Pocket Fighter (known as Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix in arcades outside of Japan) is an arcade game developed by Capcom in 1997. In Pocket Fighter, twelve characters from various Capcom fighting franchises, including Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter III, Darkstalkers, and the lesser known Red Earth game, are depicted in super-deformed, or "chibi", artwork style. Using a simplified fighting system, the game is a light hearted poke at some of Capcom's own successful fighting games.
The idea of super deformed Street Fighters didn't beging here. Before Capcom developed this game, they made another game in 1996, entitled Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. As the name implies, it was a puzzle game that became incredibly popular in Japanese arcades. It was played head-to-head, and it featured super deformed Street Fighters and Darkstalkers in mock-battles that took place during the competitive puzzle contests. Puzzle Fighter put the notion of these little child-like versions of their favorite fighters duking it out in the heads of players and fans. Pocket Fighter is the realization of that idea.
Pocket Fighter borrows another concept from its inspiration, the notion of gems that can be picked up to increase the power of three particular attacks. As players attacks each other, gems burst out of their bodies. Pocket Fighter also introduced a system known as Flash combos, which were a sequence of up to four orchestrated attacks that saw each fighter change into various costumes or outfits, often of other Capcom characters. For example, Felicia becomes Mega Man. Pocket Fighter was released around the world for the PlayStation (where the title remained Pocket Fighter despite the different arcade title), and in Japan for the Sega Saturn and the original non-color Bandai WonderSwan. Despite being black and white, the WonderSwan port is said to be spectacular conversion for a handheld system.
-
Super Gem Fighters flyer
-
Pocket Fighter Japanese PlayStation cover
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Pocket Fighter American PlayStation cover
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Pocket Fighter European PlayStation cover
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Pocket Fighter Sega Saturn cover
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Pocket Fighter Bandai WonderSwan cover
Table of Contents
Moves
Akuma
Chun-Li
Click here for more information about Chun-Li's other fighting game appearances.
Chun-Li is a very versatile woman, able to fill many roles, as she demonstrates in her Flash Combos. Chun-Li's police training makes her a very capable replacement for Jill Valentine of the Special Tactics And Rescue Service from Resident Evil, shown in her Jill Valentine Combo. However, in her Love Letter Combo, she appears as an innocent school girl who grabs her opponent and confesses her affection for them in a love letter. Naturally, the feeling is returned. Who wouldn't love Chun-Li? In her Cheerleading Combo, she dons a cheer squad outfits, and attacks her opponent with pep. And finally, Chun-Li pay homage to future look-alike fighter June of Star Gladiator fame, complete with June's energy ring.
Being Chun-Li in a mission to recapture an animal which had escaped the zoo, her final encounter will be with none other than... Felicia.
Flash Combos
| 1st Input | 2nd Input | 3rd Input | 4th Input | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 
|
|
 |
|
Jill Valentine Combo (launcher) |
 
|
|
Love Letter Combo (grab) | ||
|
 |
|
Cheerleader Combo (guard crush) | |
 |
|
June Combo (launcher) |
Chun-Li's 
+
Guard Cancel features another Jill Vanlentine outfit, this time employing a flame thrower. Her 
+ Guard Cancel features an additional school girl outfit, with her swinging a field hockey stick at her opponent.
Moves
| Name | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Sankaku Tobi | Jump against a wall, press in opposite direction | |
| Yousou Kyaku |  +
|
|
| Forward Kick | +
|
|
| Upward Kick |  +
|
|
| Roundhouse Kick | +
|
|
 Kikouken
|
 +
|
|
 Hishou Kyaku
|
 +
|
|
 Hyakuretsu Kyaku
|
|
|
| Spinning Bird Kick | +
|
|
| Kikou Shou |  ++
|
or
|
| Rinkaishou |  ++
|
or
|
| Hazan Hishou Kyaku |  ++
|
or
|
Dan Hibiki
Click here for more information about Dan's other fighting game appearances.
