Toshinden 4

Genre(s)FightingMode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Toshinden 4 (PAL name) or Toshinden Subaru (in Japan) is the fourth and final installment of the fighting game series Battle Arena Toshinden. Unlike previous installments, it only saw release in Japan and the PAL region, in 1999 and 2000 respectively, on the PlayStation. The game features an all new roster of characters, with only former protagonist Eiji, antagonist Vermilion, and Naru, returning. The new protagonist in Toshinden 4 is Eiji's son, Subaru.^[1]

Story mode now consists of teams of three-on-three battles.^[2] Extra modes include Survival, Time Attack and Practice modes. Before every fight, there is a cutscene in line with the game plot.^[1]

Ten years after the events of Toshinden 3, Eiji Shinjo, who is now the new leader of an organization called the "Gerard Foundation", has organized a fourth Toshinden tournament which revolves around the gathering of four holy weapons that can be used to either save the world or destroy it. Eiji's old enemy, Vermilion, is after the four holy weapons for his own malevolent ambition and that many fighters from within the tournament, including Eiji's own nephew Subaru, find themselves getting caught from within the conflict itself. Along the way, Subaru is accompanied by Naru, an adoptive daughter of Eiji’s old friend, Kayin who debut as a child in the third game, now grown up and currently trying to find her adoptive father’s whereabout, following his disappearance.

A plot point introduced in this game focused on the Four Sacred Arms. Though seen in full since Battle Arena Toshinden 2, their relevance was never previously brought up. Each weapon bears a reference to one of the Chinese cardinal beasts, Byakko, Suzaku, Seiryu and Genbu. The weapons also seem to change appearance depending on the user. While the Byakko no tachi (White Tiger Fang) is usually seen as a rather plain katana, the Seiryuu no yari (Azure Dragon Spear) was a long leaf tipped spear while held by Mondo, yet altered to an ornate golden rod in the hands of Eos. As a purely cosmetic addition, when using a certain attack, an image of the beast associated with the weapon will display in the background.

Plotwise, it was said that when all four weapons were gathered together, they would bestow tremendous power on a person. Most characters in the game have their endings based around uniting the weapons and receiving the power of them. In some endings, they use this power to speak to a parent or loved one. However, Eiji's ending reveals the true nature of the power behind the weapons: It is the "Toshin", or god of fighting.

While all characters are brand new, Eiji, Naru and Vermillion returns since their last appearance in the third game.

Team 1:

• Subaru Shinjo
• Naru Amoh
• Rook Castle

Team 2:

• Puella Marionette
• Lancelot Lakeknight
• Fan Barefoot

Team 3:

• Genma
• Miyabi
• Bang-Boo

Team 4 (Unlockable Characters):

• Eiji Shinjo
• Eos
• Zero

Team 5 (Unlockable Character):

• Vermilion

It was released a total of three times in Europe; it originally came out on June 30, 2000, and was re-released on the Virgin Interactive white label range on April 12, 2001, and was re-released again by budget label Play It, on November 20, 2003.

The PAL release of Toshinden 4 made a couple of graphical changes to the original Japanese release, aside from the renaming of the game; the plain string linking Rook's nunchuks was replaced with an electricity inspired effect. Bang Boo and Eos's warm up animations also had the ends cut resulting in a sudden jump in their animations.

The game was poorly received. Official PlayStation Magazine opined the "multiple game modes provide no cover for a lackluster fighting game".

Christian Nutt of GameSpot, reviewing an imported Toshinden 4, wrote that the control is "awkward" and that there is a "lot of delay", further criticising the moves and attacks as well as graphics, but he had a positive opinion about the voices, anime opening, and character designs.^[2]

• Toshinden 4 at MobyGames