem in the Fire Pro series.

The cover art to this guide is amazing. Pictured is the hidden boss character Mask De Panther (Tiger Mask). I wouldn't be surprised if this illustration was the original

cover for Super Fire Pro-Wrestling 2 (instead of the bland, empty ring design we would end up receiving).

The inner sleeve promotes four books published by Keibunsha. Clockwise: Super Fire Pro-Wrestling, Fire Pro Wrestling 3 Legend Bout, Fire Pro-Wrestling Retsuden,
and a book discussing Japan's national victory in martial arts.

The inner-cover.

Page 1: table of contents and partition of sleeve.

Pages 2 to 3 serve as the introduction to Super Fire Pro-Wrestling 2.

Page 4: controller mapping and options menu information.

Page 5: mode selection screen, along with explaining SFPW2's password system.

Pages 6 - 7 provide a brief explanation of the four game modes. Clockwise: Exhibition Match, Official League Match, Open League Match and Exhibition Match.

Last Edit: Jun 19, 2023 5:09:11 GMT by Shadow Master

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Shadow Master
Super Kaiser

***Legendary Fire Pro Historian***

Posts: 1,634

Guidebook scans #9: SFPW2 Jun 19, 2023 1:39:31 GMT Melonbread likes this

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Post by Shadow Master on Jun 19, 2023 1:39:31 GMT

The next pages introduces four standout Wrestlers along with their special moves on the following page.

Page 9 features Abdul The Danger (Abdullah The Butcher) applying a Hell's Thrust to Victory Musashi (Antonio Inoki).

Pages 10 - 11 depict Rick Gray (Dick Vrij) applying a Kick Rush to Hurricane Rikimaru (Riki Choshu).

As art imitates life, the above illustration looks eerily similar to the time Akira Maeda infamous shoot-kicked on Choshu off script - breaking Choshu's orbital
bone.

Pages 12 - 13: Smasher G. Gigas (Bam Bam Bigelow) goes for a Senton splash on Star Bison (Stan Hansen).

Pages 14 - 15: Mask De Panther performs a flip kick on Mitsuhide Hikawa (Mitsuharu Misawa).

I'm sure this drawing is a subtle nod to Misawa's portrayal as Tiger Mask II, before unmasking himself in 1990.

Pages 16 - 17: favourite techniques.
Page 16 features: the Wristlock Suplex and Mayan Style Suplex, while page 17 includes the Sunset Flip, Powerbomb Whip and Tiger Leg Lock.

Page 18 features the Frankensteiner and Space Flying Tiger Attack.

Page 19 is the title page for the Wrestler section of this guidebook.

Pages 20 - 21: Victory Musashi (Antonio Inoki) & Fighter Yamato (Tatsumi Fujinami).

Pages 22 - 23: Hurricane Rikimaru (Riki Choshu) & Shinya Hatamoto (Shinya Hashimoto).

Pages 24 - 25: Tommy Bomber (Jumbo Tsuruta) & Akira Sagami (Akira Taue)

Pages 26 - 27: Mitsuhide Hikawa (Mitsuharu Misawa) & Toshiie Kazama (Toshiaki Kawada).

Pages 28 - 29: Jo Kajiwara (Yoshiaki Fujiwara) & Makoto Higaki (Masakatsu Funaki).

Pages 30 - 31: Akira Saeba (Akira Maeda) & Rick Gray (Dick Vrij).

Pages 32 - 33: Ax Duggan (Hulk Hogan) & Star Bison (Stan Hansen).

Pages 34 - 35: Kerry Bogey (Terry Gordy) & Steel James (Dr. Death Steve Williams).

Pages 36 - 37: Mad Tiger (Tiger Jeet Singh) & Abdul T. Danger (Abdullah The Butcher)

Pages 38 - 39: Hitman Saber (Big Van Vader) & Smasher G. Gigas (Bam Bam Bigelow).

Pages 40 - 41: Super Kaizer (Jushin Thunder Liger) & Blade Musha (The Great Muta).

Pages 42 - 43: Thunder Ryu (Genichiro Tenryu) & Katsushi Okita (Atsushi Onita).

Pages 44 - 45: Masahiro Kohno (Masahiro Chono) & Ken Budo (Keiji Mutoh).

Keiji Mutoh appears as the first hidden Wrestler. It's worth noting that SFPW2 was also Mutoh's first Fire Pro appearance.

Pages 46 - 47: the final hidden boss characters are Mask De Panther (Tiger Mask) & Dynamic Kid (Dynamite Kid).

Last Edit: Jun 19, 2023 5:17:37 GMT by Shadow Master

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Shadow Master
Super Kaiser

***Legendary Fire Pro Historian***

Posts: 1,634

Guidebook scans #9: SFPW2 Jun 19, 2023 5:49:03 GMT Melonbread likes this

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Post by Shadow Master on Jun 19, 2023 5:49:03 GMT

Since we just looked at all of the Wrestlers in the game, the next portion of this SFPW2 guidebook takes a closer look at

game mechanics and secrets.

Page 48 is the special column. The column mentions double team and 2-on-1 handicap matches, a special match type that was first

featured in SFPW2.