In Dan's Flash Combos, we get to see his music appreciation side, as well as his love for his deceased father. His Upper Combo is a close immitation of Ken and Ryu's Upper Combo, and is the only Flash Combo to repeat an attack twice. Dan's Oyaji Combo shows that his dedication to his father's memory is so great, that he has actually incorporated his father's body into his Saikyo Groove attack style. Dan's tengu-masked father (a humorous reference to Takuma Sakazaki from Art of Fighting) also appears in two of his Super Combos. The Enka Combo shows Dan's unfortunate enjoyment of the often sad styling of 20th century Japanese folk music. And last, but not least, Dan pays homage to his favorite artist, "the King" Elvis Presley, in his Elvis Combo. It should be noted that Dan's weakness from Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo has followed him to Pocket Fighter: Just as Dan can only send red gems to his opponent in Puzzle Fighter, Dan's attack only evoke red gems from his opponents in Pocket Fighter.
Dan enters the ruckus to promote his "awesome" fighting style, the Saikyo-ryuu. To do this, he handpicks Sakura as his first student; but, due to her obsession with Ryu and reluctance to follow the way of Saikyo, Dan sees no choice but to beat some convincement out of her.
Flash Combos
| 1st Input | 2nd Input | 3rd Input | 4th Input | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
Upper Combo (launcher) |
|
|
Oyaji (Father) Combo (guard crush) | ||
|
 |
|
Enka (Folksong) Combo (grab) | |
 |
|
Elvis Combo (knock down) |
Moves
| Name | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Uppercut | +
|
|
| Front Kick | +
|
|
| Gadouken
|
+
|
|
| Kouryuuken
|
+
|
|
| Dankuu Kyaku
|
 +
|
|
| Shinkuu Gadou Ken | ++
|
or
|
| Kouryuu Rekka | ++
|
or
|
| Oyaji Blast | ++
|
or
|
| Hisshou Burai Ken | (Level 2) +
|
(home consoles only)
|
| Jun Koku Satsu | (Level 3) (Level 3) +
|
or
|
| Chouhatsu Densetsu | +
|
|
Felicia
Click here for more information about Felicia's other fighting game appearances.
As an actress, Felicia is quite accustomed to rapid costume changes. It's all part of the job. So Felicia features the most costume changes out of any character in Pocket Fighter. First, in her Darkstalkers Combo, she dresses up as some of her favorite fellow Darkstalkers, starting with werewolf Jon Talbain, followed by merman Rikuo, and finishing with a Big Upper from Sasquatch. Her Mega Man combo is, quite naturally, an homage to Capcom Mega icon Mega Man, showing off his Mega Slide and Mega Buster attacks. In her Star Gladiator Combo, she appears as two fighters from the lesser known Star Gladiator series, Kappah and Gamof. And finally, although she is American, her Youkai Combo celebrates her connection to the various traditional Japanese spirits and monsters that live among, and many times protect, the people of Japan. She has two more costume changes during her Guard Cancels. She can also appear as Huitzil (or Phobos in Japan) from Darkstalkers, or yellow dinosaur Rimgal from Star Gladiator.
As if being a stage performer wasn't enough for her, Felicia now seeks for her big break on the silver screen. To do so, she sets out looking for Ken, who she believes can provide her with contacts and means for her to achieve this new dream.
Flash Combos
| 1st Input | 2nd Input | 3rd Input | 4th Input | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
Darkstalkers Combo (launcher) |
|
|
Mega Man Combo (guard crush) | ||
|
 |
|
Star Gladiator Combo (grab) | |
 |
|
Youkai Combo (grab) |
Felicia's neutral Guard Cancel portrays Felicia dressed up as Huitzil, the robot from Darkstalkers, performing one of his clubbing attacks. Her + Guard Cancel makes her appear in an additional Star Gladiator costume, the yellow dinosaur Rimgal, swinging Rimgal's skull club at her opponent.
