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Platform fighter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A layout of a basic stage of a platform fighter.
A layout of a basic arena in a platform fighter. While layouts may vary, it is common for stages to utilize floating platforms. The boundaries of the stage are indicated by the edges of the screen.

A platform fighter is a sub-genre of fighting games that emphasizes free 2D movement, often with floating platforms that can be traversed on, similar to a platformer game. The central gameplay involves combat between two or more player-controlled characters, with the goal of attacking an opponent's character until they are defeated.

Unlike other fighting games, platform fighters typically do not have a health bar, instead the damage that a player's character has taken increases the distance they are launched when hit by an attack. Opponents are defeated when they leave the boundaries of the arena, similar to sumo wrestling.

History

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While there have been some 2D fighting games that have used mechanics like platforms in stages like in Savage Reign, these games are not considered platform fighters as they play like traditional 2D fighting games with an added gimmick.[1] Though The Outfoxies was an early example of many of the mechanics featured in most platform fighters, the subgenre would be most defined by the release of Super Smash Bros. in 1999, which was the first game in the subgenre to achieve wide success and defined the mechanics for most games that followed.[2] After the release of the original Super Smash Bros., many companies would release their own games similar in style with some being crossover games like DreamMix TV World Fighters[3][4] or games with licensed characters like Digimon Rumble Arena[5] and Battle Stadium D.O.N.[6][7] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up was notably developed by a studio that contributed to Super Smash Bros. Brawl.[8]

In the mid-2010s, indie developers began developing fighting games that imitated the mechanics of Super Smash Bros., including Rivals of Aether, Brawlout, and Brawlhalla.[9][10] It was around this time that the term "platform fighter" began to be used more frequently to refer to games similar to Super Smash Bros. [11] Following the success of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in 2018, new platform fighters have emerged based on various licensed properties, such as Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, Fraymakers,[12] and MultiVersus.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Major Mike (October 1995). "ProReview: Neo•Geo CD - Savage Reign". GamePro. No. 85. IDG. p. 80.
  2. ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (1999-02-18). "Super Smash Bros. Review".
  3. ^ GameSpot Staff (September 24, 2003). "DreamMix TV: World Fighters update". GameSpot. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  4. ^ Irwin, Mary Jane (September 28, 2003). "TGS 2003: Dream Mix World TV Fighters". IGN. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  5. ^ Fennec Fox (February 8, 2002). "Digimon Rumble Arena PlayStation Review". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 5, 2003. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  6. ^ "Battle Stadium D.O.N." Siliconera. July 31, 2006. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  7. ^ Bloodworth, Daniel (October 22, 2006). "Battle Stadium D.O.N." Nintendo World Report. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  8. ^ Caoili, Eric (26 January 2009). "Ubisoft Announces Ninja Turtles Wii Fighting Game". gamasutra.com.
  9. ^ Farokhmanesh, Megan (June 18, 2015). "Rivals of Aether is like a beautiful, indie version of Super Smash Bros". Polygon. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Siegal, Jacob (December 20, 2017). "'Brawlout' is an adequate 'Super Smash Bros.' surrogate for the Nintendo Switch".
  11. ^ The Rise Of The Platform Fighter - Developer Roundtable. Retrieved 2022-06-02 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "Fraymakers on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  13. ^ Skrebels, Joe (July 13, 2021). "Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl Is a Smash Bros-alike Featuring SpongeBob, TMNT and More". IGN.