Yoshimitsu (Namco)

General CVG character
name=Yoshimitsu


caption= Yoshimitsu in "Tekken 6"
series="Tekken" series
"Soul" series
firstgame="Tekken"
voiceactor=Phil Sheridan ("Soulcalibur II")
Mitch Urban ("Soulcalibur III")
japanactor=Hideo Ishikawa ("Tekken series")
Nobuyuki Hiyama ("Soulcalibur", "Soulcalibur II" & "III")
Norio Wakamoto ("Soulcalibur IV")
inuniverse=Tekken character
fightingstyle=Advanced Manji-Style Ninjutsu
country=Japan flagicon|Japan
age= Unknown [He was 65 years old in Tekken 2 from some Japanese Tekken 2 guidebooks.Fact|date=November 2007]
height=5' 10" (178 cm)
weight=149 lbs (63 kg)
blood type=O
occupation=Leader of the Manji Party

nihongo|Yoshimitsu|吉光|Yoshimitsu, literally meaning "good fortune light" is a fictional character originally created for the "Tekken" series of fighting games, designed by Namco. Yoshimitsu made his first appearance in "Tekken", and has returned for all subsequent sequels to that game since his inception. Yoshimitsu is one of the only four "Tekken" characters (the others being Heihachi Mishima, Nina Williams and Paul Phoenix ) to have appeared in every game in the series.

Additionally, an analogous character bearing the same name, weapon, clan and basic information, was later carried over into Namco's Soul series of fighting games as a secret character, making his debut in "Soulcalibur" and returning for "Soulcalibur II", "Soulcalibur III" and "Soulcalibur IV". Yoshimitsu also sports the kanji "宇" (Romaji: "u", Pinyin: "yǔ") which means "void".

Background Story

"Tekken" series

Yoshimitsu makes his first appearance in 1994's "Tekken". In the game's story, Yoshimitsu enters the first tournament as a decoy, so that other members of the Manji Party can steal the tournament's funds unobserved. Yoshimitsu learns about a sumo wrestler called Ganryu, whose disrespectful attitude in the ring costed him his promotion into Yokozuna rank. This base disrespect for the sumo code infuriates Yoshimitsu, and he defeats Ganryu. Time later Yoshimitsu leads an infiltration on Dr. Boskonovitch's lab in order to steal his Eternal Energy device. Though Yoshimitsu loses his arm during the infiltration, Boskonovitch helps the injured ninja escape and fits him with a mechanical prosthetic.

In "Tekken 2", Yoshimitsu learns that Doctor Boskonovitch has been kidnapped by the Mishima Zaibatsu, and enters the second Tekken tournament to rescue him. Kunimitsu returns to the tournament in order to steal the clan's tachi. Yoshimitsu defeats Kunimitsu, and drops out of the tournament to rescue the Doctor after learning his location. Yoshimitsu reappears in "Tekken 3", trying to help Boskonovitch who suffers from a mysterious disease; "4", attempting to form alliances between the Zaibatsu and the Manji Party; "5" and "6", seeking Bryan Fury after he killed members of his clan.

"Soulcalibur" series

Yoshimitsu first appeared in Namco's "Soul" series in 1998's "Soulcalibur". After refusing a power-hungry lord's offer of alliance, Yoshimitsu discovers his village has been destroyed. Attempting to battle the lord's army, Yoshimitsu loses his arm. He sets out to search for the fabled weapon Soul Edge, so that he could take his revenge against Lord Nobunaga. In meditation, Yoshimitsu concluded that if he were to give in to his hatred, he would be no better than either Oda Nobunaga or Nightmare; when he reaches the castle where Soul Edge is, he discovers it has been locked away with Soul Calibur.

In "Soulcalibur II", Yoshimitsu discovers that his katana has been impregnated with corrupted energy from the castle, and so resolves to rid his blade of the evil. When Yoshimitsu is worn from trying to quell the corruption, the blade is stolen by Voldo. Fearing what would happen if the weapon wound up in the wrong hands, Yoshimitsu set out to retrieve the katana, in the process discovering a fragment of the Soul Edge. Wanting to destroy all the fragments which are spread across the earth, Yoshimitsu forms band of chivalrous thieves, known as the Manjitou, in order to do good and to find the fragments.

Yoshimitsu returns in "Soulcalibur III" devising a robbery in order to steal a fragment of the Soul Edge. The robbery fails as Tira, a servant of Soul Edge and Nightmare, ambushes the thieves and takes the fragment of Soul Edge.

