PixlBit

The missing 2/3 of the game must have been quality control.

These are two versions of the last game released in the ClayFighter series, which spawned as a spoof of the fighting games which were all the rage in the early-to-mid 90's. As I'm no fan of fighters, I don't really know how this series compares with traditional fighting games, but I always appreciate the seldom appearance of a videogame parody. Unfortunately, this one seems to be all style and no substance, and even the theme can wear thin.

I first popped in ClayFighter 63 1/3, and decided to pick Bad Mr. Frosty as my character since he's on the label. There isn't much to this game, just a basic multi-round one-player mode and a two-player vs. mode. It was clear from the computer's actions that I was missing some moves, but I couldn't figure out the button combos for them. Fortunately, I'm pretty sure it was on easy difficulty, so I managed okay with just basic punches and kicks. When I slid in The Sculptor's Cut, it looked like it was pretty much the same game with a few added characters. There may also be a couple new moves and arenas, but I didn't play either game enough to know if that is the case.

Given my general disinterest for the games, I wanted a second viewpoint on them. I've invited PixlBit's own Esteban to reflect on his memory of the game, and what follows is what he had to say.

Esteban's Take

I like ClayFighter 63 1/3, I’ll admit it. Don’t get me wrong though, I know the game sucks. The hit detection is off, the A.I. is stupid, and the gameplay is sluggish, but something about it delights me.

I still remember when I got this game. My mother bought it for me at some department store, I think it was Sears. I brought it home, popped it into my Nintendo 64, and beat it within a half-hour with Bad Mr. Frosty. I kept playing though, because I wanted to beat it with all nine characters. I found that to be disappointing as the last ClayFighter game had more, but I knew there would be secret characters thanks to the three slots on the bottom of the character select screen. Later on, I found the codes to play as Dr. Kiln, Sumo Santa, and Boogerman.

I was already psyched that Earthworm Jim was in the game. His two games on the Genesis are among my favorite on the console, and to have him now in a fighting game was awesome. With Boogerman there too, cue the squeal of delight from a ten year old me. Oddly enough though, Earthworm Jim and Boogerman are not my favorite characters in the game. Neither are series staples Bad Mr. Frosty and Taffy. It actually is Kung Pow, a new character. I love his mix of karate-inspired moves labeled with Chinese food names. “Pu Pu Platter!”

Unfortunately, I’m alone in my love of the game. My friends wouldn’t play this title with me, probably because it sucked and they didn’t find it endearing like I did. Nonetheless, I got so good in the game that actually to this day, I can go through the single player mode on the hardest difficulty with relative ease. One thing I can say in this game’s defense is the humor is spot on, it’s silly and absurd at all times. When you hit your opponent, various clay objects specific to the character will fly out of them.  Kung Pow, for example, drops a bunch of cooking stuff and chopsticks.

I suppose ClayFighter 63 1/3 is basically just a guilty pleasure for me. Everyone has ‘em. This is mine.