Phantom Fighter, known in Japan as Reigen Doushi (霊幻道士?), is an action game developed for the Famicom by Marionette, and published in Japan by Pony Canyon in 1988. It was later published in the US for the NES by FCI in April 1990.

As a kung-fu master, the player must fight through eight towns filled with undead creatures known as Kyonshi in Japan (or Jiangshi in China), each with a unique town boss. A small selection of items, and a large number of fighting moves could be used on the enemy. The game also included a hidden character that made the game much more difficult, a baby kyonshi or "Conshi." An infinite amount of continues are available to complete the game.

The Japanese version is based on the 1985 film, "Mr. Vampire" ("Reigen Dōshi" being the Japanese title of the film). The vampire of the film is based on the jiangshi, the hopping corpses of Chinese folklore. The main character, Mr. Kau, is a Taoist priest who performs magic that maintains control over spirits and irrepressible vampires. Together with his inept students, Man Choi and Chau-Sang, he resides in a large house protected from the spiritual world with talismans and amulets. The film was the breakthrough success of the jiangshi genre, a trend popular in Hong Kong during the 1980s, and established many of the genre's recognisable tropes.

To complete the game, you must defeat the boss of all eight towns which have been invaded by Kyonshi. In order to access the boss, you must first collect three Jade orbs by defeating other Kyonshi in the town. When you defeat the boss Kyonshi of the one town, you will advance to the next town, and so on, until every town has been rescued.

Each town is made of a series of buildings or structures. Behind each door or gate, you will find a particular type of location. The possible location types are described below.

Temple

A temple is where you can visit in order to have your health replenished. It should be the first building you seek out whenever you arrive at a new town. The first time you visit a temple, it will be guarded by one or more Kyonshi. Once you defeat them, you will be able to access the back room of the temple where the priest can restore your health. When you clear a temple of Kyonshi, it remains clear and you never need to fight the Kyonshi there again.

Item obtainment

A majority of the buildings or structures in the game contain a set of fights with one or more Kyonshi before you can access a citizen of the town in the back who will offer you an item for rescuing them. The item may be scrolls which you can trade at training halls in order to learn new moves, or it may be one of the four selectable items. You may leave and return to these locations as often as you life to obtain more scrolls or items, but every time you return to these locations, all of the Kyonshi that you defeated will return.

Jade orbs

Three locations in town contain two or more Kyonshi to fight. When you defeat the last one, it will drop an orb. When you collect these orbs, your health is automatically fully restored. You must collect three such orbs to challenge the boss Kyonshi. When you return to these locations after collecting the orb, they will remain clear. You can distinguish these locations from regular item obtainment locations by checking the entrance while standing outside. Instead of saying "KYONSHIES ARE HERE", it will say "DANGER'S IN THE AIR".

Training Hall

In order to learn new moves, or to improve the effectiveness of the moves you already possess, you must visit a training hall. There are no Kyonshi to fight in the hall. When you arrive in the hall, a servant will first quiz you. You must get the answer to the question right in order to prove that you are worthy to speak with the master, who waits in the back room. (To learn the answers to these questions, please see the Quiz questions page.) If you correctly answer the question and visit the master, he will ask you to choose from a list of moves that he can teach you. Each move costs a certain number of scrolls. If you do not have enough scrolls for a particular move, you must leave an obtain more scrolls and then return. Once you learn a move, you will not forget it, even if you die and continue.

Boss

The entrance to the boss lair is always located on the far right side of the town. You will not be able to enter the lair until you break the seal by collecting three Jade orbs. Always heal up at a temple before visiting this location.

Town 1

The first town is, naturally, the easiest. You'll find the temple conveniently at the beginning of town. Defeat the Kimenshi inside to clear the temple, and visit it frequently in order to restore your health between visits to new locations.

Town layout

Training Hall

You can learn four different techniques here, and each technique costs 2 scrolls. Since each scroll providing location only gives you one scroll at a time, you will have to visit such location 8 times in order to obtain enough scrolls to learn every move.

• 2 Thrust: You will throw two punches in rapid succession, each capable to bashing a foe at face height.
• 2 Kick: You will perform two kicks back to back. This is a very useful move, and should be the first one you learn.
• High Jump: Enables you to jump higher than normal.
• Wolf Move: Enables you to move faster than normal.

Boss

The boss of this stage resembles a gray Weekyonshi. However, this Kyonshi moves considerably slower, even slower then a Kimenshi. It moves so slow, in fact, that it leaves a trail of afterimages behind it as it leaps around. Don't mistake its slowness for weakness. It may be easy to predict, but it can take a lot of hits and it does significant damage with its claws. Use its poor speed to your advantage. Try to position yourself where you can punch or kick it out of the air while it's jumping. If you perform this correctly, you will be able to knock it down to the ground before it has a chance to strike you. Keep this up until it is defeated.