Page 49 is the title page for 'Fire Pro Variety'.

Page 50 - 51: deciding who the strongest Wrestler is based on some of the earliest examples of sim tournament results in a Fire Pro game!

Pages 52 - 53: the conclusion of the tournament. In case you were wondering, the results are as followed:

1st place: Vader - 30 points.
2nd place: Steve Williams - 18 points.
3rd place: Stan Hansen - 15 points.
4th place: Bam Bam Bigelow - 14 points.
5th place: Yoshiaki Fujiwara - 10 points.
5th place (tied): Jumbo Tsuruta - 10 points.
7th place: Tiger Mask - 6 points.

And to think, this was one of the primitive ways we Wrestling fans used to share the results of our e-feds before the days of Wrestling forums!

Page 54 covers gameplay mechanics such as stamina and submission holds.

Page 55 tackles moves that can link together and technique form.

Last Edit: Jun 19, 2023 5:57:48 GMT by Shadow Master

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Shadow Master
Super Kaiser

***Legendary Fire Pro Historian***

Posts: 1,634

Guidebook scans #9: SFPW2 Jun 19, 2023 15:16:23 GMT Melonbread likes this

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Post by Shadow Master on Jun 19, 2023 15:16:23 GMT

Page 56 offers strategies for 2 on 1 and double team situations. Techniques involving hammer throws, planchas, careful timing and ringside techniques.

Page 57 is the title page for the Fire Pro Thorough Data Analysis section.

Pages 58 - 59: Wrestler action pattern chart. Just like the SFPW1 guide, the included chart acts as the precursor to Fire Pro's CPU logic. Move tendencies
for every Wrestler is listed.

Pages 60 - 61: a continuation of the Wrestler pattern chart.

Pages 62 - 63: advanced gameplay secrets.

Page 62:
Trick #1: unlock the hidden Wrestlers.
Trick #2: unlock the WOMAN referee.
Trick #3: change the Wrestler's attire colour.

Trick #4: this secret even I didn't know about! Did you know The Great Muta has SEVEN different types of poison mist colours in SFPW2?
Even more amazing: the colour of Muta's mist depends on how much energy Muta's opponent has remaining!

Page 63: secret front and back grapples listed for every Wrestler. The moves are as followed:

Antonio Inoki
Front grapple: Straight Punch - Down + Y + B
Back grapple: Sleeper Hold - Left + Y + B

Tatsumi Fujinami
Front grapple: Front Suplex - Up + Y + B
Back grapple: German Suplex Hold - Left + Y + B

Riki Choshu
Front grapple: Arm Breaker - Right + Y + B
Back grapple: Octopus Hold - Down + Y + B

Yoshiaki Fujiwara
Front grapple: Fujiwara Armbar - Left + Y + B
Back grapple: Octopus Hold - Up + Y + B

Masakatsu Funaki
Front grapple: Bridging Front Suplex - Down + Y + B
Back grapple: Dragon Suplex Hold - Right + Y + B

Mitsuharu Misawa
Front grapple: Tiger Driver Hold - Up + Y + B
Back grapple: Atomic Drop - Left + Y + B

Jushin Thunder Liger
Front grapple: Shotei Rush - Right + Y + B
Back grapple: Mayan Style Suplex Hold - Down + Y + B

Atsushi Onita
Front grapple: Body Throw - Left + Y + B
Back grapple: German Suplex Hold - Down + Y + B

Toshiaki Kawada
Front grapple: Powerbomb Hold - Down + Y + B
Back grapple: Cobra Twist - Right + Y + B

Tiger Mask

Front grapple: Snap Brainbuster - Up + Y + B
Back grapple: German Suplex Hold - Left + Y + B

Dynamite Kid
Front grapple: Headbutt - Right + Y + B
Back grapple: Backdrop Hold - Down + Y + B

Akira Maeda
Front grapple: Headbutt - Left + Y + B
Back grapple: Surfboard Stretch - Up + Y + B

Jumbo Tsuruta

Front grapple: Cobra Claw - Down + Y + B
Back grapple: Sleeper Hold - Right + Y + B

Shinya Hashimoto

Front grapple: Hell's Thrust - Up + Y + B
Back grapple: German Suplex Hold - Left + Y + B

Akira Taue
Front grapple: Powerbomb - Right + Y + B
Back grapple: Surfboard Stretch - Down + Y + B

Tiger Jeet Singh
Front grapple: Front German Suplex Hold - Left + Y + B
Back grapple: Tiger Suplex Hold - Down + Y + B

Steve Williams
Front grapple: DDT - Down + Y + B
Back grapple: German Suplex Hold - Right + Y + B

Great Muta
Front grapple: Head Biting - Up + Y + B
Back grapple: Double Underhook Pin - Left + Y + B

Dick Vrij
Front grapple: Headbutt - Right + Y + B

Back grapple: German Suplex Hold - Down + Y + B

Genichiro Tenryu
Front grapple: Kesa Kiri Chop - Left + Y + B

Back grapple: German Suplex Hold - Down + Y + B

Masahiro Chono

Front grapple: Front Suplex - Down + Y + B
Back grapple: Atomic Drop - Right + Y + B

