Play Saikyou Habu Shogi Online

Summary

Saikyou Habu Shogi debuted as the flagship shogi title on Nintendo 64, sharing the console’s Japanese launch with Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64. It was the only launch game to require the Controller Pak, letting players save their matches and custom settings directly on the cartridge.

The game’s star is real‑life shogi prodigy Yoshiharu Habu, who had just swept all seven major shogi championships that year. His presence was marketed as a "special guest" appearance, turning the virtual board into a showcase of his legendary skill.

Despite the hype, sales were modest – roughly one copy for every hundred N64 consoles sold at launch. It also holds the distinction of being the only third‑party title among the three launch games, published by Seta.

Seta later followed up with an indirect sequel, Morita Shogi 64, and a direct sequel on PlayStation 2 called Kosoku Tanigawa Shogi, extending the series beyond the N64’s brief lifespan.