Sonic the Fighters

Sonic the Fighters,[lower-alpha 1] also known as Sonic Championship on arcade versions outside Japan, is a fighting video game developed by Sega AM2. First released in 1996 in arcades on Sega's Model 2 arcade system, Sonic the Fighters pits players in one-on-one battles with a roster of characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The game was built on top of the 3D fighting engine for Fighting Vipers (1996), an earlier fighting game by Sega AM2, and it serves as the debut 3D game in the Sonic series. The idea for a Sonic the Hedgehog fighting game was hatched when a Sega AM2 programmer was dabbling with a Sonic the Hedgehog 3D model in Fighting Vipers. The smoothness of the character animations convinced Sonic Team to approve of the project and supervise over it.

Sonic the Fighters
Developer(s)Sega AM2
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Hiroshi Kataoka
Producer(s)Yu Suzuki
Composer(s)Maki Morrow
Takenobu Mitsuyoshi
SeriesSonic the Hedgehog
Platform(s)Arcade, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Release
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
CabinetUpright
Arcade systemSega Model 2

A home console port for the Sega Saturn was canceled, so the game never reached home consoles until 2005 on the Sonic Gems Collection compilation for GameCube and PlayStation 2. The game was re-released again in 2012 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, featuring new playable characters and an online versus mode. Across all these releases, critics held mixed opinions of Sonic the Fighters. They generally believed the graphics were great, especially the cartoon-like moves and animations of the characters. The gameplay, however, was criticized for being too simple and rudimentary. It was ultimately regarded as disappointing for fans of the fighting game genre but an obscure novelty for fans of the Sonic series.

Gameplay
Sonic battling with Knuckles

Sonic the Fighters is a 3D fighting game in which players compete in one-on-one battles with characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.[1] In the game's scenario, Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends each own one of the Chaos Emeralds. They are holding a fighting tournament to determine who will take the emeralds to power a spaceship and stop series antagonists Doctor Robotnik and Metal Sonic from building an evil fortress in space.[2] The original arcade and 2005 release included eight playable characters: Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails, Knuckles the Echidna, Amy Rose, Espio the Chameleon, Fang the Sniper, Bean the Dynamite, and Bark the Polar Bear.[2][3] The 2012 re-release added Metal Sonic, Doctor Robotnik, and Honey the Cat as playable characters, all previously only accessible through hacking the original arcade version.[4] Honey is based on a character with the same name from Fighting Vipers (1996).[5]

The game employs simple fighting game mechanics.[1] Each character can punch, kick, and use a defensive barrier.[6] Combining these buttons also allows for a variety of special moves unique to each character.[7] The barrier can block attacks, but it can be damaged and eventually be destroyed by an opponent. The barrier also does not protect from being grabbed or thrown or attacks from behind. Some attacks can be avoided by squatting or dodging. Players can also perform a "safe landing" which allows them to recover quickly when thrown in the air.[6]

Development and release
Sonic the Fighters was conceived by producer Yu Suzuki.

Sonic the Fighters was developed by Sega AM2, Sega's arcade game development team behind the Virtua Fighter series.[8] The idea for a Sonic the Hedgehog fighting game was conceived by AM2 lead developer Yu Suzuki who saw one of his programmers dabbling with a Sonic the Hedgehog model in AM2's Fighting Vipers.[5][9][10] Suzuki pitched the idea for a Sonic fighting game to Hiroshi Kataoka, another one of the heads of AM2.[5] Since Sonic Team was in charge of licensing the Sonic characters, Kataoka had to present the idea to the head of Sonic Team, Yuji Naka.[5][11] Kataoka was worried Naka would not like the concept of Sonic characters fighting each other, but Naka was receptive.[5] At first Naka was concerned that Sonic would be unable to fight considering his large head and short arms, but he was delighted after seeing the smooth animation accomplished by Suzuki's team.[12] Original Sonic character designer Naoto Ohshima was also pleased with Sonic's animations.[13] Sega AM2 began development with Sonic Team supervising over the implementation of the characters and setting.[11] They developed for the Sega Model 2 arcade board using the Fighting Vipers engine as a foundation to build from.[5][9][12]

