Fighters Destiny

Fighters Destiny, known in Japan as Fighting Cup (ファイティングカップ, Faitingu Kappu) is a 1998 video game developed by Opus Corp. and published by Ocean Software, Infogrames, and Imagineer for the Nintendo 64. It closely models the 3D fighting game standard set by Sega's Virtua Fighter, but integrates a unique point scoring system. The game's generic characters and unoriginal presentation have been panned by critics, but reviewers praise its point system and consider it to be one of the best fighting games on the Nintendo 64. It was followed by a 2000 sequel Fighter Destiny 2.

Fighters Destiny
North American Nintendo 64 cover art
Developer(s)Opus Corp.
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • NA: January 26, 1998[1]
  • EU: March 1, 1998
  • JP: December 11, 1998
Genre(s)Versus fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

In Fighters Destiny, the player controls a polygon-based character in a three dimensional battle arena. The game features typical hand to hand combat fighting: using a variety of punches, kicks, locks, and throws, players attempt to pummel their opponents into submission. Each character also has a large list of special commands (called "moves") that can be accessed during battle. These different moves range from simply pressing the "B" button to inputting button combinations.

In most versus fighting games, the objective is to deplete the opponent's health gauge. Fighters Destiny follows the same concept but also relies on a customizable point scoring system to determine the winner. These points, which are displayed as yellow stars under the character's health gauge, can be earned in a variety of ways. By default, knocking the character off the fighting platform (a "Ring Out") is worth one point, taking down an opponent with a throw nets the player two points, while a typical K.O. is worth three points, as well as taking the opponent down with a counterattack, and executing a "special" is worth four points. Finally, if the adjustable time counter runs out, then the winner is awarded one point by virtue of judge's decision. By default setting, the first fighter to score seven points wins the match.

K.O.'s can be achieved with instant-K.O. hits (referred to as "1-shot") or counterattack moves, or can be executed with a finishing blow when the player's opponent is in "Piyori condition," a brief spell of dizziness in which opponent's life bar has been drained completely and the fighter is allowed only limited control. "Specials" can only be executed when the opponent is in Piyori condition. If players are able to survive until Piyori condition passes, their health gauge refills completely. The health bar also refills continuously (albeit slowly) throughout the fight.

Fighters Destiny offers five different gameplay modes. By playing the traditional versus computer mode, players can earn a new character (Boro) and learn new skills for their character. They can also select to fight against a second player, challenge their skills and gain new characters in "Record Attack," play through the "Master Challenge" to expand their character's command list, and train against a robot character. When players learn new skills playing the computer or the Master Challenge, they can save their character's expanded command list to the Controller Pak; afterwards, the new command list can be accessed in any mode to aid the player.

Characters

There are nine regular characters in Fighters Destiny: Ryuji, a Japanese karate exponent; Abdul, a well-balanced fighter from Mongolia obsessed with Arabic culture; Tomahawk, a professional wrestler from the United States; Meiling, a Chinese martial artist; a Japanese ninja with a massive catalog of special moves; Pierre, a French clown with a deceptive fighting style; Leon, an all-rounder from Spain]; Bob, a powerful Brazilian fighter; and the tough aerial combat specialist Valerie from Germany.

In addition to the standard nine characters, there are five secret characters that can be unlocked by completing various challenge modes, with the secret characters themselves consisting of a quick and powerful female Swiss warrior named Boro, a Russian jester-esque fighter named Joker, a training robot from Germany named Robert, an old Japanese karate expert named the Master, and a comical fighting cow from Hokkaido named Ushi.

Development

Fighters Destiny was initially announced under the title "Struggle Hard".[2]

Reception and sales

Fighters Destiny received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[3] Next Generation called it "the best fighter on Nintendo 64. Mastering the fighting techniques of each character is a challenge, and the depth of the single-player game is impressive. Until the arrival of Tekken 3 for PlayStation, Fighters Destiny is the fighting game to play."[15] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40.[7]

Despite the game's critical acclaim, it missed its initial Christmas release date and was subsequently greeted with lukewarm sales figures, selling only 18,000 copies in the first two months after its North American release.[17] As a result, Infogrames Entertainment (the parent company of Fighters Destiny international distributor Ocean Software) decided to shave US$20 off the price tag, dropping the game's price to US$29.99. "Fighters Destiny has been praised as the best fighting game for the N64 by the vast majority of video game media," said Mike Markey, vice president of sales and marketing, Infogrames Entertainment. "The aim of the new price point is to make the game more accessible to all consumers."[18]

Sequel
Fighter Destiny 2
Developer(s)Imagineer
Opus Corp.
Genki
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • JP: August 27, 1999
  • NA: June 22, 2000[19]
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

A sequel to Fighters Destiny, titled Fighter Destiny 2 and known in Japan as Kakutō Denshō: F-Cup Maniax (格闘伝承 ~F-Cup Maniax~, Kakutō Denshō ~F-Kappu Mēniakkusu~, lit. "Fighting Tradition: F-Cup Maniax"), was released in 1999-2000. Publisher SouthPeak Games dropped the s in the title due to copyright issues. Fighter Destiny 2 made improvements upon its predecessor, boosting the FPS to 60, and adding graphic and audio enhancements. Some of the characters make a second appearance in the sequel, but the majority of the cast is all new. Although the game mechanics remain unchanged, a new "Fighter's Arena" mode has been added, a giant board game that allows players to build up their characters' attributes in addition to having them learn new fighting skills. The character Ryuji, from the first game, seems to have been renamed as Saeki for unknown reasons.