Moves
| Name | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Sankaku Tobi | Jump against a wall, | press in opposite direction |
| Upper Kick | +
|
|
| Toe Kick | +
|
|
| Sand Splash
|
+
|
|
| Rolling Buckler
|
+
|
,
|
| Delta Kick
|
+
|
,
|
| Rolling Scratch | +
|
,
|
| Hysteric Star |
|
|
| Gamo Screw |  +
|
+
|
| Please Help Me | ++
|
or
|
| Crazy For You | ++
|
or
|
| Dancing Flash | ++
|
or
|
Hsien-Ko
For more information about Hsien-Ko, please see her Darkstalkers entry.
Being a Jiang Shi (or hopping corpse) is serious business. But Hsien-Ko lets her hair down and shows off her fun side in her various Flash Combos, including a penchant for her own Chinese culture. In her Fried Rice Combo, she stuns her opponent by showing just how quickly she can dice ingredients, fry up, and serve the popular dish, before knocking her opponent in the air with the plate. Her Alarm Clock combo shows her waking up from a restful sleep before dumping an alarm clock out of her sleeve. Her Bowling Combo shows her skill at a favorite pastime of hers, and she grabs the opponent and literally bowls them down a lane. And her Son Goku Combo pays homage to the cloud riding, magical staff wielding monkey from the Chinese legend Journey to the West, which SonSon is based upon. The last attack in the combo sees her imitating Son Goku's ability to pull off his own fur, blow it at opponents, and transform the fur into tiny versions of himself that attack.
Hsien-Ko and her sister, Mei-Ling, are in it for a circus job advertised by Zangief, with one key requirement: he must be beaten by whoever wants to apply.
Flash Combos
| 1st Input | 2nd Input | 3rd Input | 4th Input | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
Fried Rice Combo (launcher) |
|
|
Alarm Clock Combo (guard crush) | ||
|
 |
|
Bowling Combo (grab) | |
 |
|
Son Goku Combo (knock down) |
Moves
| Name | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Air Dash |
|
 or
|
| Teleport Dash | hold , then
| |
| Double Panda | +
|
|
| Chainsaw Blade | +
|
|
| Uppercut | +
|
|
| Anki Hou
|
+
|
, hold and release
|
| Henkyou Ki
|
.png){kind=small} +
|
|
| Chirei Tou
|
+
|
|
| Tenrai Ha | +
|
 or
|
| Rairai Kyuu | ++
|
or
|
| Tenkaisan | ++
|
or
|
Ibuki
Click here for more information about Ibuki's other fighting game appearances.
As a ninja, Ibuki is the master of disguises. While Ibuki's ninja clan training is very strict, it's not all fighting and combat. A large portion of her training is also dedicated to traditional Japanese culture. And she uses Pocket Fighter as a chance to demonstrate much of what she has learned so far. Her Geisha Combo shows Ibuki's talent as a musician and entertainer. Her Stupid Prince Combo is a reenactment of an old Japanese folktale. Ibuki grabs the opponent and gives them a role in the performance. In her Calligrapher Combo, Ibuki demonstrates all of the tools she uses to recreate traditional Japanese calligraphy. And in her Cultural Training Combo, Ibuki shows off her remaining education in topics such as traditional flower arrangement, tea brewing, and fan dancing. Unfortunately, for all of her acquired skill in these subjects, Ibuki really just wants to be an ordinary modern day Tokyo teenager. So much so, she is in the fray just looking for a well-known gelateria in Tokyo whose address Sakura seems to know.