Since this was the first time Sonic was being rendered with 3D graphics, Naka gave Kataoka a Sonic figurine to help his team model the character.[5] Suzuki focused his team on modeling the characters' faces correctly so they were instantly recognizable on arcade floors.[9] The development team added in the barrier mechanism because the characters' arms were too small for traditional blocking to look distinct. They also added rings that drop when a player is hit to make it easier for beginners to judge how much damage they were taking instead of referring to the health bar. AM2 explored whether dropped rings could be picked up to restore health or the barrier's power, but ultimately did not include this feature.[14] They made the controls simple to help beginners to the genre.[2][15]

In early prototypes demonstrated for the press, only Sonic and Tails were shown fighting on an early stage based on Green Hill Zone.[12] Other characters were added later, and Naka personally asked AM2 to create new characters for the Sonic universe. Suzuki jokingly said that anyone who attempted a Sonic game had the duty to create new characters.[12] They conceived two new characters, Bean the Dynamite and Bark the Polar Bear.[10] Bean's design was inspired by the lead character in the Sega arcade game Dynamite Düx (1989).[2] In later years, hackers found Honey from Fighting Vipers was hidden in Sonic the Fighters as a playable character, and modeled as an anthropomorphic cat. Kataoka believes Honey's character designer slipped her in there purposely.[5]

Sonic the Fighters was first released in Japanese arcades in June 1996 followed by a limited release in North America in July.[2][16][17] With its simplified controls, the game was marketed towards beginners, including women and children.[2][15] In August 2005, it received its first home console release through Sonic Gems Collection, a Sonic games compilation for the GameCube and PlayStation 2. The collection also included Sonic CD, Sonic R, and several Sonic Game Gear titles.[1][18][19] In November 2012, Sonic the Fighters was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 via each consoles' respective online marketplace.[20][21] This version added Metal Sonic, Doctor Robotnik, and Honey the Cat as playable characters and featured new online versus modes.[4][22]

Kataoka stated in 2006 that Sonic the Fighters was the game he was most proud of.[5] Naka also approved of the final product.[11]

Abandoned Sega Saturn port

In early stages of development, Sega was planning to port Sonic the Fighters to the Sega Saturn. Initial release windows were theorized for late 1996, a few months after the planned arcade release.[9][13] At the E3 1996 video game convention, a SquareSoft representative was given a private demonstration of new Sega Saturn development software, and reported to the press later that a Saturn version of Sonic the Fighters was shown.[23] In 1997, Computer and Video Games reported a rumor that Sonic the Fighters would release for the Saturn in Japan mid-year and North America a couple months later.[24] Ultimately, a Saturn port was never released. Yojiro Ogawa of Sonic Team said in retrospect that Sonic the Fighters was not ported to the Saturn because it was difficult to reproduce a similar experience to the arcade version. He felt they were able to accomplish this when it was re-released in 2005.[25]

Reception

After seeing Sonic the Fighters demoed at a Japanese arcade expo, GamePro shared their admiration of the games cartoon-like animation, comparing it to Looney Tunes.[26] Next Generation gave an average review, praising the visuals but criticizing the gameplay. They believed the backgrounds and character animations were detailed well, but felt that hardcore fighting game fans would be disappointed with the lack of gameplay depth. They concluded by giving the game 3 out of 5 stars, calling it a fun game that "exploits Sonic milieu without feeling too aggressive."[27]