There are eleven default characters in Fighter Destiny 2. Ryuji makes a return as Saeki, while Abdul, Meiling and Ninja make another appearance with their original names. Pierre makes another appearance as well, but is now more flamboyant than previously. They are joined by newcomers Adriana, a Samba dancer from Brazil; Federico, a scientist from Italy; American street warrior D-Dog, who very much resembles Dennis Rodman; fashion model Kate from Great Britain; German professional wrestler Ziege; and British punk rocker Dixon.

Like in the first game, there are five secret characters to unlock from within the various game modes, with the secret characters themselves consisting of a nobleman from France named Fabien, Ushi (who is now renamed as Mou), Robert (who is now renamed as Samurai), the Master, who once again makes an appearance, and a crossdressing man from the United States named Cherry. In the North American release, Cherry's voice actor is changed to female for appropriateness; however, nothing on his body is changed such as his muscles, his tattoos, and his face, which all resemble a male.

Reception

Fighter Destiny 2 received more mediocre reviews than the original Fighters Destiny according to Metacritic.[20] In Japan, however, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40.[22] Nintendo Power gave it a favorable review, over four months before the game was released Stateside.[29]

References
  1. IGN staff (January 26, 1998). "Destiny Ships". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  2. EGM staff (December 1997). "Fighting Cup (Preview)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 101. Ziff Davis. p. 46.
  3. "Fighters Destiny for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  4. McCall, Scott. "Fighters Destiny - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  5. Edge staff (March 1998). "Fighters Destiny". Edge. No. 56. Future Publishing. pp. 94–95. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  6. EGM staff (March 1998). "Fighters Destiny". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 104. Ziff Davis.
  7. "ファイティングカップ [NINTENDO64]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  8. "Fighter's Destiny [sic]". Game Informer. No. 58. FuncoLand. February 1998.
  9. Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Chau, Anthony "Dangohead"; Patterson, Eric L. "Shidoshi" (April 1998). "Fighter's Destiny [sic] [console mislabeled as "PlayStation"]". GameFan. Vol. 5 no. 4. Metropolis Media. p. 10. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  10. "Fighters Destiny". GamePro. No. 114. IDG Entertainment. March 1998.
  11. Gerstmann, Jeff (February 24, 1998). "Fighters Destiny Review [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive.
  12. Toose, Dan (April 1998). "Fighters Destiny". Hyper. No. 54. Next Media Pty Ltd. pp. 56–57.
  13. Schneider, Peer (January 27, 1998). "Fighters Destiny Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  14. Bickham, Jes (March 1998). "Fighters Destiny". N64 Magazine. No. 13. Future Publishing. pp. 32–38.
  15. "Fight me (Fighters Destiny Review)". Next Generation. No. 41. Imagine Media. May 1998. p. 109. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  16. "Fighter's Destiny [sic]". Nintendo Power. Vol. 104. Nintendo of America. January 1998. p. 98. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  17. IGN staff (March 27, 1998). "Fighting For Its Destiny". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  18. IGN staff (April 6, 1998). "Kick Butt For $49". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  19. Casamassina, Matt (June 19, 2000). "Fighter Destiny 2". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  20. "Fighter Destiny 2 for Nintendo 64 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  21. EGM staff (October 2000). "Fighter Destiny 2". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 135. Ziff Davis.
  22. "ニンテンドウ64 - 格闘伝承 ~F-Cup Maniax~". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 32. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  23. "Fighter's Destiny 2 [sic]". Game Informer. No. 89. FuncoLand. September 2000.
  24. "REVIEW for Fighter Destiny 2". GameFan. Shinno Media. July 14, 2000.
  25. Liu, Johnny (August 2000). "Fighter Destiny 2 Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on February 20, 2004. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  26. MacDonald, Ryan (July 26, 2000). "Fighter Destiny 2 Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  27. "Kakutō Denshō: F-Cup Maniax". N64 Magazine. No. 34. Future Publishing. November 1999.
  28. Maddrell, Alan (September 2000). "Fighter Destiny 2 (Import)". N64 Magazine. No. 45. Future Publishing. pp. 60–61.
  29. "Fighter Destiny 2". Nintendo Power. Vol. 129. Nintendo of America. February 2000. p. 123. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
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