Like a lot of kids growing up in New Jersey, summers revolved around going to the shore where days would be spent at the beach, and nights at the arcade on the boardwalk. This was a time before ticket dispensing games based purely on chance didn't fill the arcade. Don't get me wrong, they were still there, but there were also games that, provided you were good enough, let you kill a half-hour for 50 cents. Fighting Vipers was one of them.
At first glance, it does seem awfully similar to another Sega fighter, Virtua Fighter 2, which makes sense. Both were released roughly around the same time ('94 for Fighter and '95 for Vipers), both were made by Sega's AM2 development team, both were based on the Model 2 arcade board, and both featured similar style, appearance, and gameplay mechanics: kick, punch, block.
But Fighting Vipers stood out. Gameplay was faster and more aggressive. Characters sported armor that could be knocked off, making them more vulnerable to hits. Walls were introduced as part of the environment, unlike Virtua Fighter where play would end if a character stepped out of the ring. Vipers players could use the walls to their advantage, jumping and bouncing off of them ala Chun-Li, or be knocked right through them. Key to armor busting and wall breaking were power hits, which could be done as a singular attack or part of a combo.
Fighting Vipers was also one of the first games to introduce quick recoveries, allowing players to get back on their feet after an attack. But this was a double edged sword. Players who were quick enough could easily knock a recovered player right back down again, as the recovery left them open to attack.
The game was eventually ported to Sega's home console at the time, the Sega Saturn. Home versions included training and playback modes, which are now widely featured in other fighting games.
Vipers sure didn't take itself seriously. One need only look at the character roster to realize this. Fighters included the glam rock looking Raxel, in-line figure skater Grace, former gang leader Tokio, the obsessed with 3 Sanman, fashion student Honey, skateboarder Picky, Navy dropout Jane, and others. Don't concern yourself with the plot either, as it's equally ridiculous. Taking place in the fictional Armstone City, the Mayor decided to hold a fighting tournament, and the Vipers (characters) decide to compete.
The Vipers would also feature prominently in Fighters Megamix, which saw them square off against characters of Virtua Fighter, Virtua Fighter Kids, Virtua Cop, Sonic the Fighters, and others. The game also Including secret / unlockable characters, it had a roster of over 30, impressive for the time. A direct sequel was made in 1998, Fighting Vipers 2, but was only available on Sega's Dreamcast in Japan and Europe. It added a few new characters, but little else changed. Costumes were altered and Jane still looked like Vasquez from "Aliens." Kuhn, a gold colored Dural-esque fighter whose moves were based on the other fighters' was introduced, but that was about it. The game was planned for a U.S. release but was later cancelled.
If you're craving nostalgia, or if you've never seen the game before, check the video below. If you're among the few to still have a working Saturn and this in your collection, dust it off and pop it in.
