=========================================================
FIRE PRO WRESTLING RETURNS CHARACTER GUIDE: KENTA KOBASHI
=========================================================
for Sony PlayStation 2 (U.S.)
Version 1.0
by Bill Wood ([email protected])
Last modified: 1/7/08

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (c) 2005 Spike (c) 2007 Agetec

NOTE: This guide views and prints best with a monospace typeface.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

===================
==VERSION HISTORY==
===================

1.0 - Initial release of the guide.

=====================
==TABLE OF CONTENTS==
=====================

SECTION 1: HISTORY OF KENTA KOBASHI
SECTION 2: SKILL AND PARAMETER STATS
SECTION 3: MOVELIST
SECTION 4: STRATEGY
SECTION 5: CLOSING

=======================================
==SECTION 1: HISTORY OF KENTA KOBASHI==
=======================================
In the modern era of Japanese professional wrestling, one name that needs
absolutely no introduction is Kenta Kobashi. He is one of a select few who
have managed to become legendary before their careers have ended, putting
on one breathtaking match after another and holding the crowds at the edge
of their seats.

Kobashi and several other former All Japan wrestlers -- many of whom now
work for Pro Wrestling NOAH -- are responsible for an era of Japanese
wrestling that only be described as truly classic. Along with Misawa,
Kawada and others, he has waged wars that have tested the spirit and often
left the body broken. He has battled back from numerous legitimate
injuries -- as well as cancer -- to return to the ring for the legions of
adoring fans. And while just about any Kobashi match against his NOAH
contemporaries -- Misawa, Akiyama and company -- is practically guaranteed
to deliver, some of his more memorable matches of late have taken place
against relative strangers, including former IWGP Champion Kensuke Sasaki
and TNA's Samoa Joe (the latter match taking place in Ring of Honor).

Perhaps like no other wrestler before or since, Kenta Kobashi represents
the living embodiment of the true spirit of Japanese wrestling. And in a
unique form of entertainment that is often criticized as being "fake" or
"contrived", Kobashi serves as a constant reminder of the very real desire
and spirit it takes to become a legend in professional wrestling.

========================================
==SECTION 2: SKILL AND PARAMETER STATS==
========================================

SKILL
-----
Real Name..................Kenta Kobashi
FPR Name...................Keiji Togashi
Organization..........Pro Wrestling NOAH
FPR Organization..............Super NOVA
FPR Group............Lightning (Burning)
Size..............................Medium
Class..............................Heavy
Height............................187 cm
Weight............................118 kg
Birthdate.......................5/5/1967
Country............................Japan
Rank...................................A
Charisma...............................A
Stance............................Strong
Fight Style.....................Orthodox
Return..........................Orthodox
Critical........................Finisher
Special......................Second Wind
Recovery............................Fast
Recovery (when bleeding)..........Medium
Breathing.........................Medium
Breathing (when bleeding).........Medium
Spirit............................Strong
Spirit (when bleeding)............Medium
Neck Endurance......................High
Arm Endurance.......................High
Waist Endurance.....................High
Leg Endurance........................Low
Movement Speed....................Medium
Up and Down Speed.................Medium
Ascent Style......................Enable
Favorite Weapon.....................None

PARAMETER - OFFENSE     PARAMETER - DEFENSE
-------------------     -------------------
Punch.............9     Punch.............9
Kick..............5     Kick..............8
Throw.............9     Suplex............9
Joint.............2     Joint.............5
Stretch...........8     Stretch...........7
Power.............9     Flying............8
Agility...........8     Body..............8
Arm Power.........9     Lariat............9
Technical.........5     Technical.........8
Rough.............7     Rough.............7
MMA Overall.......4     MMA Overall.......5
Entertain.........1     Entertain.........9
-------------------     -------------------
OFF. SUB-TOTAL...77     DEF. SUB-TOTAL...92

TOTAL SKILL POINTS (on a scale from 0-380): 233

=======================
==SECTION 3: MOVELIST==
=======================

Specialty moves are marked with [S]. Finisher is marked with [F].

KEY:

([]) = Square button
(X)  = X button
(O)  = Circle button

STRIKES
-------
Standing ([])............................Backhand Chop
Standing (X)......................................Kick
Standing (O) + d-pad.....................Kesagiri Chop
Standing (O)...............................Thrust Kick
Standing ([]) + (X)...........................Dropkick
Running ([])...........................Shoulder Tackle
Running (X)........................Shoulder Fly Attack
Running (O)............................STRIKING LARIAT [S] 
Running Counter ([]).......................Back Switch
Running Counter (X).......................Kitchen Sink
Running Counter (O)....................Striking Lariat
Running to corner....................Jumping Knee Butt
Co-op Irish whip to corner..................Back Elbow
Corner-to-center attack...........................none

GRAPPLES
--------
Grapple ([]).............................Backhand Chop
Grapple ([]) + Up............................Body Slam
Grapple ([]) + Left/Right..................Flying Mare
Grapple ([]) + Down........................Back Switch
Grapple (X)........................Auto Kesagiri Chops
Grapple (X) + Up...................Delayed Brainbuster 
Grapple (X) + Left/Right...........................DDT
Grapple (X) + Down.......................Body Solebutt
Grapple (O).........................Kesagiri Chop Roll
Grapple (O) + Up..........................Orange Crush
Grapple (O) + Left/Right............HEAD PICKUP LARIAT [S]
Grapple (O) + Down......................BURNING HAMMER [F]
Grapple ([]) + (X)................ORIGINAL BRAINBUSTER [S]
Back Grapple ([]).........................Sledgehammer
Back Grapple (X)....................Enzui Rolling Chop
Back Grapple (O)...................Torture Cobra Twist
Back Grapple (O) + Up/Down...................Final Cut
Back Grapple (O) + Left/Right.......HALF NELSON SUPLEX [S]
Back Grapple ([]) + (X).................Sleeper Suplex
Back Grapple Counter ([])...................Elbow Bunt
Back Grapple Counter (X)...................Back Switch

