Saikyō Habu Shōgi

Description

Saikyō Habu Shōgi is a Japanese-exclusive shogi game, which was one of only three Japanese launch titles for the console, alongside Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64, and the only one published by a third party. The game prominently features professional player Yoshiharu Habu, who in 1996 became the first player to hold all seven of Japan’s major shogi titles simultaneously. The game was recommended by the Japan Shogi Association and includes Habu’s official match records from the 1985 Newcomer King tournament through his 1995 defence of the Meijin title.

The game supports matches both CPU and PvP matches, with its computer reasoning system developed by Shinichiro Kanazawa. Its principal tournament mode presents 18 increasingly difficult opponents, while additional options include timed ten-second shogi, handicap matches, Reverse Shogi, simultaneous two-board play, and a research mode for examining positions. Instructional material covers the rules and established strategies, while the proficiency tests combine computer matches with next-move problems to estimate the player’s rank. It also contains 315 checkmate puzzles ranging from three to 15 moves and allows players to replay Habu’s recorded professional matches.

While Nintendo’s launch titles strongly sold the new 3D hardware, this was a traditional, wholly 2D title. Japanese system launches often saw popular table game titles that demonstrated a new hardware’s ability to process computer decisions quickly. However, contemporary expectations that it would showcase the Nintendo 64 did not translate into strong sales. Retrospective reviewers have nevertheless recognised the breadth of its modes and educational material. Despite ending up as the often forgotten Nintendo 64 launch title, it reflects changes in the Japanese market and Habu’s contemporaneous seven-title achievement.