This is an honorable mention in favorite fighting games, it's also another entry in the "Under the Radar" series. Well, this game wasn't really under the radar it was a hit as it came out when the fighting games boom was still surging. But sadly, this game never risen to become the big franchise it could of became and as time went on this game has become forgotten.

What I like about the game is despite using the same fighting game format, it has a whole different presentation which makes the game unique from the rest. I really like the plotline; it almost reminds me a bit of the animated show "Inhumanoids." and you can say if that series ever had a video game it could be like this.

Anyway, the plotline is interesting but also, it's a little scary as it's a post-apocalyptic setting, only here it's a giant monster apocalypse. I like that because it's something different usually it's always a nuclear war or a virus that's the cause. But as these primal monsters have suddenly risen, all power and technology has fallen and as time went on the Earth shifted making a new world called Urth. Much like Westeros in "Game of Thrones" each part of the continents is ruled by one of the monsters along with devolved humans as their worshipers. And just like in "Game of Thrones" you get to pick as one of the monsters and fight against the rival monster so that you can take over their continent which will lead you to taking over the Urth.

Yeah, an elaborate plotline for a fighting game but I like that it really shows that the people really took time and care into what they were making. But also, they really wanted to make a fighting game unique from the rest from building an entire world, and this also gives the fighting game more reason for the one-on-one battling. It also makes sense going with this as "Jurassic Park" was a huge hit which helped bring back the giant monster/dinosaur craze for a while anyway.

Really like the graphical presentation which looks a little like the kind from the "Mortal Kombat" games, from the backgrounds which depict a ruined version of our world, like seeing locations like Stone Henge, Cave Channel, but my favorite is the ruined city which could be "New York" or any city. Ruin city backgrounds I always had a thing for because it's just so surreal seeing what once tall proud structures were now become ruins like any lost civilization.

However, it's the character models that really make the game. They look like they could be some extra monster for the Ray Harryhausen roster. What's cool is that each of them was sculpted and handmade and also each of their movements were done on stop motion capture. This is cool as it not just makes their movements seem more natural but also has that throwback feel for anyone that loves watching the big monster films like the Ray Harryhausen films, "Godzilla", etc. But also, I just love the behavior of the monsters, from how each of them behaves along with how well designed each of them are you can believe they once existed or could exist.

With the monsters you have your moves and super moves, what's also interesting is how lively the background is as you see a lot of the rival tribes are cheering the clashing monsters on. You can actually eat either a rival tribe member or your own to regain some of your lost health, however this isn't a big fix as you can only refill some of the bar not all the way and you can only eat one of the humans when they get in the right spot and time.

I'll just say a couple of the monsters I like to play as like a lot of fighting characters each are good in their own way it just depends on what suits you best.

Blizzard: This monster is really cool and one of the good guy monsters I think. But anyway, this is basically like "Sub Zero" from "Mortal Kombat" as he has ice powers. It makes sense as his species is possibly one of the Cryptid Yeti's as they live mainly in cold regions and climates. One of my favorite moves is seeing him summon up geysers of ice water that will freeze your opponent in his tracks and give you the opportunity to do damage.

Sauron: This monster is cool it's a T-Rex but on with some super powers from shooting out lazer bolts from his mouth, to producing a temporary force field that can knock down anyone that come onto him.

Also, the game like with "Mortal Kombat" is violent as you see some blood effects and graphic finish offs. Yeah, it's true that those effects might seem a little dated by today's standards as the hits produces simple blood spurt effects, but you must realize this game was made in the mid 90's and there really weren't that many games that every taken action this far. Showing that video games are just for kids only and were one of the stepping stones in showing how much further not just the fighting genre but video game can go.

But this game has a couple of scratches. For one thing some of the moves and super moves are hard to execute. Not to say they couldn't be done but they require a complex order of joystick moves and button presses, you must almost be practically luck to make one to any of them work. I just felt that the move joystick and button combinations had to be shorted and cut down a little which would make things a little more fair.

And speaking of fair, the difficulty of the game is uneven. There are some fights that are fair but then there are others that are just tough. I know that in a fighting game as you progress further it also means tougher fights along the way, but I just feel this game in one place, or another took it one step too far. Though this didn't bother me too much as the fights are beatable despite the fact, they took more tries then desired.

It would be cool if there was a revival to this game, with fighting games on the rise once again it's possible to see these primal titans rise once more.

This is a vintage fighter that roars loud.

Rating: 3 and a half stars.

Choose one of 7 ferocious dinosaurs then pound your opponents into submission as you battle for Urth Domination.

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