ClayFighter 63 1/3

ClayFighter 63⅓, released in 1997 for the Nintendo 64, is the third game in the ClayFighter series. It was both developed and published by Interplay Productions. The name is a joke on the "64" suffix that many Nintendo 64 games used, and it also nods to the film *Naked Gun 33⅓*. Critics panned the game at launch, citing poor gameplay, animation, and AI. A revised version, *ClayFighter: Sculptor's Cut*, came out in 1998, but only as a rental exclusive at Blockbuster. Because so few copies were made, *Sculptor's Cut* is now one of the rarest and most valuable Nintendo 64 titles.

The game uses stop-motion animation and claymation instead of standard computer animation, giving it a distinct look—just like the earlier *ClayFighter* and *ClayFighter 2: Judgment Clay*. The arenas are unusual because most have multiple rooms. During a fight, players can knock or kick opponents into different rooms, and the battle keeps going there. There are 14 rooms in total. The game pokes fun at other fighting games. It has a three-level super combo bar similar to the *Street Fighter Alpha* series, and parries like in *Street Fighter III*. Many super attacks are obvious twists on *Street Fighter* moves. The combo system resembles *Killer Instinct*, but the names are silly, like "Itty Bitty Combo" or "Triple Brown Betty Combo." Each attack has its own strengths and weaknesses.

The story takes place on the Isle of Klaymodo, where a purple meteor named Bessie crashed. Bessie holds a key ingredient called Bawk Choy, which Dr. Kiln needs for a world-dominating Mutagen. The main villains are Dr. Kiln and a voodoo practitioner named Happy Harry Houngan. Using lab work and voodoo spells, they create a bizarre group of henchmen, including Bonker (a clown gone bad) and Ickybod Clay (a mysterious entity from down under). Dr. Kiln is finishing his secret mutagen, code-named "Clayotic Claymorphisis," when Houngan enters the lab. A vial of the mutagen breaks in Dr. Kiln's hand, and it starts to come alive. The condition spreads fast, but Dr. Kiln's hand is severed by a falling rock or other accident. The hand scurries into the jungle, and Houngan chases after it. Meanwhile, a ship on a three-hour tour sinks near Rubbage Reef. The passengers include Bad Mister Frosty® (a former villain turned good) and Kung Pow, a wok chef known as Chef Boy R' Clay.