All-Star Battle ★ Ikuro Hashizawa
Ikuro Hashizawa appears as Baoh and as the final DLC character released for this game, accompanied by a Campaign set centered around him. He also appears in an extra battle in the JoJolion Story Mode chapter.
In the overseas release of the game, he was released in the first public DLC pack on May 14, 2014 along with Lisa Lisa and Part 3 Joseph Joestar, earlier than his Japanese release date.
As Ikuro is unable to speak in his Baoh form (only capable of repeated battle cries of "BARU!" as well as general grunts and roars), he is accompanied by the game's narrator calling out the names of his attacks along with descriptive phrases. However, Ikuro will call out the game's name on the title screen in his human voice, and briefly speaks lines, also in his human voice, during his special mirror match intro and during match victories.
As a guest fighter, Ikuro is the only playable All-Star Battle character to not return in the next game, Eyes of Heaven, although he does return in the remastered version of All-Star Battle, All-Star Battle R.
Command List
Ikuro's moveset revolves around Baoh's special abilities. While he has lower-than-average health, exclusive to Ikuro is the "Baoh Armed Phenomenon" Style. Ikuro has 850 HP.
(Consumes Heart Heat Gauge) ON GROUND Consuming 1/8th of the Heart Heat Gauge, Ikuro gains super armor when executing his next special skill at the press of the Style button.
or 
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after charging 
ON GROUND Ikuro bounds high into the air in a Super Jump. This skill can be used to better evade attacks or set up his own attacks from above. It can also be used following normal attacks to seamlessly chain them into the jump, rendering Ikuro less vulnerable to punishment if his attacks miss or are blocked.
To compensate for his lower base health, Ikuro is granted passive health regeneration starting at 75% health, its effect boosted every 25% he loses thereafter.
This ability automatically goes into effect when Ikuro's opponent activates certain enhancing effects and powered-up states (Rumble & Resolve Mode, the Pillar Men's various Modes, Giorno Giovanna's Gold Experience in Requiem Mode, etc). The time window at the beginning of Ikuro's guard where a Stylish Evade may trigger in response to an incoming attack is extended.
Ikuro seizes the opponent by the collar and slams them hard into the ground.
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ON GROUND Ikuro lunges forward a good distance with his hand extended. If he strikes the opponent, he'll lift them up by the face and unleash Baoh Meltedin Palm Phenomenon, burning their face with acid, before slamming them into the ground.
+ // ON GROUND Ikuro uses Baoh Reskiniharden Saber Phenomenon, wielding blades from his arms, with the resulting attack changed depending on the attack button inputted.
- Light (): Ikuro lunges forward, blade out, to slice through and past the opponent. (Flash Cancel comboable)
- Medium (): Ikuro leaps forward a considerable distance and performs a somersaulting blade slash before landing, leaving the opponent stunned and vulnerable. Due to his leap, using this can cause Ikuro to pass over his opponent if they're within a certain range, although it will miss at close-range. A middle attack that can only be blocked crouching. (Comboable)
- Against human players, this version can easily bypass blocking due to Ikuro having changed to their other side the instant before the attack is released (known as a "cross-up").
- Heavy (): Ikuro unleashes a rapid flurry of blade attacks, sending the opponent flying on the last hit. (Flash Cancel comboable)
+ // ON GROUND Ikuro jumps into the air with a blade extended in an uppercutting attack, before spinning and using Saber Off to launch it as a spinning projectile downward. This move functions as an reversal and anti-air.
then + // ON GROUND Ikuro uses Baoh Shooting-Bees Stinger Phenomenon as a projectile attack, launching off his needle-like hair straight forward to ignite the opponent. (Flash Cancel comboable)
+ // ON GROUND After charging up for a brief instant, Ikuro discharges a potent blast of electricity outward from his body, shocking the opponent and knocking them into the air. This attack functions as a reversal and anti-air, and the attack button inputted determines its damage while inversely affecting speed. (Flash Cancel comboable)
+ 2 ATK Buttons ON GROUND Ikuro wires a large laser cannon to himself as his feet leave the ground, before firing a narrow red beam capable of hitting at all ranges instantly. The HHA mirrors the way Ikuro defeated the psychic warrior Walken.
+ 3 ATK Buttons or 
ON GROUND Ikuro roars as he charges at the opponent. If he makes contact, Ikuro will pick them up by the face and use Meltedin Palm Phenomenon, before repeatedly assaulting them with a relentless extended Reskinharden Saber Phenomenon combo attack. Ikuro then grabs the opponent by the neck and throws them overhead, slamming them into the ground hard enough for them to bounce. Finally, he unleashes a super-charged Break Dark Thunder Phenomenon from his hands to electrocute them.
During the GHA, the narrator describes how Baoh identifies his opponent's scent as that of an enemy and that he must be rid of it. During the narrator's final announcement of "Break Dark Thunder Phenomenon!", an echo effect is implemented as well for dramatic effect.
Gameplay Overview
Ikuro represents the "Glass Cannon" sub-archetype of combatant, and firmly 'rushdown'. Despite his low health, he also sports the highest dash speed of any character in the game, making it easier for him to close the distance on his opponent or maneuver into favorable positions more frequently. Several projectiles, a super jump, and a forward-moving attack also serve in covering his approach. His skills all execute with great speed, as well as offer methods to repeatedly switch sides and force his foe into guessing what direction to guard in. When combined with his great damage output and Style action that allows him to shrug off incoming attacks, Ikuro is an oppressive offensive fighter. At the same time, his innate health regeneration forces the opponent to continuously engage him during battle so as to not allow him to recover any significant amount of lost health. In this manner, Ikuro also holds the advantage in prolonged rounds.
True to his role, however, Ikuro is fragile and his defense is poor. Ignoring his low health, he also suffers from a longer "blockstun" than others, meaning when he is made to successfully guard incoming attacks, he recovers slower and is only able to act out of his guard later. This allows opponents to more safely pressure him when he's the defender, and also makes him very vulnerable to characters that can utilize throws and unblockable attacks. Another weakness is that Ikuro's fast skills act as a double-edged sword, and it is more difficult to properly execute strong combos with him despite the damage potential he possesses.
As a whole, Ikuro is a fickle and difficult combatant to wield. He rapidly overwhelms and defeats anyone who is unfamiliar with his powers, but may easily become the one being overwhelmed in turn. Nonetheless, with good execution and strong momentum in his favor, Ikuro can very quickly capture victory before his opponent has a chance to regain control over the battle and retaliate.
Trivia
- During Baoh's hair taunt against Josuke Higashikata, the narrator explains that Baoh does not trust Josuke from the way his hair smells, referencing Baoh's ability to distinguish friend from foe via their scent.
