Dark Edge (arcade game)

Dark Edge (arcade game)
Japanese arcade flyer of Dark Edge.
Developer(s)	Sega
Publisher(s)	Sega
Platform(s)	Arcade
Release date(s)	March 1993
Genre(s)	Versus fighting game
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players simultaneously
Arcade system	Sega System 32 hardware
CPU	V60 (@ 16.10795 MHz), Z80 (@ 8.053975 MHz)
Sound	(2x) YM3438 (@ 8.053975 MHz), RF5C68 (@ 12.5 MHz)
Display	Horizontal, 416 x 224 pixels, 60.00 Hz, 16384 colors

Dark Edge (ダークエッジ^?) is a 1993 fighting arcade game developed and published by Sega. It was one of Sega's earliest attempts at creating a competitive fighting game along with Holosseum after the success of Capcom's Street Fighter II. Although the title screen reads "1992", the arcade game was first sold in 1993.^[1]

Gameplay

Although Dark Edge contains similarities to other versus fighting games during its release, such as motion controls for performing special moves, and the object of the game requiring the player to fight against his or her opponent in best two-out-of-three matches in a single player tournament mode with the computer (or against another human player in multiplayer mode), players can move their chosen characters not only left and right, as well as using the jump button, players also can move their characters toward and away from the fourth wall endlessly, creating a 3D effect; however, the characters and other objects in the game are in sprite format. This type of movement is slightly similar to the ones in Atari Games' Pit-Fighter and SNK's Fatal Fury: King of Fighters, but with a lot more free movement. The player has a character roster of six playable fighters to choose from, each with their own fighting style and special techniques. In one player mode, after selecting a character, the arcade randomly selects an opponent. After the player wins against every other playable character, the player will fight against two bosses and will beat the game if he or she knocks them out.

Plot

The following plot summary is translated from the Japanese version:

"In the 25th century, the human beings are allowed to live in the unified world controlled by the ultra large computer. Those tough people who got out of their control now seem to be battling for the sake of their ambitions and desires. Even that battling, however, is controlled and the super-fighter is destined to fall a victim to an assassin sent by the ultra-large computer."

Characters

• Thud (サッド) - Subtitled The Samurai. An American who has the Samurai spirit can use two swords skillfully. He believes in the spiritual power and controls the thunder.
• Blood (ブラッド) - Subtitled The Bio-Monster. This monster man born as the result of genetic mutation has the weapons of elastic nails and sharp fins. He displays primitive instincts as a fighter as he discharges poisonous liquid.
• Yeager (イェーガー) - Subtitled The Sonic Breaker. A former German fighter pilot who became a cyborg in order to be the super-fighter. His special ability is high speed flight.
• Goliath (ゴライアス) - Subtitled With Powersuit. A laborer wearing the power suit converted from construction equipment. He moves slow, but he is extremely powerful.
• Genie (ジーニィ) - Subtitled The Female Fighter. A female martial artist who wears the Gymnastic Battle Suit that enhances her agility. She attacks the enemy by taking advantage of an unguarded moment.
• M.E.K. - Subtitled Mechanical Enforced Kommando. A European mercenary soldier wounded in the war underwent a cyborg operation and is determined to have revenge on the Boss who sent him to the battlefield.
• RAM-X - The unplayable sub-boss of the game.
• RULER - The final boss of the game. Like RAM-X, RULER is unplayable.

References

1. ^ Japanese introduction webpage for Dark Edge.

External links

• Dark Edge at The Large Cult Fighting Game March (Japanese)
• Dark Edge at GameFAQs
• Dark Edge (arcade game) at the Killer List of Videogames
• Dark Edge at arcade-history