(LAST UPDATE: 6/28/09)
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Developer(s): Sega-AM2
Publisher(s): Sega
Platforms: Arcade,
Sega Saturn, Playstation 2
Release: 1995 (Arcade)
Characters:
Jane,
Raxel,
Picky,
Grace,
Sanman,
Bahn,
Honey,
Mahler,
Tokio
Related Games:
Fighting Vipers 2, Fighters
Megamix, Last Bronx, Virtua
Fighter, Virtua Fighter Remix,
Virtua
Fighter 2, Virtua Fighter Kids, Virtua
Fighter 3, Virtua Fighter 4, Virtua
Fighter 4 Evolution,
Virtua Fighter 5, Virtua
Fighter 5 R
Story: Armstone
City, year unknown. The Mayor decided to hold a fighting tournament with
the grand finale being held on the top of the city tower, and the Vipers,
young urban warriors decide to compete, each with their own goal on mind.
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General: The AM2
development team, lead by Yu Suzuki, has been creating games for Sega since
1985. Virtua Fighter 2 was already a "staple"
fighting game in arcades
when AM2 decided to try out a new fighting game series known as Fighting
Vipers.
Fighting Vipers features
9 original characters each showing off a somewhat unique fighting style...
Although, the characters of Fighting Vipers seemed to have
"borrowed" quite a few techniques from the Virtua Fighter cast, as
many of the animations look strikingly similar. Fighting Vipers offers
some unique gameplay features however, making it clearly stand out from VF.
Firstly, each of the fighters wear their own unique brand of "armor"
that can be broken
off during the fight... If the fighter is hit when their armor is broken they
will receive more damage. The 3D arenas are closed in by walls, caging the
fighters in, and element which hasn't yet been done in fighting genre.
Characters can knock each other into the walls, and even through the wall
at the end of a fight, if the right combination of attacks is performed. Sending
an opponent through a wall looked impressive, and supplied the game's best
moments.
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Along with the look of the game,
the gameplay
is very similar to Virtua Fighter. The control layout is essentially the
same, with one button for a guard, punch, and kick... Some cool combos are
possible, especially when your opponent is against the wall. Likenesses aside, Fighting
Vipers' gameplay is notably faster than VF, and some combos are done
in almost "button mashing"
sequences, sometimes using the same button. Another unique gameplay feature to Fighting
Vipers is the quick recovery, where a character can get back on their feet
right after
getting hit. This allows for a counter attack, but also may leave them
vulnerable to their opponents attack. Overall, Fighting Vipers offered some
decent mind games and was a solid 3D fighter for the time. The Sega Saturn port
was graphically inferior, but offered new console-only mode like Training and VS
Playback mode.
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- Review is for Arcade version of Fighting Vipers - |
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8 / 10 |
Closing Comment: Fighting Vipers was a step below VF2 in terms of presentation, characters, and gameplay; but it's differences with the VF series made at stand out as an "alternate" 3D fighter from Sega. Which meant fans of Virtua Fighter and non-fans of Virtua Fighter alike could find something to like about this interesting 3D fighter. ~F.Yagami, Webmaster of TFG