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Aska is a character appearing exclusively in the Super NES version of Tournament Fighters. She is a young kunoichi who participates in the tournament in order to start her own dojo to train people around the world in the ways of a ninja. Aska is the only female hero in the game. In story mode, Aska is the only opponent who is never a member of the Shredder Elite and only ever fights the turtles to prove herself as a ninja.
She has long hair with a hachimaki wrapped around her head, a red leotard (suggesting a one-piece bathing suit), and the upper half of a white gi. Other than perhaps being a bit of a misandrist (due to some of her in-game dialogue), she is given little characterization.
History[]
Aska's victory pose
Although rumors as to the reason she was made for the game are numerous, Aska actually started out as Mitsu, as seen whilst combing through the coding of the beta version of Tournament Fighters. It is unknown why she was changed into an original character prior to release. A common hypothesis is that the third movie's dismal reception may have played a part in the renaming, or that the character was developed without knowledge of the film having a character by that name, and it was changed to avoid confusion. Furthermore, it was discovered that she was labeled as both Aska and Mitsu in various design documents when they were finally published in 2022's Cowabunga Collection. According to Tetsu Akasaka, character designer for the game, the character Racheal from fighting game Martial Champion was an inspiration to Aska, both in design and moveset. [citation needed]
Aska wields twin kunai and has the ability to conjure winds. Some of her movements show a trail of cyan butterflies, which may be created by her abilities. Aska also has a few provocative attacks, which involve leaping at her foe with her buttocks, as well as a throw that features her jamming her opponent's face in her crotch.
Difference between the western and Japanese versions.
Aska's sprite differed between the later Japanese release and the United States version. Her leotard is skimpier in the Japanese version, exposing her butt cheeks more in moves in which they are visible. Her winpose also causes her breasts to bounce in Japan; this was changed in the U.S. release. Many fans spell her name as Asuka (ć¢ć¹ć«) athough in the Japanese version of the game, Mutant Warriors, it is still spelled A-S-K-A.
Due to being one of the few female characters to see active combat in the series, as well as being relatively obscure, Aska retains a respectably-sized fanbase. Aska was rated as #4 on the list of "Top Ten Fighting Women" by Electronic Gaming Monthly in 1993.[1]
Powers and abilities[]
Aska is a skilled fighter, and possesses a variety of special ninjutsu techniques. Her special moves are as follows:
- Hayabusa (ćÆćć¶ć? lit. "Falcon") / Spin Attack - Aska holds her kunai across her chest and spins around.
- KochÅ no Mai (č”č¶ć®č? lit. "Butterfly Dance) / Spinning Uppercut - Aska performs a spinning uppercut while holding a kunai, surrouding herself in an aura of butterflies.
- NinpÅ Kamikaze (åæę³č£é¢Ø? lit. Ninja Arts: Divine Wind) / Tornado Attack - Aska's super move, in which she uses her ninja techniques to summon a massive tornado.
Trivia[]
- Aska's bio in the Japanese manual for Tournament Fighters lists "Quickset Quiver" and "Broadsword Knife" among her weapons, both of which are accessories included in Mitsu's action figure.