In the second town, it is rare to find a location with only one Kyonshi to defeat. Be prepared for multiple fights when you enter a new location, and keep your health up between sites by visiting the temple, which happens to be in the middle of town this time. Be sure to learn the Turn Kick move from the Training Hall, as its power will come in handy.

Town layout

Encounter	Item	Training	Item	Item	Orb	Orb	Temple	Item	Orb	Room	Item	Sealed
Kyonshi	Zanshi Weekyonshi		Zanshi Zanshi	Sosekushi Sosekushi	Zanshi Kimenshi	Sosekushi Kimenshi*	Kimenshi*	Sosekushi Sanshi	Zanshi Ryukyoshi	Conshi	none	Boss
Items	Sword		4 Scrolls	4 Scrolls	Jade orb	Jade orb		Bell	Jade orb	Conshi	Talisman

In order to obtain the Bell, you must allow the blue flame that travels up and down outside of the graveyard to touch and capture your assistant. Only then will the Sanshi appear in the second section. After you defeat it, the woman in the back will give you the bell. Two doors to the right, you will encounter a room containing a small immobile Kyonshi. This is Conshi, the baby Kyonshi that you can control if you have the bell. Equip the bell and squat in front of Conshi until it starts to move. Then when you leave the house, Conshi will be following you. It will fight in your place until it is defeated. However, fighting with Conshi is very difficult to do.

Training Hall

You can learn five different techniques here, and each technique costs 6 scrolls. Since each scroll providing location gives you four scrolls per visit, you will have to visit such locations 8 times in order to obtain enough scrolls to learn every move.

 

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• 3 Thrust: You will throw three punches in rapid succession, each capable to bashing a foe at face height.
• Turn Kick: This move returns you to a single kick, but this kick does much more damage than a regular kick is capable of doing. As a result, it shortens the duration of fights significantly. Learn this move early, as you will be relying on it throughout much of the game.
• Wind Jump: Enables you to jump even higher than normal.
• Tiger Move: Enables you to move even faster than normal.
• Mirage Move: Allows you to squat almost immediately, instead of needing to come to a full stop first.

Boss

The boss of this stage is a fairly tall Kyonshi that likes to throw knives at you from a distance. When it's not hopping around, it will hold a knife up briefly before throwing it in your direction. Gravity pulls the knife down, so it doesn't travel straight through the air. If you're standing close to the boss, you can easily squat down and avoid getting struck by the knife. Wait until the knife is safely thrown over your head before standing up and resuming your attack. Assuming you learned the Turn Kick move, assault the boss with this powerful kick until it is defeated.

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It is fitting that in the third town, you are introduced to locations that contain three Kyonshi to defeat. Note that if you already possess items that you can obtain in this town, the locations where you can obtain them will contain no Kyonshi. The temple is, once again, in the center of town.

Town layout

Encounter	Item	Item	Item	Item	Item	Temple	Training	Orb	Item	Orb	Orb	Sealed
Kyonshi	Sosekushi Sosekushi	Zanshi Zanshi Kimenshi	Sosekushi Sosekushi Kimenshi	Zanshi Sosekushi	Sosekushi Zanshi	Kimenshi		Ryukyoshi	Sosekushi Ryukyoshi	Zanshi Sosekushi Kimenshi	Sosekushi Zanshi Kimenshi	Kimenshi Kimenshi Boss
Items	6 Scrolls	Mirror	Sword	6 Scrolls	6 Scrolls			Jade orb	6 Scrolls	Jade Orb	Jade Orb

Training Hall

You can learn two different techniques here, and each technique costs 18 scrolls. Since each scroll providing location gives you six scrolls per visit, you will have to visit such locations 6 times in order to obtain enough scrolls to learn every move.

• Dragon Move: Enables you to move the fastest possible.
• Mirage Walk: Allows you to crawl forward while squatting.

Boss

Before you reach the boss of this stage, you must first defeat two fairly slow and weak Kimenshi. When you reach the boss, you will see lightning flashes from within the room. While the effect is interesting, it has no bearing on the fight. Although lightning flashes around this Kyonshi, it will do no more damage to you than a typical boss Kyonshi. It has no special attack, and is therefore easier to defeat than the previous boss Kyonshi which threw knives at you. Take it down and move on to the next town.

