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KING OF COLOSSEUM II FAQ v1.4
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by Bill Wood (
[email protected])
09/20/04
This FAQ is best viewed with a monospace typeface.
VERSION HISTORY
---------------
v1.4 - Minor corrections and additions.
v1.3 - Minor corrections and additions.
v1.2 - FAQ expanded to include general gameplay questions.
- Expanded to include more general in-game questions.
- Other minor corrections and additions.
v1.1 - FAQ expanded to include general in-game questions.
- Other minor corrections and additions.
v1.0 - Initial version of the FAQ.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
SECTION 2: BASIC FAQS
* What is King of Colosseum II?
* Is King of Colosseum II only available in Japan?
* Is King of Colosseum II coming out on (name of console here)?
* Can I play it on my American/European PS2?
* If all the text is in Japanese, will I be able to play it?
* I only play WWE games. What makes KoC II so much different?
* I don't know any Japanese wrestlers. Are there any American guys
in King of Colosseum II?
* How do I unlock/make the American wrestlers?
* So you can make CAWs in King of Colosseum II?
* Are there official Japanese wrestling tournaments in KoC II?
* Is King of Colosseum II online compatible?
* Is KoC II worth buying if I already have KoC Red/Green?
* Will you be making in-depth character guides for KoC II like
you did with Fire ProWrestling D & Z?
SECTION 3: IN-GAME FAQS
* What is Survival Road?
* What's the quickest/easiest way to unlock points?
* What is the Secret Shop?
* I just unlocked (insert wrestler here) and he's not on the roster!
* How do I change my edit's name to English?
* Can I create different attires for my edits?
* Are all of the heads available in Edit Mode all premade like in
KoC Red/Green?
* I'm trying to create (insert wrestler here) and the game won't
let me assign his skill points.
* What is Dojo Mode?
SECTION 4: BASIC GAMEPLAY FAQS
* I have the game and I can't grapple/can't strike/etc...
* Now I can grapple, but all of my moves get reversed!
* What are Powerballs? How do I use them?
* Are there weapons in the game? How do I get them?
* My wrestler looks like he's tired! What do I do?
* How do I pick up a downed opponent?
* How do I exit the ring?
* How do I block an opponent's attack?
SECTION 5: CLOSING
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SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
=======================
Hello, and welcome to the King of Colosseum II FAQ. The purpose of this
document is not to provide translations or act as a game guide, but rather
to answer some of the more frequently asked questions that appear on the
GameFAQs KoC II message board. In other words, this is a true FAQ.
If you're a fan of American wrestling games (or are fed up with them) and
are curious about King of Colosseum II and what it has to offer,
congratulations... this FAQ is for you. Hopefully I can provide insight on
what makes this game so special, and why those who have witnessed the
King of Colosseum experience have a hard time going back to most American
wrestling games.
And if you're new to KoC, please, look here first before asking questions
on the board. This FAQ is by no means exhaustive, but it does answer many
of the common questions that have been asked time and time again.
If you have questions/comments/additions, please feel free to e-mail me at
the above address, but note that I'm usually away from home and rarely
check my e-mail, so please don't be disappointed if I'm slow to respond.
=====================
SECTION 2: BASIC FAQS
=====================
Q: What is King of Colosseum II?
A: King of Colosseum II (KoC II) is the latest offering from Spike, a
Japanese videogame company known for their high-quality wrestling titles.
Odds are if you've found your way to this FAQ, you've heard of the numerous
Fire ProWrestling games that have been released for nearly every major
system. The Fire Pro games have been critically acclaimed in Japan and
abroad for their commitment to providing an exciting professional wrestling
game experience.
Spike took over development on the Fire Pro series from the now-defunct
Human, and floored everyone with their very first Fire Pro title, Fire
ProWrestling D for the Sega Dreamcast, a game that is to this day
considered one of the very best wrestling games available.
King of Colosseum is the next logical progression of the Fire Pro series,
taking the bold leap into the realm of current-gen 3D software. And whereas
earlier Spike (and before that Human) 3D wrestling games were merely
sufficient (the first KoC) or altogether unplayable (Fire Pro: Iron Slam
'96), KoC II nails it right on the money, finally giving gamers the 3D
equivalent of Fire Pro.
