Power
Instinct: Matrimelee
STORY:
The king
of certain country wants to find a worthy successor for the throne and
the ideal husband for his little daughter (or a beautiful and strong woman
for his older son). So he holds a fighting tournament where the prize is
the hand of the princess and the throne succession.
|
|
|
It's a small world after
all...
|
REVIEW: Power Instinct: Matrimelee
is a sequel to the
obscure and lesser-known Power Instinct
series. Several returning characters from previous titles in the series join a
few newcomers, all with updated 2D sprites. The characters of Matrimelee range from incredibly strange (including two
80-year-old hobbit-granny sprite clones and a furry) to the I've-seen-you-somewhere-before
stereotypes (complete with cut & paste ninja, generic native American,
and your basic karate guy who does shoto-style things.). Several characters
from Rage of The Dragons also make
crossover appearances in Matrimelee.
|
|
|
Double Dragon in the
house!
|
In Power Instinct: Matrimelee, the former super combo gauge is replaced with
the Stress Gauge. Unlike
most combo gauges, the Street Gauge doesn't fill when players connect with attacks. Instead it
fills when attacks are blocked and when damage is taken. This
is to simulate the "stress" of not having your moves land, and/or the
stress one may feel when punched in the face. 
When the Stress Gauge fills up, a super
combo can be performed. Characters also become invulnerable to attacks and will also interrupt
combos.
|
|
|
Staying
true to series roots... bizarre Special Moves.
|
In some stages, a referee will be standing in the
background. Players can actually call him
into the foreground and use him to attack their enemies... either sending the
ref flying into the opponent, or using him as a human shield for opponent's projectiles.
 A
"Bloodline Battle" can also be initiated if two players taunt one
after the other. When a Bloodline Battle begins, both characters
move to the middle of the screen. Between them lowers a television screen
which randomly shows different buttons (A,B,C,D). Which ever player hits the
buttons first, their character will gain a free attack on the opponent.
|
|
| Page Updated: |
July
8th, 2025 |
| Developer(s): |
Noise
Factory |
| Publisher(s): |
SNK Playmore,
Sun Amusement |
| Designer(s): |
Noise
Factory
|
| Platform(s): |
Arcade, Neo
Geo
|
| Release Date(s): |
May
29th, 2003 |
| Characters: |
Billy
Lee,
Lynn,
Elias,
Mr.
Jones, Anny
Hamilton, Keith
Wayne, Ume Gouketsu, Tane
Gouketsu,
Reiji Oyama, White Buffalo,
Saizo Hattori, Chinnen,
Kanji Kokuin, Clara,
Poochy, Buntaro
Kuno, Shintaro Kuno, Olof
Linderoth,
Hikaru Jomon, Princess Sissy |
|
|
|
Featured Video:
|
|
|
| Related Games: |
Groove
On Fight, Power
Instinct 2, Power
Instinct, Rage of The Dragons,
Double Dragon, The King of Fighters 2003, The King of Fighters
2002, Guilty Gear XX, Capcom
Vs. SNK 2, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, Samurai
Shodown 5, TEKKEN 4, Galaxy
Fight, Waku Waku 7, Martial
Masters
|
|
|
|
Gameplay
Engine
|
6.5 / 10
|
|
Story
/ Theme
|
4.0 / 10
|
|
Overall
Graphics
|
7.5 / 10
|
|
Animation
|
7.0 / 10
|
|
Music
/ Sound Effects
|
5.0 / 10
|
|
Innovation
|
4.0 / 10
|
|
Art Direction
|
7.5 / 10
|
|
Customization
|
5.0 / 10
|
|
Options / Extras
|
5.0 / 10
|
|
Intro / Presentation
|
5.5 / 10
|
|
Replayability / Fun
|
4.0 / 10
|
|
"Ouch" Factor
|
5.5 / 10
|
|
Characters
|
5.0 / 10
|
|
BOTTOM LINE
|
6.0
/
10
|
|
Review based on Arcade
version
|
|
| Final
Words: |
Matrimelee is a very kooky and unorthodox 2D fighting game. Perhaps some 2D purists will appreciate the game for that very reason. I can almost give
the game respect for its blatant weirdness and random funny moments... at least
it's trying to be original. However, I'll go on the record and say that if you
actually "like" and play this game.... You're weird. Especially because there are so many better fighting games you could be playing in 2003. (And that's just 2003.) Point made. *Grins and slowly walks away*
As a 2D fighting game in 2003, Matrimelee obviously leaves much to
be desired compared to many recent titles. It's easily outshined by many other 2D and 3D fighting games of the era. I
actually gave this game a chance... but neither the characters or the
gameplay are compelling. To be honest, I didn't want to spend more than 30 minutes playing
it. 
~TFG
Webmaster | @Fighters_Gen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
