Sonic the Fighters

Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox video game Template:Nihongo foot released outside Japan as Sonic Championship, is a 1996 fighting game developed by Sega AM2 and published by Sega for their Model 2 arcade system. The game pits players in one-on-one battles with a roster of characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Sonic the Fighters was made using the fighting engine for Fighting Vipers (1995), and was the first 3D game in the Sonic series. The idea for a Sonic fighting game was conceived when a Sega AM2 programmer experimented with a 3D Sonic the Hedgehog model in Fighting Vipers, its animation impressing and convincing the Sonic Team to approve the project.

A home console port for the Sega Saturn was announced but ultimately canceled, resulting in the game staying an arcade exclusive until 2005, when it was released as part of the Sonic Gems Collection for GameCube and PlayStation 2. It was re-released again in 2012 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, featuring new playable characters and an online versus mode. It has since been included as a bonus game in the Like a Dragon series.

Sonic the Fighters received mixed reviews. Critics praised the graphics, especially the cartoon-like animations, but criticized the gameplay as rudimentary. It was ultimately regarded as disappointing for fans of the fighting game genre but an obscure novelty for Sonic fans.

Gameplay

File:Sonicthefightersshot.jpg

Sonic fighting in a match with Knuckles

Sonic the Fighters is a 3D fighting game in which players compete in one-on-one battles with characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.<ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref> In the game's scenario, Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends each own one of the Chaos Emeralds. They are holding a fighting tournament to determine who will take the emeralds in order to power a spaceship and stop series antagonists Doctor Robotnik and Metal Sonic from building an evil fortress in space.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite book</ref> The original arcade and 2005 release included eight playable characters: Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Amy Rose, Espio the Chameleon, Fang the Sniper, and new characters Bean the Dynamite and Bark the Polar Bear.<ref name=":12" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The 2012 re-release added Metal Sonic, Doctor Robotnik, and Honey the Cat as playable characters, all previously only accessible through hacking into the original arcade version.<ref name=":11">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Honey is based on a character with the same name from Fighting Vipers (1996).<ref name="1upinterview" />

The game employs simple fighting game mechanics.<ref name=":8" /> Each character can punch, kick, and use a defensive barrier.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite book</ref> Combining these buttons also allows for a variety of special moves unique to each character.<ref name=":10">Template:Cite book</ref> The barrier can block attacks, but it can be damaged and eventually be destroyed by an opponent; players have access to limited number of barriers per match.<ref name=SSM9/> The barrier does not protect from being grabbed or thrown, or from attacks from behind. Players can spend a barrier to temporarily enter "Hyper Mode" which allows them to perform several attacks in quick succession. Some attacks can be avoided by squatting or dodging. Players can also perform a "safe landing" which allows them to recover quickly when thrown or launched into the air.<ref name=":9" />

Development and release

Sonic the Fighters was conceived by producer Yu Suzuki.

Sonic the Fighters was developed by Sega AM2, Sega's arcade game development team behind the Virtua Fighter series.<ref name="segasammag416">Template:Cite journal</ref> The idea for a Sonic the Hedgehog fighting game was conceived by AM2 lead developer Yu Suzuki who saw character designer Masahiro Sugiyama dabbling with a Sonic the Hedgehog model in AM2's Fighting Vipers.<ref name="1upinterview" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":4">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Suzuki pitched the idea for a Sonic fighting game to Hiroshi Kataoka, another one of the heads of AM2.<ref name="1upinterview">Template:Cite web</ref> Since Sonic Team was in charge of licensing the Sonic characters, Kataoka had to present the idea to the head of Sonic Team, Yuji Naka.<ref name="1upinterview" /><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Kataoka was worried Naka would not like the concept of Sonic characters fighting each other, but Naka was receptive.<ref name="1upinterview" /> At first Naka was concerned that Sonic would be unable to fight considering his large head and short arms, but he was delighted after seeing the smooth animation accomplished by Suzuki's team.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite journal</ref> Original Sonic character designer Naoto Ohshima was also pleased with Sonic's animations.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite journal</ref> Sega AM2 began development with Sonic Team supervising over the implementation of the characters and setting.<ref name=":0" /> They developed for the Sega Model 2 arcade board using the Fighting Vipers engine as a foundation to build from.<ref name="1upinterview" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

Since this was the first time Sonic was being rendered with 3D graphics, Naka gave Kataoka a Sonic figurine to help his team model the character.<ref name="1upinterview" /> Suzuki focused his team on modeling the characters' faces correctly so they were instantly recognizable on arcade floors.<ref name=":2" /> The development team added in the barrier mechanism because the characters' arms were too small for traditional blocking to look distinct. They also added rings that drop when a player is hit to make it easier for beginners to judge how much damage they were taking instead of referring to the health bar. AM2 explored whether dropped rings could be picked up to restore health or the barrier's power,<ref name=SSM9>Template:Cite magazine</ref> but ultimately did not include this feature. They made the controls simple to help beginners to the genre.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref>

