Fighting Vipers

Review by: Ian Weatherseed

***Fighting Vipers Review***

Fighting Vipers is another game in Sega's run up to Christmas and at the moment is my favourite 3D beat-'em-up at the moment. Here is my review...

*First Impressions* AM2 have dazzled us before with the likes of Virtua Fighter 2, but can they do it again? By the looks of it, yes. Fighting Vipers is yet another arcade conversion and it looks good...

*Playability* Fighting Vipers is an extremely easy game to get into, as it has a "fun" element to it. If any of you didn't find VF2 very appealing because of how you needed to time your moves and really think them out, Fighting Vipers will be THE beat-'em-up for you.

Oppponents hits and smashing them through the walls of the ring. Awesome stuff.

*Lastability* AM2 have included numerous secrets and secret characters within the game including a huge inflatable bear (Kumachan) and the hidden option to fight with big heads and feet Virtua Fighter Kids style. However, the computer AI isn't that clever and doesn't

But, the Aranged Version, Hyper Version and Training mode should keep you going, not to mention the Versus Mode which is great fun.

*Graphics* Many people have complained that the graphics aren't very impressive, but the low-res is for a very good reason - the characters aren't textured just to look pretty in theis game. At the start of each round, each character is encased in a shell of armour would be 10 second replays while the new characters loaded in. But no - it's instant, and therefore very impressive.

*Sound* The SFX in Fighting Vipers aren't that sampled very well - mainly grunts and smashes of armour - but stil quite audible. the fights are accompanied by quite a horrible soft-rock soundtrack giving the game a rather grungy feel to it.

*Overall* Admittedly Fighting Vipers IS rather rough around the edges, but when you consider what this game is doing, I'm amazed it's actually on the Saturn at all. And gameplay wise it's ALL there! Not to mention the arranged versions which play even better! It's worth buying, even if you have VF2.