Weapons

In "Tekken" series, Yoshimitsu's sword was originally depicted as a standard katana, and continues to be in Namco's artwork. However, from "Tekken 3" onwards, it has the appearance of a lightsaber (although in some "Tekken" games like "Tekken 4", his alternate costume wields a normal katana). Referencing Kunimitsu's "Tekken 2" story, it is revealed that the blade is passed down through the Manji's party leaders. The previous leader is ritually sacrificed, and the blade absorbs their power and skill.

In "Soulcalibur" series, Yoshimitsu uses his beloved self-named katana ("Yoshimitsu") with the Manji Ninjitsu style and was handed down through many generations in the Manji clan. It seems like a normal katana, but it has many unique features that accommodates the unique style of the Manji. Since it was forged with secret techniques which were passed down in the Manji clan, it cannot be replicated and is the last of its kind. Yoshimitsu, after the massacre of his clan, swore an oath of vengeance to this weapon. It has been tainted by the evil energy of Soul Edge and turned into a demonic weapon, but still is the preferred weapon of Yoshimitsu. Additionally, the sashimono on his back that accompanies the sword is also used as a striking weapon.

Fighting Style

Yoshimitsu uses a lot of fast, poking attacks, like his flying knee (fubuki) and his numerous spinning attacks. Performing too many of these spinning attacks, though, may leave him dizzy.

Yoshimitsu utilizes numerous unblockable moves with his sword, as well as a lot of unconventional moves and stances which includes:

*Pogo (called the "Flea" fighting technique in "Soulcalibur IV" and "Tekken 3" onwards)Stance in which he is perched on his sword

*Dragonfly (called the "Manji Dragonfly" in "Soulcalibur IV" and "Tekken 5")Stance where he spins his sword like a helicopter blade and hovers in mid-air.

*Sitting Stance (called "Meditation" in "Soulcalibur IV" and "Indian Meditation" in "Tekken 5")Stance where he can recover hit points (HP) and also allows him to teleport.

*ReflectionStance where Yoshimitsu stands facing backwards. With some of his moves damage himself as well, such as quickly stabbing himself through the stomach, Hara Kiri, while having his back facing his opponent.

Yoshimitsu can also spit toxic gas out of his stomach to deal damage at close range.

Other appearances

Yoshimitsu and references to him have appeared in other Namco games. His "Tekken 3" incarnation is a bonus character available in "Anna Kournikova's Smash Court Tennis" for the PlayStation. Furthermore, Yoshimitsu's "Tekken 3" "energy sword" is one of the secret tennis racquets unlocked during the game. In the Tekken spin-off Game Death by Degrees, Yoshimitsu's sword is an available weapon. He also had brief cameos in "" as a competitor in the tournament. He will also appear in the 2009 film, "Tekken" portrayed by Gary Ray Stearns.

Promotion and reception

In 2006, Namco released a Yoshimitsu figurine as part of a "Tekken 5" set based upon his promotional artwork for the game. While not posable, the PVC figure came with equipable clothing items modeled after those in the game. [ [http://dol.dengeki.com/data/news/2005/12/06/7405eca63d5958caa5be32234f8ab7fb.html 『鉄拳5』＆『ソウルキャリバーIII』の キャラクターたちがコレクションフィギュアに！] . Dengeki Online. Retrieved on 2008-07-31]

In a 2002 poll by Namco prior to the release of "Soulcalibur II" regarding their favorite character from "Soulcalibur", Yoshimitsu placed fifth, with 5% of the tally. [ [http://ps2.ign.com/articles/101/101406p1.html Soul Calibur 2 -- New Screens And Character Info] . Retrieved on 2008-08-02] He was listed number five in Dutch gaming magazine "Power Unlimited"'s "Top 5 Coolest Oneliners in Games", with "Namu namu namu namu namu namu..." [ [http://www.powerweb.nl/artikel.jsp?rubriek=423267&id=1235050 Top 5 coolest oneliners in games] (in Dutch). Power Unlimited. Retrieved on 2008-08-03]

IGN listed Yoshimitsu as one of the top ten fighters in the "Soul" series, at number six. They stated "Yoshimitsu's blade has always felt more at home with his fellow Soul fighters...New players are often at a loss as to how to handle the character, but once they get a handle on him, Yoshimitsu becomes a true force of nature." [Schedeen, Jesse. [http://stars.ign.com/articles/895/895160p5.html Soulcalibur: The Top Ten Fighters] . IGN. Retrieved on 2008-08-01]

References