Fighters Megamix

What happens when you mix fighters from Virtua Fighter and Fighting Vipers into a single crazy crossover — and then throw in a car as well? You get Fighters Megamix, one of the wildest and most entertaining fighting titles to appear on the Saturn. Sega took its 3D fighting mechanics seriously here, but with the roster it allowed itself pure fun.

At the heart of the game is the connection of two of Sega's popular fighting brands: on one side the technically precise characters from Virtua Fighter, on the other the wilder, stylistically distinct fighters from Fighting Vipers. This combination of two different approaches to 3D fighting creates unusual variety — suddenly you have styles facing off that you would never normally put in the same ring, and finding the balance between them is fun in itself.

But Fighters Megamix is famous above all for its sense of humour and its abundance of unlockable content. The roster does not stop at the „serious“ fighters — utterly absurd choices make their way in among the unlockable characters, including the racing car Hornet from Daytona USA as a full-fledged participant in the fights. It is exactly the kind of madcap idea that turns crossovers into cult experiences.

Beneath the layer of craziness hides an honest 3D fighting game built on the experience of Sega AM2 and its work on the Virtua Fighter series. The battles have depth and a pleasure of movement, so the game works both for players who just want to run riot with crazy characters and for those looking for a solid fighting system.

As a celebration of the richness of Sega's fighting brands and their willingness not to always take themselves entirely seriously, Fighters Megamix remains one of the most endearing titles in the Saturn library.

Why play it: For a joyful crossover of Sega fighters full of unlockable madness and honest 3D mechanics beneath the zany surface.