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Arm Joe
Armjoe
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Developers

Takase

Released

1998, 2006 (v1.4b)

Genre

fighting game

Modes

single player and non-online multiplayer

Platforms

Windows 95

Input

keyboard, joystick

Website

site


Arm Joe, also known as ArmJoe, is a free 2D one-on-one fighting dōjin game based on the Les Misérables musical.[1]

It was made by Takase using 2D Fighter Maker (2D格闘ツクール95, 2D Kakutō Tsukūru 95), an engine developed by OUTBACK (OUTBACK) and edited by ASCII (アスキー, Asuki).

Takase is also known for creating Dot Fighters.

Gameplay[]

There are ten characters to choose from, using the formula Street Fighter 2 established. Characters are mostly characters from Les Misérables musical. Each character has special moves inspired by that character's role in the story.

There's a special condition where characters are about to die (their health draining away) in which they are much more powerful and have infinite special power: the opponent has to avoid those special attacks until that character dies. This sometimes gives the advantage to players who reach low life first.

There is also a practice mode, where the player can learn how to perform the special moves of each character.

Command list[]

Note: Written for characters facing right.[2]

Move Name Input
Light punch (弱パンチ) 【A】
Heavy punch (強パンチ) 【B】
Light kick (弱キック) 【C】
Heavy kick (強キック) 【D】
Dash (ダッシュ) ← ← or → →
Counter (弾き, Hiki) (airborne) while guarding: →
Dodge (緊急回避) while guarding weak attack: ↓ (↑ if crouching)
Throw technical (投げ返し) against normal throw: →
Shining mode (命の輝きモード) 【B】+【D】
Slide (ダウン追い討ち) ↓↓ +【B】or【D】(depending on the character)

Move Name Input
Valjean Savate (バルジャンソバット, Barujansobatto) →↓↘ +【C】or【D】
Tackle (タックル, Takkuru) ↓↘→ +【A】or【B】
Gin no Shokkida (銀の食器だッ, lit. "Silver Cutlery") ↓↙← +【B】
Papa o Ijimenaide (パパをいじめないでッ, lit. "Don't bully Papa") ↓↙← +【C】
Throw (投げ, Nage) ← or → +【B】(close)
Tomahawk Blow (トマホークブロウ, Tomahōkuburou) ↓(hold) ↑ +【A】or【B】
Slide (ダウン追い討ち, Down oi uchi) ↓↓ +【D】
Level 1: Super Tackle (スーパータックル, Sūpātakkuru) ↓↘→↓↘→ +【B】
Level 1: Tatsumaki Nage (竜巻投げ, lit. "Tornado Throw") ←→↘↓↙← +【B】
Level 3: Danzai no Juujika (断罪の十字架, lit. "Cross of Guilt") ↓↙←↙↓↘→ +【A】

Move Name Input
Rising Kick (ライジングキック, Raijingukikku) →↓↘ +【C】or【D】
Juugeki (銃撃, Jūgeki, lit. "Shooting") ↓↘→ +【A】
Low attack: Juugeki (銃撃, Jūgeki, lit. "Shooting") ↓↘→ +【B】
Ute! (撃てェ!, lit. "Shoot!") ←(hold) → +【D】
Sokoda! (そこだッ!, lit. "That's it!") ↓↘→ +【C】or【D】
Throw: Seisai (制裁, lit. "Punishment") +【D】(close)
Air Throw (空中投げ, Kūchū Nage) airborne → +【D】(close)
Gēji tame (ゲージ溜め) hold【A】
Slide (ダウン追い討ち, Daun oi uchi) ↓↓ +【B】
Level 1: Barricade (バリケード) ↓↘→↓↘→ +【B】
Level 2: Red or Black (Red or Black) ↓↙←↙↓↘→ +【A】