Flash Combos
| 1st Input | 2nd Input | 3rd Input | 4th Input | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
Geisha Combo (knock down) |
|
|
Stupid Prince Combo (grab) | ||
|
 |
|
Calligrapher Combo (guard crush) | |
 |
|
Cultural Training Combo (launcher) |
Ibuki has a number of extra costume changes, some from her Guard Crushes, some from her special moves, and one during a Special Throw where she grabs the opponent, binds them with rope, and then pulls the rope, spinning the opponent like a top.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Neutral Guard Crush |
+ Guard Crush |
Hien Special Move | Kunai Special Move (Rolento) |
++ Throw
|
|---|
Moves
| Name | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Split Kick | +
|
|
| Spin Kick | +
|
|
| Kunai
|
+
|
|
| Kazekiri
|
+
|
|
| Hien
|
 +
|
|
| Tsumuji | +
|
, (+), (+)
|
| Kasumi Suzaku | + +
|
or
|
| Jiraiya | ++
|
or
|
| Hayate | ++
|
or
|
Ken Masters
Click here for more information about Ken's other fighting game appearances.
Ken may have trained as a martial artist in Japan, but he's all-American (well, 75% at least). Some of his American tendencies show throughout his Flash Combos. His Upper Combo is a general punching combination that ends with his opponent flying through the air. Ken does not change outfits for the combo. He does, however, for his Soccer Combo, in which Ken grabs his opponent, squashes them down into a soccer ball, and punts them across the screen. In Ken's Rodeo Combo, Ken dons a cowboy outfit, jumps on a horse, and lets the horse make a distinct impression on his opponent. And in Ken's Leather Jacket Combo, Ken loses his traditional red gi in favor of some more stylish threads while he dishes out a world of hurt through some powerful kicks.
His final opponent is Morrigan, who wants Ken to treat her out as long as he shows her what he is made of. Surely, that's not an idea Eliza is very fond of...
Flash Combos
| 1st Input | 2nd Input | 3rd Input | 4th Input | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
Upper Combo (launcher) |
|
|
Soccer Combo (grab) | ||
|
 |
|
Rodeo Combo (guard crush) | |
 |
|
Leather Jacket Combo (knock down) |
Moves
| Name | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Inazuma Kakato Wari | +
|
|
| Uppercut | +
|
|
| Front Kick | +
|
|
| Hadouken
|
+
|
|
| Shouryuuken
|
+
|
|
| Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku
|
+
|
|
| Shouryuu Reppa | ++
|
or
|
| Shinryuu Ken | ++
|
, or,
|
| Shippuujinrai Kyaku | ++
|
or
|
Morrigan
Click here for more information about Morrigan's other fighting game appearances.
Morrigan is the original Flash Combo fighter, although she frequently waited to change outfits until after a fight. Now that Flash Combos are all the rage, Morrigan is taking advantage of the fact and using that to break out some of her more favorite costumes. In her Nurse Combo, Morrigan shows what a good-intentioned, but horrible care taker she can be. She will literally mop the floor with you, before banging you over the head with a frying pan, in her Maid Combo. A Yukata is a light kimono, usually made of cotton and worn during the warm summer months, and my Morrigan during her Yukata Combo where she grabs her opponent, and stuffs them in a summer fireworks canister. And lastly, Morrigan shows us that she's just as competent of a waitress as she is a nurse during her Waitress Combo. Morrigan clearly has no future in the service industry, but she still enjoys quick-changing into Chun-Li's, Sakura's, and even Dan's outfits after a victory.
Morrigan is out just to prove that she is the strongest and most beautiful girl there is. To this end, she seeks to battle Chun-Li, who presumably is the current holder of both titles.
Flash Combos
| 1st Input | 2nd Input | 3rd Input | 4th Input | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
Nurse Combo (knock down) |
|
|
Maid Combo (guard crush) | ||
|
 |
|
Yukata (light kimono) Combo (grab) | |
 |
|
Waitress Combo (launcher) |
Pressing + will have Morrigan execute a Guard Cancel that lets you witness Morrigan in her rarely seen Golfing outfit. If you use her + Guard Cancel, she will appear once more as a nurse wielding an extremely large needle.
