Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry
{{short description|2000 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry
| image = Tom_and_Jerry_in_Fists_of_Furry_N64_box_cover.jpg
| caption = North American box art
| developer = VIS Interactive
| publisher = {{vgrelease|NA|NewKidCo|PAL|Ubi Soft}}
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|November 8, 2000{{Cite web |date=2012-06-17 |title=N64 Games of November |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/03/n64-games-of-november |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=2023-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522153255/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/03/n64-games-of-november |url-status=live }}-|EU|2000}}
| genre = Fighting
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = Nintendo 64
Microsoft Windows
}}
Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry is a fighting video game for the Nintendo 64 and Microsoft Windows. It was developed by VIS Interactive and published by NewKidCo on November 12, 2000 (Ubi Soft in PAL region).{{cite web |title=Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/306825992/?terms=%22Tom%2Band%2BJerry%2Bin%2BFists%2Bof%2BFurry%22 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Times (Munster Indiana) |access-date=November 27, 2018}}{{cite web |title=TOM AND JERRY IN FISTS OF FURRY |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tom-and-jerry-in-fists-of-furry/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-64 |website=Metacritic |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250130022343/https://www.metacritic.com/game/tom-and-jerry-in-fists-of-furry/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-64 |url-status=live }} It is based on the animated short film series of Tom and Jerry.
Gameplay
File:Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry Tom fight screenshot.jpeg
Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry features 10 levels, each with themes like the kitchen from the Tom and Jerry TV show and a boxing ring.{{cite web |title=Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Smash Bros. and Beyond: The Ultimate |url=https://www.geek.com/games/street-fighter-mortal-kombat-smash-bros-and-beyond-the-ultimate-history-of-fighting-games-1646671/ |website=Geek |publisher=Geek |access-date=November 27, 2018}} With gameplay based on slapstick comedy,{{cite web | title=Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/24/tom-and-jerry-fists-of-furry-2 | date=October 23, 2000 | website=IGN | access-date=February 9, 2021}}{{cite web |title=It's The Ultimate Game Of Cat And Mouse As NewKidCo Unleashes Tom and Jerry Video Games For The PlayStation game console, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color Game Systems. |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/It%27s+The+Ultimate+Game+Of+Cat+And+Mouse+As+NewKidCo+Unleashes+Tom+and...-a062022891 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127152010/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/It%27s+The+Ultimate+Game+Of+Cat+And+Mouse+As+NewKidCo+Unleashes+Tom+and...-a062022891 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2018 |website=Business Wire |publisher=Business Wire |access-date=November 27, 2018}} players interact with the environment and scattered usable objects like chairs, pool cues, and bombs. Each of the seven characters have unique attacks. Power-ups include invincibility to items (but not to punches or the stage hazards), or a green gas which can contaminate a touched opponent.
Initially, only Tom and Jerry are available as playable characters; by completing the game with each character, players can unlock Butch, Duckling, Tuffy, and Spike and Tyke.
Development
Development began in late 1999, and was in final submission to Nintendo of America by August 2000. Team members had chosen Nintendo 64 due to its library's lack of fighting games. They wanted to simplify controls for all age groups, so they chose to forgo the typical combination moves.{{cite interview | title=Speaking on Tom and Jerry | interviewer=Brian Stelter | first1=Craig | last1=Hunter | first2=Seth | last2=Rosenfeld | date=August 21, 2000 | url=http://ign64.ign.com/news/23818.html | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010401064653/http://ign64.ign.com/news/23818.html | archivedate=April 1, 2001 | accessdate=August 13, 2020}}
All voices in the game were provided by Alan Marriott.{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Tom-and-Jerry-in-Fists-of-Furry/|title=Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry|website=Behind The Voice Actors|language=en-US|access-date=2021-02-09}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| N64 = true
| PC = true
| rev1 = Actu & Soluces 64
| rev2 = Game Vortex
}}
IGN briefly played a pre-release demonstration of the Nintendo 64 version, calling it a clone of Power Stone (1999), with a disappointing lack of four-player fighting. IGN later rated it 6.8/10, calling it "the next best fighter on the system" after Super Smash Bros. (1999), saying that it would have been better received if it had been released first.{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Cory D. |date=November 14, 2000 |title=Tom and Jerry: Fists of Furry |url=http://ign64.ign.com/articles/164/164154p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020306011658/http://ign64.ign.com/articles/164/164154p1.html |archive-date=March 6, 2002 |access-date=February 9, 2021 |website=IGN}} Ryan Davis of GameSpot rated it "fair" at 6.6/10, calling the game challenging but also accessible to younger players. He praised the controls but criticized the difficulty balance.{{cite web |last=Davis |first=Ryan |date=November 20, 2000 |title=Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/n64/action/tomjerryfistsoffurry/review.html/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811074227/https://www.gamespot.com/n64/action/tomjerryfistsoffurry/review.html/ |archive-date=August 11, 2010 |access-date=February 9, 2021 |website=GameSpot}} N64 Magazine rated it 35%, and said the game is to be avoided because the high-quality Tom and Jerry franchise was "let down by lazy and cack-handed execution", especially because of a "brain-numbing punch-punch-kick-style combo" instead of any special attacks. They said that the characters were not drawn badly and that the locations from the cartoons were a plus.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.nintendo64ever.com/Tests-Nintendo-64-Game,347,Tom-_-Jerry-in-Fists-of-Furry,1.html | magazine=N64 Magazine | issue=49 | pages=62–63 | date=December 2000 | title=Tom & Jerry Fists of Furry | access-date=February 9, 2021}} Nintendo Power gave an 8.3/10 rating and said it was the best 3D fighting game for Nintendo 64, due to the multiplayer elements, interactive fighting environments, and precision controls.{{cite magazine | magazine=Nintendo Power | title=Tom and Jerry in Fists of Furry | url=http://www.nintendo64ever.com/Tests-Nintendo-64-Game,347,Tom-_-Jerry-in-Fists-of-Furry,1.html | issue=139 | page=145 | publisher=Nintendo of America | access-date=November 27, 2018}} The French magazine Actu & Soluces 64 rated it at 81%.{{cite magazine | magazine=Actu & Soluces 64 | title=Tom & Jerry in Fist of Furry | date=April 2001 | issue=4 | page=46 | language=French | url=https://www.nintendo64ever.com/Tests-Nintendo-64-Game,347,Tom-_-Jerry-in-Fists-of-Furry,1.html | access-date=February 9, 2021}}
Game Vortex played the Windows version, rated it at 65%, was disappointed, criticized the total lack of music, and recommended a gamepad to mimic the preferred Nintendo 64 version.{{cite web | title=Tom & Jerry: Fists of Furry | first=Brandon | last=Arnold | website=Game Vortex | url=https://www.gamevortex.com/gamevortex/soft_rev.php/497/tom-amp-jerry-fists-of-furry-pc.html | access-date=February 9, 2021}}
Sequel
In 2002, Tom and Jerry in War of the Whiskers was released for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox, and the latter two are North American exclusives. It is the only NewKidCo game to receive a T rating.