OPPONENT DOWN MOVES
-------------------
Opponent Face Up at Head (X)..............Sleeper Hold
Opponent Face Up at Head (O).................Chin Lock
Opponent Face Up at Feet (X)........Hooked-Leg Pinfall
Opponent Face Up at Feet (O).........Texas Clover Hold
Opponent Face Down at Head (X)....Both Hands-Press Pin
Opponent Face Down at Head (O)................Leg Drop
Opponent Face Down at Feet (X)........Half Boston Crab
Opponent Face Down at Feet (O).........Stomping (Back)
Running at Downed Opponent (O).........Guillotine Drop

MMA MOVES
---------
Guard Attack ([])........................Knuckle Arrow
Guard Attack (X)...........................Boston Crab
Guard Attack (O).........................Lift Up Press
Guard Counter.....................................Bash
Mount/Facelock Attack ([])..............Face Knee Lift
Mount/Facelock Attack (X)..............Front Neck Lock
Mount/Facelock Attack (O)...............Powerbomb Whip
Mount/Facelock Counter.................Waterwheel Drop
Back Mount Attack ([])...................Knuckle Arrow
Back Mount Attack (X)....................Choke Sleeper
Back Mount Attack (O)................Reverse Powerbomb
Back Mount Counter..........................Back Press

POST AND APRON MOVES
--------------------
Post ([]).......................Diving Guillotine Drop
Post (X)...............................Moonsault Press
Post (O)..................................Sledgehammer
Post ([]) + (X).................Diving Shoulder Attack
Running Post Dive ([])............................none
Running Post Dive (O).............................none
Corner Grapple (O) + Up.................Burning Hammer
Corner Grapple (O) + Left/Right......Corner Auto Chops
Corner Grapple (O) + Down..............Turnbuckle Bomb
Corner (Top Rope) Counter [F]...........Powerbomb Whip
Corner (Top Rope) Counter [B]...........Backhand Elbow
Inside Apron Grapple..........Apron Half Nelson Suplex
Outside Apron Grapple..............Inferno Brainbuster
Run to outside.........................Plancha Suicida
Dive out ring..........................Plancha Suicida
Dive in ring......................Flying X Body Attack
Cage Dive.........................................none

DOUBLE AND TRIPLE TEAM MOVES
----------------------------
Front Double Team...................Double Brainbuster
Back Double Team.......................Double Backdrop
Corner Double Team.................Highjack Piledriver
Front Triple Team...................Triple Hammer Blow
Back Triple Team....................Triple Hammer Blow
Corner Triple Team..................Triple Hammer Blow

PERFORMANCE
-----------
Entry Performance.................Wrist Check Arm Move
Analog Stick Left.................Wrist Check Arm Move
Analog Stick Right.......................Clenched Fist
Analog Stick Up.........................Hands Gut Pose
Analog Stick Down........................Hands Come On

=======================
==SECTION 4: STRATEGY==
=======================

GENERAL STRATEGY
As stated in the history section, Kenta Kobashi is a fierce competitor
with a nearly unbreakable fighting spirit, and the same holds true in Fire
Pro Returns. He is extremely tough to wear down physically, his only
weakness being his leg strength. (In real life, Kobashi has had a history
of knee injuries and operations that probably should have ended his career
a long time ago.) When you need to win AND want to put on an entertaining
match, you could certainly do much worse than Kenta Kobashi.

Kobashi's offensive and defensive parameters have increased considerably
in comparison to earlier versions of Fire Pro (his moveset has been
improved as well). In no area has he been weakened, but he has been
strengthened in several areas, including his offensive Rough stat jumping
from a 2 to a 7! As always, Kobashi has the "Second Wind" Special Skill,
which seems to have been created specifically for him. As a result, you
can expect a nice burst of energy just when things are getting tough.

When using Kobashi, your focus should be a no-nonsense offensive barrage.
If you win your grapples you will win the match, it's as simple as that.
Don't focus on flashy high-risk manuevers such as moonsaults (although he
can perform them), instead stick to the center of the ring and confront
your opponent there, forcing him into grapple after grapple. But at the
same time, don't think twice about throwing your opponent outside the ring
and dishing out some punishment near the guardrail!

One last word of general advice: Kobashi's arm strength means you should
use his lariats often, both from a strike and from a grapple. If you've
ever seen a Kobashi match, you know the kind of impact he can deliver, and
you can take full advantage of this in Fire Pro.

STRIKES
Again, you'll want to abuse Kobashi's lariats as much as possible. Both
the Lariat Attack and the Striking Lariat are extremely effective. And
with Kobashi's Offensive Punch stat at 9, it never hurts to work in the
Backhand Chop as well. The basic Kick is easy to use as a distancing ploy,
but don't let it become your main form of striking offense.

GRAPPLES
Kenta Kobashi's grapples are superb, and they perfectly compliment his
stats. The Kesagiri Chops can quickly bring an opponent to his knees, as
can the Lariat and Brainbuster in his Strong Grapple set.. Kobashi's
finisher is one of the more famous signature wrestling moves in Japanese
wrestling history; the Burning Hammer. It can be performed from either a
front grapple or a corner grapple, and is absolutely a move you'll want to
use often when you're trying to bring a match to its finale.

======================
==SECTION 5: CLOSING==
======================
In closing, I would like to thank Jason Blackhart for statistical
information and Dave Fairbairn for moveset clarification.

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns Character Guide: Kenta Kobashi
(c)2008 Bill Wood