Fighting Mania
A boxing arcade game based on Fist of the North Star.
Fighting Mania: Fist of the North Star is a boxing game based on the manga series Fist of the North Star. It was released by Konami in 2000 as a coin-operated arcade game.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Konami
- Series
- Fist of the North Star
- Arcade system
- Konami System 573
Facts from the source article.
Cabinet
The arcade cabinet stands about 6'2" tall, 34" wide, and about 4' deep. The monitor is recessed into the cabinet. Six orange punching pads with red LED lights line the monitor, swinging out on hinges. Two black plastic special gloves rest in pockets on the front, tied to the cabinet to prevent theft. Players may wear the gloves or play without them.
Gameplay
When an on-screen enemy attacks, a punch pad swings out on its hinge. At full extension the LEDs light red; the pad stays lit briefly then retracts. The player must punch the pad while the LEDs are lit. Punch strength is irrelevant; the game warns not to punch hard to avoid breaking the machine. Only timing matters, with punches delivered at half strength. Hitting a lit pad blocks the attack and damages the opponent via counter-attack. Punching too early or too late blocks without counter-attack or reduces damage taken. Missing a pad results in full damage. Tougher opponents throw punches in faster, more chaotic patterns, sometimes requiring striking only one lit pad among dummy pads or hitting pads in exact order. Both player and enemy have a life gauge and a tech meter of seven stars resembling the Big Dipper. As attacks land or damage is taken, stars light up; when full, the game automatically executes a special move and instructs the player how to use it based on the enemy. The game grades performance on remaining life, agility, wisdom (wiz), skills, and finishing moves (arts).
Sequel
A sequel to the original Fighting Mania was released in December 2000. It contains all seven courses from the original game and adds five additional paths based on the later portion of the manga, including one where the player controls the bounty hunter Ein. The sequel was distributed in a deluxe two-monitor cabinet allowing two-player competitive or cooperative play. Modes include Clash! Death Star (single-player), Versus Mode (competitive two-player), and Tag Team Mode (cooperative two-player).
More in Konami Games of the 2000s
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