Fighting Games Comparison


 

This is a comparison of fighting games. NOTE: this is the toe-to-toe type of fighting games, therefore the likes of Renegade are NOT included.
Games Reviewed (In order of greatness):

1.Way of the Exploding Fist
2.International Karate + (IK+)
3.Barbarian
4.Fist +
5.Yie Ar Kung Fu


Way of the Exploding Fist:

"Way of the Exploding Fist" was the daddy of all martial arts fighting games. It created the genre and held its own against the myriad copies that were to be created.

The first point to make is that the sound effects are really bloody annoying in this game (albeit very clever for its time). Quickly locate the "delete" key on your emulator and press it.

Ahhh. That's better.

Now we can settle down and enjoy this classic game. I bought this game for £1.99 and it was the best £1.99 I have ever spent.

This game has everything...Excellent main game music, extremely playable controls, authentic martial arts moves (including the roundhouse and sweep). You fight amongst a variety of nice oriental backgrounds, against increasingly difficult oponents ranging from novice to 10th dan. At this point the game becomes frustrating in that you never "complete" the game as such. You simply keep playing 10th dan opponents ad infinitum. Therefore defeating a 10th dan opponent is the same as completing the game.

Always this game is one fighter against another. Some might view this as a weakness compared to the more modern clones, but I feel this is the way it should be. The 3 people fighting games are not for me.



International Karate + (IK+):

This game came a close second in terms of overall ranking in my games chart (Fist was 7th overall, IK+ was 9th). So this game is not as good as Fist (in my opinion), but it's not far behind. Actually, most people would rate IK+ as the best (Ealan certainly does), but this is my review :).

The music is better than Fist (but a blatant last ninja series rip off) and the graphics are better. The rate at which you can fire off a sequence of moves is breathtaking. I cannot explain very well why I prefer Fist, all I can say is that the "feel" of the game is all wrong for me. I simply prefer the one-on-one "old school" Fist. Maybe it is because I grew up on Fist, and later discovered IK+ - that might be it.

One thing about IK+ that does annoy me is that barrell rolls and headbuts are not part of martial arts as far as I can see. I'm sure a purist would not lower themselves to a headbut. The "Karate Kid" certainly would not.

When you are playing "Way of the Exploding Fist", all the moves are well thought out and precise, whereas in "IK+", there is a tendancy to just "hit buttons" like you are in a street fight rather than a noble art. NOTE: I have played this game more and I'm changing my opinion of this. Perhaps when you become an expert then there is no randomness about it.

The ability to change the speed of the game is a fantastic idea, and a useful aid to learning the game. The list of original features in the game is highly commendable.

To summarise, IK+ is an excellent game, and provides endless hours of fun kicking someones arse. I just prefer the "old school".



Barbarian:

Now this game is the mother of all fighting games. Yes the graphics are slightly blocky but this game oouses class.

The music is superb and atmospheric, and there are a lot of nice touches. From the snakes at either side, to the little green creature that laughs when someone dies.

Then we come to the moves, there are a variety of defensive and attacking moves ranging from the "Head Butt" and the "Neck Chop" to the wonderfully named "Web of Death" and devastating "Flying Neck Chop" where you can chop the opponents head off. This obviously wins the game and this move alone makes this game amazing. I loved playing this game when I was a kid (and it's superior successor Barbarian 2 - unfortunately it's no longer a toe-to-toe fighting game so it could not be included in this review).

Fist +:

Now this game has performed the ultimate sacrifice - a newer competitor has come out and completely changed the genre (for the worst in my opinion), and they cloned it. The graphics are a lot worse than IK+ though.

Oh dear :(

Now this is a shame, because whilst Fist+ gets most of the critism that IK+ gets from me, I actually prefer this game to IK+, mainly because it still has a small part of "Fist" left in it.

Unfortunately, as this is a "IK+" clone, it has to come third.

Yie Ar Kung Fu:

Ahahahahahahahahaha. I'm in stiches.,,,

The demon-eyed Buchu in level 1 is hilarious... Pole is a complete cheat...

The game consists of 5 opponents of increasing difficulty, and is sufficiently difficult to keep you occupied for a while.

Opponents are:

  1. Buchu (fights bare handed)
  2. Star (fights with a Shuriken, or star)
  3. Nuncha (fights with a pair of Nunchakas)
  4. Pole (fight with a staff)
  5. Chain (fights with a chain)


Seriously, the music is poor attempt at being oriental, but is ok when you ignore that basic requirement. The graphics are poor, and this becomes another random button and direction frenzy game with very little scope for planning or strategy.

Having said all that (and I can't believe I'm going to say this...), the game has a certain repeated playability quality. I actually found myself going back to play it again and again. I know it's rubbish but it had just enough fun value.


by Richard Mace 2007
 

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