Fighters Destiny
| Fighters Destiny | |
|---|---|
 North American Nintendo 64 cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Genki |
| Publisher(s) |
Ocean Software (North America) Infogrames (Europe) Imagineer (Japan) |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64 |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Versus fighting |
| Mode(s) | Single-player or multiplayer (up to 2 players simultaneously) |
Fighters Destiny, known in Japan as Fighting Cup (ファイティングカップ Faitingu Kappu) is a 1998 video game developed by Genki and published by Imagineer for the Nintendo 64. It closely models the 3D fighting game standard set by Sega's Virtua Fighter, but integrates a unique point scoring system. The game's generic characters and unoriginal presentation have been panned by critics, but reviewers praise its point system and consider it to be one of the best fighting games on the Nintendo 64. It was followed by a 2000 sequel Fighter Destiny 2.
Gameplay
In Fighters Destiny, the player controls a polygon-based character in a three dimensional battle arena. The game features typical fighting: using a variety of punches, kicks, locks, and throws, players attempt to pummel their opponents into submission. Each character also has a large list of special commands (called "moves") that can be accessed during battle. These different moves range from simply pressing the "B" button to inputting button combinations.
In most versus fighting games, the objective is to deplete the opponent's health gauge. Fighters Destiny follows the same concept but also relies on a customizable point scoring system to determine the winner. These points, which are displayed as yellow stars under the character's health gauge, can be earned in a variety of ways. By default, knocking the character off the fighting platform (a "Ring Out") is worth one point, taking down an opponent with a throw nets the player two points, while a typical K.O. is worth three points, as well as taking the opponent down with a counterattack, and executing a "special" is worth four points. Finally, if the adjustable time counter runs out, then the winner is awarded one point by virtue of judge's decision. By default setting, the first fighter to score seven points wins the match.
K.O.'s can be achieved with instant-K.O. hits (referred to as "1-shot") or counterattack moves, or can be executed with a finishing blow when the player's opponent is in "Piyori condition," a brief spell of dizziness in which opponent's life bar has been drained completely and the fighter is allowed only limited control. "Specials" can only be executed when the opponent is in Piyori condition. If players are able to survive until Piyori condition passes, their health gauge refills completely. The health bar also refills continuously (albeit slowly) throughout the fight.
Fighters Destiny offers five different gameplay modes. By playing the traditional versus computer mode, players can earn a new character (Boro) and learn new skills for their character. They can also select to fight against a second player, challenge their skills and gain new characters in "Record Attack," play through the "Master Challenge" to expand their character's command list, and train against a robot character. When players learn new skills playing the computer or the Master Challenge, they can save their character's expanded command list to the Controller Pak; afterwards, the new command list can be accessed in any mode to aid the player.
Characters
There are regular characters in Fighters Destiny: Ryuji, a Japanese karate exponent; Abdul, a well-balanced fighter from Mongolia; Tomahawk, a professional wrestler from the England; Meiling, a Korean martial artist; a Chinese fighter with a massive catalog of special moves; Pierre, a French clown with a deceptive fighting style; Leon, an all-rounder from Spain; Bob, a powerful Brazilian fighter; and the tough aerial combat specialist Valerie from Germany.
In addition to the standard characters, there is a secret character that can be "unlocked" by completing various challenge modes. Boro, a Swedish fighter can be unlocked by staying in the ring longer than one minute in Rodeo.
Reception and sales
| Publication | Score | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Fighters Destiny received positive reviews. Despite the game's critical acclaim, it missed its initial Christmas release date and was subsequently greeted with lukewarm sales figures, selling only 18,000 copies in the first two months after its North American release.[1] As a result, Infogrames Entertainment (the parent company of Fighters Destiny international distributor Ocean Software) decided to shave US$20 off the price tag, dropping the game's price to US$29.99. "Fighters Destiny has been praised as the best fighting game for the N64 by the vast majority of video game media," said Mike Markey, vice president of sales and marketing, Infogrames Entertainment. "The aim of the new price point is to make the game more accessible to all consumers."[2]
References
- ↑ IGN Staff (March 27, 1998). "Fighting For Its Destiny". Retrieved 5 August 2006.
- ↑ IGN Staff (April 6, 1998). "Kick Butt For $49". Retrieved 5 August 2006.