Nagano Makoto on Heartbreaker in VIKING 2, about to make the 2.2-metre jump
Heartbreaker (ハートブレイカー), stylized as Heart Breaker in broadcast, was an obstacle used in the first three VIKING tournaments, being placed as the final obstacle of the Second Adventure Stage, before relocated to Final VIKING (again as the final obstacle) in VIKING 3 due to its intimidating demeanor. However, it was removed in VIKING 4 due to the change in format. Competitors are only able to attempt this after clearing the timed portion of the Second Adventure Stage (in VIKING 1 and 2), with a brief period of rest allowed before attempting the obstacle.
The obstacle's I-beam design could be likened to a reverse staircase which the competitors had to climb underneath. It started with a vertical plank competitors climbed to a perpendicular one right above it that the competitors had to transfer to in order to repeat the process once more suspended higher in the air. If this was successful, the top-most plank featured a small foothold the competitor could rest on before having to jump across the 2.2-metre gap backwards towards the other side. If successful, the competitor needed to climb to the top of the other side where they would raise a sword, signifying the stage cleared (or as the case of VIKING 3, Kanzenseiha). The total length of this obstacle (from one side to the another) was 11.5 metres.
Due to the Rope Maze's dominance in the previous tournament, it was first attempted in VIKING 2 by TERU after becoming the first man to clear the timed portion of the Second Adventure Stage. He seemingly struggled on the obstacle from the start, constantly trying to use his feet to sustain his stamina. He was able to make it to the bottom of the topmost plank, even trying to use the foothold to help with his grip but ultimately fell into the water before he could hoist himself up. However, the very next attempt by SASUKE All-Star Nagano Makoto was a polar opposite. He sped through the first portion of the obstacle, only resting a bit once at the topmost plank before completing the jump with virtually no trouble.
In VIKING 3, the obstacle returned, this time as the last obstacle in Final VIKING. However, it was never attempted in this tournament.
It was re-introduced in a slightly easier form during the Shin-SASUKE era of SASUKE, being placed as the seventh obstacle in the Third Stage from SASUKE 18 to SASUKE 24 named as the Spider Flip, which only used the top-most planks and had competitors head down the second set instead of climbing up, along with only using a 2-meter gap. However, to compensate for this shortening, it followed two other obstacles without rest to increase the difficulty. Coincidentally, the first competitor to attempt and complete the Spider Flip in SASUKE was Nagano Makoto (in SASUKE 21), who was the first and only competitor to complete the Heartbreaker in VIKING.
The concept of this obstacle is used in American Ninja Warrior 9 as I-Beam Gap, which was the combination of Spider Flip and I-Beam Cross.
Competitors' Success Rate[]
- All results based on the Fuji TV broadcast and external information found.
| VIKING | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 50% |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| Total | 1 | 2 | 50% |
See Also[]
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