E3 Versus Previews
Put up your dukes! Shawn and Sarah brawled it out on some of the baddest new fighting games at E3. It’s going to be a big year for slugfests of a whole new kind. Check out their first impressions of Shaolin, Wu Tang: Shaolin Style, Power Stone, Soul Calibur, and Super Smash Brothers.
Sarah
Shaolin (PSX)
Slated to debut this fall, Shaolin is destined to be a top-selling 3D fighting game this year. As with a number of other new fighting games (namely Ehrgeiz) it includes an in-depth RPG that allows players to “raise” their fighter from childhood, training to become a Shaolin master. Shaolin also has a 2,3,4,5,6,7, and, yes, 8 player simultaneous Vs mode; now we’re talking about a brawl. With over 20 characters, each with their own look, and several fighting styles, Shaolin will leave a smile on the face of any hardcore fighting gamer.
Shawn
Shaolin (PSX)
I like Shaolin because I beat Sarah at it. It was great. One of the software testers told me there are 41 characters in the game. That’s wonderful, too. And then there are six or eight different fighting styles to choose from, such as shaolin, tai chi, and drunken boxing, giving the game a large, but knowable, range of common moves. The graphics were comparable to Tekken 3, and in the eight player brawl it uses different colored Mokujins to represent the different characters fighting. The movement is incredible, and the realism only enhances the game. This is definitely a must play for 1999.
Wu Tang: Shaolin Style (PSX)
Yes, it’s true. The Wu Tang clan has their own video game and why not? Football players and coaches have hogged all the glory for years. This game is surprisingly traditional; it has the feel of a 1970’s B kung fu movie. You can pick any of the members of the Wu Tang Clan (good thing there’s a lot of them), each with their own fighting style. I played Ol’ Dirty Bastard (how could I resist) who uses a drunken boxing method. Like a number of other fighting games coming out, it has a four player option. Overall, Wu Tang is a surprisingly well-formulated fighting game that I will be anxiously awaiting.
Wu Tang: Shaolin Style (PSX)
Yeah, I was confused at first, too, but the mega force in hip hop is coming to your Playstation to whoop some ass. The graphics are great, with each of the Wu Tang Clan dressed in traditional kung fu garb, and plenty of gore to go around. The game features three brand new Wu songs, and fast and furious four player action. In what little brawling we got in on this game, I was quite impressed. I hope the Wu Tang Clan’s crossover signals a trend in fighting games, because I can’t wait to see Parliament’s Street Fighter Psychoalphadiscobeta.
Power Stone (DC)
Power Stone is one of the games making me drool over Sega’s new Dreamcast. Produced by Capcom, it has a fun, cartoony, Street Fighter feeling, but is totally 3D. Characters fully interact with their environments. When fighting in a restaurant characters can not only stand on tables, they can pick up chairs and throw them at their opponents. Most levels have power-ups and other goodies scattered about. Moves range from easy to very complex. It’s one of those very special games that are fun for the first time player but have plenty for the hardcore fighter.
Power Stone (DC)
Capcom makes another great fighting game, what’s new? The great thing about Power Stone is that it creates a 3D environment that only Capcom could. The scenes are fully interactive, and you can throw objects at your opponent. You can open chests to find items, and power stones appear to boost your character. Once you’ve acquired enough power stones, your character becomes incredibly powerful. The visuals are dense and sparkling. Bright colors and huge explosions and lightening bolts punctuate the action. Games like this are the Dreamcast’s strength.
Soul Calibur (DC)
Already an arcade hit, Soul Caliber missed me. Soul Caliber just didn’t stand out from the crowd. It’s not that it wasn’t a fun game, it just seemed to be a year behind in content. The graphics and control were great, but, with so many new fighting games pushing the limits of the genre, Soul Caliber seemed pedestrian. Characters fight with weapons and special moves, the action is fast-paced, but old hat.
Soul Calibur (DC)
I sympathize with Sarah here. The genre of fighting games has just moved on, and Soul Calibur, while pretty and playable, just doesn’t cut it. Everything about the game seemed adequate, but in a pond with fish as big as Shaolin and Power Stone, Soul Calibur is just chum.
Super Smash Brothers (N64)
Nintendo has neglected its fighting game market since the change to the 64. Perhaps they want to be a kinder and gentler game system. The best part of Super Smash Brothers is the return of old friends like Kirby, Link, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi. The goal is to smash your opponents silly and then knock them off the side of the fighting arena. Each character has their own set of special moves that are ultra easy to pull off. This game is almost too easy for fans of other fighting titles, but, for younger kids and squeamish people, it’s just great.
– Sarah Wichlacz
Super Smash Brothers (N64)
The commercials crack me up. Really, I get a tangible pleasure from watching Mario, Kirby, Link and Donkey Kong duke it out. The game has interesting environments and great graphics, and the control is simple to pick up. It is playable by up to four people, which leads to a wacky sort of brawling. Super Smash Bros. doesn’t have the gore score or the drama of other fighting games, but it does offer a certain “good, clean fun” alternative for people who aren’t interested in current offerings.