Fighting Force
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| Fighting Force | |
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| Developer(s) | Core Design |
| Publisher(s) | Eidos Interactive |
| Designer(s) | Core Design |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64, PlayStation, PC, |
| Release date | October 1997; May 1999 (N64) |
| Genre(s) | Beat 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single player, 2-player Co-op |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Media | CD, Cartridge |
| System requirements | P90, 16 MB RAM, DirectX, 3-D accelerator card (PC) |
| Input methods | gamepad keyboard |
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 PlayStation, Windows and Nintendo 64.
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[edit] Overview
A traditional beat 'em up, the game gathered most features present in 2D games, but packed them into an interactive 3D environment. Many of the objects were destructible, and their parts can be used to attack enemies. Other items like bottles, chairs, lost luggage, tires and subway tokens can be used as weapons. These items only last a limited time; after a set number of uses they are no longer accessible. Some dropped weapons can be picked up by enemies. Defeated foes sometimes drop valuable objects, which can be picked up for points. Destruction of set pieces, such as crates, cars and computers, also earn points.
Health can be restored by destroying a vending machine and drinking one of the sodas that fall out.
Action is split into nine levels that include a car park, office lobby, elevator, busy city street and several sections of an indoor shopping mall. There is a small amount of branching paths. The availability of paths depends on how many points the player scores during the preceding levels. There are three boss characters, two of which utilize previous levels to attack in.
The plot features 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 player or players can choose from a selection of four protagonists. The playable characters are Hawk Manson (age 26), Mace Daniels (age 21), Ben "Smasher" Jackson (age 29), and Alana McKendricks (age 17). Hawk Manson and Mace Daniels are two all-around characters. Hawk is somewhat stronger than Mace who is in turn faster than Hawk. 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.
All four characters have a special move that can be performed with the loss of a portion of health.
[edit] Reception
While massively hyped, the game failed to attract mainstream attention due to its aged, repetitive gameplay and short lifespan. The game received mediocre scores from most of the gaming media. Official Playstation Magazine - 3/5 [1]Electronic Gaming Monthly - 7.6/10 [2]IGN - 5.5/10 [3]Gamespot - 5.3/10 [4]. The game also failed to sell as well as expected, due to its reviews and the fact that several eagerly-awaited titles were also being released around the same time.
[edit] Ports and Sequels
A Nintendo 64 version of the game titled Fighting Force 64 was released in North America and Europe in 1999. Insignificant version differences include partially improved graphics[1] and changes in the available number of player lives[citation needed].
A sequel, titled Fighting Force 2, was released in 1999 for the PlayStation and Sega Dreamcast platforms. Unlike the first title, Fighting Force 2 focuses on the character of Hawk Manson exclusively, and rewards a more stealthy approach.
