Galaxy Fight
Encyclopedia
, or simply , is a arcade
fighting game
developed and published by Sunsoft for the Neo-Geo
and Sega Saturn
. It was later ported in a two-in-one game collection titled , along with Waku Waku 7
, another fighting game developed by Sunsoft.
Galaxy Fight was Sunsoft's first approach into fighting games, and consequently the first game in the genre that the company released for the Neo Geo
. Even as a prequel
of sorts to Waku Waku 7 (which uses the same engine), the games have few things in common (one of them being the mid-boss, Bonus-Kun). The players choose one of eight characters and travel among the in-game solar system to defeat the opponents inhabiting each of the planets before they get the chance to fight Felden and settle their personal scores with him.
The game uses a four-button layout where the first three buttons are used for non-specified striking attacks (they can be anything ranging from punches and kicks to tail whips and bites) with each specific button yielding different strengths of attacks. The fourth button is used specifically for taunts which has no purpose beyond annoying the opponent or showing off. Combining several buttons together may yield new attacks or special moves depending on the character.
Galaxy Fight does not feature any extra bars other than the ones displaying the health of the character; considering the time, this could be seen as old school
, because most other fighters released the same year used Super bars (e.g. The King of Fighters '95
, Samurai Shodown III
, Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, and Street Fighter Alpha).
One of the innovative features of this game is that there are no walls in the stages to corner players; instead, the screen can scroll indefinitely. This is an uncommon feature in 2D fighting games (other examples of this is Shuma-Gorath
's stage in Marvel Super Heroes
and all stages in Joy Mech Fight
) and is usually more closely associated with the 3D Tekken series.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
fighting game
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
developed and published by Sunsoft for the Neo-Geo
Neo Geo (console)
The is a cartridge-based arcade and home video game system released on July 1, 1991 by Japanese game company SNK. Being in the Fourth generation of Gaming, it was the first console in the former Neo Geo family, which only lived through the 1990s...
and Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
. It was later ported in a two-in-one game collection titled , along with Waku Waku 7
Waku Waku 7
is a SUNSOFT fighting game initially released as an arcade game for the MVS / Neo Geo system in 1996. It was later ported to the Sega Saturn. An arcade-perfect port is included in the 2008 Playstation 2 release, Sunsoft Collection. The Neo Geo version will be ported to the Japanese Virtual Console...
, another fighting game developed by Sunsoft.
Plot
A number of legends exist throughout the planets of our galaxy that say the Divine Being appears once every millennium. The time is upon us now, and many have converged on the Denius system to greet the Divine Being. Without this god of legend, all is dark and empty. His name is Felden Crais and he knows only one way of doing things. He is neither benevolent nor malevolent, but his power is omnipotent. No one mortal being is more powerful than he.Gameplay
Neo Geo (console)
The is a cartridge-based arcade and home video game system released on July 1, 1991 by Japanese game company SNK. Being in the Fourth generation of Gaming, it was the first console in the former Neo Geo family, which only lived through the 1990s...
. Even as a prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
of sorts to Waku Waku 7 (which uses the same engine), the games have few things in common (one of them being the mid-boss, Bonus-Kun). The players choose one of eight characters and travel among the in-game solar system to defeat the opponents inhabiting each of the planets before they get the chance to fight Felden and settle their personal scores with him.
The game uses a four-button layout where the first three buttons are used for non-specified striking attacks (they can be anything ranging from punches and kicks to tail whips and bites) with each specific button yielding different strengths of attacks. The fourth button is used specifically for taunts which has no purpose beyond annoying the opponent or showing off. Combining several buttons together may yield new attacks or special moves depending on the character.
Galaxy Fight does not feature any extra bars other than the ones displaying the health of the character; considering the time, this could be seen as old school
Retrogaming
Retrogaming, also known as old-school gaming, is the hobby of playing and collecting older computer, video, and arcade games. These games are played either on the original hardware, on modern hardware via emulation, or on modern hardware via ports or compilations...
