Controls:
START:        = Is used to start game & pause
Direction Keys:      = Moves cursor & is used to select commands
○:          = Used for decision of 技 (waza) gage & commands
X:          = Used for cancellation of waza gage & commands
□:          = Used when accumulating your 気合い (Kiai) meter
L1, R1, L2, R2, △, Select:  = Not used in this game.

ゲームの初め方 <Starting the Game>
In "Hokuto no Ken" there are 3 modes.  At the title screen, use the direction keys to highlight one of the 3 commands and the circle (○) button to select it.
MENU OPTIONS:
ストーリーモード <Story Mode>   NEW GAME   PASS WORD
バトルモード <Battle Mode>   1P VS COM   1P VS 2P
オプションモード <Option Mode>   ゲームレベル <Game Level>  EASY NORMAL      SOUND       MONO   STEREO     SOUND TEST        SE  00  VOICE  00   MUSIC TEST        BGM 00          EXIT
GAGES:
1. 技ウィンドウ (Waza <Art or Technique> Window) For each rank (see next) this table will appear with different Waza to select from.  Waza in white text are 攻撃技 <attacks>, orange text is either a 防衛技 <defense> or 回復技 <recovery>, and selecting 秘拳 (in red text) will give you another window in which you can select your characters' 秘技 <secret arts>.

2. 技メーター (Waza <Art> Meter) This meter is divided into 4 colored ranks ranging from A (yellow, weakest) to D (red, strongest).  Push the ○ (circle) button when the green line lands in the rank you want to select.  If you've accidentally selected the wrong rank, push X to cancel.
3. 体力ゲージ (Tairyoku <Physical Strength> Gage) [Labeled "LIFE"] When your opponent hits you, this meter will go down.  When it is less than 1/4 full, you can select a 回復技 <recovery art> from the Waza window to bring your meter back up a little.

4. 技ゲージ (Waza <Art> Gage)  [Labeled "技"] This gage starts out with 5 blank spaces.  You can select up to 5 Waza per round.  This meter will show which types of moves you have selected.  A blue [攻] symbol indicates a 攻撃技 (Kougekiwaza<Attack>), an orange [守] indicates either a 防衛技 (Boueiwaza<defense>) or 回復技 (Kaifukuwaza<recovery>) and a red [秘] represents 秘技 (Hiwaza <Secret art>).  When both players have selected 5 waza, they will begin to fight.  You can select less than 5 attacks (must pick at least 1) by accumulating Kiai (see next).

5. 気合ゲージ (Kiai <Fighting Spirit Yell> Gage) [Labeled "気合"] This shows your Kiai level.  To make this meter go up, repeatedly push □ (square) when you are done selecting Waza.  When either you or your opponents Kiai gage fills up completely, regardless of how many waza you or your opponent have selected, the current round ends and your character will do the Waza you selected.  This meter is also a "tie-breaker"; if the Waza of both you and your opponent is of the same rank, the player with the highest Kiai level will win that turn.

6. 闘気ゲージ (Touki <Fighting Spirit> Gage)  [Labeled "闘気"] This meter is divided into two regions: orange and pink (low).  Whenever you use a 攻撃技 (Kougekiwaza <attack art>) or a 秘技 (Secret Art), your 闘気 (Touki <Fighting Spirit>) meter goes down.  When your Touki meter goes into the pink level you can no longer perform B, C, or D Rank attacks.  You can bring your Touki meter back up by successfully useing either a 防衛技 (Bouei Waza <Defence art>) or a 回復技 (Kaifuku waza <Recovery art>) to block your opponent's attacks.

7. 判定ゲージ (Hantei <Judgement> Gage) This gage indicates which character's attack is stronger.  If your attack is stronger, your side of the meter will be larger.  If your opponent's is stronger, their sides larger.