PixlBit

"LET'S GET READY TO CRUMBLEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Clay Fighter 63 1/3 is perhaps the most humorous fighting game ever made, and you can see its humor right there in the title. Hm, not quite good enough to be "64," huh? Tacking "64" at the end of the title was such a common thing that the folks at Interplay wanted to be different, so they went with 63 1/3. This is the only 64 game with 63 1/3 in the title. Anyways, this game was released in 1997 and was developed/published by Interplay. It is the third game in the CF series, the first two both being for the SNES. 

This game has a crazy cast of characters. There are nine original characters, and three special characters you can unlock. The nine original characters include Bad Mr. Frosty (snowman), T. Hoppy (military bunny), Blob (he's. . . a blob), Kung Pow (kung fu chef), Taffy (candyman), Bonker (clown), Houngan (voodoo man), Ickybod Clay (creepy ghoul), and one of Interplay's original characters, Earthworm Jim. Each character is unique with his moves and fight style. For instance, Blob can change into almost anything in order to fight; Kung Pow uses karate moves, Taffy shoots gum balls, Houngan can summon zombie hands from the ground, and the list goes on. No boring characters here. 

The characters are given even more life with voices. Interplay was able to get some noteworthy voice actors, including Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh, Duck Tales, Gargoyles), Frank Welker (Scooby Doo, Inspector Gadget, G.I. Joe), Rob Paulsen (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Anamaniacs), Dan Castellanetta (Earthworm Jim, The Simpsons), and many others. These voice actors really give the characters personality that you've never before seen in a fighting game, even CF's predecessors. 

At the title screen, you can choose Game Start or Options. Sadly, there's no tournament mode or extra challenges, but there are five difficulties (Cookie, Normal, Whoa, Dude, and Psycho). Once you choose a character, you will fight only a handful of other fighters and then face Dr. Kiln at the end. The N64 controller is not ideal for a fighting game. You have two face buttons (A and B), then four little C buttons, all of which cause your character to attack. Those C buttons were not made for fighting games, but they do various attacks. Pressing the L or R button will cause your fighter to move up or down within the 3D environment. The Z button does nothing. 

While you fight, two guys will comment on the action. "That was brilliant!" "Oh I love it!" By hitting your opponent multiple times in a row, you can get combos. Each combo has a name, from Itsy Bitsy Combo (3 hits) to Insane Combo (20 hits or more) and everything in-between. When a fighter is about to perform a combo, the game will make this charging sound to hint that a combo is about to happen and everything will freeze just for a second; the other fighter may be able to dodge it depending on his distance from his opponent. On higher difficulties, the computer is far more likely to get combos, and to get big ones. Once T. Hopper performed a combo on me that went on FOREVER. when he was finally done, the hits were over 700. This game is not afraid to be over-the-top like that. 

Instead of blood, spillets of clay will shoot out of the fighters as they're hit. Instead of fighting two rounds like in most fighting games, CF 63 1/3 gives each fighter two lifebars. Once the green lifebar is depleted down all the way, a second one fills up. The match is over after you have depleted both lifebars. 

The controls respond well, and the pace of the game is just right. I've played the first two CF games; the first game had a good pace; however, the second game was way too fast, so I'm glad they slowed this one down. After you beat Dr. Kiln (the mad scientist), something will be said about character, and then a strange screen will pop up. It will say, "This animal was severely hurt in the making of this game. Rest in peace, Lockjaw." Lockjaw being a vicious dog. I have no idea what this means since Lockjaw was not in any of the CF games; it's just another random thing in this game. 

Unfortunately, you get absolutely nothing for beating the game on the harder difficulties. No rewards, just a Game Over screen. Now I mentioned that there's three hidden characters. You would think you would have to do something to unlock them, but actually, all you have to do is perfomr certain button combinations while on the character select screen. Sadly, these characters will disappear after you turn off the system (atleast they did for my game). The three hidden characters are Dr. Kiln, Sumo Santa, and Boogerman (another Interplay character). Sumo Santa is hilarious! He attacks with his stomach! "Santa's gonna sit on your lap!" And Boogerman is just gross, throwing boogers at his opponents and shooting at you with fart bursts. 

Of course, the game is a lot of fun to play with a friend. Each character also has his own stage, each one being unique and different, and they really set the stage well. The music is nothing special, but it's not terrible either. You probably won't even notice it while you're jumping around and fighting. The characters are the thing that really make this game shine. 

Interplay released Clay Fighter Sculptor's Cut in 1998, which was an enhanced version of this game. However, they never made it available to buy, only to rent through Blockbuster. Sculptor's Cut contains new storylines, easier menu navigation, further adjustments to the combat system, a new introduction sequence with vocal lyrics, and other minor changes. Most prominently, Sculptor's Cut re-added four of the five characters that were removed for the game's first release, in addition to the original twelve fighters. The new characters are Lady Liberty, High Five (he's a hand), Lockjaw Pooch (the dog who was severely hurt), and Zappa Yow Yow Boyz (pygmy brothers of Houngan's). Who knows if this game can be found anywhere today; I would love to play it. 

Final Verdict--4 Stars: Recommended

This game is by far the best in the series, with great voice acting, hilarious characters, crazy combos, and good controls. I only wish they offered more than just a one player mode and a two player mode, but atleast those are pretty fun. This is the type of game which you can pick up and play just to kill some time. It may be the strangest fighter on the N64, and definitely the funniest one. 

Join me every Saturday as we take a look back at all kinds of retro game, good and bad.