, because most other fighters released the same year used Super bars (e.g. The King of Fighters '95
The King of Fighters '95
The King of Fighters '95 is a fighting game produced by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home console. It is the sequel to The King of Fighters '94 and the second game in The King of Fighters series...
, Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood, known as in Japan and Fighters Swords in Korea, is the third game in SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series of fighting games for the Neo Geo...
, Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, and Street Fighter Alpha).
One of the innovative features of this game is that there are no walls in the stages to corner players; instead, the screen can scroll indefinitely. This is an uncommon feature in 2D fighting games (other examples of this is Shuma-Gorath
Shuma-Gorath
Shuma-Gorath is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard, best known for his later interpretations as a demonic enemy of Doctor Strange in Marvel Comics publications. He is also well known for being an unconventional playable character in the Marvel Super Heroes and Marvel vs. Capcom video...
's stage in Marvel Super Heroes
Marvel Super Heroes (arcade game)
is a fighting game developed by Capcom. Originally released in the arcade in 1995 on the CPS-2 arcade system, it was later ported to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation in late 1997...
and all stages in Joy Mech Fight
Joy Mech Fight
, sometimes called Joy Mecha Fight, is a fighting game for the Family Computer, released only in Japan on May 21, 1993. The game was released during the generation shift between the Famicom and the newer Super Famicom, and Joy Mech Fight is counted among one of the most important late Famicom games...
) and is usually more closely associated with the 3D Tekken series.
Characters
- Alvan: Alvan is the "Prince of the Ruined Planet". His planet, Rozalis, was invaded and destroyed and his family was murdered by Felden 1000 years ago. Alvan managed to survive thanks to the magic crimsom stone and challenges Felden to save the life of the few living beings that still left in his planet. Alvan's family members live six or seven times more than the humans: 92-year old, he's only 12 in Earth years. The horn in his head is a characteristic of his family and it appears only when they are preparing to fight. Special moves: Al Blast, Al Fire, Al Slugger, Al Thunder, Super Alvan.
- Bonus Kun: Rouwe's own punching bag that has come to life. Rouwe has taught him basic fighting techniques. Bonus-Kun is a homage/parody of RyuRyu (Street Fighter)is a video game player character created by Capcom, the main protagonist of the Street Fighter series. Having premiered in the first Street Fighter in 1987, Ryu appears as the lead character from the game along with his best friend Ken Masters participating in the Street Fighter tournament...
. In Galaxy Fight, he wears a red headband and his moves are limited to a small fireball and a headbutt. In his reappearance in Waku Waku 7, he is able to attack using his lower half and several adaptations of Ryu's techniques, but since he has no arms, he cannot block.
- Gunter: A gigantic green-skinned fire-breathing monster of immense power. Only he and Alvan appear to recognize G. Done's mystical nature. Gunter's fighting style is simple yet extremely violent. Throughout the course of his story, he speaks in broken English, though in his ending, he speaks fluently, as does his wife and young son.
- Felden: The final boss of the game (excluding Rouwe). He is a being composed of golden flame with a fiery blue crown. When facing Alvan, Felden reveals that he was the one who placed the curse on Alvan's planet. In every character's ending, Felden's body dissipates upon defeat, leaving only his blue flame and a disembodied voice behind, which soon extinguishes itself as well. Special moves: Abyss, Big Bang, Comet Crash, Elbow Drop, Haley's Heel, Kinetic Storm, Solar Flare, Solar Meteor.
- G. Done: Nobody knows much about this street thug character except for Alvin and Gunter, who can apparently sense his mystical nature. In his ending, after defeating Felden, Felden reveals to the player that Done is "another myself (sic)." Exactly what Done and Felden have is common is never revealed, however. Upon winning a match, the in-game announcer will announce him as "Golden Done."