If you want more information on Fire ProWrestling, please check out my
Beginner's Guides for Fire Pro D and Z in their respective guide locations
at GameFAQs.
Q: Is KoC II only available in Japan?
A: Yes, but you can import the game from several reliable game importers.
A quick search around the net will probably provide at least half a dozen
importers who can have the game delivered to your doorstep.
Q: Is King of Colosseum II coming out on (name of console here)?
A: Don't hold your breath. KoC II on multiple platforms isn't even a faint
rumor at this point.
Q: Can I play it on my American/European PS2?
A: Not without some form of modification. There are several options to
playing imports on your PS2, which I will discuss in brief:
* Flip-top/Swap Magic: The most hassle-free, and probably the most
popular means of playing imports on your PS2 console. Installation
is dead easy (it took me 15 minutes) and requires no soldering.
Fairly cheap as well.
* Modchip: I can't provide much info on chips, but I can tell you that
they are preferred by those who don't want to use a boot disc every
time they load up an import. Some advanced soldering skills may be
needed depending on the chip.
* Japanese PS2: Hey, if you can find one of these babies cheap on eBay,
your problem is solved.
* Slide card: By far the LEAST recommended means of playing imports on
your console. Long term usage of a slide card will likely result in
damage to your PS2 tray motor. Caveat emptor.
Q: If all the text is in Japanese, will I be able to play it?
A: This depends strictly on your devotion to playing a quality wrestling
title. Yes, there is a learning curve. Yes, most of the menus will be
unfamiliar to you (although it's nowhere near as difficult as, say, trying
to get through a Japanese RPG). And yes, you will be rewarded by
perservering and figuring out the system.
Let me put it this way; among those I know who regularly play KoC II, very
few are actually fluent in reading Japanese. That means they've put quite a
bit of time and effort into understanding this game and other similar
games, which is why people can get temperamental when constantly asked the
same questions over and over. With KoC II, devotion is the key to your
enlightment. =)
One more suggestion; if you really want to enjoy these types of games but
are daunted by the foreign language, you should devote a small amount of
your time toward learning katakana. It's very easy to learn, and if you do,
you'll soon realize that a lot of the in-game words are actually English
(example: re-su-ra = wrestler).
Q: I only play WWE games. What makes KoC II so much different?
A: Where to start? First off, you'd almost have to compare the Japanese
wrestling experience to the American wrestling experience. American (read:
WWE) wrestling is currently based on a lot of attitude, flash and style,
and really big guys doing really big moves. The Japanese style can be much
more methodical, even comparable to real sporting competition at times.
This isn't a rule, and there are some Japanese promotions that are actually
more entertainment-oriented than WWE, but most fans associate Japanese
wrestling with the word 'serious'.
KoC II is a reflection of the Japanese spirit of wrestling, ditching the
glitz and panache of the American style for something a bit more
substantial. As a result, matches in KoC II feel more like real contests of
skill than in, say, the SmackDown titles, where matches at times feel like
a mad rush to get to the finisher. So instead of playing a series of
forgettable matches, you can actually have true classics, ones that you'll
probably want to tell everyone else about. =)
Match pacing plays an important role in KoC II. Start off with a high-
powered move too early and you'll likely get that move shoved back in your
face. Only when an opponent is properly worn down can you execute your more
damaging moves, which properly emulates the pace of a pro wrestling match.
There are a ton of other nuances between KoC II and American wrestling
games, and it would take a long time to detail them all. But one major
addition in the KoC series is shootfighting (MMA). If you've ever heard of
UFC or Pride, you'll know what this means. Shootfighters have an entirely
different set of skills in KoC, making shoot matches almost a game within a
game. What makes this such an excellent addition to KoC is that you can
actually have pro wrestling vs. MMA matches to see how your favorite
wrestler would do in a shoot situation!
One final item of note is something that has been around since the earlier
days of the Fire Pro series -- the ability to create your own promotions.
Since KoC II is a multi-promotional game, you may want to expand the number
of promotions in a number of ways, be it creating a space for your WWE
roster, or recreating some of Japan's smaller wrestling promotions such as
Osaka and Michinoku Pro. This can all be done in KoC II, and unlike Fire
Pro, you can even manage the order in which the wrestlers appear in both
the default and created promotions. And of course, the ability to trade
wrestlers between both default and created promotions is available, giving
you a massive number of options when it comes to roster management.
Q: I don't know any Japanese wrestlers. Are there any American guys in
KoC II?
A: Believe it or not, yes. And they are some major names; Goldberg, Brock
Lesnar, Chris Benoit, Ric Flair and more can all be found within the game's
Edit Mode, once their templates have been unlocked. And with their
likenesses come their signature moves, such as the F-5.
And if the thought of playing a wrestling game with a primarily Japanese
roster sounds strange to you, consider this; I was actually introduced to
the world Japanese wrestling through playing Fire Pro. If you're a huge
wrestling fan, KoC II just might open your eyes to a product you never even
knew existed.
Q: How do I unlock/make the American wrestlers?
A: Please refer to the "In-Game" section of this FAQ.
Q: So you can make CAWs in KoC II?
A: Yes, although most people prefer to call them edits, seeing as the Fire
Pro series started the wrestler creation craze long before anyone had ever
heard of WWF Warzone. You can create a total of 100 edits in KoC II, more
than enough to keep you occupied for some time. Be warned that depending
on how accurate how want to be with your edits, you'll be navigating
through some serious Japanese menus to get there.
The main difference in edit creation between KoC II and American wrestling
games is again substance over style. Whereas games like SmackDown focus
on an infinite amount of physical detail (like we need 70 different shades
of eyeliner), KoC II focuses on practical wrestling logic and psychology.
For instance, if your wrestler is thrown out of the ring, how does he
respond? If he's tired, does he keep fighting or does he stop to rest?
Does he go for the kill immediately, or does he take a calm approach to
steadily wear his opponent down? As can you imagine, all of these details
make a difference when using your creation in a simmed situation.
Q: Are there official Japanese wrestling tournaments in KoC II?
A: Yes. Unlike the Fire Pro games, King of Colosseum II has official
licenses for all of the major Japanese promotions. That means you can
recreate many official tournaments in KoC II, including Best of the Super
Juniors and G-1 Climax.
Q: Is KoC II online compatible?
A: No.
Q: How much better is KoC II than Red/Green? Is it worth buying if I
already have Red/Green?
A: In my honest opinion, the gameplay is vastly improved. And while I
enjoyed the originals, the improvements in gameplay is the difference
between short-term and long-term enjoyment. Speed is improved just enough
to make a difference, and the grapple timing seems to be tweaked to near
perfection for the most part. So yes, it's worth a new purchase if you
really enjoyed Red and Green.
That's not to say KoC II isn't without its share of bugs. In fact, it's far
from perfect. But coming from a longtime Fire Pro fan (I've probably logged
on more hours with Fire Pro than any other game in history), I can honestly
say the overall increase in game quality is enough to outshine the glitches.
Q: Will you be making in-depth character guides for KoC II like you did with
Fire ProWrestling D & Z?
A: Umm, probably not, but I also said that when Fire Pro Z came out! =)
Seriously, I would need to buy the official KoC II guide like I did with
D & Z, then consider if it's worth my time doing. Those guides can be very
time consuming to produce, and the added depth of KoC II will only make
them more time consuming.
=======================
SECTION 3: IN-GAME FAQS
=======================
Q: What is Survival Road?
A: Survival Road is the portion of KoC II where most players initially
spend most of their time, because it is through Survival Road that you will
earn points toward unlocking the game's many secrets.
Survival Road initially consists of five different paths; New Japan, All
Japan, NOAH, ZERO-One and World Japan, with other paths becoming available
later in the game. You can choose either Single or Tag on Survival Road,
with an initial difficulty option of Easy, Normal or Hard. Unless you're a
KoC vet, I would recommend starting on Normal as it seems to unlock items
just as effectively as Hard Mode does.
Q: I'm lazy. What's the quickest/easiest way to unlock points?
A: Well, you can choose to sim matches (have the CPU control your wrestler)
and change the speed setting to 400%, which will basically accumulate
points for you automatically. I'd advise against this though, as Survival
Road is a good place to get the general feel of the game, and it's a lot
of fun.
