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The Plasma Whirlwind (プラズマ旋風) is the special melee ability utilized by Tong Pooh and her sisters, featured in both the original Strider and Strider 2.

Overview[]

The Kuniang M.A. Team are experts in their own original form of martial arts, which they had perfected to a degree far beyond ordinary people[1][2]. This is reflected primarily in the strength of their legs, which are so powerful they can generate a blade of plasma when they kick, called a "Plasma Whirlwind". This plasma edge is identical in form and strength to the edge of Hiryu's Cypher[1][2], which means their kicks are sharp enough to cut through any material effortlessly. Although they can create Plasma Whirlwinds with any form of kicking, they are often seen using a quick back-turning kick as a signature attack.

Although exactly how the three sisters managed to develop such a powerful skill is unknown, it is believed to be a natural-born ability.

Strider (CPS-1)[]

Str kuniang kick

The Kuniang Team's Plasma Whirlwinds

The Kuniang M.A. Team possess an unique, special technique which they use to create plasma whirlwinds called the Back Spin Kick (バックスピンキック). After striking down a pose, the sisters leap forward and perform a full turn in mid-air, and once their backs are facing their target they thrust their legs to perform a back kick which generates a long, horizontal arc of plasma in its wake. The plasma is identical to that of Hiryu's Cypher Attack, appearing a solid white with a red and blue outline.

Although the technique itself is the same, each Kuniang has a different strategy which determines when they use it.

Strider 2[]

In this incarnation, the three Kuniang sisters have been diversified and each now possess their individual kick technique which they use to attack Hiryu.

Str2 tong kick Back Spin Kick
Tong Pooh performs the same special kick the sisters used originally. She jumps high in the air, turns around and when her back is facing Hiryu she thrusts her leg forward, generating an arc of green plasma in front of her.
Str2 bei kick Rapid Kicks
Pei Pooh's unique attack consists of a quick series of kicks, each trailed by a red blade of plasma. When she's in front of Hiryu, Pei Pooh spins around and strikes with three roundhouse kicks: first a low shin kick, then a straight kick and finally a high kick.
Str2 sai kick Flying Kick
Sai Pooh's technique is an angled dive kick engulfed in blue plasma, the simplest of the three attacks. When in front of Hiryu, Sai Pooh jumps into the air, rolls in mid-air and then drops down quickly with a diagonal dive kick aimed at him.

The trio also possess two shared techniques, which replace their individual attack when one of them is defeated. The first technique is used by the two remaining sisters, while the second is used by the last surviving one. Their specific ability is also upgraded further, as now they not only generate Plasma Whirlwinds with their kicks but also shoot circular plasma projectiles from them.

Str2 somersault kick Somersault Kick
The first of the two universal techniques. The Kuniang using it crouches down, then jumps up and performs a full back flip in mid-air, leaving behind a trail of plasma from her legs. Besides the Plasma Whirlwind, the attack also shoots a plasma orb forward.
Str2 threeway kick Three-Way Kick
The second of the two universal techniques. The Kuniang using it jumps into the air, and while staying in mid-air kicks three times at three different angles (down, center and upward), each kick trailed by plasma and shooting an orb at each direction.

Strider (2014)[]

StrHD nang kick

Nang Pooh performing the dive kick

Most of the Plasma Whirlwind techniques are not featured in the 2014 Strider, since the Four Winds attack primarily using their weapons of choice instead of melee strikes. The only exception is Sai Pooh's Flying Kick, which is used by all three winds and their master Xi Wang Mu. When using it, the sisters jump straight up, and once they reach the apex of the jump they then perform an angled dive kick engulfed in plasma energy of the sister's color of choice.

This technique is usually seen when the sisters are fighting together, in an attempt to restrict Hiryu's space for movement.

