Osman (video game): Difference between revisions

''Cannon Dancer'' (known as ''Osman'' [[Market-Based Title|in English]]) is an [[Arcade Game|Arcade]] [[Platform Game]] released by Mitchell Corp. in 1996, and it's often called the [[Spiritual Successor]] of [[Capcom]]'s first ''[[Strider (Video Game)Hiryu|Strider]]'' game (which is reinforced by the fact they both were designed by the same guy). Controlling a [[Badass]] mercenary known as Kirin, the player goes through very colorful stages, [[Gorn|kicking everything into gory death]] along the way. Kirin has an asortment of special skills, including a slide, Izuna Drop-esque throw and upgrades that allow him to generate [[Doppelganger Attack|energy copies of himself]], which stand where they are generated and mimic his actions, making for some interesting tactics and strategies with them.

The game's plot is actually a bit [[Mind Screw|Mind Screwy]]y, albeit a good deal of it was actually [[Lost in Translation]] (including a slew of alternative dialogues for the bosses). Set in a dystopian future ruled by a single government, problems arise with the appearance of a terrorist sect known as "Slaver", which deifies one "God Without Form" by the same name. Director of Judicial Affairs Jack Layzon, tired of these guys, contracts the services of the main character to deal with them, but he's secretly [[Xanatos Gambit|only using Kirin to stir up trouble with them so he gets a legit reason to arrest the cultists]]. Once his job's done, Jack betrays Kirin and dumps him into a desert to die. Needless to say, Kirin survives and sets out on a quest to get [[Revenge]] on Layzon, though he'll have to go through all his troops, as well as his former allies who now want him dead. Things start getting really weird from that point onward...

The game's main characters are:

* '''Kirin''': [[The Hero]], setting on a [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge]] against his traitorous contractor. Kirin forms part of a mercenary unit known as ''Teki'' (''Barbarian''), whose members are said to hone their bodies to the point of considering themselves "weapons for hire". Kirin is billed as a top class fighter and expert of a secret martial arts style.

* '''Jack Layzon''': Director of Judicial Affairs and the [[Big Bad]] who sets the game into motion. Tired of the pesky cultists taking over his city, he uses Kirin to force them into conflict and justify their arrest, and then disposes of Kirin after the job's done. [[Orcus Onon His Throne|Doesn't do much else afterwards]].

* '''Tianon''': One of the 4 members of Teki now against her former ally Kirin. She's a [[Hair of Gold|blonde]] pigtailed [[Kick Chick]] that can generate energy with her kicks. She tells Kirin she's been always wanting to fight him to the death, though there are also hints that she also has feelings for him.

* '''Cannons''': Second member of Teki, a tall man dressed in a black longcoat. He calls himself "Kirin's top student" and shows complete repulsion towards him, calling him an unrefined idiot who still fights bare-handed. On the other hand, his method of fighting involves [[Teleport Spam|teleporting around]] while a [[Transforming Mecha]] attacks from the background.

* '''Wilf''': The [[Ax Crazy]] third member of Teki, a green-armored white-haired guy who uses a [[Wolverine Claws|metal hand claw]]. He's very open about his hatred of Kirin, while also wanting the other members of Teki dead so he can claim the title of the "Strongest Weapon".

* '''Slaver''': The mysterious goddess who appears midway through the game showing an odd interest in Kirin's massacres, as she "wants to see the world die"." Things start getting really odd once Kirin's goal is achieved, though...

The game's garnered a sort of cult following over the years, and is slowly crawling into [[Cult Classic]] territory.

* [[Badass Longcoat]]: Cannons.

* [[Bigger Bad]]: {{spoiler|Slaver, eventually.}} .

* [[Blood Knight]]: Tianon. She even wishes she'd be ressurected so that she could fight Kirin again if she's the last Teki defeated.

** It's also implied that {{spoiler|Kirin is this as well at the end, after accomplishing his revenge, he has no other motivation to fight other than pure bloodlust.}}.

* [[Boss Rush]]

* [[The Brute]]: Wilf fits into this nicely.

* [[Capital City]]: It's Prague.

* [[Dark Action Girl]]: Tianon.

* [[Dead All Along]]: The revelation in Stage 5 is that Kirin was once killed before by one of the Teki (since the Teki's boss order can be switched around, whoever Kirin fights third will claim to be the killer.. well, atleast in the [[Lost in Translation|original Japanese game.]]).

* [[Domino Mask]]: Cannons uses one.

* [[Doppelganger Attack]]: Kirin's signature technique and very unique gameplay mechanic.

* [[Dual Boss]]: Near the end of the game, Kirin faces the three Teki ''at the same time''.

* [[Dub Name Change]]: Slaver to "Abdullah the Slaver", and Kirin to "Osman". Most stage locations are also given new names.

* [[Energy Being]]: Herio, the [[Playing Withwith Fire|boss made of fire]].

* [[Everything's Better Withwith Spinning]]: Wilf's modus operandi in his boss fight.

* [[Extremity Extremist]]: Kirin and [[Kick Chick|Tianon]] both use kicks exclusively.

* [[False Friend]]: Both Wilf and Cannons openly declare their dislike of Kirin before fighting him on Layzon's behalf.

* [[Gainax Ending]]: After the final boss is defeated. {{spoiler|Slaver's face cracks and a single tear fall from her eye, landing on the Earth and turning it back into a more healthy color. Slaver then claims she's a god, being prompted by (allegedly) Kirin replying that he's "above god" (or, in English, she claims to be king and he retorts with being the king of the world). Cue the credits.}}.

* [[Gas Mask Mooks]]: Most of the human [[Mooks]] are this.

* [[Girlish Pigtails]]: Tianon.

* [[A God Am I]]: {{spoiler|In the ending. Implied to be said by Kirin, maybe}}...}}

* [[Gratuitous German]]: During the [[Dual Boss]] with the three Teki, they refer to their combined strategy as ''Da Rudel Taktik'', the german name for the "Wolf Pack" tactic.

* [[Heroic Mime]]: Kirin. {{spoiler|In the ending, it's implied he gets the last line, thought.though}}.

* [[Humongous Mecha]]: Gamran and Eurogam.

* [[Man of Wealth and Taste]]: Cannons.

* [[Pirate]]: The (very random) pirate group Kirin meets and joins in Stage 4.

* [[Quirky Miniboss Squad]]: The Teki trio.

* [[She's Got Legs]]: Tianon.

* [[Shifting Sand Land]]: Stage 3.

* [[Ship Level]]: Stage 4.

* [[Spiritual Successor]]: Of ''[[Strider (Video Game)Hiryu|Strider]]''.

* [[Teleport Spam]]: Cannons' tactic.

* [[Unwitting Pawn]]: Kirin in the first half.

* [[WhatWolverine Do You Mean ItClaws]]: WasnWilf'ts Made[[Weapon Onof Drugs?Choice]].