Summary
- Release Year: 1990
- Genres: Arcade, Fighting, Hack and slash/Beat ’em up
- Platforms: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Arcade, Atari 7800, Atari Lynx, Atari ST/STE, Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS, Game Boy, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: Atari Games, Oxford Mobius, Sterling Silver Software, Teque London
- Publishers: Domark Software, Tec Toy, Tengen, THQ
Pit-Fighter (1990)
Pit-Fighter is a side-scrolling beat’em up arcade game developed and released by Atari Games in 1990. The player controls one of three fighters who must battle their way through 15 different matches in order to win the championship. The game is known for its fast-paced gameplay, variety of enemies, and over-the-top violence.
Gameplay
Pit-Fighter is played from a side-scrolling perspective. The player controls one of three fighters: Buzz, Karnov, or Ty. Each fighter has their own unique moves and abilities. Buzz is a well-rounded fighter with no major weaknesses. Karnov is a powerful fighter with slow but powerful attacks. Ty is a fast and agile fighter with weaker attacks.
The player must use their fighter’s moves to defeat a variety of enemies. Enemies include other fighters, bouncers, and even members of the audience. The player can punch, kick, jump, and throw objects at their opponents. The player can also pick up weapons such as knives, crates, and sticks to use against their enemies.
In addition to the regular enemies, the player must also face off against a series of boss characters. The boss characters are much more powerful than the regular enemies and require the player to use all of their skills to defeat them.
The game is divided into 15 different matches. Each match takes place in a different location, such as a boxing ring, a bar, and a construction site. The player must defeat all of the enemies in each match in order to progress to the next one.
The final match is against the Masked Warrior, the mysterious entity that has been taunting the player throughout the game. The Masked Warrior is the most powerful enemy in the game and requires the player to use all of their skills to defeat him.
Development
Pit-Fighter was developed by Atari Games, a subsidiary of Atari, Inc. The game was designed by Ed Boon and John Tobias, who would later go on to create the Mortal Kombat series. Pit-Fighter was released in arcades in 1990.
The game was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its fast-paced gameplay, variety of enemies, and over-the-top violence. Pit-Fighter was one of the most popular arcade games of 1990 and helped to revive the beat’em up genre.
Ports and sequels
Pit-Fighter was ported to a number of home consoles, including the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Amiga. The home versions of the game were generally well-received, but they were not as popular as the arcade version.
Atari Games released a sequel to Pit-Fighter, titled Pit-Fighter 2, in 1992. Pit-Fighter 2 was not as well-received as the original game, and it did not achieve the same level of commercial success.
Legacy
Pit-Fighter is considered to be one of the classic beat’em up games. It was one of the first games to feature three-player co-op, and it helped to popularize the use of weapons in beat’em up games. Pit-Fighter has been cited as an influence on a number of later beat’em up games, including Streets of Rage and Final Fight.
Pit-Fighter is still enjoyed by fans of beat’em up games today. It is available on a number of retro gaming platforms, and it can also be played online.
Conclusion
Pit-Fighter is a classic beat’em up game that still holds up today. With its fast-paced gameplay, variety of enemies, and over-the-top violence, Pit-Fighter is a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
