History VideoGame / FightingForce

''Fighting Force'' (also known as "Metal Fist" in Japan) is a BeatEmUp game developed by Creator/CoreDesign (creators of the original ''Franchise/TombRaider'' series). It was released In 1997 for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows. In 1999, Crave Entertainment released a version on the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64. It was intended to be a ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage'' game, but ended up being a DivorcedInstallment. (This also explains why there is no port for the Sega Saturn despite one being planned: either Sega refuses to allow it or Core cancelled it out of spite.)

A sequel, ''Fighting Force 2'', was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast with the only playable character being Hawk. It didn't perform too well thanks to the extremely disjointed storyline and being unnecessarily DarkerAndEdgier.

Another sequel, known as ''Fighting Force 3'', was in development for the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, and UsefulNotes/{{Gamecube}}, but got cancelled.

A sequel, ''Fighting Force 2'', was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast with the only playable character being Hawk. It didn't perform too well.

* ExcusePlot: Read the synopsis above. In the game proper, the plot is summed up simply as "It's time to end... the end of the world!" and basically it stars barely-dressed melee fighters taking out a [[Franchise/GIJoe Cobra]]-esque organization by their own fists and sometimes anything they can pick up.

* TheSyndicate: Zeng running one, and later to be revealed to have his own Cobra Commandos esque hideout filled with military hardware is what makes him such a threat.

* TheSyndicate: Zeng running one is what makes him such a threat.

* ShoutOut: In the N64 version only, the masked enemies in the park are all named after SlasherMovie villains. Later in the Island Lab level, there are two hazmat mooks named [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Monty and Waylon]].

* BareYourMidriff: Mace Daniels wearing her black bra.

** Hawk, Mace, and Smasher are Axel, Blaze and Max with different hair (and a shirt for Smasher). Ironically, Hawk and Mace's beta designs had the same hair but different clothes.

* CriticalExistenceFailure: Your character can take a licking and keep on ticking, but when they lose the last hitpoint they are through, unless there are some continues. Averted with enemies who will show some fatigue after being beaten down.

* ElevatorActionSequence: There are two of these one with an enclosed elevator and one with an exposed one. You fight tons of mooks on both, and in the former you've got a lot of melee weapons to work with including a fire escape axe, and handrails that you can rip right off the walls!

* WolverineClaws: The female enemies you fight on the 5th stage have this.

* CriticalExistenceFailure: Your character can take a licking but keep on ticking but when they lose the last hitpoint they are through unless there are some continues. Averted with enemies who will show some fatigue after being beaten down.

Another sequel, known as ''Fighting Force 3'', was in development for the UsefulNotes/Xbox UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 and UsefulNotes/Gamecube, but it got cancelled.

''Fighting Force'' (also known as "Metal Fist" in Japan) is a 1997 BeatEmUp game developed by Creator/CoreDesign (creators of the original ''Franchise/TombRaider'' series). It was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation, UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 and UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows. It was intended to be a ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage'' game, but ended up being a DivorcedInstallment. (This also explains why there is no port for the Sega Saturn despite one being planned: either Sega refuses to allow it or Core cancelled it out of spite.)

A sequel was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast with the only playable character being Hawk. It didn't perform too well.

Another sequel was in development for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, but it got cancelled.

* AnAxToGrind: Axes appear as rare but very powerful weapons.

* GenreShift: ''Fighting Force 2'' changes the genre into a third-person action-adventure in the vein of ''VideoGame/TombRaider'' and surprisingly plays like ''VideoGame/{{Oni}}'', but slower paced.

''Fighting Force'' (also known as "Metal Fist" in Japan) is a 1997 BeatEmUp game developed by Creator/CoreDesign (creators of the original ''Franchise/TombRaider'' series). It was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation, UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 and UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows. It was intended to be a ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage'' game, but ended up being a DivorcedInstallment.

* ElevatorActionSequence: There are two of these one with an enclosed elevator and one with an exposed one. You fight tons of mooks on both and in the former you got a lot of melee weapons to work with including a fire escape axe.

* MusclesAreMeaningful: Ben "Smasher" Jackson looks strong and IS strong. His attacks do the most damage compared to the other 3 characters.

%%* ScoringPoints: You get points for killing enemies, breaking things, picking up items, etc. basically for kicking ass!

''Fighting Force'' (also known as "Metal Fist" in Japan) is a 1997 BeatEmUp game developed by Core Design (creator of the original ''Franchise/TombRaider'' series). It was released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation, UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 and UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows. It was intended to be a ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage'' game, but ended up being a DivorcedInstallment.

* DifficultyByRegion: The Japanese version, Metal Fist, by Electronic Arts Victor, not only gives the main characters a facelift to match their exclusive artwork, but also tones down the melee weapons, and makes the guns more useful with more ammo. It also alters the levels significantly, such as having less, more powerful mooks in the city level for example.

* GenreShift: Fighting Force 2 changes the genre into a third-person action-adventure in the vein of ''Videogame/TombRaider'' and surprisingly plays like ''Videogame/{{Oni}}'', but slower paced.