Power Moves

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Power Moves

Developer(s)	Kaneko
Publisher(s)	Kaneko
Release date(s)	November 27, 1992 January, 1993
Genre(s)	Versus fighting game
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players simultaneously
Platform(s)	Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis

Deadly Moves (Sega Genesis's version name), or Power Moves (Super Nintendo's version name) (known as Power Athlete in Japan) is a fighting game created by Kaneko. One of the many fighting games published in the early 90's to capitalize on the success of Capcom's Street Fighter II, it did not achieve the success of its competition, and was largely ignored by most gamers.

1 Gameplay
2 Characters
3 Trivia
4 External links

[edit] Gameplay

The gameplay is that of a traditional head-to-head fighting game. But unlike most games of its type, the single-player mode is limited to one character, Joe, who is the protagonist of the game. One of the game's most unique aspects is an RPG-like system which enables the player to boost Joe's various attributes, such as strength, speed and endurance. Another gimmick is the use of a two-plane fighting area (similar to that of Fatal Fury).

[edit] Characters

While the characters in the game each have their own distinct look, many of them were clearly inspired by characters from Street Fighter II.

Joe (U.S.A.) - The main character, almost certainly based on Ryu.
Warren (U.S.A.) - A Hawaiian grappler, patterned after E. Honda.
Reayon (Thailand) - The token female fighter, clearly inspired by Chun-Li.
Vagnad (Russia) - A huge wrestler with onyx skin, based on Zangief.
Nick (Spain) - An arrogant, lightning-quick fighter (see Vega).
Buoh (Japan) - A Kabuki-style fighter who can teleport, much like Dhalsim.
Gaoluon (China) - An acrobatic fighter with a Flash Kick similar to Guile.
Baraki (Kenya) - A bestial warrior reminiscent of Blanka.

Perhaps the only exception to the cast is the final boss, Ranker, who instead bears more resemblance to Rugal Bernstein of SNK.

[edit] Trivia

Despite the difference in name for the Genesis and Super Nintendo versions, there was no actual difference in gameplay, content or characters (though many would argue that the Super Nintendo game featured better graphics and sound). However, it is widely believed that the game's box cover and title were renamed only to keep up with Nintendo's stringent no-violence policy, as the Genesis cart features a closeup of a character being punched in the face, with a torrent of blood erupting from the impact. The SNES version's box featured the same image, with the red blood re-colored to look like sweat (the same tactic used to butcher Mortal Kombat).

Although the Genesis version known as "Deadly Moves" featured a blood-spattered cover, there was no blood or finishing moves (perhaps literal "deadly moves") of any kind in the game.

The US magazine ad for the game, while detailing it's features, did not feature any actual screenshots from the game, but crudely drawn ones that did not resemble the game at all.