Vs. is a PlayStation video game developed by Polygon Magic and published by THQ in 1997. The game, a 3D fighter, features 20 polygonal, gang-based characters (designed by former Marvel Comics artist Kurtis Fujita) brawling in a two-dimensional environment. Players select different members of each gang to fight rival gangs on their respective turfs.
The gangs and their members consist of the following:
- Streets: Mia, Vikram, Oleg, Slim Daddy
- Hood: Ramos, Jalil, Thana, Paco
- Campus: Harold, Kathleen, Leath, O'Doul
- Beach: Kenny, Calucag, Mineo, Kara
In addition to those fighters, there are also four unlockable boss characters that are associated with each gang: Eric O, Hendrickson, Joel, Niege
The title is a port and an American localized version of Fighters' Impact, which was released only on the Japanese PlayStation and in Japanese arcades. It retained the game engine, most of the play mechanics, and some animations and other elements, but introduced an entirely new lineup of characters, new arenas, and a soundtrack of licensed music (by Razed in Black, Los Infernos, Suicide Machines, and Pigs in Space). It was met with an underwhelming critical response, being said to offer little new over the recent top-tier games in the fighting genre and dropped into obscurity.
For a Spiritual Successor of sorts by Polygon Magic, check out Slap Happy Rhythm Busters
Unrelated to the 2013 movie All Superheroes Must Die which has the Market-Based Title of "Vs." in some territories.
This Game Provides Examples Of:
- Bald Head of Toughness: Characters with this look include Vikram and Joel. O'Doul is partly balding.
- Bare Midriffs Are Feminine: Mia, Leath, and Kara are female fighters with midriff baring outfits. Averted in the case of Kathleen. Also, gender inverted with Vikram of the Streets gang.
- Cool Old Guy: O'Doul of the Campus gang who is a senior citizen.
- Dreadlock Warrior: Jalil of the Hood gang has this hair style.
- Foreign Exchange Student: Harold of the Campus gang who is from New Zealand.
- McNinja: Jalil is a Black American guy who tries to dress the part. At the very least he has a Scarf of Asskicking that gives him the mysterious look of a ninja. Also, for what it's worth, his fighting style is Taekwondo.
- Mighty Glacier: Oleg of the Streets and Kenny of the Beach as well as all the bosses.
- Mirror Match: In the arcade mode, called "Survival", the very first opponent for every character to fight is against him/herself before going up against the other members of their respective faction before taking on the members of the other gangs.
- Pimp Duds: Slim Daddy of the Streets gang wears such an outfit. Though his occupation in his bio states he's a "businessman", his attire gives a pretty clear idea what his business is without having to state it.
- Pretty Boy: Thana of the Hood gang. Their ending mentions him as being the subject of ribbing by fellow Hood members.
- Rag Tag Bunch Of Misfits: Each of the members of the gangs have their occupations included in their biographies. This reveals some individuals as having backgrounds that one would not associate with gang culture. Some individuals who some fairly odd occupations include Mineo of the Beach gang who is a Mime as well as O'Doul who is a school principal.
- Stripperiffic: Mia, the poster girl for Vs., is this to a hilarious degree, fighting in a top with her Underboobs hanging out and her pants hanging low enough to show off her panties. Her 2P outfit, with its crop top, short-shorts, and tall Doc Martens, is in that rare camp of being more modest despite technically showing off more skin.
- Surfer Dude: Calucag of the Beach gang.
- This Means War Paint: Oleg has the left part of his face painted like a checkered flag (in reference to his occupation as a taxi driver). Arguably subverted in the case of Mineo, who though also having face paint, but that is part of Mime outfit.
- Versus Title: Yup, the sole word in the title. Hardcore Gaming 101 referred to the game as "nigh-unGoogleable" thanks to this.
- Where the Hell Is Springfield?: Most locations are generic enough to be set in any larger American city, but the Beach gang's Malibu Canyon and Venice Beach stages would imply that the setting is southern California, particularly in and around the greater Los Angeles region. Would be, except that the third stage of the Beach gang's turf is in Miami Beach, which is close to 3,000 miles away from SoCal.
