History Videogame / StarGladiator

The story of ''Star Gladiator'' takes place from within [[TheFuture the future year]] of 2348, in which intergalactic travel is very common and that mankind is able to interact with many different alien species. Dr. Edward Bilstein: a Nobel Prize-winning German-American prestigious physicist for the [[TheFederation Earth Federation]], uncovers the secret to humanity's "sixth sense": a technique for capturing the energy of the human mind and discovers how to use it as a new type of energy source called [[TheForce Plasma Power]]. While Bilstein is able to gain fame and fortune for his discovery of Plasma Power, the Earth Federation initiates a private investigation into the matter and is shocked to learn and discover that Bilstein had used actual human bodies during his Plasma Power experiments. Through this horrifying revelation, Bilstein is arrested and exiled from Earth for his heinous crimes, being placed in a floating prison satellite that orbits the Planet Zeta. Four years later, Bilstein, who is now in a cybernetic body, escapes from the prison and gathers his own cadre of fighters and forces, calling his new group [[TheEmpire "The Fourth Empire"]] and declaring his [[TakeOverTheWorld personal conquest]] of the [[GalacticConqueror universe]]. Realizing that Bilstein must be stopped at all costs, the Earth Federation decides to gather people who are able to use Plasma Power from within their own given right and attempt to destroy the Fourth Empire before they're able to conquer Earth and the rest of the universe.

* TheForce: Plasma Power.

''Star Gladiator Episode I: Final Crusade'' is one of the lesser-known fighting games in Creator/{{Capcom}}'s long list of fighters, notable for being Capcom's first attempt to make a mark in the 3D world of fighting games like ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter'', ''VideoGame/BattleArenaToshinden'', ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'', and the ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soul]]'' series in TheNineties. Capcom did try hard to make the game different from the others by using a different hardware for the original UsefulNotes/PlayStation, similar to the ''VideoGame/StreetFighterEX'' series and the first ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'' game on the same build. ''Star Gladiator'' has a [[ManaMeter Plasma Gauge]], similar to most Capcom fighting games at the time, but what set it apart from the others was the fact that different command inputs (via a specific fighting combo) were required in order to make the Plasma Strike (super move) work.

Despite the effort on the [=PlayStation=] with the other Capcom games, ''Star Gladiator'' did not set the benchmark for 3D fighters like ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' did with 2D fighters. However, ''Star Gladiator'' did manage to warrant a sequel for the arcades in 1998 and later ported to UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast in 2000, which was called ''Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein'' ([[OddlyNamedSequel originally]] ''Star Gladiator 2'' in Japan). ''Plasma Sword'' had dropped the first game's Plasma Combo System in favor of the traditional ''Street Fighter''-esque method of unleashing super moves, which was called the Plasma Strike System, and also introduced fourteen new characters to the series, though ten of them (aside from their character designs and original stories) [[MovesetClone mirrored most of the original cast in terms of weaponry and movesets]].

''Star Gladiator Episode I: Final Crusade'' is one of the lesser-known fighting games in Creator/{{Capcom}}'s long list of fighters, notable for being Capcom's first attempt to make a mark in the 3D world of fighting games like ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter'', ''VideoGame/BattleArenaToshinden'', ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'', and the ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soul]]'' series in the 90's. Capcom did try hard to make the game different from the others by using a different hardware for the original UsefulNotes/PlayStation, similar to the ''VideoGame/StreetFighterEX'' series and the first ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'' game on the same build. ''Star Gladiator'' has a [[ManaMeter Plasma Gauge]], similar to most Capcom fighting games at the time, but what set it apart from the others was the fact that different command inputs (via a specific fighting combo) were required in order to make the Plasma Strike (super move) work.

** Bilstein is probably something of a literal lampshade hanging of the issues of ''Star Gladiator'' at its core. Operation Paperclip was a real US covert operation that hired Nazi scientists to continue their work for the potential of space exploration and flight, and German American Bund communities were a very real thing into the time of World War II. Bilstein is also the example of why mad scientists and individuals who like to imitate [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]] are not your friend: they likely have very questionable ethics, or little to none of them, they are sociopaths and serial killers in a different way, have severe mental problems, and are an example of how science can be abused in the favor of evil people.

* DummiedOut: The first game featured [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY4tq0uLyM8 a few unused models for combatants,]] the most of amusing of these being a [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam MS-09B Dom]].

The character roster is rather small but somewhat memorable for a fighting game and Capcom did a good job to make an effort in giving the series some depth, similar to that of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' franchise. This game introduced us to several unique characters with their own unique weapons.

* MovesetClone: Ten of the new characters who were added in the sequel have the exact same moves of the 10 returning characters.

While the series hasn't seen another entry since, a few characters from the series have made cameo appearances in [[VideoGame/CapcomVsWhatever various Capcom crossover games]] (''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom2'', ''[[VideoGame/CapcomVsSNKMillenniumFight2000 Capcom vs. SNK]]'', the ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomCardFightersClash'' series, ''VideoGame/CapcomFightingEvolution[=/=]Jam'', ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom: [[UpdatedRerelease Ultimate All-Stars]]'', ''[[UpdatedRerelease Ultimate]] VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', and ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone 2'').

While the series hasn't seen another entry since, a few characters from the series have made cameo appearances in [[VideoGame/CapcomVsWhatever various Capcom crossover games]] (''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom2'', ''[[VideoGame/CapcomVsSNKMillenniumFight2000 Capcom vs. SNK]]'', the ''[[VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash]]'' series, ''VideoGame/CapcomFightingEvolution[=/=]Jam'', ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom: [[UpdatedRerelease Ultimate All-Stars]]'', ''[[UpdatedRerelease Ultimate]] VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', and ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone 2'').

* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Despite much of the fantastical futuristic wonders and capabilities humankind of the 24rd Century have to offer, not very much has changed in terms of human psychology or society.
** Hayato's backstory deals with capitalist economic disparity and the societal effects of corporate monopolization, including child abandonment and a rise in crime due to unfair practices and unequal employment. Neo Tokyo soon becomes a true Blade Runner esque city upon being bought out as a solution to Japan's economic recession by a foreign megacorporation, and it's implied that Hayato's parents, among others, were forced to abandon him due to the job disparity. Further exacerbating this is Japan's stigma against orphans, and how this still continues into the future. Hayato was even framed for an act of murder he did not commit when he was a street urchin.

** Gamof's backstory deals with how human gluttony and negatively affecting new civilizations still continues into the future to alien races. Although his race's first contact with humankind was peaceful, the criminal underworld soon found a new drug in the defensive ecology that outclassed even morphine and heroin. Soon into corrupting his government and overharvesting it because of the large amount of money it drew in, this destroyed De Rosa's forests and Gamof's livelihood.
** Gore's backstory shows how abuse and unloving families, and their far reaching effects, still exist into the far future. For the literal [[ForTheWantOfANail want of a nail]], Gore was abused and harassed by his large family for simply being seemingly mentally handicapped. When Gore manifested his Plasma Magic powers that outclassed his father's own that eclipsed their fame, his father then sought to seal and potentially kill Gore out of jealousy. Because of this lack of love, Gore killed his father and was lead into becoming Bilstein's assistant after he searched him out. Gore may be evil due to the path he took, but it would say leagues otherwise should his family had not been the abusive and uncaring horde they were.
** Bilstein is probably something of a literal lampshade hanging of the issues of Star Gladiator at its core. Operation Paperclip was a real US covert operation that hired Nazi scientists to continue their work for the potential of space exploration and flight, and German American Bund communities were a very real thing into the time of World War II. Bilstein is also the example of why mad scientists and individuals who like to imitate Darth Vader are not your friend: they likely have very questionable ethics, or little to none of them, they are sociopaths and serial killers in a different way, have severe mental problems, and are an example of how science can be abused in the favor of evil people.

** Gore's backstory shows how abuse and unloving families, and their far reaching effects, still exist into the far future. For the literal [ForTheWantOfANail|want of a nail], Gore was abused and harassed by his large family for simply being seemingly mentally handicapped. When Gore manifested his Plasma Magic powers that outclassed his father's own that eclipsed their fame, his father then sought to seal and potentially kill Gore out of jealousy. Because of this lack of love, Gore killed his father and was lead into becoming Bilstein's assistant after he searched him out. Gore may be evil due to the path he took, but it would say leagues otherwise should his family had not been the abusive and uncaring horde they were.

** Gore's backstory shows how abuse and unloving families, and their far reaching effects, still exist into the far future. For the literal [[ForTheWantOfANail|want of a nail]], Gore was abused and harassed by his large family for simply being seemingly mentally handicapped. When Gore manifested his Plasma Magic powers that outclassed his father's own that eclipsed their fame, his father then sought to seal and potentially kill Gore out of jealousy. Because of this lack of love, Gore killed his father and was lead into becoming Bilstein's assistant after he searched him out. Gore may be evil due to the path he took, but it would say leagues otherwise should his family had not been the abusive and uncaring horde they were.

** June's backstory deals with racial and political discrimination, and how even in the future, it's still lonely at the top, and how everyone is still cold and distant to each other. Although June's life was easygoing, fair, and privileged, it's implied that she had little, to no friends, due to her half race heritage. Even if she did have friends in Hong Kong, the few of them would probably never see her again because of the die hard fervor for a "new age China", along with the potentially horrifying events that would occur with a Second Cultural Revolution. Even fleeing to the UK the years after, racial tensions would be probably at an all time high due to the refugees into the UK, and June would likely be forced to keep herself distant to not risk being found as a former Hong Kong national, or worse and most likely, was harassed due to this. Upon her parent's deaths, she loses the few people in her life she truly loves in this tumultuous time, and she even considered killing herself before even joining Star Gladiator.

** Hayato's backstory deals with capitalist economic disparity and the societal effects of corporate monopolization, including child abandonment and a rise in crime due to unfair practices and unequal employment. Neo Tokyo soon becomes a true Blade Runner esque city upon being bought out as a solution to Japan's economic recession by a foreign megacorporation, and it's implied that Hayato's parents, among others, were forced to abandon him due to the job disparity. Further exacerbating this is Japan's stigma against orphans, and how this still continues into the future. Hayato was even framed for a crime he did not commit when he was a street urchin.

* 20MinutesIntoTheFuture: Despite much of the fantastical futuristic wonders and capabilities humankind of the 24rd Century have to offer, not very much has changed in terms of human psychology or society.

* TwentySecondsIntoTheFuture: Despite much of the fantastical futuristic wonders and capabilities humankind of the 24rd Century have to offer, not very much has changed in terms of human psychology or society.

* DivorcedInstallment: The game was originally going to be a licensed ''Franchise/StarWars'' fighting game.

[[quoteright:299:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Star_Gladiator_6815.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:When terror revives, the battle begins once again.]]

* TheCameo: [[Franchise/StreetFighter Ryu]] makes a surprising cameo appearance in Gantetsu's normal ending from within ''Plasma Sword''. Of course, it could either be a cosplayer or Ryu's own descendant from within the ending itself.

* AWinnerIsYou: Winning the arcade mode just takes you to a text scroll epilogue that quickly wraps up the plot.

* AWinnerIsYou: Winning the arcade mode just takes to a text scroll epilogue that quickly wraps up the plot.