Toukon Club (Japan)

Toukon Club is a professional wrestling game released exclusively in Japan for the NES (Famicom) console. The game allows players to choose from a roster of famous real-life Japanese pro wrestlers of the era, including legends like Antonio Inoki and Riki Choshu. The primary objective is to defeat your opponent using various wrestling techniques.

The gameplay in Toukon Club is relatively simple and intuitive. Players can move their wrestler around the ring and execute basic attacks such as punches or kicks. The main highlight of the game is its grappling system. When two wrestlers get close, they can initiate a clinch to begin a grapple. From this state, players have the opportunity to perform a variety of wrestling moves, including throws, slams, or submission holds.

Each wrestler in Toukon Club possesses unique signature moves and a special finisher. To execute these more powerful techniques, players typically need to build up a "spirit" or "momentum" meter by successfully performing attacks and grapples. Once this meter is sufficiently charged, the wrestler can unleash their iconic finishing move, which often serves as the decisive factor in securing a victory.

Matches can conclude in several ways: a pinfall after the opponent is pinned to the mat for a three-count, a submission hold causing the opponent to tap out, a count-out if a wrestler stays outside the ring for too long, or a disqualification for excessive rule violations. The game's graphics feature the characteristic 2D style of the NES, with wrestler sprites that are quite detailed for their time, making the real-life wrestlers easily recognizable. Audio includes distinctive background music and sound effects for hits and grappling maneuvers.