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Way Of The Warrior 2009

OK, reality check time. Can anyone tell me if any of this is actually happening? I've got a loose grip on reality after hearing about this upcoming 2D digitized fighting game.

 I have often said that someone should make a new 2D, digitized fighting game. Actually, I think instead of "someone" I've said "the Mortal Kombat team." And then after I realized that they'd probably never do it, I started telling Vinny that we should put our green screen to good use for a change and start making our own fighting game. But that's beside the point. After checking out a story on Arcade Heroes, I was led to this:

 
 
That's a shot of a finishing move from Dark Presence, an arcade game currently under development at an indie company called Galloping Ghost. It's a 2D fighting game featuring fully digitized characters, just like the old Mortal Kombat days, but at a much higher resolution and with way more frames of animation, if the developer is to be believed

Sorry, I have to put that hint of doubt in there. Because this whole thing looks too crazy for me to take at face value. It looks like some kind of long-lost sequel to Way of the Warrior, only instead of digging up some drunk-looking dude and filming him with a pool stick in his hands (like Naughty Dog seemed to do back on the 3DO), Dark Presence has dudes like Vamphyrial here:

 
 

Also, I'd like to just say that MIND MASTER is a great name for a character. Overall, the costumes look kind of like one of those high-quality "shot on film" porno movies, where they try to cram in a story between all the... cramming. I... actually mean that as a compliment. Perhaps I've said too much.

Anyway, Galloping Ghost intends to release Dark Presence as an arcade game at some point this year. The game has already been in development for over two years, and to make things even crazier, the company already has plans for a sequel called Conquering Light, which will feature 18 characters... only three of which will be returning from the first game! Didn't they learn anything from Street Fighter III and IV? You need to bring everyone back for the sequel, guys! For the fans!

Honestly, all of this stuff leaves me totally flabbergasted. I can't believe this product exists. I can't believe they have shots of it running in a cabinet on the game's official site. Most of all, I really want to try it. Even though the character design and costume quality gives me a serious Way of the Warrior flashback, I can only hope that it plays better than that.

Please leave a comment and confirm for me that this is all actually happening and that someone didn't spike my drink or something. I figure with Arcade Heroes reporting on it and both Destructoid and GameSetWatch picking it up after the fact, there has to be some sort of merit to it, right? And if this all turns out to be some kind of weird hallucination on my part, my apologies in advance.




Jeff Gerstmann on Google+

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jeff

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Edited By jeff

 I have often said that someone should make a new 2D, digitized fighting game. Actually, I think instead of "someone" I've said "the Mortal Kombat team." And then after I realized that they'd probably never do it, I started telling Vinny that we should put our green screen to good use for a change and start making our own fighting game. But that's beside the point. After checking out a story on Arcade Heroes, I was led to this:

 
 
That's a shot of a finishing move from Dark Presence, an arcade game currently under development at an indie company called Galloping Ghost. It's a 2D fighting game featuring fully digitized characters, just like the old Mortal Kombat days, but at a much higher resolution and with way more frames of animation, if the developer is to be believed

Sorry, I have to put that hint of doubt in there. Because this whole thing looks too crazy for me to take at face value. It looks like some kind of long-lost sequel to Way of the Warrior, only instead of digging up some drunk-looking dude and filming him with a pool stick in his hands (like Naughty Dog seemed to do back on the 3DO), Dark Presence has dudes like Vamphyrial here:

 
 

Also, I'd like to just say that MIND MASTER is a great name for a character. Overall, the costumes look kind of like one of those high-quality "shot on film" porno movies, where they try to cram in a story between all the... cramming. I... actually mean that as a compliment. Perhaps I've said too much.

Anyway, Galloping Ghost intends to release Dark Presence as an arcade game at some point this year. The game has already been in development for over two years, and to make things even crazier, the company already has plans for a sequel called Conquering Light, which will feature 18 characters... only three of which will be returning from the first game! Didn't they learn anything from Street Fighter III and IV? You need to bring everyone back for the sequel, guys! For the fans!

Honestly, all of this stuff leaves me totally flabbergasted. I can't believe this product exists. I can't believe they have shots of it running in a cabinet on the game's official site. Most of all, I really want to try it. Even though the character design and costume quality gives me a serious Way of the Warrior flashback, I can only hope that it plays better than that.

