Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle
Sequel to Savage Reign with tag battles and rare PAL release.
Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle is a 1996 fighting game developed and published by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home platforms. It is the sequel to Savage Reign and notable as the first game with involvement from Hidetaka Suehiro, who wrote the scenario and later became a reputable video game designer. The game introduced a tag-team battle system and is remembered for its rare European Neo Geo home cartridge PAL release, with only five known copies, making it a highly sought-after collector's item.
- release_year
- 1996
- developer_publisher
- SNK
- platforms
- Neo Geo, PlayStation 2 (Japan only), Wii Virtual Console, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Android, iOS
- genre
- Fighting game
- notable_feature
- First game with Hidetaka Suehiro as scenario writer
- rare_release
- European Neo Geo PAL cartridge: only 5 known copies
Lore & Background
Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle continues the story of Savage Reign. One year after King Leo's Battle of the Beast God tournament, which was won by Sho Hayate, King Leo organizes a second tournament with a new rule: teams of two must work together. Most fighters from the previous tournament return, except Carol Stanzack (continuing gymnastics training) and Nicola Zaza (busy with a scientific project). Two new challengers enter: Rosa, a sword-wielding resistance leader seeking to rescue her kidnapped brother and friends from King Leo; and Kim Sue Il, a Korean police detective investigating Joker and his gang, the Looly Po Po. Sue Il is implied to be a descendant of Kim Kaphwan from the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series.
Reader's Guide
Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle is significant for introducing a tag-team system to the fighting game genre, allowing players to switch characters by pressing a tag button while standing in their team's tag area. Losing one character results in losing the match regardless of the other character's vitality. The game also features a roll system similar to The King of Fighters. Its European Neo Geo home cartridge PAL release is extremely rare, with only five known copies, making it a legendary item among collectors. The game was ported to multiple platforms over the years, including a 2016 PlayStation Store release for PlayStation 4, a 2011 Wii Virtual Console release in Japan, and re-releases by Hamster Corporation as part of the ACA Neo Geo series. On October 11, 2025, a Windows version was released as part of the Neo Geo Premium Selection series, featuring 4-player online play with rollback netcode by Code Mystics. The game's plot involves a mysterious final boss, Jyazu, a cruel fighter with a golden crow helmet who leads the terrorist organization Jaguar.
Did You Know?
- Only five known copies of the European Neo Geo home cartridge PAL release exist.
- It is the first game with involvement from Hidetaka Suehiro, who wrote the scenario.
- The game features a tag system where losing one character ends the match regardless of the other character's health.
- The final boss Jyazu can transform into a demonic humanoid crow at will.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle?
It is a 1996 fighting game produced by SNK for the Neo Geo that serves as the direct sequel to Savage Reign. Rather than the one-versus-one format of its predecessor, it pits two fighters per side in cooperative tag-team matches.
Why is Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle considered a landmark title?
The game is credited as the first project to involve Hidetaka Suehiro as scenario writer, a role that launched his career as a well-regarded video game designer. It also established the tag-team battle system that went on to shape later SNK fighting titles.
What makes the European PAL cartridge of Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle so rare?
Only five known copies of the European Neo Geo home cartridge in PAL format are believed to still exist, making it one of the most sought-after SNK collector's items. Its extreme scarcity pushes its market value far above any standard Neo Geo release.
On which platforms can I play Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle today?
Beyond its original 1996 Neo Geo launch, the title has appeared on PlayStation 2 (Japan only), Wii Virtual Console, and modern ports for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Android, and iOS.
How does the tag-team gameplay in Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle differ from Savage Reign?
Each match features two fighters per side, allowing players to swap between their pair mid-fight to chain combos and turn the tide of a bout. This cooperative partner mechanic builds directly on the one-on-one structure of Savage Reign while adding a layer of coordination and strategy.
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