Moves
| Name | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Vernier Dash | hold , then or
| |
| Shell Kick | +
|
|
| Shoe Attack | +
|
|
| Uppercut Fist | +
|
|
| Soul Fist
|
+
|
|
| Shadow Blade
|
+
|
|
| Parasite Roll
|
+
|
|
| Darkness Illusion | +
|
or
|
| Death Blade | ++
|
or
|
| Parasite Tempest | ++
|
or
|
Ryu
Click here for more information about Ryu's other fighting game appearances.
Despite the fact that Ryu is genuinely good natured, he has a rather under-developed sense of humor. When it comes to fighting, Ryu takes his art very seriously. The most that Ryu gets into the spirit of Pocket Fighter is to change some accessories like his gloves or (lack of) shoes. He never changes out of his traditional white gi for one combo, making his one of the more bland sets of Flash Combos. His Upper Combo is a standard punch combination ending in an uppercut that sends his opponent flying off the ground. His Neri Chagi Combo employs an overhead ax kick where he dons traditional Japanese sandals known as geta. His Body Blow Combo reveals his only other outfit change where he trades the usual handguards for boxing gloves, pulls the opponent in close, and pounds away at their midsection. And his Upper Kick Combo is simply a combination of three kicks that pushes his opponent far away.
His final opponent is Tessa, who seems to have information on who could Ryu have an evenly matched battle against.
Flash Combos
| 1st Input | 2nd Input | 3rd Input | 4th Input | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
Upper Combo (launcher) |
|
|
Neri Chagi Combo (guard crush) | ||
|
 |
|
Body Blow Combo (grab) | |
 |
|
Upper Kick Combo (knock down) |
Moves
| Name | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Sakotsu Wari | +
|
|
| Quick Punch | +
|
|
| Overhead Kick | +
|
|
| Uppercut | +
|
|
| Front Kick | +
|
|
| Hadouken
|
+
|
|
| Shouryuuken
|
+
|
|
| Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku
|
+
|
|
| Tomoe Nage | +
|
+
|
| Shinkuu Hadouken | ++
|
or
|
| Boufuu Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku | ++
|
or
|
| Reppuu Jinrai Shou | +
|
or
|
Sakura Kasugano
Click here for more information about Sakura's other fighting game appearances.
Sakura is a very competitive and active young student. She enjoys competing in a plethora of activities, only a sample of which are demonstrated by her Flash Combos. In her Naginata Combo, she employs a traditional Japanese pole arm, wearing a training outfit, and performs three vicious strikes to knock her opponent in the air. In her Watermelon Slice Combo, she enjoys summer fun by yanking a beach towel (which features Mega Man's face) out from under her opponent before blindfolding herself and slicing a watermelon in half. Her Tennis Combo shows what an ace she is on the courts with a racket. And in her Bunny Girl Combo, she shames her opponent by surpassing them in cuteness and classiness. Sakura truly is a multi-talented force to be reckoned with.
As is typical of Sakura, her sole reason to fight is to find Ryu and have him train her. To this end, she vows to beat him in order to prove herself worthy of being under his wing.
Flash Combos
| 1st Input | 2nd Input | 3rd Input | 4th Input | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
Naginata (pole arm) Combo (launcher) |
|
|
Watermelon Slice Combo (guard crush) | ||
|
 |
|
Tennis Combo (knock down) | |
 |
|
Bunny Girl Combo (grab) |
Moves
| Name | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Flower Kick | +
|
|
| Double Punch | +
|
|
| Slow Sweep | +
|
|
| Hadouken
|
+
|
|
| Shou'ou San
|
+
|
|
| Shunka Shuutou
|
+
|
,
|
| Shinkuu Hadou Ken | ++
|
or
|
| Midare Harusame | ++
|
or
|
| Haru Ranman | ++
|
or
|
Tessa
For more information about Tessa, please see her Red Earth and SVC Chaos entries.