Please leave a comment and confirm for me that this is all actually happening and that someone didn't spike my drink or something. I figure with Arcade Heroes reporting on it and both Destructoid and GameSetWatch picking it up after the fact, there has to be some sort of merit to it, right? And if this all turns out to be some kind of weird hallucination on my part, my apologies in advance.




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blair

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Edited By blair

Jeff, please make your own fighting game.

Please.

P.S.  This is all the way insane.

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ManMadeGod

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Edited By ManMadeGod

This game looks crazy. I am not sure if that's crazy good or just crazy.

I started telling Vinny that we should put our green screen to good use for a change and start making our own fighting game.

Now this sounds like a excellent idea to me.

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Edited By kush

I want this and I want it now!

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Edited By TheGreatGuero

Consider me sold. Good work, Mr. Gerstmann.
By the way, Kyla is totally hot. HEY SONYA! ...HEY SONYA!

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Kevitivity

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Edited By Kevitivity

Why does that dude have a bunch of hot dogs strapped to his shoulders?

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Edited By Dauragon

Oh my dear sweet lord in heaven please let this be for real.

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Edited By jaks

Oh Kyla. My love for you is like a truck.

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roborobb

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Edited By roborobb

Wow, this looks absolutely crazy. I'm going to put money down & say this games going to be terrible.

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Edited By TheFrostedGamer

what

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Edited By snide

Talking to Jeff about this game on IM led to a natural followup conversation of Primal Rage and Virtuoso.


the best box art ever created in videogames
the best box art ever created in videogames
My idea of hell is playing a TREX named
My idea of hell is playing a TREX named "Sauron"

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GreatFunStuff

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Edited By GreatFunStuff

looks like an awesome throwback to that crisp MK style. im thinkin the smoother sprites will ruin what i liked. and a couple of those characters already piss me off. except Titan.

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GreatFunStuff

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Edited By GreatFunStuff

lol i was just talking to my co workers about Primal Rage

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Edited By Xeiphyer

I hope this is real! It looks great/terrible/awesome/retarded! THAT DUDE HAS HOTDOG ARMOR ON! SWEET!!!

This would seem to be an underapriceated long running money wasting joke or trick if it turns out to be not real. And if it was fake, I doubt anyone would really care. So that leads me to assume its real, its just not mainstream enough to be worthwhile to fabricate in order to trick a few people.

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Edited By lordofultima

WOW. I will purchase this game in arcade cabinet form, it looks so amazing.

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Edited By Linkyshinks

It looks really tacky, from the ground up. If the right people with the right money and tech were involved, I would be interested, but not with this weak looking crap.

I want to be able to scan my facial profile and implant it into the game, in these fighting games.

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vidiot

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Edited By vidiot

You hear that noise? That is the noise of my mind officially being blown. Thanks for sharing this, and I so do want this.

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lordofultima

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Edited By lordofultima
@Linkyshinks: Aren't the point of digitized actors precisely TO look tacky and stupid? There's no way around it. This is pure awesome.
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Edited By mike
@lordofultima said:
" @Linkyshinks: Aren't the point of digitized actors precisely TO look tacky and stupid? There's no way around it. This is pure awesome. "
Totally dude. If a console version of this game is ever released, I'm buying it immediately. They're really going old school and it's awesome.
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Edited By Cheapoz

You have to rename it. 


Dark ______ is a forgettable title.
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Edited By JazzMaverick

Surely this is a pisstake? .... it looks terrible.

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Edited By Linkyshinks
@lordofultima said:
" @Linkyshinks: Aren't the point of digitized actors precisely TO look tacky and stupid? There's no way around it. This is pure awesome. "

I never thought that when I first saw MK, it was all notably cool to me and that's what I would want from any fighting game like this, especially today with the tech advances.

If I want a comedic fighting game, the genre already has it without this level tackiness. This game is clearly a parody of MK and other fighters of the past, and while there's nothing wrong with that, it will most likely feature a lame fighting system and you'll get bored very quickly.

I actually want to see a serious game of this type, made by people who know their fighting games. I would like to see a game that has fluid animation and CGI effects, one which uses martial art experts/actors, wearing great costumes made by skilled people.

I hate tacky fighting games like this, this game kinda reminds me of MUGEN in it's cheapness.




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Edited By Kizo

Reminds me of Bikini Karate Babes and Warriors of Elysia from Creative Edge Studios.

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Edited By Manatassi

I have only one thing to say...   FUCKING AWESOME!


