Pride Fighting Championships - PS2

Also known as: Pride FC

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Viewed: 3D Third-person, floating camera Genre:
Sport: Martial Arts
Sport: Boxing
Sport: Wrestling
Media: DVD Arcade origin:No
Developer: Anchor Soft. Co.: THQ
Publishers: THQ (GB/GB/GB)
Released: 25 Apr 2003 (GB)
Unknown (GB)
Ratings: 15+, ESRB Mature 17+ (M)
Features: Vibration Function Compatible, Analogue Control Compatible: analogue sticks only
Accessories: Memory Card

Summary

This latest celebration of all things violent from THQ makes the grand gesture of encompassing a wide range of different combat sports and bringing them into the ring for a big brawl under the same rules. The game's philosophy, known as Vale Tudo, is the acceptance of any school of any combat. Pride is the survival of the strongest, not in a specific genre, but of all combat sports. Survival of the fittest. Just like evolution. But in Lycra hot pants.

The game features realistic 'No Holds Barred' fighting gameplay, with individual fighters accurately recreated in impressive detail down to their appearance, likeness, fighting style, movements, and signature ring entrances. There are also various combat elements that further capture the intensity of the Pride contest, such as multiple fighting positions, unique styles and hundreds of moves, counters and reversals.

There are over 25 fighters to choose from in all, including the likes of top champions Kazushi Sakuraba, Vanderlei Silva, Igor Vovchanchyn and Heath Herring. Each one is built up from around 5000 polygons and rendered by an advanced graphics engine that goes as far as to depict blood and sweat.

Plenty of different game modes have been thrown in to ensure the title has a fair amount of replay value, including Exhibition, Grand Prix, Training, Survival and Tournament. For the ardent individual, there's also the welcome inclusion of a Create-A-Fighter feature, which allows you to design your own ultimate warrior, complete with appearance, moves, characteristics, style, and even entrance music,

Pride FC sits quite comfortably between martial arts game and wrestling game with regard to style, featuring the in-depth combat of the former as well as the TV-style presentation of the latter.