Fighting Stage Edition #4

Some people like me, love to look something that seems trivial and write (maybe) funny article about it. Therefore i write another Fighting Stage article! Hope you enjoy it. 

Stage 4 - Mutant Fighter (Arcade)

We begin at Data East's quarter-munching and finger-wrangling game about fantasy medieval wrestling duel: Mutant Fighter. In this stage, we have some morning star on center section of arena. They're lethal if you touch them or irish-whipped to. Demoman_positivevocalization01.wav

On left corner, we have a king and his wives watching our match. Sadly, they look not amused with our deadly performance as if we're doing boring soap opera instead of intense duel to death. There's not much enthusiasm either on the opposite side. A wizard seems more focused on his crystal ball rather than our match. This is clearly an example of gadget freak in fantasy medieval setting. At least, the devil statues on the back look scrutinizing our match or maybe judging us. Thanks, guys!

Away from the arena is lush green with some building and castle. Either this is coincidence or just Data East being lazy, there's verdant forest with some building and white castle just like in previous stage on previous edition. Either way, it's very wonderful to look at.

  

Stage 4 - Mutant Fighter (Arcade)

Now i have a match with golem in arena on high altitude. Needless to say that, you will see nimbus clouds a lot in the back. There's no audience up here maybe because this place doesn't meet safety standard or to be more precise it does in half-hearted way. See that there's no rope on the back side and you will understand what i mean. Or maybe everyone has acrophobia including that damned King.   

I really like the kingdom insignia on the center of arena. It's so majestic and has lots of detail. Not to mention the unicorn on its side. It's also good. I wouldn't be surprised if Data East "imitates" some of European national symbols to create this ones. I mean look at that lion on the top for example. It looks like one of the Three Lions, right?

  

Howard Arena - Fatal Fury (Genesis)

Not much i can say about this one except it's generic fighting arena made of bricks. But there's some sculpted wall around this part and also relatively-small Japanese castle near the left corner while there's green overlay of forest on the very back . There's also crude tree but it's not worth mentioning since it's bad, in my opinion that is.

On the right side of the arena, there's small altar/shrine that's made of rough stone on right corner. To be honest this arena makes me think about that tournament arena on Dragon Ball.

If the player won a round, the weather becomes rainy! This give this place 'dramatic fighting' vibe. Even without the rain, this fight is dramatic enough especially in this moment where Terry do "Power Knuckle" to some kung-fu old man that once small and now become hulk! Sniper_cheer02.wav 

'Scene' Stage - Dragon Ball Z (Genesis)

Speaking of arena in Dragon Ball, here it is! The arena of martial art competition. For some reason, it's named scene although i play the French version of the game. Can't they just call it 'arena'? Anyway, this arena is much narrower than Howard Arena for sure. Maybe it's intended to prevent 'projectile spamming' strategy or to copy 100% from the anime. To Dragon Ball fans, you must be familiar with this stage: The sculpted wall that almost look like in most South Eastern Asia temples (including in Bali) but with demon sculpture with less fang or horn. Also the main hall that serves as rest area for other contestants and such.

Funatsu - Samurai Shodown IV - Amakusa's Revenge (Arcade)

Excuse me? You called me the ninja weebs with wolf pet as boring? Unacceptable! Ehm! Anyway, Funatsu stage here is beach with beautiful waves coming in our direction. It's way better to see them in motion but i don't want to bother you with me spamming Ragna Blades on this freaking sod.

There's also Amakusa's castle yonder. I think most of stages in this game, shows the castle as it's the destination of anyone you control.  There's also small cave on right corner as results of erosion by the sea. Beautiful! 

   

5th Avenue and 2nd Street (Hokutomaru's Stage) - Garou - Mark of The Wolves (Arcade)

The fighting match takes place in the intersection road where mass traffic accident happens. What's the cause? Of course, because of this naughty ninja brat, Hokutomaru. What the police can do is calming everyone here and no one takes initiative to subdue the culprit. So it's up to the player/me to do the task. There's 2 advertisement board on the background that interest me. First, on the left there's photo of mafia group shoot. I have seen somewhere in internet that, the one on center who's sitting is Geese Howard and the one who carry red staff is Billy Kane. If i'm not mistaken, either one on the side is Yamazaki. The other ads board on the center is -without doubt- Andy Bogard and Mai Shiranui holding hand and they advertise 'Tyutul Bank'. Many many time my mind interpret the bank's name as Tuyul Bank. Actually, that's brilliant idea. A bank that work supernatural thieves, will be lucrative bank. No matter how big the monetary problem of the bank, they will keep making profit if they dispatch the thieving ghost of small children to steal money from everyone, including you! Speaking of child, i' pretty sure this small bastard is love fruit of Andy and Mai. Because they're busy on other advertisement photo session, they just leave their kid alone wreaking havoc in busy street. I really hate irresponsible parents.        

There's change on the crowd, if round 2 begins. A scooter rider looks lost on top of a car and its driver obviously upset about this. Near said car there's a bloke that looks very stressful with the situation. Maybe he's carrying his pet dog that sick very bad and he can't go to vet because of this accident. Another bloke calmly check red car of his while a blonde bloke is very angry at Hokutomaru but is held by an officer. Good for him as you know Hokutomaru is sly, very sly. He's infamous for his move where he suddenly vanishes and strike overhead from thin air. He can also throw shurikens. Sometime i wonder why he's more Ninja-ish than his parents.

Thing get calmer in round 3. The driver of the red car is sleeping on its hood. There's also blonde couples that mingling near broken yellow cars. I realize that i cover SNK's fighting game stages a lot. I will do something really different...

Tree's Rope Bridge Stage - Bikini Karate Babes (PC)

 

My first comment on this stage is: "Well, this is look like where Ewoks live in Endor". The setting could takes place in Jurassic Park forest or jungle where Tarzan lives. The most appropriate possibility will be the last one given there's no Dinosaurs or Ewok around here. To be honest, there's only ladies in swimsuit in this game fighting among each other for no reason. I like the detail on the huge tree's bark. It looks almost real and gorgeous. About the rope bridge. It's the widest rope bridge that i ever see in my whole gaming experience. There's no dynamic on the bridge whatsoever even with the fighters doing intense acrobatic move or stumbled on it. It's not even bouncing at all. You can guess which thing that will bounce in this game and this bridge is sure won't.

Sarah's Stage - Virtua Fighter 2 (Genesis)

 

To wash away the "bad" part of this article, i will review stage that's considered not so interesting. Besides, i want to give non-climatic end for once. This fight takes place in generic stone arena and there's Roman arches and stairs behind. Is this place can be considered Coliseum? Sometime there's lightning effect during the match, giving dramatic effect as my Akira kicks Sarah in abdomen. Her flying also bonus on dramatic effect. That's it for now.