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Even the weaker Kyonshi start to put up more of a fight in this town. By now, you should have a good feeling for the timing of attacks, and the distance you want to stand from the Kyonshi. The moves in the training hall are expensive, and you'll have to save up if you want them both. In truth, the Wind Kick is not as practical as it may seem, so you won't miss much if you decided to learn only the Mirage Thrust, which is a move you should definitely learn.

Town layout

Encounter	Training	Item	Item	Orb	Item	Item	Orb	Item	Temple	Orb	Item	Sealed
Kyonshi		Zanshi Sosekushi Zanshi	Zanshi Sosekushi Sosekushi	Zanshi Sosekushi Kimenshi	Sosekushi Sosekushi Zanshi	Zanshi Kimenshi Kimenshi	Sosekushi Zanshi Ryukyoshi	Sosekushi Kimenshi Kimenshi	Sosekushi Kimenshi	Ryukyoshi	Sosekushi Zanshi Kimenshi	Zanshi Kimenshi Boss
Items		12 Scrolls	12 Scrolls	Jade Orb	12 Scrolls	Mirror	Jade orb	Sword		Jade Orb	Talisman

Training Hall

You can learn two different techniques here, and each technique costs 50 scrolls. Since each scroll providing location gives you twelve scrolls per visit, you will have to visit such locations 9 times in order to obtain enough scrolls to learn every move.

• Wind Kick: Enables you to perform a spinning kick in the air. To perform it, you must jump straight up, and you must not be pressing  when you press . Not easy to hit ground enemies with, best with airborne opponents.
• Mirage Thrust: Allows you perform a thrust punch while squatting. A very useful move.

Boss

After defeating two Kyonshi on the way to the boss, you'll be in for a bit of a surprise. The boss of this stage is unlike any Kyonshi you have faced before. He is more like the female spirit you fought in the graveyard of Town 2 if you allowed you assistant to be captured by the blue flame. On top of being able to fly around the screen at will, it performs a flying punch attack that can knock you off your feet every time it connects. You have two choices when dealing with this boss. Either jump over it as he comes flying through, or try to stop him in his tracks with an attack. Once he has stopped moving, do your best to hit him as frequently as possible to keep him from resuming his attack against you. If you slow him down, you can control the fight and defeat him.

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Town 5

 

In this town, you will begin to find four Kyonshi in certain locations. You'll need to maintain your health as much as possible if you want to survive to the end. There is no training hall in this town. However, there is one in the next town, and there is no opportunity to earn scrolls there. If you wish to learn the single move offered in the next town, be sure to save up at least 80 scrolls before you defeat the boss and leave for the next town.

Town layout

Encounter	Item	Room	Item	Orb	Item	Item	Temple	Item	Orb	Orb	Orb	Sealed
Kyonshi	Sosekushi Kimenshi Kimenshi	Conshi	Zanshi Zanshi Zanshi	Sosekushi Zanshi Kimenshi Kimenshi	Zanshi Sosekushi Zanshi	Zanshi Zanshi Sosekushi	Zanshi Weekyonshi	Sosekushi Sosekushi Sosekushi Sanshi	Zanshi Zanshi Zanshi Kimenshi	Kimenshi	Sosekushi Sosekushi Sosekushi Ryukyoshi	Sosekushi Weekyonshi Ryukyoshi Boss
Items	Sword		15 Scrolls	Talisman	15 Scrolls	Mirror		Bell	Jade Orb	Jade Orb	Jade Orb

Boss

The boss Kyonshi of this town is certainly a tough one. He is so massive that whenever he lands on the floor, there's a good chance that you will get knocked off your feet. You can avoid this by jumping, or striking the boss just as he lands. However, if he manages to get close enough to you to hit you with his claws, you will be sent flying backward through the room until you hit one of the walls. This will force you to close the distance again, during which time you will be getting knocked off your feet as he approaches you. Find a good distance to stand from him, and try to knock him down every time he stands up so that you reduce his chances of hopping or hitting you.

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Town 6

 

This is an unusually short town, containing only half of the average number of buildings. It features a training hall and a temple, and then just three other locations, all of which contain Jade orbs, before you reach the sealed lair of the boss. There are no opportunities to earn any items here, which means there are no chances to earn any scrolls. If you wish to learn the powerful Jump Kick move, you will need to collect all the scrolls necessary from the previous town before you find yourself here. Otherwise, you are forced to leave it behind.