Critics shared mixed thoughts for its 2005 re-release on Sonic Gems Collection. Both IGN and GameSpy called it a stripped-down version of the original Virtua Fighter, and GameSpot believed it was a simplified version of Virtua Fighter 2.[1][16][28] The gameplay was criticized, with most reviewers describing it as rudimentary, simple, and dated.[1][16][28][29] The lack of extensive combos and depth to the game's strategy contributed to this.[1][16] Some critics recommended the game to fans of the Sonic series for the novelty of seeing a sizable roster of Sonic characters fighting with cartoon-like moves, and because this release was the only way to play the game at home at the time.[1][16][28][30]

The 2012 release received unfavorable reviews.[31] Official Xbox Magazine called it an interesting and obscure release, and a fascinating part of Sega's history, but concluded that it loses traction because of its lack of seriousness as a fighting game. They did, however, praise the cartoon quality of the graphics. They thought the way the characters squashed and stretched was rarely seen and still uncommon even in 2012.[4]

Notes
  1. Japanese: ソニック・ザ・ファイターズ Hepburn: Sonikku za Faitāzu

References
  1. "Sonic Gems Collection". IGN. August 19, 2005. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  2. Pétronille, Marc; Audureau, William (2014). The History of Sonic the Hedgehog. Pix'n Love. pp. 194–195. ISBN 1926778960.
  3. Sonic Gems Collection instruction manual (PDF). Sega. 2004. pp. 8–15.
  4. Kemps, Heidi (January 4, 2013). "Sonic the Fighters review". Official Xbox Magazine. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013.
  5. Hasan Almaci, Ali; Kemps, Heidi (March 31, 2006). "The Last Arcade Crusaders Sega-AM2 Interview". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011.
  6. Sonic Championship "How to Play" move sheet. Sega. 1996. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017.
  7. Sonic Championship Combo move sheet. Sega. 1996. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018.
  8. "Coin Operated: Sonic Boom!" (PDF). Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) (4): 16. February 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2018.
  9. "Red Hot Scoop! Sonic Returns in AM2 Fighting Game!" (PDF). Computer and Video Games (171): 98. February 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2018.
  10. "Sonic the Fighters" (PDF). Computer and Video Games (174): 29. May 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2018.
  11. Kemps, Heidi (September 30, 2005). "Sega's Yuji Naka Talks!". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017.
  12. "Maximum News: Sonic and AM2 team-up for new coin-op!" (PDF). Maximum (3): 115. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2018.
  13. "Sega Saturn News: Sonic Revival" (PDF). Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) (4): 6. February 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2018.
  14. "Beaten Blue!" (PDF). Sega Saturn Magazine (9): 94–95. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2018.
  15. "ソニック・ザ・ファイターズ". Sega. 1996. Archived from the original on March 22, 2001. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  16. Theobald, Phil (August 15, 2005). "Sonic Gems Collection". GameSpy. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  17. Torres, Ricardo (May 19, 2005). "E3 2005: Sonic Gems Collection Hands-On". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  18. IGN Staff (August 15, 2005). "Now Playing in Japan". IGN. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  19. "Sonic Gems Collection". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  20. "Round One, Fight: AM2 Classics Available Now". Sega Blog. November 27, 2012. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  21. "Sonic the Fighters | Model2 Collection". Sega. February 22, 2014. Archived from the original on August 31, 2013.
  22. "Sonic the Fighters". Sega. 2012. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014.
  23. "Sega Saturn Untold Potential" (PDF). Computer and Video Games (177): 9. August 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2018.
  24. "The Red-Hot Rumours Division" (PDF). Freeplay (15): 1. July 1997. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2018.
  25. GameSpy Staff (July 22, 2005). "Yojiro Ogawa Interview". GameSpy. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  26. "Sonic the Fighter". GamePro (93): 52. June 1996.
  27. "Sonic Competition". Next Generation (22): 190–193. October 1996.
  28. Davis, Ryan (August 24, 2005). "Sonic Gems Collection Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  29. Bramwell, Tom (October 6, 2005). "Sonic Gems Collection". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  30. "Sonic Gems Collection". Nintendo Power. September 2005. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018.
  31. "Sonic the Fighters". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
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