In early prototypes demonstrated for the press, only Sonic and Tails were shown fighting on an early stage based on Green Hill Zone.<ref name=":1" /> Other characters were added later, and Naka personally asked AM2 to create new characters for the Sonic universe. Suzuki jokingly said that anyone who attempted a Sonic game had the duty to create new characters.<ref name=":1" /> They conceived two new characters, Bean the Dynamite and Bark the Polar Bear.<ref name=":4" /> Bean's design was inspired by the lead character in the Sega arcade game Dynamite Düx (1989).<ref name=":12" /> In later years, hackers found Honey from Fighting Vipers was hidden in Sonic the Fighters as a playable character, and modeled as an anthropomorphic cat. Kataoka believes Honey's character designer slipped her in there purposely.<ref name="1upinterview" />

Sonic the Fighters was first released in Japanese arcades in June 1996, followed by a limited release in North America in July.<ref name=":12" /><ref name="gamespy_rev" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With its simplified controls, the game was marketed towards beginners, including women and children.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":7" /> In August 2005, it received its first home console release through Sonic Gems Collection, a Sonic games compilation for the GameCube and PlayStation 2. The collection also included Sonic CD, Sonic R, and several Sonic Game Gear titles.<ref name=":8" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November 2012, Sonic the Fighters was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 via each consoles' respective online marketplace.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This version added Metal Sonic, Doctor Robotnik, and Honey the Cat as playable characters and featured new online versus modes.<ref name=":11" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sonic the Fighters is playable at the in-game arcades in Lost Judgment (2021), added as part of the Sonic series' 30th anniversary, and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (2023).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This version of the game retains the hidden characters from the digital re-releases.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Kataoka stated in 2006 that Sonic the Fighters was the game he was most proud of.<ref name="1upinterview" /> Naka also approved of the final product.<ref name=":0" />

Abandoned Sega Saturn port

In early stages of development, Sega was planning to port Sonic the Fighters to the Sega Saturn. Initial release windows were theorized for late 1996, a few months after the planned arcade release.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> At the E3 1996 video game convention, a SquareSoft representative was given a private demonstration of new Sega Saturn development software, and reported to the press later that a Saturn version of Sonic the Fighters was shown.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1997, Computer and Video Games reported a rumor that Sonic the Fighters would release for the Saturn in Japan mid-year and North America a couple months later.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1998, the Saturn port was still scheduled for release in Japan, though the North American release had since been dropped.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Ultimately, a Saturn port was never released. Yojiro Ogawa of Sonic Team said in retrospect that Sonic the Fighters was not ported to the Saturn because it was difficult to reproduce a similar experience to the arcade version. He felt they were able to accomplish this when it was re-released in 2005.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref>

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Sonic the Fighters as the 13th most popular arcade game of June 1996.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

After seeing it demonstrated at a Japanese arcade expo, GamePro shared their admiration of the game's cartoon-like animation, comparing it to Looney Tunes.<ref name=gamepro>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Next Generation gave an average review, praising the visuals but criticizing the gameplay. They believed the backgrounds and character animations were detailed well, but felt that hardcore fighting game fans would be disappointed with the lack of gameplay depth. They concluded by giving the game 3 out of 5 stars, calling it a fun game that "exploits Sonic milieu without feeling too aggressive."<ref name="nextgen">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Critics shared mixed thoughts for its 2005 re-release on Sonic Gems Collection. Both IGN and GameSpy called it a stripped-down version of the original Virtua Fighter, and GameSpot believed it was a simplified version of Virtua Fighter 2.<ref name=":8" /><ref name="gamespy_rev">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="gspotreview">Template:Cite web</ref> The gameplay was criticized, with most reviewers describing it as rudimentary, simple, and dated.<ref name=":8" /><ref name="gamespy_rev" /><ref name="gspotreview" /><ref name="eurog_review">Template:Cite web</ref> The lack of extensive combos and depth to the game's strategy contributed to this.<ref name=":8" /><ref name="gamespy_rev" /> Some critics recommended the game to fans of the Sonic series for the novelty of seeing a sizable roster of Sonic characters fighting with cartoon-like moves, and because this release was the only way to play the game at home at the time.<ref name=":8" /><ref name="gamespy_rev" /><ref name="gspotreview" /><ref name="ninp">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Template:Video game reviews The 2012 release received unfavorable reviews.<ref name=mc>Template:Cite web</ref> Official Xbox Magazine called it an interesting and obscure release, and a fascinating part of Sega's history, but concluded that it loses traction because of its lack of seriousness as a fighting game. They did, however, praise the cartoon quality of the graphics. They thought the way the characters squashed and stretched was rarely seen and still uncommon even in 2012.<ref name=":11" /> GamesMaster felt the game lacked depth to its gameplay compared to other fighting games.<ref name=gmaster/> X360 criticized its repetitive, simplistic gameplay and lamented how the game "repeatedly discourages the use of skill."<ref name=x360mag/> Template:Clear

External links

• Official Sega Arcade webpage Template:In lang
• Official Sega Sonic Gems Collection webpage Template:In lang