Town layout

Encounter	Training	Temple	Orb	Orb	Orb	Sealed
Kyonshi		Zanshi Sosekushi Kimenshi	Kimenshi	Zanshi Sosekushi Zanshi Weekyonshi	Sosekushi Zanshi Sosekushi Kimenshi	Zanshi Ryukyoshi Weekyonshi Boss
Items			Jade orb	Jade Orb	Jade Orb

Training Hall

You can only learn one techniques here, and it costs 80 scrolls. There are no opportunities to earn scrolls in this town, so in order to purchase this move, you must bring enough scrolls with you from the previous town.

• Jump Kick: If you press  while running, you will fly forward with your feet ahead of you, performing a deadly kick. You can get hurt using this attack if it ends before you clear a Kyoshi, so it's best to use it late.

Boss

The boss Kyonshi of this town is a dangerous foe that wields an ax. However, this Kyonshi walks around on the ground just as you do, which makes his movements a lot more predictable than a typical Kyonshi. When the boss gets within striking distance, it swings its ax forward in an effort to strike you. The best strategy is to let this boss approach you, but stay just out of his reach. After he swings his ax, move in to kick him once or twice, and then get out of the way before he winds up again. You may even be able to knock him off his feet and reposition yourself before his next attack.

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Town 7

 

This is the second-to-last town, and the last town that contains a Training hall. Other than the temple, the hall, and the three orb buildings, you'll find buildings where you can obtain scrolls, but no other items. You need 90 scrolls for the final move, so once you learn it, focus on getting the orbs and facing the boss.

Town layout

Encounter	Orb	Orb	Item	Item	Item	Temple	Training	Item	Item	Item	Orb	Sealed
Kyonshi	Kimenshi	Zanshi Zanshi Sosekushi Sosekushi Ryukyoshi	Zanshi Sosekushi Zanshi Kimenshi Weekyonshi	Sosekushi Zanshi Zanshi Sosekushi	Sosekushi Sosekushi Zanshi Zanshi	Sosekushi Kimenshi Weekyonshi		Sosekushi Sosekushi Sosekushi Zanshi	Zanshi Zanshi Sosekushi Zanshi	Sosekushi Sosekushi Kimenshi Weekyonshi Kimenshi	Zanshi Sosekushi Sosekushi Zanshi Ryukyoshi	Sosekushi Kimenshi Weekyonshi Weekyonshi Boss
Items	Jade orb	Jade orb	35 Scrolls	28 Scrolls	28 Scrolls			28 Scrolls	28 Scrolls	32 Scrolls	Jade orb

Training Hall

You can learn one last new techniques here, and it costs 90 scrolls. Many buildings provide you with 28 scrolls, but two of them will give you 35. If you visit the 35 scroll house three times, you'll have enough to pay for the final move.

• 4 Thrust: Allows you perform a pair of punches, one high and one low, twice in rapid succession. Gives your punches the same power as the Side Kick, but at a closer range.

Boss

The boss of this town is a Kyonshi that is also a powerful wizard. He is capable of forming a giant fireball in his hands and sending it in your direction. The fireball can do immense damage, so you must avoid them at all costs. The Kyonshi itself happens to be tall, and not incredibly strong. After leaping over the first fireball that he sends toward you, it's possible to kneel at his feet and constantly pepper the boss with punches, assuming you learn Mirage Thrust. If you did not, you should still be able to get fairly close and kick him down before he has a chance to form another fireball. Attack him frequently to prevent him from making another fireball, and you should be able to defeat him relatively quickly.

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Town 8

 

 

The last town is the smallest town. Just three buildings, all of which contain orbs, and the final boss. You won't even find a temple here, so collecting the orbs is your only chance to restore your health. Clear each building from left to right to challenge the final boss of the game.

Town layout

Encounter	Orb	Orb	Orb	Sealed
Kyonshi	Zanshi Zanshi Zanshi Zanshi Kimenshi	Sosekushi Zanshi Sosekushi Zanshi Weekyonshi	Sosekushi Sosekushi Sosekushi Sosekushi Ryukyoshi	Kimenshi Kimenshi Ryukyoshi Weekyonshi Boss
Items	Jade orb	Jade orb	Jade orb

Boss

The final boss of the game is a demon woman who is capable of attacking you by whipping her hair forward, which launches a bullet that flies across the room. You can easily dodge this bullet by jumping. The bullet itself isn't all that strong, the fireballs from the previous boss were more dangerous. The boss can also teleport herself around the room at will, often appearing just in time to see her disappear to a new location. This boss has a lot of health so it takes a good number of hits to defeat. The problem is predicting where she will appear so that you can reach her and attack before she can whip her hair again. Be patient and strike when you can. When you defeat her, you will be treated to the game credits. Congratulations

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