Pit-Fighter

{{About|the video game|the 2005 motion picture|Pit Fighter (film)}}

{{Infobox video game

| title = Pit-Fighter

| image = frameless

| developer = Atari Games

| publisher = Arcade {{vgrelease|NA/EU|Atari Games|JP|Konami}} Home {{vgrelease|NA|Tengen}}

| designer = Gary Stark
Mark Stephen Pierce

| programmer = Gary Stark
Paul Kwinn

| artist = Rob Rowe

| composer = John Paul (Arcade)
Earl Vickers (Genesis)
Nick Eastridge (SNES)

| released = {{vgrelease|NA|August 1990}}

| genre = Fighting

| modes = 1-3 players simultaneously

| arcade system = Atari G1 Hardware

| platforms = Arcade, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Game Boy, Lynx, Master System, Genesis, SNES, ZX Spectrum

}}

Pit-Fighter is a fighting game developed by Atari Games and released as an arcade video game in 1990.{{cite magazine |title=News Digest |magazine=RePlay |date=September 1990 |volume=15 |issue=12 |page=23 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-15-issue-no.-12-september-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2015%2C%20Issue%20No.%2012%20-%20September%201990/page/23}} It was Atari's first fighting game. The Japanese release was published by Konami.{{Cite web |title=ピットファイター [アーケード] / ファミ通.com |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=25335 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=www.famitsu.com}} Home versions were published by Tengen.

The game uses digitized live actors captured through a bluescreen process, where the various poses and moves were performed by actors in front of a video camera. The game's on-screen character animation is replays of the actual footage, not a rotoscoped (redrawn) animation. Pit-Fighter is the second fighting game to use digitized sprites, after Home Data's Reikai Dōshi: Chinese Exorcist.

Gameplay

The gameplay is similar to Taito's Violence Fight and SNK's Street Smart. The player must punch and kick their opponents until their energy runs out. If the player presses all three of the buttons at once, the character will perform a "super move". The player begins by choosing one of the three playable characters, who each have different moves, speeds, and powers. Up to three people can play at a time, but there will be extra opponents to fight during any of the game's 15 different matches.

Every third fight is a bonus round known as a "Grudge Match".{{cite web |url =http://www.mobygames.com/game/pit-fighter |title =Pit-Fighter |publisher =MobyGames |access-date =November 9, 2013 }} In a Grudge Match, the player must fight against a CPU controlled clone of the fighter if playing alone, or against the other players in a multiplayer game. Getting knocked down three times eliminates a player from the Grudge Match; the winner is the last one standing. Losing the Grudge Match does not eliminate a player, but the winner gets bonus money.

The final battle, the "Championship Match", is between the player and the mysterious entity that taunts between matches periodically, the Masked Warrior. If more than one person is playing the game before this match, they must fight each other to the death until only one becomes victorious and can fight him.

The crowd can interfere by attacking, dropping usable weapons, or pushing a stray player back into the fight. The "power pill" power-up makes the player temporarily stronger and take less damage from hits.

= Characters =

Pit-Fighter features 3 playable fighters:

Buzz (Bill Chase{{Cite web |title=Bill Chase |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1337949/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}}): An All-American big and strong ex-professional wrestler.
Ty (Marc Williams{{Cite web |title=Marc D. Williams |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0931228/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}}): An African-American agile kickboxing champion.
Kato (Glenn Fratticelli{{Cite web |title=Glenn Fratticelli |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1338894/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}}): A Japanese-American quick 3rd degree black belt.

