Vs. (video game)#Fighters' Impact

File:Vs gameplay.png

Players select a game mode to play then select one of the sixteen initially available fighters based on American gang stereotypes.{{cite web |url=http://uk.psx.ign.com/articles/152/152130p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713005837/http://uk.psx.ign.com/articles/152/152130p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 2011|title=THQ needs to stay in school if it intends to compete against the big boys|author=Douglas, Adam|website=IGN Entertainment, Inc.|date=December 2, 1997|access-date=December 4, 2009}} Each fighter represents one of four different street gangs.{{cite magazine |title=Vs.: T*HQ Makes Fighting Short and Sweet |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=99 |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=October 1997|page=142}} Four bosses become available for selection upon certain conditions being met. Twelve different arenas based on real-life locations are used for combat. Fighting styles used include karate, aikido and kung fu.{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7994 |title=Vs. Overview|author=Marriott, Scott| website=Allgame|access-date=December 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114175727/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7994 |archive-date=November 14, 2014}}

{{div col | colwidth=15em}}

;Streets

• Mia
• Vikram
• Oleg
• Slim Daddy

;Hood

• Ramos
• Jalil
• Thana
• Paco

;Campus

• Harold
• Kathleen
• Leath
• O'Doul

;Beach

• Kenny
• Calucag
• Mineo
• Kara

;Bosses

• Eric O
• Joel
• Neige
• Hendrickson

{{div col end}}

The title is a port and localized version of Fighters' Impact which was released in Japanese arcades in September 1996, retaining the game engine, most of the play mechanics, and some animations and other elements, but introducing an entirely new lineup of characters, new arenas, and a soundtrack of licensed music.{{Cite magazine |date=June 1998 |title=Genuino sabor Americano |magazine=Superjuegos |page=101-102 |issue=74}}

The characters were designed by former Marvel Comics artist Kurtis Fujita.{{cite web|date=November 3, 1997|url=http://www.ign.com/games/vs/ps-2130|title=Vs. Review|website=IGN|publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc.}} According to Fujita, "The main idea and theme of Vs. was to create a game which had characters that Americans could identify with, while still maintaining the visual flair of Japanese anime and manga."{{cite web |last=Kalata |first=Kurt |title=Vs. |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/vs/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=1 September 2020 |date=May 9, 2011}} Some of the characters, such as Harold, were designed by Fujita on spec, before he knew of the street gang theme that THQ wanted for the game. The characters were animated using motion capture footage recorded at Polygon Magic's Tokyo studios.

The soundtrack includes music by Razed in Black, Los Infernos, Suicide Machines, and Pigs in Space.

{{Infobox video game

| title = Fighters' Impact

| image =

| caption =

| developer = Polygon Magic

| publisher = Taito

| director = Nakaaki Kuroki (arcade), Eiji Takeshima (console)

| producer =

| designer =

| composer = Yasuhisa Watanabe

| released = {{Unbulleted list|Arcade{{Video game release|WW|September 1996{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n137|title=

アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005)|author=Masumi Akagi}}}}PlayStation{{Video game release|JP|April 25, 1997}}}}

| genre = Fighting

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| platforms = Arcade, PlayStation

| artist = Shinkaida Tetsuyaro

}}{{nihongo foot|Fighters' Impact|ファイターズインパクト|Faitāzu Inpakuto}} is a 1996 fighting game from Taito, developed by Polygon Magic, on which Vs. is based on. It was released on PlayStation in Japan only, with Polygon Magic using it to rework it into a distinct Vs. for the American and PAL markets.

Control is through three buttons of shift, punch and kick. Each fighter (excluding Yukiwo) also has three different choices of fighting styles:{{Cite magazine |date=December 1996 |title=AM show - JAMMA |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_181_1996-12_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n55 |magazine=Computer and Video Games |page=56 |issue=181}} a main technique at which they excel and two sub-styles which could be either aikido, wrestling, boxing, karate, or else. This creates a wide variety of moves.{{Cite magazine |date=March 1997 |title=Japon News |url=https://archive.org/details/joypad-062-mars-1997/page/n47 |magazine=Joypad |page=48 |issue=62}}

Characters are: Shiroh, Kaede, Mark, Bernhard, Hornet, Yukiwo, Silene, Sanson, Hoihoi, Raoul, Faraha, Dr. Wiz, and Leon.

Yasuhisa Watanabe composed the game's music. Zuntata Records released the official soundtrack CD in November 1996.{{Cite web |title=ZTTL-0003 {{!}} FIGHTERS' IMPACT - VGMdb |url=https://vgmdb.net/album/686 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=vgmdb.net |language=en}}

{{Clear}}

{{Video game reviews

| GR = 57%{{cite web |title=Vs. for PlayStation |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/572576-vs/index.html |website=GameRankings |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209002648/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/572576-vs/index.html |archive-date=December 9, 2019}}

| EGM = 5.625/10{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Vs. |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=102|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=January 1998|page=164}}

| IGN = 4/10{{cite web |last=Douglas |first=Adam |title=Vs. |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/12/02/vs |website=IGN |access-date=31 August 2020 |date=December 2, 1997}}

}}

Reviews for Vs. were mediocre, with most critics commenting that while the game is decent at worst in every respect, it fails to hold up against its contemporaries. GamePro, for example, summed up that "Vs. is an extremely competent game with the misfortune of stumbling into some bad timing. If it had been released, say, 18 months ago, it would've been the greatest thing since sliced bread and probably could've started its own religion. Unfortunately, Vs. offers nothing new to the already solid lineup of 32-bit 3D fighting games established by Tekken 2, Soul Blade, and Fighters Megamix."{{cite magazine |author=Boba Fatt |title=PlayStation ProReview: Vs.|magazine=GamePro |issue=111|publisher=IDG |date=December 1997|page=164}} Common subjects of criticism were the unimaginative characters and the lack of variety in the moves. Reviewers for both Electronic Gaming Monthly and IGN also said the character models are too blocky, but GamePro considered them a highlight, stating that "The motion-captured characters are built well, if not a little blocky, and really move according to their unique fighting styles."

Most critics also found the frame rate impressively high, the evade move a strong feature, and the music both catchy and appropriate to the action. Sushi-X of Electronic Gaming Monthly said that "The music really saves much of the game for me", though he and co-reviewer Shawn Smith found the opponent A.I. absurdly difficult to the point where it takes the fun out of the single-player mode. IGN concluded that "Vs. is a decent start for a company looking to get into the fighting market, it's just not as accomplished as other fighters, even Tekken."

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150610213654/http://www.ign.com/articles/games/vs/ps-2130 Vs. related articles at IGN]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vs. (Video Game)}}

Category:1997 video games

Category:3D fighting games

Category:Fighting games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Organized crime video games

Category:PlayStation (console) games

Category:PlayStation (console)-only games

Category:Polygon Magic games

Category:THQ games

Category:Video games developed in Japan

ja:ファイターズ　インパクト