![Sougou Kakutougi - Astral Bout [Model SHVC-AB] screenshot](images/game/62202_2.png "Sougou Kakutougi - Astral Bout [Model SHVC-AB]")
Sougou Kakutougi - Astral Bout © 1992 King Records.
Sougou Kakutougi: Astral Bout is the inaugural video game collaboration between the console and the Fighting Network RINGS organization. Representing a pivotal moment in MMA-style gaming, the title allows players to engage in combat using a wide variety of martial arts disciplines—ranging from Russian Sambo and Muay Thai to Lucha Libre and Shoot-wrestling. The game features a structured single-player tournament, a competitive two-player versus mode, and a sparring exhibition mode, establishing the foundation for the series' simulation-heavy focus on grappling and striking.
GAME ID: SHVC-AB
BARCODE: 4988003122478
Specifications: The game utilizes an 8-megabit cartridge.
Released on June 26, 1992 (Friday) in Japan.
RINGS Promotion Evolution: The Fighting Network RINGS was a unique entity that existed across three distinct eras: as a shoot-style pro-wrestling organization (1991–1995), a high-level Mixed Martial Arts promotion (1995–2002), and its eventual revival in 2008. Astral Bout captured the organization during its initial hybrid phase, where the line between "worked" professional wrestling and legitimate shoot fighting was intentionally blurred.
The Akira Maeda Influence: Founded by the legendary Akira Maeda on May 11, 1991, following the collapse of Newborn UWF, RINGS was built on the philosophy of real combat. Astral Bout mirrors this by diversifying its roster beyond standard pro-wrestlers, incorporating specialists in karate, sambo, and judo to provide the most authentic roster of combatants possible for the time.
Genre Pioneer: As the first licensed RINGS title, Astral Bout was instrumental in introducing home console players to shoot fighting concepts. It stood out in the 1992 market by focusing on realistic technical grappling and submission holds, providing a significant mechanical alternative to the more arcade-like "fighting game" boom occurring simultaneously.