While many people in this dimension mistake Tessa for a witch, she is actually something even more powerful: a sorcerologist. That is, she employs magic in her everyday studies to discern the properties of the universe. She is as intelligent as she is powerful, and she is constantly on a quest to acquire more knowledge and understanding about the nature of all things. Unfortunately for her, she often finds that in order to gain information from those that she meets, she must typically beat it out of them, but she doesn't mind as she enjoys a good fight, and can employ several of her unique skills on her opponents. As illustrated in her Transformation Combo, she can alter her nature to something more savage and beast-like. In her Arabian Combo, she can tap into the mystical Arabian arts of snake taming and genies in a bottle. Her Circus Combo shows her ability to entertain a crowd by summoning an attack-dolphin from her top hat, and transforming her poor kitty into a rocket which she straps unsuspecting opponents on to before it blasts off. In her Robo Combo, she shrinks down in size and is replaced by a large robotic construct of herself which conducts the fighting for her.
Tessa is seeking out a staff which has magical shapeshifting properties, and she imagines Hsien-Ko knows of its whereabouts.
Flash Combos
| 1st Input | 2nd Input | 3rd Input | 4th Input | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Transformation Combo (knock down) |
|
|
Arabian Combo (guard crush) | ||
|
|
|
Circus Combo (grab) | |
|
|
Robo Combo (launcher) |
If you manage to win two rounds perfectly, back to back, a very startled and bedazzled Mai Ling will appear from behind Tessa's back.
Moves
| Name | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Cat Kick | +
|
|
| Witch's Hat | +
|
|
| Cat Roll | +
|
|
| Muse Whip | , +
|
|
| Dragon Blow
|
+
|
|
| Reverie Sword
|
+
|
|
| Dragon's Roar
|
+
|
|
| Astron Cannon | ++
|
or
|
| Untouchable Force | ++
|
or
|
| Dragon Apocalypse | ++
|
or
|
Zangief
Click here for more information about Zangief's other fighting game appearances.
Zangief simply can't help but express himself in everything that he does, including Flash Combos. While he won't admit to anything up front, he secretly loves changing costumes. Nothing pleases a crowd more than when a pro-wrestler appears with a new look, and Zangief has a wide array. In his evolution combo, he gives a very quick lesson on the evolution of man; from ape, to Neanderthal, to Cro-Magnon complete with the discovery of fire. During his Pickax combo, he rattles his opponent with a jackhammer, before whacking them over the head with a pickax. In his Dinner Table Combo, he slams down a table and demands to be served food, reading the newspaper until it arrives, whereupon he tears the paper in half, and flips the table over in disgust. And last but not least, Zangief really shows his roots with the Cossack Combo, as he dons a Soviet Union outfit and performs a Russian kick dance… all over his opponent.
Zangief seeks to meet Felicia in order to have her gigs land in Mother Russia, at Mr. President's request. But she would not relent without a fight...
Flash Combos
| 1st Input | 2nd Input | 3rd Input | 4th Input | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
Evolution Combo (launcher) |
|
|
Pickax Combo (guard crush) | ||
|
 |
|
Dinner Table Combo (grab) | |
 |
|
Cossack Combo (knock down) |
Zangief shows off his costume for his alter ego, the Red Cyclone in two of his Guard Crush moves. He also shows his penchant for breaking the rules, as many pro wrestlers do. During his + Guard Crush, he whacks his opponent with a folding chair. And in his + Guard Crush, he uses the match bell to knock his opponent high into the air.
Moves
| Name | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Hammer Throw | or +
|
+
|
| Piledriver | +
|
+
|
| Body Press | +
|
|
| Double Knee Drop | +
|
|
| Strong Upper | +
|
|
| Dynamite Kick | +
|
|
| Screw Piledriver
|
+
|
+
|
| Double Lariat
|
+
|
(move or )
|
| Banishing Flat
|
+
|
|
| Iron Press | +
|
|
| Russian Beat | ++
|
or
|
| Heavy Bite | ++
|
+ or
|
| Final Atomic Buster | ++
|
+ or
|