Fighting Stage Edition #1

This time, i write article about some places where heated battle occurs between two fighters for justice/fame/revenge/survival/fortune/other motives, in Video Games by the way. Certainly normal places can't be qualified as fighting stages, right?! There must be some kind of certain criteria to make anyplace to be interesting for fighting place. Or is it? We will see through these examples.

Larcen's Stage - Eternal Champions (Genesis)

It takes place in front of a Chicago theater (or cinema) in 20's where many men dressed in trenchcoat and wearing Fedora, it's Mafia's era is what i imply to. As you can see that the ticket-booth lady over there busily takes care of her fingernails and ignores a fight between a man that follows this era's fashion and a man in tight suit and wears futuristic visor. The mafia-looking man is Larcen himself  (the one i'm playing as). He is a mixture between Black Cat^tm and anyone who wears trenchcoat (could be mafia, the untouchable, or anyone who has sensible fashion in that era). That's pretty much the reason, he is my favorite in this game.

I can tell that this place is really belong in Al Capone's domain, with nōir atmosphere and occasionally a car that looks like the one that is gangster's property, passes near the fighters. Also, there is the parked one on right corner. I kind of curious with "Air Raider" movie that is posted there. Is it as good as "Top Gun"? Or better? By the way, do you know that every fighting stage in Eternal Champions has stage-fatality likes called overkill? This place is no exception. Can you guess what violence hazard fall upon the poor loser? 

If you guess he/she will be gunned down by local gangster. You're right. Congratulation! It's kind of ordinary to kill a man by emptying entire gun's magazine. But thanks anyway, pal!

Oh, you back with second magazine! That's really overkill him, lad! As you can see that nowthe lady is giving a glance with what happen in front of the cinema she works at after someone being beaten and gunned down, twice! She is more careless than Squidward Tentacle. If he's in the booth, he will go home immediately with lazy expression as always. 

One day your carelessness will backfire you, ignorant lady. I really hope so.

Mr. Bear's Ring - Battle K-Road (Arcade) 

Let's move to recent setting albeit still bit unreal. Please ignore a bout between Sylvester Stallone-like with a Grizzly bear (which is reasonably awesome) and concentrate to the ring instead! As you expect from a ring that designed by a bear, you will see bear-related stuff here. Such as: corner's decoration in blue and red color with empty-minded expression. And my favorite is the picture of adorable & round-y bear's head in the center also with writing "Teddy Bear". I assume Mr. Bear design it in order to comfort his victim who falls in the center of canvas with several broken bone and lots of bruises. How kind-hearted he is. Or should i say: He bears (*sic*) such a kind heart.
 

Magma Ocean Planet - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Tournament Fighters (Genesis)

Here is Raphael's stage which reflects his personality (hot-headed and such). Also his move is like M. Bison's Pscyho Crusher but without pscyho power only his sais and his raging personality. As you can see this fighting stage consists 80% volcanic rocks & lava. And worth to mention is that big chap in the center. He looks so excited with the fight. Why?

Oh, i get it now. Besides the fight serves as his afternoon-bath show, he also will get after-bath snack. So the loser will not only receives heavy-beating but also becomes spa-boiled snack for this guy. Speaking of the Magma Cyclops here, his eyes looks belong to cartoon character or sort of that. I mean his sclera should be red instead of white. See what i mean?
 

 River Kombat - Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (Arcade)

Now we move to peaceful part of this town until two fighters, uhm i mean kombatants disrupt this place. It's pretty dull place for fighting but i like shiny part of this river. It's beautiful. But i wonder if this pretty river lies a danger that serves as stage fatality.

Here goes nothing.

Nope! It's just for sweet scenery only. Here is your grief sin, Midway (now named as Nether Realm Studio)! Beside making Scorpion absents to burn his victim as main Fatality in one or two Mortal Kombats. 

Earthquake's Stage - Samurai Shodown II (Arcade)

In case you don't know about any of Samurai Shodown, Earthquake is baldy fat ninja on the rightside. You probably said "No way he is a ninja". Well, he wields scythe with chain for starter. Also (you probably won't believe this) he can vanish in a smoke and suddenly re-appear then attack his opponent like any ninja in Samurai Shodown including my favorite here, Galford. By the way, this place reeks crime. I mean Earthquake and his fellows look like bandit. He uses ninjutsu to rob anything lucrative like that train over there, i think. Some of his fellows are smoking! That's kind of bad guy's doing.

The one who is under train's light, thinks he is smoking bad-blood. You just pollute your own lung also other's around you, simpleton!

Finally, i cut him down along with his snacks. The eating guy over there will be happy that soon he get extra consumption without having quarrel with (now late) Earthquake. I bet his fellows don't hesitate to steal from other. They're rotten criminal afterall.

Ukyo's Stage - Samurai Shodown II (Arcade)

It takes place in rocky shore with array of Torii (red japanese shrine-gate). Most of them are sunken. And there is this lady in blue who look worried as Ukyo is currently hacked by Galford (controlled by me). I assume she is his girlfriend. Her worrying is well-founded because Ukyo fight a blonde ninja (who looks as fierce as his wolf pet. Hint: clenched teeth) in the middle of the night while Ukyo occasionally coughs (my elder brother told me that he gets TBC/Tuberculosis).

On the rightside, we got sunken/drowned shrine. Why would you build a shrine that has potential being eroded by waves also can only be accessed via boat or during low-water-level period? To worship Leviathan?!

Sniper_award14.wav. No! Wait! I'm so sorry that i killed your lover here, lady. Perhaps Poppy's pups can make you feel better. They are tame. I swear.

Haohmaru's Stage - Samurai Shodown II (Arcade)

Let me be honest, Haohmaru's place is the same as Ukyo's albeit in sunset time. Also his girlfriend isn't timid like Ukyo's. She is cheering Haohmaru and has strong faith in his capability to defeat the blonde ninja. By the way, that's nice armlet/arm-protector there, lady in red.

But, Haohmaru's place is better than Ukyos's because of sunset coupled with that mountain. Lovely scenery, isn't it?!

Then Galford kills Haohmaru in front of his girlfriend. As if i make Galford dons "Widow Maker" title beside "Ninja-Weeabo with Wolf Pet". As token of apology, how about i lend you Poppy's pups for comforting session, ma'am? No need to quickly return them! Just take your time as much as you want!

Under-construction Dojo - Capcom vs. SNK Millennium Fight 2000 Pro (PSX)

Next is in crossover fighting game between Capcom and SNK. No! This is neither bootleg game or MUGEN. It's official though it only release in Japanese version because 2000 is PS2's era. Anyway, here is a fight between Kyo Kusanagi and Ken Master in a Dojo that is not constructed yet. The dojo owner is certainly look pissed and occasionally tell them to go away. If i'm not mistaken, the dojo owner is Takuma Sakazaki, Ryo's and Yuri's father. While he is angry with fight on his "premature" dojo, the builders look relaxed and enjoy it. "Not bad for lunch break's sideshow. And it's free!" they think. I have no idea what with that American Flag. Maybe it something related to Takuma's (late) wife that is American, or maybe this dojo is in America.

As any King of Fighters's fans know, Iori Yagami is Kyo's mortal enemy. Takuma says "Now that you defeat your rival. Get out of here at this instant!". Actually, i'm not done yet with this place, Mr. Sakazaki.  

I pick training mode this time so i can take picture easier. On the left side, there is SONSON, 24 hours mart. That mart's name is originated from Capcom's 1984 game title. The game is basically adapted from Chinese classic legend "Journey to The West". You know? It's about journey of yōkai monkey named "Sun Wukong" along a Buddhist priest and his other companion to obtain a Holy Book in the west.  By the way, here i pit an Australian Wrestler, Raiden with (everyone know) Brazilian Beastman, Blanka.

Why i choose to play Raiden? Because this place has unique feature: it's bouncing whenever a fighter is slammed to this planks floor. Who else can slams someone to the ground better than a wrestler? Beside bouncing, the premise will lose its integrity if someone is rammed against the floor so many times. As you can see that ceiling's/roof's frames collapse and right wall's frame also has failed. Takuma will get really bad headache for this and also the builder will be employed longer (which means more salary for them). Ok! I'm done. Have a nice day, Mr. Sakazaki!

Well that's the end of today's article. Bear (another pun!) in mind that there will be episode #2 in future! Just wait and see!