Gōketsuji Ichizoku 3: Groove on Fight, known simply as Groove on Fight, is a Fighting Game developed by Atlus and is known as the Distant Finale of the Power Instinct series, made in a different way than the parent games, being Darker and Edgier, similar to that of Darkstalkers, but still maintains some of the same humor that is particular to the series. Also the game is full of Original Generation characters, with the Goketsuji sisters as the only returning character, as well some of the children of the characters from the previous titles.
The story of this sequel of the Power Instinct series takes place 20 years after the last Goketsuji tournament. Because the lack of family members, Oume and Otane makes an open tournament for the first time in the series in searching for a successor in the family. The graphic style of Groove on Fight is very different from its predecessors, as the sprites are smaller, but are more fluid and have an animated look to them much like several other 2D fighting games.
The game was released on Arcades in April 1997 and only received a home release on the Sega Saturn. Neither it or its console port received a release outside of Japan, but however we could play it thanks to some distribution on Arcades outside Japan, as well by Emulation. It was the last game in the series that was fully developed by Atlus.
For more info about this game, you can see more info in this article
on the Power Instinct Wiki, as well this one on Sega Retro Wiki. For tropes of the characters, see the Groove on Fight section in Power Instinct Character page.
Groove on Fight provides the following tropes:
- Alternate Company Equivalent:
- With SNK's Garou: Mark of the Wolves, the Distant Finale title of the Fatal Fury series that has a redesign in the sprites and has most of the cast being Original Generation with a returning character (Terry Bogard) and a Legacy Character (Rock Howard).
- For the Darker and Edgier theme and the detail on sprites, also is this for Psikyo's Daraku Tenshi: The Fallen Angels.
- Anime Hair: Hizumi Yukinoue has an anti-gravity haircut similar to Joe Higashi.
- Chained Heat: Even when they're still rivals, Goketsuji sisters are chained together back-to-back fighting as one person in order to not to be defeated against the new (and considerably younger) fighters.
- Cleavage Window: Solis has an underboobs cleavage window, showing off the cleavage below her breasts rather than above.
- Cool Mask: Sujiroku has a black mask with red eyes that resembles an Oni.
- Cool Old Guy: Falco is a character in his 70s, but can still kick ass better than most of the cast.
- Cool Teacher: Larry, a fighting teacher who's also the mentor of Chris (and is sexy too).
- Cosplay: Popura Hananokōji. Apart of having a magic wand and make magical tricks like her mother, she also can transforms her outfit into different cosplay outfits when she's attacking.
- Darker and Edgier: This game is probably the darkest game on the series, not just in story, the colors are greyish and the backgrounds almost all are lifeless and creepy.
- Death Dealer: Falco. He uses poker cards as well mahjong tiles to attack the opponent.
- Delinquent: Chris, even more than his father. His story got Larry as his mentor in a way to change his ways just like his father did by himself decades ago.
- Distant Finale: Groove on Fight takes place 20 years after the last Goketsuji tournament (at least after Legends).
- Fun with Acronyms: M.A.D., being his real name "Max Ax Dax" and known only by his acronym in the game.
- The Gambler: Falco. Gambling is one of his hobbies, and even has the Red Baron of "Mr. Gambler."
- Grievous Harm with a Body: If your partner of one of the opponent's team is down on the stage, you can always grab him/her and throw it to the enemy to make more damage.
- Kid-Appeal Character: Popura and Remi, the only children of this game.
- Kid from the Future: Solis, a Time Traveller Fair Cop that comes from the future to stop a menace for her time, as well having the Goketsuji heritage. Also lampshaded in one of her winquotes:I am the girl that fights for the future!
- Legacy Character: Chris Wayne and Popura Hananokōji, both the offsprings of Chris Wayne with Annie Hamilton, and Kurara Hananokōji, respectively. Also, both characters have a Strong Family Resemblance, Chris in the moveset and Popura in the look.
- Magical Girl: Popura and Remi, both girls use magic to fight the rest of the characters. Remi also qualifies as Dark Magical Girl, which outfit makes her look as a Cute Witch.
- Mana Meter: Although was part of the series since Power Instinct 2, here's more closer to Street Fighter and the Marvel vs. Capcom series.
- Meaningful Name: Larry Light, a character with white hair and fire powers.
- Mid-Boss:
Goketsuji sisters and Falco, which is the only team who has dialogue with the other teams apart of Bristol Weller (and Bristol-D). - Mon: The living music note that follows Remi is a demon that was created by her mother to be her bodyguard, its name is Kuroma.
- Mr. Fanservice: This game got the Action Duo of Larry Light and Chris Wayne, both also being shirtless in the game with well-marked muscles.
- Musical Assassin: Remi Otogiri, a Dark Magical Girl that uses musical notes to attack the opponent and even has a mon that also resembles one. Sujiroku Tenjinbashi technically count too, since his two sticks used in fights are also his drumsticks he used for the festival.
- Musical Theme Naming: Remi's first name is the union of the Solfege music notes Re (D) and Mi (E).
- Never Mess with Granny: Goketsuji sisters, being so lethal as in the main series, at the point of being the mid bosses of the game.
- Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot: Larry Light, a teacher biker adventurer archeologist fighter.
- Original Generation: With the exception of Oume and Otane, all characters are original to this game.
- Otaku: Hizumi Yukinoue is a fanatic of Japanese culture, not just of anime but of ninjas in general, probably the main reason why he made a team with Sujiroku, a traditional Japanese drummer with an oni mask.
- Playing with Fire: Larry Light uses fire attacks in his moves, like a literal "fireball" and various attacks that canburn the opponents. Even more, his hyper move is a literal Meteor Move, invoking a giant ball of fire.
- Rival Final Boss: After defeating Bristol-D, the player has to fight with the character you defeated him against your partner to Earn Your Happy Ending.
- Rollerblade Good: Solis wears a pair of rollerblades as part of her main outfit.
- Rule of Three: Each character in Groove on Fight has a three-pieced special move.
- Shock and Awe: Chris, Solis, M.A.D. and Sujiroku use electric attacks in their movesets.
- Shout-Out: Bristol Weller's Badass in a Nice Suit look and kick-heavy fighting style seem to be heavily inspired by Drunken Master II's Dragon-in-Chief Tan Chang / John.
- The Sponsor: Remi's family funds Sujiroku in many festivals.
- Tag Team: The second (and last) title of the series that have the setting of two fighters in a team after Power Instinct Legends. Different from the past title, here are predetermined teams to play with, but anyway the players can choose the fighters they want to make their own teams.
