PC gamers from the early nineties may remember a PC-only fighting game known as One Must Fall 2097. The game was a great 2D fighter that put gamers in control of a gigantic mech fighting others in interactive environments. The game gained a pretty large cult following, and the long-awaited sequel has been highly anticipated in some circles. Now, One Must Fall Battlegrounds is out, and the game offers a very different experience than what you’d typically expect from a fighter. The game has a fun combo system, interesting gameplay, and very cool multiplayer elements. While not without its flaws, OMF: Battlegrounds is a unique fighting game that fans of the original or anyone looking for a new fighting game experience should certainly check out.

Battlegrounds starts you out by first selecting not only your character, but also the robot that you control. Be careful while selecting each, as they both affect your performance on the playing field. You play through the single player mode in circuits, fighting matches against one or more other fighters until you reach the main challenger and completing a circuit will unlock new ones and so on.

The game gives you full access to the playing field and the controls are very similar to a third person action game. You move your character across the field and engage other enemies one at a time. The targeting system is very handy, and will keep your robot focused on their opponent even while evading their attacks. The controls feel a bit strange at first. Although much of the game controls like a third person action game, you can’t strafe your opponents nor can you do back or side attacks, so if an enemy comes along and starts wailing on your back, all you can do is turn around really slow and then attack them, which can be pretty frustrating in the thick of battle. However, it does get easier to deal with this after you’ve mastered the evade technique.

The game has a pretty cool combo system. The main focus of the system is performing juggles, which is a technique that knocks your opponent into the air and then allows you to knock them about (or juggle) them before they land. Juggles are handled very well in this game, as the robots can do some pretty impressive things with them. One robot, Chronos, has the ability to manipulate time (a la Prince of Persia: Sands of Time) and can knock an enemy into the air and suspend them momentarily as he opens a can on them.

The main aspect of the gameplay that the developers really wanted to make the best use of in Battlegrounds is the multiplayer modes, and for the most part, they succeeded in making great use of this. Battlegrounds is the first fighting game to support gameplay for up to 16 players, and this can be pretty intense when your in the thick of a fighting game with 15 other people. The multiplayer modes, while a bit simplistic, are great fun. The only problem with the multiplayer is the fact that lag has such a detrimental effect of the overall experience, causing enemies to flop around of the playing field if the connection breaks, interrupting combos.

The graphics in Battlegrounds are pretty good, save a few problems. The robots are nicely rendered, casting some impressive reflections and light and shadow effects. The special effects also look pretty good, as do the interactive environments. The framerates can be a bit of a problem, not moving very smoothly even on high-end PCs.

The sound effects aren’t necessarily the game’s strong point. The Euro-techno soundtrack works for the game at some points and sounds silly at others, and the robot contact sounds are repetitive and don’t really invoke the sense of awe that 60 foot robots pounding on each other should.

One Must Fall: Battlegrounds has a few problems, but on the whole, it’s a very creative offering to the small world of PC fighters, not to mention a pretty good multiplayer experience. Anyone looking for a different fighter experience in the cookie-cutter world of fighting game should give Battlegrounds a look.

Gameplay: 7.5
OMF: Battlegrounds offers a great and versatile combo system, interactive environments, and an overall refreshing take on fighting games. However, the controls are pretty cumbersome, and can lead to unnecessary frustration.

Graphics: 8.0
The graphics are pretty impressive. The robot models are well rendered, complete with bump-mapped textures, reflections and other great effects, although their animations are a tad, well, robotic. The environments look great and are pretty rife with activity. The framerates are a bit of a problem, however, even on high-end PCs.

Sound: 6.5
The music is Euro-techno, which both works for the game and against it at points. The robot sounds aren’t what they should be, and don’t invoke the sense of scale that they should.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 8.0
OMF: Battlegrounds does some pretty interesting things with the standard fighting game system, by adding full-roam gameplay and 16-player multiplayer support.

Multiplayer: 8.5
Easily the high point of the game, the multiplayer provides support for up to 16 players. While there are only two modes, last man standing and demolition, in the thick of battle, these modes can be as compelling and fun as any other multiplayer game. The only problem was lag, which can be quite interruptive to the online experience.

Overall: 7.5
OMF: Battlegrounds is a refreshing take on fighting games. While not without its issues, Battlegrounds is still a pretty fun game with a great online experience.