Q: What is the Secret Shop?
A: The Secret Shop is located with the Survival Road portion of the game.
In a nutshell, here's how it works:
As you progress through Survival Road, you are awarded points based on your
match performance. Those points can be used to purchase items in the Secret
Shop, and the items range from hidden wrestlers to extra ring mats to extra
skill points for your edits.
When you initially view the Secret Shop, every item will say "Secret" and
be unpurchaseable. But as you complete paths on Survival Road, the secrets
will steadily become available for you to purchase.
There are four sections in the Secret Shop, which are as follows:
1) Default wrestler classic attires/alter egos
2) Pro wrestler templates
3) MMA templates
4) Etc. (ring mats, skill points, etc.)
So if you wanted Keiji Mutoh's Great Muta alter ego, you'd go to the first
option. If you wanted a pro wrestler like the Dynamite Kid, you'd go to the
second option, and so on.
Q: I just unlocked (insert wrestler here) and he's not on the roster!
A: That's because you have to create him in Edit Mode after he's purchased.
When you make a wrestler purchase in the Secret Shop, you are purchasing
that wrestler's skill, abilities and likeness. It's then up to you to go
into Edit Mode and complete the process. The way it works is...
Let's say you've just purchased Tiger Mask IV in the Secret Shop. You can
then exit out of Survival Road (you should probably save when prompted)
and enter Edit Mode. The first option in Edit Mode is "Original Wrestler
Creation". Enter this mode and you'll see the basis for creating a wrestler
in KoC II.
Go to the second option, which should read "Profile" in English. Enter
the Profile Menu by pressing (O). Once you've reached the Profile Menu,
press (/\). Now choose the first option, then the second option at the next
screen. You should now see a long list, most of them will be "??????" if you
haven't made a lot of purchases yet. Scroll up until you find Tiger Mask IV
(if you can't read Japanese that's OK, he's the guy with the "IV" at the end
of his name). Press (O) and you should see his profile information change.
Now back out of "Profile" by pressing Start and repeat the process with
"Appearance", "Skill", and so on until you come to the Quick Save/Quick Load
option, which is the second to the last option on the "Original Wrestler
Creation" screen. Quick save Tiger Mask IV to an empty slot, then back out
or Edit Mode entirely. You should then be prompted to do a physical memory
card save. Do this and "Voila!", Tiger Mask IV is all yours.
You should note that when a profile template is loaded, the only thing it
doesn't automatically do is assign the wrestler to his proper promotion. So
in the aforementioned case of Tiger Mask IV, you'd have to manually assign
him to New Japan if that's where you want him. This is the topmost option on
the "Profile" menu.
If all of this seems daunting, it's really not. Once you get the hang of it,
creating a wrestler from an in-game template is a one or two minute process
at the most.
Q: How do I change my edit's name to English?
A: Remember where we just discussed assigning a wrestler to a promotion in
the "Profile" menu? The option just below that allows you to rename your
wrestler, standard English is available there.
Q: Can I create different attires for my edits?
A: Yes you can, In fact, you can create alternate movesets, logic, and just
about anything else you can think of. But be warned that each modification,
no matter how minor, will cost you one edit slot. So with 100 available
slots, creating 4 different attires for each of your edits would allow you
a total of 25 different edits.
Q: Are all of the heads available in Edit Mode all premade like in KoC
Red/Green?
A: Yes. That means no adding moustaches, long hair, eyeshadow, whatever.
What you see is what you get.
Q: I'm trying to create (insert wrestler here) and the game won't let me
assign his skill points.
A: For some of the game's more prominent figures (Vader, Sakuraba), you'll
need to purchase the extra skill points in the Secret Shop before you
create them. If you try to load up a skill template and hear a buzzer sound,
it basically means you don't have enough skill points available to assign
the template to the wrestler.
Q: What is Dojo Mode?
A: Dojo Mode is the part of game where you're given a series of basic tasks
to complete, such as running the ropes and escaping pins. Consider it an
in-game instruction manual. Seeing as this part of the game is fairly text
intensive, you may want to do your homework by reading thomazinger's great
Dojo Mode translation guide before you begin.