Move Name Input
Futtobi na! (吹っ飛びな!, lit. "Don't breath!") ←(hold) → +【C】or【D】
Kaminari ni demo uta rena (雷にでも打たれなッ!, lit. "Don't get thunderstruck!") ←(hold) → +【A】or【B】
Double Kick (ダブルキック) ↓↙← +【C】or【D】
Enmaku (煙幕, lit. "Smokebomb") ↓↘→ +【C】
Burasagari (ぶら下がり, lit. "Hanging") airborne ↑↑(hold)
Kyūkōka (急降下, lit. "Dive") airborne ↓↓ +【C】
Missile Kick (ミサイルキック) airborne ↓↘→ +【C】or【D】
Hachi no Hitosashi (蜂の一刺し, lit. "Bee sting") →↓↘ +【C】or【D】
Throw (投げ, Nage) ← or → +【B】(close)
Slide (ダウン追い討ち, Daun oi uchi) ↓↓ +【D】
Level 1: Chou Binta (超ビンタ, lit. "Great Slap") ←(hold) → ← → +【A】
Level 1: Megumi no Ame (恵みの雨, lit. "Blessed Rain") ↓↙←↓↙← +【B】
Level 3: Suzumebachi no You Ni (スズメバチのように, lit. "Like a Wasp") →←↙↓↘→ +【D】

Move Name Input
Hato? (ハト?, lit. "Pigeaon?") ↓↘→ +【A】or【B】
Kyōsai-tai atari (恐妻体当たり, lit. "From the Fierce Wife") ←(hold) → +【C】
Modotte koi (戻って来い, lit. "Come back") ↓↙← +【C】
Kyōsai harite (恐妻張り手) ↓↘→ +【C】
Kyōsai taikū (恐妻対空) →↓↘ +【C】
Trap da (トラップだぁ, lit. "It's a trap") ↓↙← +【B】
Tobimasu (トビマス) ↓↙← +【A】
Throw (投げ, Nage) ← or → +【B】(close)
Slide (ダウン追い討ち, Daun oi uchi) ↓↓ +【B】
Level 1: Rolling Thenardier (ローリングテナルディエ) ↓↘→↓↘→ +【A】
Level 1: Fire!! (ファイヤー!!) ↓↘→↓↘→ +【C】
Level 3: Shikei!! (死刑!!, lit. "Die!!") ↓↘→↘↓↙← +【B】

Move Name Input
High attack: Hara ni ichigeki (腹に一撃, lit. "Belly Blow") ↓↘→ +【A】or【B】
High attack: Sara ni ichigeki (さらに一撃, lit. "Further Blow") after mid attack ↓↘→
Low attack: Ashi ni ichigeki (足に一撃, lit. "Low Blow") ↓↘→ +【C】or【D】
Mid attack: Nōten ni ichigeki (脳天に一撃, lit. "Head Blow") after low attack ↓
Dive (ダイブ) ↓↓ +【D】
Teppeki no bōgyo (鉄壁の防御, lit. "Iron Wall Defense") ↓↙← +【A】or【B】
Toraero! (捕らえろ!, lit. "Catch Me!") ←(hold) → +【C】
Throw (投げ, Nage) ← or → +【B】(close)
Slide (ダウン追い討ち, Daun oi uchi) ↓↓ +【B】
Level 1: Hoshi Yo! (星よ!, lit. "By the Stars!") ↓↙←↙↓↘→ +【C】
Level 3: Infinite Justice (インフィニット・ジャスティス) ↓↘→↓↘→ +【A】

Move Name Input
Bokoboko Punch (ボコボコパンチ, lit. "Childish Punch") ↓↘→ +【A】
Pon Warp (ぽんワープ) →↓↘ +【B】
16 Pons (16ぽん) ↓(hold) ↑ +【D】
Mako-aniki shutsugen! & Sayōnara! (マコアニキ出現!&さようなら!, lit. "Big bro Mako has appeared! & Goodbye) ↓↘→ +【C】
Shinkū Nage (真空投げ, lit. "Vacuum Throw") +【B】(close)
Air Shinkū Nage (空中真空投げ, Kūchū Shinkū Nage, lit. "Air Vacuum Throw") airborne ← +【B】(close)
Slide (ダウン追い討ち, Daun oi uchi) ↓↓ +【D】
Level 1: Pon Energy (ぽんエナジー) ←(hold) → ← → +【B】
Level 1: Mini Pon (Miniぽん) (airborne) ↓↘→↓↘→ +【C】
Level 3: Pon Special (ぽんスペシャル) →←↙↓↘→ +【A】

