History Of 3D Fighting Games Explored

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History Of 3D Fighting Games Explored

Posted by simoniker on Saturday August 23, 2003 @11:02AM from the courtesy-professor-of-historical-chop-socky dept.

Thanks to GameSpy.com for their ongoing series of articles on fighting games, including 'A Brief History Of 3D Fighters' - Part 1 and Part 2. As the article notes, "It's been ten long years since 3D fighters first appeared. In that time, we've seen the genre toddle from flat-shaded polygons and floaty jumps to extremely realistic texture-mapping and gameplay depth that can exceed some of the best 2D fighters". although the piece points out "...things have been somewhat slow [within the genre] in recent times." There are also histories of the Virtua Fighter and Soul Calibur series, all thanks to the recent release of the budget-priced Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution for PS2, and next week's release of Soul Calibur 2 for PS2/Xbox/GameCube.

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Power Stone by dead+sun · 2003-08-23 11:20 · Score: 5, Informative

They make a pretty good history, but only touch on the Dreamcast as a part. I for one thought that Power Stone/Power Stone 2 were pretty cool 3D fighters for the Dreamcast.
And don't say they aren't fighters. Super Smash Bros. was mentioned as a fighter right after the Dreamcast bit.

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If not now, when?
1. Re:Power Stone by andy_fish · 2003-08-23 18:04 · Score: 1
  
  I think the rule they used was that a "fighter" involves two characters that can only move in 2D.
  Well, I guess that rule doesn't work cause some fighters allow you to move towards/away from the camera. But you have to agree there is some line between that and full 3d movement.
  I mean, if you want to call every game with 2 or more characters fighting a "fighter" then you'll have to include a lot more than just Power Stone.
  
  --
  & I wish I knew the password to your heart . . . &
2. Re:Power Stone by dead+sun · 2003-08-25 00:21 · Score: 1
  
  I don't think so because throughout both articles they're referring to games that break the 2D fighter genre. For instance there's the reference to Super Smash Bros. that I mention in my original post. There's also mention of Bushido Blade if I remember correctly, a game that is very non-"fighter" in that there are so many one hit kills it isn't funny.
  Power Stone 2 is the game from the Power Stone family I'm more familiar with, but the genius of the game is the interaction with the environment. The ability to string together combos of various moves isn't that great like in 2D fighters with a 3rd dimension, but with the plethora of weaponry as well as the ability to take advantage of your surroundings you have a very immersive fighting game.
  I agree it isn't a 2D fighter with some 3D afterthought, but I don't think that's what the article is talking about.
  
  --
  If not now, when?
Oh for God's Sake by Anonymous Coward · 2003-08-23 14:07 · Score: 2, Funny

Am I getting that old where there needs to be a history of 3D fighting games!?!
Meh by Milkhorse · 2003-08-23 16:51 · Score: 2, Insightful

3D fighters are usually fun, I certainly love DOA2 & 3, but they just dont seem to have the same visceral feel and amazing variety as the old 2D stuff. It has always seemed to me that the old school 2D fighters had tons more personality, and for some reason, smacking down some Chun Li whore with a loser like Balrog or Dhalsim hasn't yet been equaled.
3D shmee-D. by digeratus · 2003-08-23 20:45 · Score: 1

Ahh Doom. You can keep your pantsy realistic 3d models thankyou-very-much, I prefer my 2D floating monster shapes in square rooms.

Oh, and I just want to see what this "extrans" thing is.<i> hello</i>

Hmm.

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[digital] + [literatus]
Re:Tekken??? by markimusk · 2003-08-23 23:09 · Score: 1

Speaking of old school, how come the article didn't mention Data East's Karate Champ? Some "history of fighters".
Re:Tekken??? by lidocaineus · 2003-08-23 23:37 · Score: 1

I can't tell if this is meant in sarcasm, or just stupidity. Or maybe it's just stupid sarcasm.
Re:Tekken??? by bmorton · 2003-08-24 02:16 · Score: 1

Speaking of old school, how come the article didn't mention Data East's Karate Champ? Some "history of fighters".

If I recall correctly, Karate Champ wasn't a 3d fighter. :)

http://www.ggdb.com/GGDB/Details.asp?VID=1410&Ca t= TechRoot.KB.HK
Hmm. by usotsuki · 2003-08-25 02:53 · Score: 2, Interesting

And speaking of Chun Li.

She's Chinese, right? (And her name in Kanji does read "Chun Li" in Chinese.) But how come when she wins she says "Yatta", which is a purely Japanese word (i.e., not of Chinese origin)? O_o Also, when she says that "Spinning Bird Kick" or whatever, that's with a Japanese accent, not a Chinese accent. (And I think in Super and later she even does Hadoken?!) WTF. Only thing Chinese about her is her name, might as well call her "Shun Rei".

-uso.

--
Dreams, dreams, don't doubt dreams, dreaming children's dreaming dreams. Sailor Moon SS
1. Re:Hmm. by Milkhorse · 2003-08-25 04:56 · Score: 1
  
  You big nerd. I mean, honestly. I think Capcom is trying to give us an example of a CHUGOKUJIN coming to Japan, realizing that they are FAR SUPERIOR in every way, then adopting their language and idioms. Right.
very last post by muirhead · 2003-09-01 03:23 · Score: 1

last post!
i'm so +1:bad
Baby Ruby says "bwarghhhhh!"