Sengoku (Sengoku Denshou in Japan) is a side-scrolling beat ’em up developed and published by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade (MVS) and home (AES) systems. It is SNK’s first beat ’em up and the first Sengoku entry. Two warriors fight feudal-era spirits invading a modern city, using swords, magic power-ups, and transformations into samurai, wolf, and ninja forms.
How To Play Sengoku
Control
Action
Joystick (8-way)
Move the character
A Button
Attack (hold to release an energy burst)
B Button
Jump
C Button
Change form (transform between acquired warrior forms)
Select
Insert coin / add credit
Start
Start game and confirm menu selections
About Sengoku
Release date
Arcade (WW): February 12, 1991 · Neo Geo AES (WW): July 1, 1991 · Neo Geo CD (JP): March 17, 1995 · Neo Geo CD (NA): October 1996
Developer
SNK
Publisher
SNK (Super Famicom: Data East; Mega-CD: Sammy)
Platform
Neo Geo (Arcade MVS, AES), Neo Geo CD; later Super Famicom, Mega-CD
Genre
Beat ’em up (hack and slash)
Series
Sengoku (first entry)
Modes
Single-player, multiplayer (2-player co-op)
Also known as
戦国伝承 (Sengoku Denshou) — Japan · Sengoku (outside Japan)
Sheldon has spent over a decade immersed in retro gaming, from NES classics to arcade gems. He's deeply passionate about preserving gaming history and helping others rediscover these timeless titles. When he's not gaming, Shaun writes about the evolution of video games and their cultural impact.