Pit-Fighter has 8 unplayable opponents. Several of the characters share the names of the actors who played them:{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296802/fullcredits|title=Pit-Fighter (Video Game 1990)|website=IMDb}}

Executioner (John Aguire{{Cite web |title=John Aguire |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340327/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}})
Southside Jim (James Thompson{{Cite web |title=James Thompson |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1397131/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}})
Angel (Angela Stellato{{Cite web |title=Angela Stellato |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340032/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}})
C.C. Rider (Rich Vargas{{Cite web |title=Rich Vargas |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340624/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}})
Mad Miles (Miles McGowan{{Cite web |title=Miles McGowan |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340521/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}})
Heavy Metal (Kim Rhodes{{Cite web |title=Kim Rhodes {{!}} Actor |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9550383/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}})
Chainman Eddie (Eddie Venancio{{Cite web |title=Eddie Venancio |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340175/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}})
Masked Warrior (Bill McAleenan{{Cite web |title=Bill McAleenan |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1339487/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}})

Others:

Knife Woman (Dianne Bertucci{{Cite web |title=Dianne Bertucci |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1338442/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}})
Knife Man (Milt Loper{{Cite web |title=Milt Loper |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1339390/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}})
Finale Woman (Tina Scyrater{{Cite web |title=Tina Scyrater |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1339946/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}})
Finale Woman (Maria Lenytzkyj{{Cite web |title=Maria Lenytzkyj |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1339350/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}})
Big Kid In The Crowd (Gabriel Koura{{Cite web |title=Gabriel Knight |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5209430/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}})
Crowd (Rob Rowe{{Cite web |title=Rob Rowe |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1057643/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=IMDb}})

Releases

In 1991, versions of the game were released for the Super NES, Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, and ZX Spectrum.{{Cite news |last=Hutchinson |first=Andy |date=November 1991 |title=Pit Fighter |work=Your Sinclair |issue=71 |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/pitfighter.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814033550/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/pitfighter.htm |archive-date=2012-08-14 }} The Spectrum version was released as part of the Super Fighter compilation with Final Fight and WWF WrestleMania.{{Cite news |last=Nash |first=Jonathan |date=February 1993 |title=Super Fighter |work=Your Sinclair |issue=86 |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/superfightercomp.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813035734/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/superfightercomp.htm |archive-date=2012-08-13 }} The Super NES version lacks the interactive audience, weapons, and three characters: Southside Jim, Heavy Metal, and Mad Miles.

Handheld versions were released for the Atari Lynx and the Game Boy in 1992. Tiger Electronics released its own dedicated handheld version.{{Cite web |title=Tiger Electronics Electronic Pit Fighter Reviews, Pricing, Specs |url=https://www.engadget.com/products/tiger-electronics/electronic/pit-fighter/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Engadget |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109142407/https://www.engadget.com/products/tiger-electronics/electronic/pit-fighter/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Rik |title=Tiger Pit Fighter |url=https://www.handheldmuseum.com/Tiger/PitFighter.htm |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Electronic Handheld Game Museum}}

An emulated version of the arcade game is in the 2004's Midway Arcade Treasures 2 for GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, and in Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition (2006) for Microsoft Windows. This version runs at a faster speed than the arcade original. Pit-Fighter is in the 2012 compilation Midway Arcade Origins.{{cite web |last=CLAIBORN |first=SAMUEL |date=November 13, 2012 |title=Midway Arcade Origins Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/11/14/midway-arcade-origins-review |access-date=October 15, 2016 |website=IGN}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| CVG = 90% (Arcade)

| rev1 = MegaTech

| rev1Score = 80% (Mega Drive)MegaTech rating, EMAP, issue 5, page 78, May 1992

| NP = Graphics and Sound: 2.5; Control: 2; Challenge: 2; Theme and Fun: 2.5 (SNES)

| rev2 = Your Sinclair

| rev2Score = 28% (ZX Spectrum)

}}

Atari sold 5,500 arcade units in the U.S. and 1,000 in Ireland.{{cite web|title=Production Numbers|url=http://www.atarigames.com/atarinumbers90s.pdf|publisher=Atari Games|date=August 31, 1999|access-date=April 19, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417061521/http://www.atarigames.com/atarinumbers90s.pdf |archivedate=April 17, 2021}} In North America, it was the top-grossing upright arcade cabinet on the RePlay arcade charts in October 1990,{{cite magazine |title=RePlay: The Players' Choice |magazine=RePlay |date=October 1990 |volume=16 |issue=1 |page=4 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-1-october-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%201%20-%20October%201990/page/4}} and weekly coin drop earnings averaged $413.75 per arcade unit during November to December 1990.{{cite magazine |title=Editorial |magazine=RePlay |date=January 1991 |volume=16 |issue=4 |page=6 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-4-january-1991-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%204%20-%20January%201991/page/6}} In Japan, Game Machine listed Pit-Fighter in its January 1, 1991 issue as the seventh most successful table arcade unit of the month.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=395|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=January 1, 1991|page=37|lang=ja}}