Move Name Input
Fun tsu! (ふんッ!) ↓↓ +【D】
Haohken (ハオウケン) (airborne) ↓↘→ +【A】or【B】
Joryuken (ジョウリュウケン) →↓↘ +【A】or【B】
Low Fukku (ローフック, lit. "Low Hook") ↓↙← +【A】
Dash Strait (ダッシュストレート) ←(hold) → +【A】
Throw (投げ, Nage) +【B】(close)
Jumping Throw (ジャンピングスルー) (airborne) ←↓↙ +【B】
Umanori (馬乗り, lit. "Straddling") crouching or down opponent ↓↙← +【B】
Dan-Retsuken (ダンレツケン) → ← → +【A】
Level 1: Super Haohken (スーパーハオウケン) ↓↘→↓↘→ +【B】
Level 2: Super Tornado (スーパートルネイド) ↓↘→↓↘→ +【A】
Level 5: Ankoku Hadou Messatsu Ken (暗黒波動滅殺掌) ↓↙←↙↓↘→ +【B】
Level 5: Shin Goku Satsu (真獄殺, lit. "New Prison Murder") 【A】【A】→【C】【B】

Move Name Input
Cosette Punch (コゼットパンチ) ↓↘→ +【A】or【B】
Cosette Upper (コゼットアッパー) →↓↘ +【A】or【B】
Valjean Nage (バルジャン投げ, lit. "Valjean Throw") ←(hold) → +【A】or【B】
Kūchū kubi tsukami nage (空中首つかみ投げ, lit. "Air neck throw") ←↓↙ +【A】or【B】
Kakatte rasshai! (かかってらっしゃい!, lit. "Come on!") ↓↙← +【A】or【B】
Sankaku tobi (三角跳び, lit. "Triple Jump") wall jumping →
Throw (投げ, Nage) ← or → +【B】(close)
Slide (ダウン追い討ち, Daun oi uchi) ↓↓ +【D】
Level 1: Chou Valjean Nage (超バルジャン投げ, lit. "Great Valjean Nage") ↓↘→↓↘→ +【A】or【B】
Level 3: Toki Ga Tomaru You Na Kiss (時が止まるようなキス, lit. "Kiss that stops time") ↓↘→↘↓↙← +【B】(close)

Move Name Input
Kata Kyubi tōbu niyoru totsugeki (肩及ビ頭部ニヨル突撃, lit. "Head and Shoulders Assault") ↓↘→ +【A】or【B】
Hanare retaru teki heno dengeki (離レタル敵ヘノ電撃, lit. "Hidden Electric Foe") ↓↙← +【A】or【B】
Throw: Hokaku no ato dengeki (捕獲ノ後電撃, lit. "Electric Shock Grab") ← or → +【B】(close)
Slide (ダウン追い討ち, Daun oi uchi) ↓↓ +【D】
Level 1: Choukou Shutsuryoku Denkou Housha (超高出力電光放射, lit. "Ultra high power laser beam") ↓↓↓ +【B】
Level 1: Kogata Dantou Renzoku Hassha (小型弾頭連続発射, lit. "Continous warhead flurry") ↓↘→↓↘→ +【B】
Level 2: Kimitsu Hoji no Tame Mizukara o Bakuha (機密保持ノ為自ラヲ爆破, lit. "Confident Self-Destruction") ↓↘→↓↘→ +【A】

Move Name Input
Marius Rush (マリウスラッシュ) ↓↘→ +【A】or【B】(hold → to move forward)
Iradachi no ken (苛立ちの拳, lit. "Fist of Anguish") →←→ +【A】or【B】(hold → to move forward)
Machine Gun Blow (マシンガンブロー) ←↓↙ +【A】or【B】
Cosette o omou (コゼットを想う, lit. "Memories of Cosette") hold【A】
Shinde itta Douhou-tachi (死んでいった同胞達ッ!, lit. "My Dead Brothers!") ↓↘→ +【C】or【D】
Throw: Jiman no ishiatama (自慢の石頭, lit. "Stonehead of Pride") ← or → +【B】(close)
Chūdan Kick (中段キック, lit. "Middle Kick") +【D】
Slide (ダウン追い討ち, Daun oi uchi) ↓↓ +【B】
Level 1: Seme Tsudzukete Yaru! (攻め続けてやるッ!, lit. "I will continue my assault") ↓↘→↓↘→ +【B】
Level 1: Okoreru Douhou-tachi (怒れる同胞たち, lit. "Angry Brothers") ↓↘→↓↘→ +【D】
Level 3: People's Song (ピープルズ・ソング) ↓↙←↙↓↘→ +【D】