Keiji Mutoh

Front grapple: Snap Brainbuster - Up + Y + B
Back grapple: Backdrop Hold - Left + Y + B

Stan Hansen
Front grapple: Short-ranged Lariat - Up + Y + B

Back grapple: Sleeper Hold: Left + Y + B

Terry Gordy
Front grapple: Short-ranged Lariat - Right + Y + B
Back grapple: Backdrop Hold - Down + Y + B

Hulk Hogan

Front grapple: Avalanche Hold - Left + Y + B
Back grapple: Sleeper Hold - Up + Y + B

Big Van Vader

Front grapple: Backflip - Down + Y + B
Back grapple: Sleeper Hold - Right + Y + B

Bam Bam Bigelow

Front grapple: Backdrop - Up + Y + B
Back grapple: Surfboard Stretch - Left + Y + B

Abdullah The Butcher
Front grapple: Brainbuster - Right + Y + B
Back grapple: Backdrop Hold - Down + Y + B

Last Edit: Jun 19, 2023 16:27:14 GMT by Shadow Master

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Shadow Master
Super Kaiser

***Legendary Fire Pro Historian***

Posts: 1,634

Guidebook scans #9: SFPW2 Jun 19, 2023 19:44:17 GMT Melonbread likes this

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Post by Shadow Master on Jun 19, 2023 19:44:17 GMT

Page 64: skill articulation with the mention of criticals.

Page 65: the CPU difficulty level documented per stage in Official League/World Championship mode. Page 65 also mentions counter probability.

Pages 66 - 67 list more reversal ratios and other situations organized by Wrestler size. Page 67 also covers damage ratios.

Pages 68 - 69 covers move information for each Wrestler.

Pages 70 - 71: more of the same. Move information for more of SFPW2's roster.

Pages 72 - 73: more move information for other Wrestlers in the game.

Page 74: the last page of Wrestler attack data.

Page 75: in typical Keibunsha fashion, the end of the guide includes an interview with a noted Professional Wrestler. In this guide's case, that

particular Wrestler is Minoru Suzuki.

Pages 76 - 77: the interview with Minoru Suzuki continues.

Pages 78 - 79 conclude the interview with Minoru Suzuki. The bottom of page 79 includes a sweepstakes, where three readers
could write into HUMAN in hopes of winning signed shikishi boards (Japan's chosen method of autograph collecting) signed by
Suzuki himself!

As this guide came out three years before YAHOO! Auctions was launched in Japan, obtaining Wrestler autographs were far
more tedious at the time. One could even say, these giveaways served as extra incentives for players to purchase Keibunsha's
Fire Pro guides back in the day.

The final page and back cover inlay. Includes book credits, Keibunsha's information, and the address to mail in for Minoru Suzuki signed shikishi
giveaway.

After 30 years, you still might be able to call in and attempt to win one!

And that concludes another guidebook scanned from front to back. I hope you all enjoyed checking out this guide.

All donations will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading!

Last Edit: Jun 19, 2023 21:40:05 GMT by Shadow Master

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elguapo
"Rock Solid" Rocky Tsuji

Posts: 44

Guidebook scans #9: SFPW2 Jun 19, 2023 23:50:01 GMT via mobile Shadow Master likes this

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Post by elguapo on Jun 19, 2023 23:50:01 GMT

Thank-you! SFPW 1&2 been my favorites these past couple months so you know how much I enjoyed your post. Holy cow thank-you. Love the illustrations and secret moves. I took find that fascinating Muta has different colored mists. This is good stuff.

Shadow Master
Super Kaiser

***Legendary Fire Pro Historian***

Posts: 1,634

Guidebook scans #9: SFPW2 Jun 20, 2023 5:31:24 GMT Melonbread likes this

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Post by Shadow Master on Jun 20, 2023 5:31:24 GMT

Jun 19, 2023 23:50:01 GMT elguapo said:

Thank-you! SFPW 1&2 been my favorites these past couple months so you know how much I enjoyed your post. Holy cow thank-you. Love the illustrations and secret moves. I took find that fascinating Muta has different colored mists. This is good stuff.

The SFPW1 coverage is far from over, my friend. In fact, I have another guidebook on the way dedicated to it:

Released in 1992 and also written by Keibunsha, Fire Pro-Wrestling Retsuden covers the first three Fire Pro games:

Fire Pro-Wrestling Combination Tag
Fire Pro-Wrestling 2nd BOUT
....and Super Fire Pro-Wrestling.

There's even an interview with Jushin Thunder Liger!

Once the guidebook arrives, I'll scan all of the pages for everyone to read here.

Like my work and want to support me? Please check out my Patreon: www.patreon.com/Shadow_Master_Wrestling_Workshop

Shadow Master's Steam Workshop: steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198300785269/myworkshopfiles/

Shadow Master
Super Kaiser

***Legendary Fire Pro Historian***

Posts: 1,634

Guidebook scans #9: SFPW2 Jul 12, 2023 7:14:07 GMT

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