Julian Rignall of Computer and Video Games rated the arcade version 90%, calling it a "thoroughly enjoyable beat 'em up which really packs a punch" and "one of the most enjoyable arcade fighting games in a long time".{{Cite news |last=Rignall |first=Julian |date=January 1991 |title=Pit Fighter |pages=140 |work=Computer+Video Games |issue=110 |url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-110/CVG_110_Jan_1991/page/n139?view=theater}} Zzap!64 gave the game a more negative review, dubbing it an "anticlimactic beat'em up" and writing that the attract mode was the best part of the game. They criticized the limited frames of animation and compared it unfavorably to The Combatribes and Final Fight.{{Cite news |last=Hogg |first=Robin |date=February 1991 |title=Pit-Fighter (Atari games) |pages=51 |work=Zzap!64}}

David Wilson of Computer Gaming World approved of the Amiga version, stating that it "is the arcade game teleported", and concluded that the game "offers the two-player option missing in many fighter games and enough roughhousing to suit the most violent gamer".{{Cite magazine |last=Wilson |first=David |date=October 1992 |title=Domark's Punch-Drunk Coin-Op Conversion: Pit-Fighter |pages=66 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |issue=99 |url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=99}}

George and Rob reviewed the Super NES version in Nintendo Power.{{Cite magazine |last1=George |last2=Rob |date=January 1992 |title=George & Rob's Now Playing |volume=32 |pages=102 |magazine=Nintendo Power |url=https://archive.org/details/NintendoPower1988-2004/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20032%20%28January%201992%29/page/n109/mode/2up}} George commented that game was "extremely difficult to control" and that Rob commented on the graphics using digitized people, stating "it doesn't matter if it uses new technology or not. The question is "is the game fun?" and I think the answer in this case is "no"." Rob and George rated Graphics and Sound with 2.5, Control with 2, Challenge with 2 and Theme and Fun with 2.5.

MegaTech magazine gave the Mega Drive version an 80% score.{{Cite news |date=February 1992 |title=Pit-Fighter Review |pages=28–30 |work=MegaTech |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/2/21/MegaTech_UK_02.pdf}} Mega placed the Mega Drive version at #27 in its Top Mega Drive Games of All Time.{{Cite news |date=October 1992 |title=Top Mega Drive Games of All Time |pages=76 |work=Mega |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=1}}

In February 1993, Your Sinclair gave the ZX Spectrum version a 28% score.

Legacy

Electronic Gaming Monthly and GamePro had previews of a planned sequel named Pit Fighter II by Tengen, which the former magazine claimed was more than 75% finished and would be released for Sega Genesis in the fourth quarter of 1993.{{Cite news |last=Gurka |first=John |date=August 1993 |title=Fact-Files: Pit Fighter II |url=https://archive.org/stream/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_49#page/n135/mode/2up |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Sendai Publishing |issue=49 |pages=134–135}}{{Cite news |date=October 1993 |title=Short ProShots: Genesis (Pit-Fighter II) |pages=148 |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=51 |url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:GamePro_US_051.pdf&page=150}}

Kato, Buzz, and Ty were returning along with three new selectable fighters: Connor (Karate Champion), Tanya (Roller Queen), and Chief (Ex-bodyguard). Those are also three of the playable characters ultimately featured in Atari's subsequent game, Guardians of the 'Hood. Pictures show two CPU fighters, Helga (level 1) and Jay-Jay (level 2).{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}