Eternal Fighters Chapter 1 Struggles to Land the Knockout Blow

Mortal Kombat stands as one of the best fighting games of the 20th century, a digital gladiatorial arena that left its bloody fingerprints all over the gaming industry. It's safe to say that more than half of the people whom I’ve spoken to owe a debt to this spine-ripping, heart-pounding genre.

With that being said, I was pretty excited to try out Eternal Fighters: Chapter 1 by SkitRow Game Studios, a plucky underdog game developer trying to punch above its weight class in a world of advanced PC titles. While it may not be a flawless victory, it's still worth a round or two for its gameplay, nostalgia factor, and aesthetics.

A Familiar Arena

The game takes place in a universe so faithful to the original MK, you'd think it was wearing a ninja costume and yelling "GET OVER HERE!" Both are light on character development and story but heavy on decent fighting mechanics and tension.

The character models in Eternal Fighters are actually very well done, possibly ranking among the better-looking fighting games for PC. The attention to detail is impressive: you can see the meticulously hand-wrapped arm and eye patch on Kang, while Shir's oversized hat does a good job of hiding his mysterious and deviant peepers.

Fighters are rendered in clean, sharp sprites that would make even the most discerning graphic artist nod in approval. Characters appear more detailed than their predecessors, with a level of definition that makes them distinct and memorable. There's no doubt these digital pugilists look much better than the original MK cast; it's like comparing a 4K TV to an old CRT screen.

However, beauty is only pixel-deep and while these fighters might win the eyes of gamers, their movement leaves something to be desired. The animations, for instance, lack the fluid and organic quality you'd expect from such well-crafted models. Instead, they move with all the grace of a malfunctioning animatronic, making their actions come off as somewhat stiff and robotic.

Kombat Mechanics

The fighting mechanics are solid but could use some polish. Enemy fighters twitch toward you like caffeinated mimes, their fists clawing through the air. There is a block button, but it seems to have a mind of its own, activating when it feels like it and leaving you open to a barrage of undeserved punishment.

Height differences are about as noticeable as a ninja at a stealth convention. Sure, some fighters are bulkier than others, but they all stand shoulder-to-shoulder like a line of identical action figures. It's as if the game's lore has outlawed high heels and stepping stools, enforcing a strict "one-size-fits-all" policy for its combatants.

Adding to the frustration, there is also noticeable input lag that feels like your character is wading through digital molasses. Button presses and on-screen movements have unexpected delays, as if your fighter is contemplating their next attack before executing each command. This lag creates a disconnect between intention and action, turning what should be a fast-paced brawl into a slightly sluggish dance of delayed gratification.

Slow-Motion Kombat

Eternal Fighters attempts to set itself apart with intertwining plot lines, but the story feels more tangled than intertwined. The fights take place in various exotic settings around the world, but the levels lack real distinction. Fighting on a beach, for example, feels suspiciously similar to dueling on a pirate ship – apparently, sand and sea are interchangeable in this universe.

While the game may appeal to fighting fans looking for a Mortal Kombat-esque experience, the sluggish gameplay is where it falters. Executing special moves don't always occur, and matches drag on longer than a politician's speech. A single fight shouldn't last long enough for you to contemplate the meaning of life, but here we are.

A Nostalgic Tribute or a Missed Opportunity?

The real tragedy is that this title could have been so much more if it hadn't clung so tightly to Mortal Kombat's coattails. The developer's intention of creating a nostalgic tribute is clear and commendable, but sometimes, it feels less like tribute and more like a cover band that only knows one song.

In the end, what keeps Eternal Fighters from being a knockout is not a lack of solid features (it has those), but rather the failure to make them all work cohesively at a pace fast enough to keep players engaged. It's like watching a sloth perform martial arts – impressive in theory, but you might doze off before the final blow lands.

Pros:

• Impressive character models with detailed sprites
• Nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic fighting games
• Visually appealing aesthetics

Cons:

• Robotic, non-fluid character animations
• Noticeable input lag
• Inconsistent blocking mechanics
• Sluggish gameplay pace
• Overly derivative of Mortal Kombat