MarrymeMai
Frenzy Football Player
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2002
- Posts
- 985
Call me out of touch. Most people do, when I maniacally extol the virtues of 2-D video games. In addition, being somewhat of a purist, I am always grateful to see old-school, CGI-free, hand rendered animation. Being a rabid fan of 2-D video games, it’s only natural that I would gravitate toward awesome cel anime based on one of the greatest 2-D franchises ever to grace the fighting game genre. Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture is a shining example of an action movie with real content.
Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture, takes its name from the game of the same name. While many of the game’s characters make cameo appearances, the film concerns the exploits of four of the game's central figures: Terry and Andy Bogard, their kickboxing friend Joe Higashi, and Mai Shiranui, Andy's girlfriend-in-waiting, as they attempt to prevent a power-hungry young entrepreneur named Laocorn Gaudeamus from further collecting pieces of the legendary and ancient Armor of Mars, each piece of which permits the wearer to transcend human boundaries of strength and endurance. Gaudeamus has already gained possession of several pieces, becoming more deranged with each acquisition. If he is allowed to collect every section, his power will become far more than human, and he will be unstoppable in carrying out his darkest ambitions.
If you've never heard of the Fatal Fury series (which in total spans eleven titles since it inception in 1991), don't despair, for you are sadly not alone. While the series enjoyed immense success on the global gaming scene, its U.S. audience was comparatively diminutive; blame this on inadequate domestic marketing on the part of parent company SNK.
The movie falls within the time frame of the Fatal Fury Special video game installment, which had no actual plot within the game's storyline. Thus, if for some reason you hunger for closure in video game soap operas, FF: TMP is as close as you will get to the unfolding of Fatal Fury Special.
One of the most popular fighting game franchises of all time, Fatal Fury plays on the legendary Neo Geo hardware. The oldest arcade hardware to still be supported, the Neo Geo is still receiving new, and contemporary-looking releases, after a whopping thirteen years on the market. (Other Neo Geo series of note include Samurai Shodown, King of Fighters and Metal Slug.) FF: TMP was predecessed by Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf and Fatal Fury: The New Battle. In terms of quality, FF:TMP is heads above these titles, but a comparison would be unfounded, as the latter two were television specials as opposed to a theatrical release.
Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture is a top-notch example of what a video game anime adaptation should be. With incredible animation fluidity, spectacular choreography, blazing fight sequences and ultra-cool character design, the viewer just can't go wrong. Produced in 1994, it received tremendous Japanese success and enough U.S. support to justify a domestic DVD release. If you're not a fan of subtitles, not to worry. The English dubbing is first-rate; all the voices fit the characters and all the voice actors are extremely talented, something you may not expect from the relatively small industry player Viz Video, known primarily for its work on the anime Ranma ½.
I would strongly recommend Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture to anyone looking for a face-paced anime. Knowledge of the video game is not necessary to appreciate this film; it is of stand-alone quality.
[ September 08, 2002: Message edited by: MarrymeMai ]</p>
Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture, takes its name from the game of the same name. While many of the game’s characters make cameo appearances, the film concerns the exploits of four of the game's central figures: Terry and Andy Bogard, their kickboxing friend Joe Higashi, and Mai Shiranui, Andy's girlfriend-in-waiting, as they attempt to prevent a power-hungry young entrepreneur named Laocorn Gaudeamus from further collecting pieces of the legendary and ancient Armor of Mars, each piece of which permits the wearer to transcend human boundaries of strength and endurance. Gaudeamus has already gained possession of several pieces, becoming more deranged with each acquisition. If he is allowed to collect every section, his power will become far more than human, and he will be unstoppable in carrying out his darkest ambitions.
If you've never heard of the Fatal Fury series (which in total spans eleven titles since it inception in 1991), don't despair, for you are sadly not alone. While the series enjoyed immense success on the global gaming scene, its U.S. audience was comparatively diminutive; blame this on inadequate domestic marketing on the part of parent company SNK.
The movie falls within the time frame of the Fatal Fury Special video game installment, which had no actual plot within the game's storyline. Thus, if for some reason you hunger for closure in video game soap operas, FF: TMP is as close as you will get to the unfolding of Fatal Fury Special.
One of the most popular fighting game franchises of all time, Fatal Fury plays on the legendary Neo Geo hardware. The oldest arcade hardware to still be supported, the Neo Geo is still receiving new, and contemporary-looking releases, after a whopping thirteen years on the market. (Other Neo Geo series of note include Samurai Shodown, King of Fighters and Metal Slug.) FF: TMP was predecessed by Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf and Fatal Fury: The New Battle. In terms of quality, FF:TMP is heads above these titles, but a comparison would be unfounded, as the latter two were television specials as opposed to a theatrical release.
Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture is a top-notch example of what a video game anime adaptation should be. With incredible animation fluidity, spectacular choreography, blazing fight sequences and ultra-cool character design, the viewer just can't go wrong. Produced in 1994, it received tremendous Japanese success and enough U.S. support to justify a domestic DVD release. If you're not a fan of subtitles, not to worry. The English dubbing is first-rate; all the voices fit the characters and all the voice actors are extremely talented, something you may not expect from the relatively small industry player Viz Video, known primarily for its work on the anime Ranma ½.
I would strongly recommend Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture to anyone looking for a face-paced anime. Knowledge of the video game is not necessary to appreciate this film; it is of stand-alone quality.
[ September 08, 2002: Message edited by: MarrymeMai ]</p>
I've never seen Hungry Wolf myself, but I have the other two on VHS.