- Juri: A female thief that is obsessed with becoming stronger and more beautiful, she despises those she considers ugly (which is pretty much everyone). Her ending reveals that her parents were murdered while she was still young, and several years later her lover and partner in crime betrayed her, thus giving her a drive to become both the toughest and prettiest warrior in the galaxy. Interestingly, upon winning a match, the in-game announcer will pronounce her name as "Julie." This is probably due to mistranslation, as the Japanese will usually substitute the letter L for R when writing English words, as "L" is not a naturally occurring sound in Japanese linguistics.
- Kazuma: "The Raging Storm" Kazuma travels with Rolf in his adventures throughout the galaxy, looking for powerful warriors, seeking to be stronger and continue with the tradition of the martial arts of his family. His father was murdered by Rouwe. Special moves: Blade Storm, Hurricane Destruction, Ninja Replicant, Ninja Death Tornado.
- Musafar: Musafar is a robot built by the Fakir Empire. His objective is to defeat all the warriors and get their weaknesses so that the Fakir Empire can take over the Galaxy. In his ending, Musafar suddenly turns against the Fakir Empire by destroying one of its spacecrafts. He then takes off his helmet to reveal a humanoid face, claiming to have remembered everything. He was once a soldier that was captured by the Empire, converted into a war machine under their control. Now free from their control, he sets out to destroy the Empire. Interestingly, Musafar appears in Rolf's ending graphic, providing assistance to Rolf and Kazuma in a skirmish, implying that the three have joined forces.
- Rolf: The self-proclaimed "Hero of the Galaxy." He fights in a battle suit that resembles a 20th century space suitSpace suitA space suit is a garment worn to keep an astronaut alive in the harsh environment of outer space. Space suits are often worn inside spacecraft as a safety precaution in case of loss of cabin pressure, and are necessary for extra-vehicular activity , work done outside spacecraft...
sans helmet, equipped with a short-range flamethrower, jetpack, small energy pistol, and an ear-mounted single-eye visor, similar to the Scouter devices featured by the Saiyans from Dragon Ball ZDragon Ballis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995; later the 519 individual chapters were published into 42 tankōbon volumes by Shueisha. Dragon Ball was inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the...
. He is brash and very confident, and likes to utilize his jetpack to pull off high-speed fighting techniques. As such he is the only playable character that is capable of performing a double-jump. He and Kazuma are allies, but still enjoy sparring against one another from time to time. In his ending, Rolf appears in a skirmish, fighting alongside Kazuma and Musafar.
- Roomi: Roomi's dream is to become popular, like Juri. During the course of the game, Rolf is commissioned by her father to bring her back home. In her ending, she becomes a singer that doubles as a fighter. Famous on her home planet before leaving on her journey. She senses her opponent's feelings before they strike, and has an in-game style that resembles Blanka and Felicia.
- Rouwe: A special boss that appears only if a player beats the game without losing a round. He was apparently responsible for the death of Kazuma's father. In his pre-fight taunt, he claims that the player "licked the young feller," most likely referring to the game's proper final boss, Felden, though what he means by "young" is unknown, as Felden is supposedly over 1000 years old. This may imply that Rouwe, while looking like an old man already, may possibly be much older than Felden. Special moves: Jarring Wrist, Oni Down, Oni's Fury, Oni's Rage, Oni's Wrath, Twin Oni's Seeking, Upper Solitude, Wind Storm.
- Yacopu: Yacopu is Rouwe's pet rabbit and the game's midboss, fought before Felden. He originated from the Nintendo Game Boy title, Trip WorldTrip Worldis a platform video game developed and published by Sunsoft for the Game Boy. It was released in Japan on November 27, 1992, and in Europe in 1993. The game's plot centers around the bunny-like being and his quest to retrieve the flower of peace so that peace will return to Yacopu's disarranged...
. He has the ability to shape-shift himself into whoever he fights against, providing a mirror match. While in his regular form, he can only be hit by crouching attacks while on the ground.