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SECTION 4: BASIC GAMEPLAY FAQS
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Q: Help! I have the game and I can't grapple/can't strike/etc...
A: Very briefly:
(a) Use ([]), (X) or (O) to perform a basic strike. Holding the D-Pad with
the button produces a different strike. There are more options than this
when it comes to striking, but these are the basics.
(b) Hold R1 and press ([]), (X), (O) or (/\) to perform a basic grapple.
As with most other wrestling games, you'll grab the opponent if you're
within distance. You'll clutch air if you're not. There are more options
than this when it comes to grappling, but these are the basics.
This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to gameplay. A detailed
KoC II game guide is in progress as of this writing. If it isn't posted by
the time you read this, I'd suggest checking out the original King of
Colosseum (Red/Green) guide, as the gameplay mechanics haven't changed much
from the previous version of the game.
Q: Help! Now I can grapple, but all of my moves get reversed!
A: Once you initiate a grapple, you and your opponent enter a lock-up
animation, which differs depending on the type of move executed and the
button used. At that point, a second button input is required, and the
person with the more accurate button timing wins the lock-up. Just like in
Fire Pro, button mash and you will get schooled.
There are lots of ways to get the timing of each grapple down. I prefer to
watch for the "knee-dip" animation to learn the button timing. It becomes
second nature once you get accustomed to it.
Q: What are Powerballs? How do I use them?
A: A Powerball is a "move modifier" of sorts, basically allowing you to
perform a different version of a certain wrestling attack or hold. For
instance, with Keiji Mutoh, you can perform a basic Shining Wizard while
the opponent is on one knee. But by executing the Powerball version
[([]) + (X) while standing in front of an opponent who is kneeling on one
knee], Mutoh delivers a modified version of the attack, which ends with
a pin attempt.
Different wrestlers have different amounts of Powerballs to begin a match
with depending on their attributes.
Q: Are there weapons in the game? How do I get them?
A: Yes, there are weapons in KoC II, but they're nothing spectacular. If
you've ever played Fire Pro D/Z, they're pretty much the same, which means
you have a variety of strikes at your disposal, but for some odd reason
can't hit an opponent while he's lying prone on the mat. Now where's the
fun in that? =)
Anyway, simply exit the ring and press R1 at the railing to attempt to
snatch up a weapon. It's like the N64 No Mercy game in the sense that
the weapon you draw seems to be random, and you'll sometimes come up
empty-handed.
Q: My wrestler looks like he's tired! What do I do?
A: Breathe, man, breathe! Unlike the SmackDown games, where wrestlers have
a seemingly inexhaustible amount of energy, moves such as strikes, grapples
and Irish whips actually consume a wrestler's energy in KoC II. Therefore
it's important to stop and rest every now and then during a match. This is
done by holding the L1 button. Every now and then, slam your opponent to
the mat, and instead of attempting a move, hold L1 to help your wrestler
get his second wind.
Q: How do I pick up a downed opponent?
A: Hold R1 and press (/\) at their head/feet. It's just like grappling.
Q: How do I exit the ring?
A: Press (/\) and the D-Pad toward the ropes. A tap will get you to the
apron, a hold will get you to the floor. You can also do a running slide to
the outside by running with (/\) and holding down R1. You can reenter the
ring in the same fashion.
Q: How do I block an opponent's attack?
A: R2 is the block button. By the way, I absolutely hate blocking in most
wrestling games, and KoC II is no exception. In fact, I think it's the
weakest part of the KoC II game system. Puffing out your chest to block a
low dropkick is absolutely ridiculous, yet it can be done here.
Anyway, holding R2 will block most attacks, and it's very effective. But a
well-timed R2 button press while your opponent is attacking will actually
counter the attack, which is preferable.
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SECTION 5: CLOSING
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In closing, I would like to thank all of those who frequent the KoC II
board on GameFAQs. If it weren't for these guys, I'd probably be just as
lost as the next guy. =)
Special thanks to Monitor and Pink Spider for their contributions.
King of Colosseum II FAQ v1.4
(c)2004 Bill Wood.