Move Name Input
Chi o Saku Akai Shougeki (地を裂く赤い衝撃, lit. "Ground tearing red shock") →↘↓↙←→ +【A】
Sente Ren Geki (千手連撃, lit. "Thousand hand strike") ↓↘→ +【A】
Niren Retsu Ken (ニ連烈拳, lit. "Double Rending Fists") →↘↓↙← +【B】
Ki o hanatsu (気を放つ, lit. "Feint") ↓↓↓ +【A】
Gansai Ken (岩砕拳, lit. "Crushing Fist") ←↓↘ +【B】
Unblockable: Mugen (無間, lit. "No limit") ←↓↘ +【C】
Rekkū Geki (裂空撃, lit. "Air Strike") (airborne) ↓↙← +【C】or【D】
Chūdan Kick (中段キック, lit. "Middle Kick") +【D】
Throw (投げ, Nage) ← or → +【B】(close)
Tamashii o Kudaku Ken (魂を砕く拳, lit. "Soul Crushing Fist") low life ←(hold) → +【A】+【B】

Stages[]

  • seine02
  • nighttown
  • Hill
  • Last
  • seine
  • Hill2
  • forest
  • tunnel2
  • road
  • Mistery Hill
  • Graveyard

Credits[]

Trivia[]

  • It's named Arm Joe because it sounds like the Japanese title translation of Les Misérables. (あぁ 無情, Aa Mujou)[1] "Aa Mujou" is an expression of exasperation at all the suffering in the world.
  • Music and French voice acting appeared in version 1.3 thanks to Chaz Seydoux and Tanguy, members of insertcredit.com,[3][4] after he passed an add on the internet.[5]
  • Marius appeard in version 1.4.[6]
  • Ponpon and Judgement did not appear in the source material.[1]
  • Ponpon is a tea-loving cheeky female bunny from an alternate universe, not a toy. Her support baby character is named Mako-aniki and is based on Takase'son, Makoto.[1][2]
  • Judgement assesses the characters souls.[1][2]
  • When Takase was asked why he spent five years working on this game, he jokingly answered "because I have no friends."[1]
  • The Policeman works under Javert[2] has the moveset of Akuma from the Street Fighter series.
  • Judgement is clearly based on Yujiro Hanma from the manga Baki the Grappler.
  • Another fighter parody of the novel was previously done by the French comedy group Les Inconnus with their sketch "Les Miséroïdes" (1991). In this short, the characters are imagined in a post-apocalyptic setting by copying costumes and scenes and by sampling the sound effects of Jean-Claude Van Damme's movie Cyborg (1989) with the music "Sarah On The Run" from the Terminator 2 OST.

Reception[]

  • According to a Something Awful review, Judgement (the final boss and most powerful character) is as unbalanced as being thrown in jail for stealing a loaf of bread.[7] However, the author admits to not being a fan of fighting games except for the Super Smash Bros. series, and not knowing how to do a hadouken in Street Fighter 2.
  • TimW of indiegames.com was also unusually unimpressed, saying "Arm Joe features inconsistent sprite design and unbalanced gameplay issues, among other glaring problems.[8] Certain characters depend on slide moves to win, while others have a special attack that could drain the entire life gauge in mere seconds." and "The final boss is impossible to beat, which is understandable since by using Judgment a player can actually complete the game by pressing a single button repeatedly."
  • Players and blog commenters, however, were more positive, saying that Judgement (the final boss) is not actually that hard and can be beaten easily with long range attacks, and that since he's not playable except in multiplayer his power doesn't affect the main game's balance.
  • One commenter claimed that it was a parody of fighting games and should not be judged on its balance issues: "I personally like to think of ArmJoe more as a parody of fighting games: over the top super moves, incredibly difficult boss, and the very obvious references to other games make it hard for me to think otherwise." And that the idea of taking a classic of literature and making a fighting game out of it may itself be part of its parody of fighting games.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Interview with Takase about ArmJoe (May 1st, 2004) archive [French and English]
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Help folder in the executable
  3. News: ArmJoe v1.3 (April 22, 2005)
  4. Insert credit staff
  5. Forum post (FR)
  6. News: Doujin round-up #7 (January 22, 2006)
  7. Something Awful review
  8. indiegames.com review

External links[]

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