- Platform: IBM PC Compatible
- Release Date: 1994
- Genre: Fighting
- Style: 2D Fighting
- Similar Games: Mortal Kombat (Macintosh), Mortal Kombat (Game Boy), Mortal Kombat (Sega CD), Mortal Kombat (Sega Game Gear), Mortal Kombat (Sega Genesis), Mortal Kombat (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), Mortal Kombat (Arcade), Street Fighter (Arcade), Mortal Kombat (IBM PC Compatible), Street Fighter (IBM PC Compatible), Street Fighter (Atari ST), Street Fighter (Commodore Amiga)
Game Description
It is the year 2097. The corporation known as World Aeronautics and Robotics (W.A.R), with its stranglehold on the space-travel business, is the most powerful entity on Earth. A new position, the very important and powerful job of W.A.R. representative to Jupiter's newly colonized moon of Ganymede, has opened up within the corporate hierarchy.Ten corporate executives have applied for the job, each with his or her own reasons and motives. The corporation has decided that since all the applicants are equally qualified, they should fight for the job, using robots.
One Must Fall 2097 is a 2D fighting game in which, as one of the job applicants, you choose from ten possible robot fighters. Each is rated in power, agility, and endurance. The robots also have different handling characteristics, as well as unique signature moves.
During fights, each robot has a Health bar and a Stun bar. Both are full, initially, but decrease when the robot is hit by an attack. When the Stun bar is drained completely, the robot is stunned for a moment, allowing its opponent a free attack. The stun bar slowly recharges over time, unlike the health bar. Fights can take place in standard or special "hazard arenas," featuring traps such as extending spikes or jet fighters that strafe the combatants.
The game also has a tournament mode. You begin this mode with a default robot and a limited supply of cash. By entering one of four available tournaments and competing successfully, you'll earn more cash to pay for repair costs between fights as well as entrance fees for more lucrative tournaments. The cash can also be used to upgrade both your character and your robot, and to acquire different robots as well.
~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Overall
One Must Fall 2097 is a remarkably good fighting game and, in fact, could possibly be one of the best fighting games available on the PC. The game compares favorably to someOne Must Fall 2097 is unique in giving you a choice of characters and robots as opposed to just one or the other. The characters all have different physical characteristics and the robots handle differently and possess unique signature moves. This makes for some remarkable variety in the basic fighter gameplay. Throw in hazards like fighter planes trying to gun you down during a fight or electrified fences and a full tournament career mode and you're virtually swimming in gameplay.
The extras wouldn't count for much if gameplay was terrible but, thankfully, the game delivers solidly in this regard. The fighting engine is fast and responsive and features some good combo possibilities. The AI programming is also fairly impressive and its fighting ability ranges from utterly moronic to amazingly difficult.
The ten characters and robots are, for the most part, evenly matched despite having quite different attributes. As far as the fighting system is concerned, you'd be hard pressed to tell it apart from a quality
To the game's credit, though, it manages to overcome this handicap by allowing you to pull back while attacking and executing a heavy attack. Having at least one more punch and kick button, though, would have been a welcome addition.
The versatility of the fighting system is shown off in the game's tournament mode. Your character's progress is tracked via three meters and your robot's upgrade status is tracked with a handful of stats. The fighting engine manages to simulate the many possible statistical combinations so the same robot with different stats feels quite distinct in a fight.
Furthermore, the ability to build up your character and robot stats as you desire, adds a new level of strategic depth to the game. You can build a well-rounded fighting machine or spend all the money to specialize in one or two attributes -- your choice. During the tournament, the fighting experience is quite different depending on how your character and robot are developed.
One Must Fall 2097's technical performance is quite decent and, with one exception, the graphics are well done. The robot models show a good deal of creativity in design and, when moving, have fairly smooth animation. The backgrounds, though, are a bit dull in comparison to backgrounds from other fighting games.
The sound effects consist of the standard metal clanging sounds associated with robotic combat -- effective but not particularly impressive. On the other hand, the game's music is very good and consists of a set of catchy upbeat techno-like tunes that fit in with the robot combat theme particularly well.
One Must Fall 2097 is an exemplary package. It has a solid and enjoyable fighting system and includes a unique tournament mode that increases the game's replay value exponentially. Had it been released as an
~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Enjoyment
The fighting system is very good and tournament mode adds a great deal of depth.~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Graphics
Great characters but the backgrounds are a little simplistic.~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Sound
The game has solid sound effects and a set of very catchy techno tunes.~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Replay Value
The tournament mode, arguably the first implementation of a career mode in fighters, gives the game great replay value.~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
Review: Documentation
Very thorough documentation covers all gameplay, character and control issues.~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide
