Slice and Dice Real Opponents in “Iron Phoenix” Xbox Live’s First 16-Player Fighting Game

By Louis Bedigian

New Shots and New Info Inside!

No fighting fan will ever forget the arcade era.  As much as I love Dance Dance Revolution, nothing can top the experience of beating a real-life opponent in Tekken, Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat.  I’ll never forget the sights (over-crowded dark rooms with neon lights), the sounds (cussing from anyone on the receiving end of a fatality), or the smells (gamers aren’t the cleanest bunch).  I have nostalgic feelings anytime I walk into a mall or movie theater game room that reeks of a familiar scent.  The smell may be unpleasant, but the memories I associate the smell with are some of the fondest I have.

Now that I am left without a place to Kombat my friends, I long for an online fighting game that can create new memories to cherish.  My wish was for all that I know: 2D combo-filled fighting action with lots of characters.  What Sammy intends to bring us this fall is unlike the dream game I fantasized about – it’s far superior.

Fast, violent, and very bloody, Iron Phoenix is the kind of game that will make arcade junkies drool.  Just thinking about it makes me drool.  If you could see me right now you’d think I was the dog in that eccentric Beggin’ Strips commercial.  I’d bark and howl at the top of my lungs if they’d let me play this game for just one minute.

Up to 16 players can delve into one battle and attempt to reign supreme.  The gameplay is fully three-dimensional – no eight-way run to hold you back!

How can we possibly wait till fall for the game to be released?  We can’t.  But we can act in a calm, orderly fashion, break down the doors at Sammy HQ and demand that they tell us more about their unique fighting game.

Iron Phoenix is a 16-player fighting game.  Does that mean that there are 16 different fighters to choose from?

Tim Hess, Producer: At the beginning of the single-player experience you will be able to choose one of two different characters, one male one female.  Over the course of the campaign you will encounter other characters that, once defeated, become playable in the multiplayer game.  That being said, choosing a character is not the focal point because in Iron Phoenix any character can use any weapon and the weapon is what determines a character's fighting style.

Tell us about the playable fighters and how each one differs.

TH: Each fighter will have their own statistical differences such as speed, attack power, etc., as well as aesthetic differences, e.g. height, weight, and costume. However, the weapons will be the real differentiating factor in the game.  We will have nine available weapons, each of which gives the user access to a new set of moves specific to that weapon.

What is wire-fu style Kung-Fu fighting and how does it differ from the traditional Kung-Fu style we're used to?

TH: This is not a 3D-looking 2D-plane fighter; the player has the ability to run on walls, attack while leaping from them, float, dash, double jump from roof top to roof top, it's more Crouching Tiger style fighting than say Soul Calibur II.

I love the game’s dark atmosphere.

Tell us about all of the cool combo styles that the game has to offer.

TH: In Iron Phoenix, you can link any of the weapon-specific moves together, creating many different combos.  While there are some moves that flow well into one another, the user is free to link moves anyway they want, depending on the situation.  The system allows for a lot of flexibility. We're striving to create a balanced game that rewards coordination skills and teamwork.

Are the combos performed by holding multiple buttons, by pressing buttons in a sequence, or by some other means?

TH: All of the above.  Double taps on the D-Pad/Analog Stick in conjunction with various button presses, multiple buttons, etc., no fireball motions though!

How long are the combos?  How many hits can a player score without stopping?

TH: There are some predetermined 'special moves' that are combo attacks, and these can score you a high-hit count.  In fact, each of the nine weapons has several special combo attacks that are area effective. The special combo attacks tend to last longer than regular attacks as they require more skill and Chi. Chi is a measure of your mystic ability, and is built up by either attacking opponents or being attacked. It can then be used, at various levels depending on weapon, to unleash special combo attacks upon your opponents. By mastering these combos, you will be able to rack up the number of hits more easily.  Otherwise, the number of hits depends on how good you are." 

Can combos be interrupted, perhaps by using a counterattack?

TH: Being hit from above or behind (with melee or projectiles) or an opponent's Chi-Flare will cancel out your combo moves. In fact, Chi-Flare enables a character to release his or her inner chi and form a protective barrier. The cool thing about Chi-Flare is that it not only defends the character using it but also repulses surrounding opponents, therefore, it can be used as a counterattack measure.

Ouch!

Weapons seem to be a big part of the game.  Talk about them.

TH: There are nine weapons, each of which gives the user access to a new set of moves specific to that weapon. You are allowed to carry two weapons at a time; you can even use them together for a dual weapon attack!  The weapons are broken down a number of ways: blades, spears, hammers, hand to hand, as well as damage, range, area of effect and speed.   Still, remember that the combo system is based on specific weapons not characters. You can switch characters, but as long as you use the same weapon your button combo will remain the same.

Do the characters in Iron Phoenix have special powers or any kind of super attack that deals damage to multiple foes?

TH: Again, the weapons are the focus of all your attacks in Iron Phoenix, all of which have distinctive area effective attacks. If you use them correctly, you will be able to unleash powerful Chi attacks upon single or multiple opponents.

How many play modes are there?  We can assume that there's a deathmatch-style mode, where everyone fighters to the death.  But is there also a mode in which players can team up and fight together?

TH: We'll have Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, V.I.P and a few other very exciting modes not seen in traditional head-to-head fighters that we will unveil a bit later…

Are there any offline or single-player options?

TH: We have a story-driven Single-Player experience, complete with in game cut scenes and animatics.  Iron Phoenix is set in an ancient, mythical China. The story revolves around nine weapons forged from the core of a meteor - the Iron Phoenix. Each weapon grants the person that wields it unique fighting powers. Your task is to go out and get these weapons to lock them away from those that might use their combined might for evil.

Thank you for your time.