Ps. obviously the game will be a piece of shit, but who cares?!
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Edited By simian

When I first saw the top image, I thought Ryan had been moonlighting on the side... Or joined a motorcycle club.

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Edited By ElectricHaggis

Wow, the game looks bizarre.

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Edited By MattyFTM  Moderator

A giant bomb fighting game would suck, because in order to be realistic Luchadeer would be crazy overpowered and no-one could beat him.

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Edited By Death_Burnout

Really is too perfect.

No idea what that means.

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Edited By Dauragon
@Linkyshinks: You hear that?

That's the sound of the point whizzing over your head.
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Edited By Linkyshinks
@Dauragon said:
" @Linkyshinks: You hear that? That's the sound of the point whizzing over your head. "

I see the point and theme of this game perfectly, I just dislike weak looking fighting games made by amateurs. The genre has already been blotted with ample.




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Edited By Manatassi
@Linkyshinks said:
" @Dauragon said:
" @Linkyshinks: You hear that? That's the sound of the point whizzing over your head. "
I see the point and theme of this game perfectly, I just dislike lame looking fighting games made by amateurs. "
Well I seriously doubt that any development studio would even look at developing a decent game in the same style. Besides some people LIKE the sillyness and daft throw away nature of this kind of thing. Its alot like people who watch terrible B movies and Horrors just to have a laugh. 

No need to get so serious about the whole thing, its just a bit of daft fun.
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Edited By FlipperDesert

... Am I still asleep or something? I'm dreaming about Giant Bomb now?

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Edited By skrutop

This game is going to be one of two things.  Terrible, or terrible and awesome.

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Edited By Bigandtasty
@simian said:
" When I first saw the top image, I thought Ryan had been moonlighting on the side... Or joined a motorcycle club. "
ahahaha I thought "wait is this an actual game or some kind of gbomb-produced joke"
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Edited By phlegms

My mind just got blown.

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Edited By Linkyshinks
@Manatassi said:
" @Linkyshinks said:
" @Dauragon said:
" @Linkyshinks: You hear that? That's the sound of the point whizzing over your head. "
I see the point and theme of this game perfectly, I just dislike lame looking fighting games made by amateurs. "
Well I seriously doubt that any development studio would even look at developing a decent game in the same style. Besides some people LIKE the sillyness and daft throw away nature of this kind of thing. Its alot like people who watch terrible B movies and Horrors just to have a laugh. 

No need to get so serious about the whole thing, its just a bit of daft fun.
"

Of course it is, it's just that I do take my fighting game seriously, they are my game of choice above any other, as a consequence I hate all MUGEN and dislike games of this type also.

I'm not against fun at all, just the culty hype train that may lead but some to buy the game, to only then realize how weak and shallow the combat it. There are so many of these dumb type of fighting games already available, just not with digitized character models.




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TerraDelu

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Edited By TerraDelu

Yup.

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Edited By jimbo_n
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Edited By stinky

what high school did this?

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Edited By dietmango

What the hell is this?! It just has terrible written all over it.

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Edited By JohnB

Striker should be in it. Unlockable, just use low kick. Make it happen. Call Boon or whoever about the rights.

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Edited By scurrybot

YEYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHAHAYHYHHHHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!

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Edited By dantebk

This seems like a total rip-off of Eviscerator III, which was itself a total rip-off of Eviscerator.  (let's not talk about Eviscerator II)

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Edited By singular

Those costumes look like their handmade by a kindergarden group. But a Mugen beat'em up with the GiantBomb crew as characters? That should totally be makeable.

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deactivated-6406b1cb85b6d

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Is Vamphyrial wearing hot dogs as shoulder pads?

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Edited By captainawesomo

This has to be true. Please let it be true.

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Edited By Keithcrash

I can't wait!  It looks amazing!  Like, Troma films amazing!  I hope this is the Toxic Avenger of fight games.

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Edited By Xander51

Wow awesome, if it gets a home release, I'll take 10.

I like that they have four life bars....four life bars?

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Edited By eric_buck

Lol looks kinda hilariouis

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Edited By Jayzilla

This will be fantastic if you can scan your own face into this. There is NO reason why they can't and won't make this happen. On a side note, that Vamp. guy is after his true love Ravona, who has completely white eyes and looks like she is on a 3 week meth bender. I have to play this game just because it looks like it was made when i was in high school back in '93.