Fighting Force

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fighting Force

Developer(s)	Core Design
Publisher(s)	Eidos Interactive
Designer(s)	Core Design
Release date(s)	1997
Genre(s)	Scrolling Fighter
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Teen (T)
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64, PlayStation, PC, Saturn
Media	CD, Cartridge
System requirements	P90, 16 MB RAM, DirectX, 3-D accelerator card (PC)

Fighting Force is a 1997 3D beat 'em up developed by Core Design and published by Eidos in the same lines of classics such as Streets of Rage and Double Dragon. It was released for the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Windows and Nintendo 64 (on the last of these as Fighting Force 64). While massively hyped, the game failed to attract mainstream attention due to its aged, repetitive gameplay and short lifespan.

Sega showed interest in the game during the early stages for its fourth title in the Streets of Rage series, but the deal never went ahead.

A sequel, Fighting Force 2, was released in 1999 for the PlayStation and Sega Dreamcast. Unlike the first title, Fighting Force 2 focuses on the character of Hawk Manson exclusively, and rewards a more stealthy approach.

[edit] Overview

A classic beat 'em up, the game gathered most features present in 2D games, but packed them into a 3D environment. Many of the objects were destructible, and their parts could be used to attack enemies (regular objects like weapons, ashtrays or bottles, were also available). Action is split into nine levels with multiple path choices, and three boss characters. The story is simplistic: a former government scientist who expected the end of the world by the turn of the millennia decides to cause the armageddon himself after nothing happens. The four playable characters are gathered by the government to assassinate him.

[edit] Characters

The four playable characters are Hawk Manson, Mace Daniels, Ben "Smasher" Jackson, and Alana McKendricks. Hawk Manson and Mace Daniels are two all-around characters (Hawk being somewhat stronger than Mace, who on the other hand is faster). Ben "Smasher" Jackson is a large and slow bruiser capable of lifting and throwing the engines of cars at enemies. Alana McKendricks is a fast but soft-hitting teenager with an effective jump-kick.