Ranma 1/2

A video game series based on Rumiko Takahashi's manga, spanning fighting games, RPGs, and visual novels in the early 1990s.

Role-playing (RPG)

13

Games

1990–1996

Years

6

Platforms

$39.66

Ø CIB

+15.1%

24M change

About

The Ranma 1/2 video game series adapts the popular martial arts comedy manga into various genres, including fighting games, RPGs, and adventure games. Early releases like Kakurenbo Death Match (1990) and Toraware no Hanayome (1991) debuted on the PC Engine, while titles like Chonai Gekito Hen (1992) and Bakuretsu Rantouhen (1992) popularized the franchise as a fighting game series on the Super Famicom. The games are notable for incorporating the series' signature character-shifting mechanics and humor.

Development of these adaptations was primarily handled by Masaya (NCS) and published by various entities, including Shogakukan. Ranma 1/2: Kakurenbo Death Match (1990) established the digital representation of Rumiko Takahashi's characters, followed by the visual novel style of Ranma 1/2: Toraware no Hanayome (1991).

Localization efforts varied significantly across regions. While Ranma 1/2: Chonai Gekito Hen (1992) was heavily altered and released in North America as Street Combat with entirely different characters, its sequel Ranma 1/2: Bakuretsu Rantouhen (1992) retained its original anime aesthetic when localized as Ranma ½: Hard Battle.

Handheld and alternative console releases diversified the franchise's interactive media. Ranma 1/2: Netsuretsu Kakutouhen (1992) introduced role-playing elements on the Game Boy, which was followed by the puzzle-oriented self-titled Ranma 1/2 (1993) on the same platform. On CD-based hardware, Ranma 1/2: Dato Ganso Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu (1992) utilized animated cutscenes to enhance its narrative presentation, a technique also employed in the Sega Mega-CD interactive movie title Ranma 1/2: Byakuran Aika (1993), which featured original voice acting from the anime cast.