In Cannon Dancer[]

CD kirin plasma kick

The plasma arc from a roundhouse kick

Kirin from Isuke's spiritual successor Cannon Dancer is also capable of generating similar long arcs of plasma when he attacks. According to Isuke, Kirin's skill is the same ability as that of the sisters[3], as he first stated Kirin was related to the "Tong Pooh clan"[4], and later clarified he thinks of Kirin as having been raised and trained by them.[3]

This technique is the top upgrade Kirin achieves after picking up the red capsule item a 4th time without losing the previous power-ups, granting him a different ability from the shadow clones he gained previously. When at max level, Kirin's pants turn to black and all his basic melee attacks generate a long blade of plasma forward, both extending his reach and granting a strength boost. This blade is generated from any physical strike he performs either by standing, crouching, climbing or jumping, as well as by the strikes from his Shredding Dance special. No blade is generated from a Slide kick (where plasma-enhancing the strike is possible as part of the move and is not tied to Kirin's power level) and neither can the shadow clones replicate it.

This special skill is temporary, lasting only up to 20 strikes before Kirin reverts to the previous power-up. It's also reverted if Kirin gets hit.

Other appearances[]

  • The Kuniang Team's signature technique, the Back Spin Kick, has been featured in most of Tong Pooh's crossover appearances, albeit with different names:
    • Tong Pooh's assist attack in Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes is a recreation of the original Back Kick, and she yells "Deadly Plasma Leg" (必殺プラズマ脚) when performing it.
    • In Namco × Capcom, Tong Pooh and her clones use the move as their basic attack, under the name "Jumping Back Turning Kick" (跳び後ろ回し蹴り).
    • In Project X Zone 2, Tong Pooh uses the Back Kick as the final attack in both her single-target attack "Plasma Kick" (プラズマ蹴り) and her multi-target MAP attack "Triple Plasma Kick" (三連プラズマ蹴り, localized as "Clone Plasma Kick"). In the latter, she performs the move in synchrony with her two sisters.
    • The ability is featured in Tong Pooh's card description from SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS and as a skill in Street Fighter × All Capcom, under the name "Plasma Leg" (プラズマ脚). In the localization of the former, this ability is renamed "Plasma Scythes" instead.
  • Tong Pooh also performs the two shared techniques from Strider 2
    • The Somersault Kick appears in Namco × Capcom as the Special attack for both Tong Pooh and her Nang Pooh clones, including the large plasma orb released from it.
    • The Three-Way Kick appears as part of her multi-target MAP attack in Project X Zone 2, striking three opponents before the final triple spin kick.
  • Additionally in Project X Zone, Tong Pooh performs both high-flying kicks and a launching upper kick enhanced by a plasma arc as part of her single-target attack, both original moves.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

CD Tianon Kick

Tianon's energy kicks

  • Kirin's rival boss character Tianon is also capable of creating large blades of energy, being capable of creating larger arcs of energy than Kirin using any of her limbs, and always producing two blades during battle. Whether this is the same skill as used by Kirin, however, is unknown.
  • Although the signature Back Spin Kick is not featured in the 2014 Strider game, Tong Pooh is seen performing the move in the main artwork from the Limited Edition special bundle.
Sfv zeku gram

Zeku's Bushin Gram

  • Zeku from Street Fighter V has a special move called Bushin Gram, in which he performs a full turning kick to generate a shockwave with extended reach. While this is a nod to Hiryu's Cypher arc (and his special move Gram from Marvel vs. Capcom), the move also bears a strong resemblance to the Kuniang's plasma-enhanced turning kicks, as well as to Kirin's own roundhouse kicks. One of the Bushin Gram variations is named "Teki", after the ancient Chinese tribe Kirin's mercenary group takes its name from.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Capcom (October 2006, PlayStation). Gamebook: Strider Hiryu (Japanese). Pg. 42. ISBN 4-86233-076-2.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Capcom (February 22, 2014). Strider Hiryu Visual Chronicle (Japanese). Pg. 07
  3. 3.0 3.1 Yotsui, Kouichi; Kogure, Takashi (April 13, 2023). Cannon Dancer Material Book, "Kouichi Yotsui & Utata Kiyoshi Cannon Dancer Dialogue" (English). Included with the Collector's Edition of Cannon Dancer. Pg. 71.
  4. Scion; Dire 51 (April 24, 2010). "Interview with Kouichi "Isuke" Yotsui". LSCM 4.0. Translated by Gaijin Punch. Accessed December 08, 2016.
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