Review by: Radek Staniek

How much you like this game will depend on what you're looking for. Let me explain. I was expecting a bit of a preview as to what VF3 would look and play like on Saturn, with all the Viper and extra characters being an special bonus to the VF crowd. Fighters Megamix is NOT that. It is a compilation disc that combines Virtua Fighter 2, Fighting Vipers, and other AM2 characters. If you loved Vipers, you will love Megamix. If you love VF2 on the Saturn for its beautiful motion-capture and realistic and smooth gameplay, chances are you will be disappointed with Megamix, just as I was. Why?

Let me be honest. The VF crew looks HORRIBLE. The resolution has dropped, making each character look less detailed than in VF2. No longer do their mouths move during the taunt scenes after the fight is over. All of the backgrounds are poor, the exception being the hazing desert stage, with VF3 arcade intro music playing here. The gameplay itself has suffered because the ring-outs are gone, taking away a part of the deceptive element of strategy I love in VF2 and VF3. All you get is a choice between endless landscapes ala Tekken, or caged stages ala Vipers. For the VF purist such as myself this is unacceptable. Onto the moves and actual character interaction... Yes, the VF guys have most of their VF3 moves - this is a definite plus. Also, one would think the sidestepping is a welcome addition, but it's actually useless if you want to win consistently (if you waste time dodging you WILL get hit). My biggest gripe in FM, however, is the hit detection. Hitting an opponent sounds like you're hitting a sandbag or a paper figure. I'm not joking.

So that's how I feel about the game as being a progression toward an eventual conversion of VF3 for the Saturn. I have said earlier that if you liked Vipers you WOULD like this game, and I meant it. Point being, I never did like that game. Megamix is essentially Vipers (that's how it plays even though there is a VF mode) with Virtua guys and some other other characters. Let me say that I do love the Sonic the Fighters characters, mostly Bark the Duck. THAT game I plan on buying. Other additions, like the Daytona car, Rent-A-Hero, and Siba are fun to play once, but are really more of a novelty than serious contenders.

Bottom line: if you're hoping for a Fighting Vipers game with more characters and goofy, out-of-the-window action, get Megamix. But if you want a VF style game along the lines of the 2 must-get titles VF2 and VF Kids, forget this and wait until VF3 shakes up the home gaming scene winter 97.