Press release: 1996-05-10: Kumite for Sony PlayStation & Sega Saturn

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: Konami website (archived)

CONTACT:
Randy Severin
Senior Product Manager

NOTHING MAGICAL OR MYSTICAL HERE, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTERS WITH ALL THE RIGHT (AND REALISTIC) STUFF.

Konami (America) Inc. Packs a Punch with True-to-Life Martial Arts Challenges in "Kumite--The Fighters Edge".

BUFFALO GROVE, IL--(May, 1996)--Step into a true-to-life martial arts challenge with Kumite--The Fighters Edge from Konami (America) Inc., created especially for the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Kumite--The Fighters Edge is the most advanced 3D martial arts fighting game on the market, featuring 360 degree combat motion and textured-mapped characters that actually show fighting damage. With this innovative feature, gamers will see the impact of their blows on their opponents’ bodies realized in blood, sweat and tears! True martial arts techniques from several disciplines are combined with unique weapons to give gamers a realistic and real fighting challenge.

"Kumite--The Fighters Edge is the closest thing to suiting up and engaging in full-tilt martial arts combat," states Andrew Donchak, Konami (America) Inc. consumer division president. "Our goal was to create the next generation in martial arts combat titles, and with all the innovation we’ve packed into Kumite, I believe you’ll see we’re blazing the trail for the future of fighting games leaning toward realism and true-to-life intensity."

"Being the first martial arts fighting game on the market with 360 degree combat motion, Kumite gives players the ability to sidestep an attack rather than simply retreating or jumping over an opponent," adds Mark Porwit, division vice president, planning. "This is a major step forward in adding to the realism of a martial arts challenge, and one that gamers will surely recognize as a Konami exclusive."

Kumite--The Fighters Edge features fighting technique that is based on real life martial arts disciplines and the laws of physics. For the first time in a martial arts fighting game, characters show damage, in very real manifestations, and depend on true skill not magical or mystical themes.

"It’s just like the real thing," continues Porwit. "Fighters must master both offensive and defensive moves, not just attack, attack, attack. It really gives gamers the true sensation of engaging in this totally absorbing mind and body fighting art form."

Kumite--The Fighters Edge features ten to twenty fighters from around the world, each boasting their own individual martial art style ranging from Korean Tae Kwon Doe to Japanese Shotokan Karate to Chinese White Crane Kung Fu and beyond. In addition to their fighting specialty, each character also wields a unique weapon such as bokun, rings, tonfas, knives and more.

Every move is linkable for unlimited combination attacks, and vital area attacks combine with 1-2 fighting action to make Kumite--The Fighters Edge a true reflection of the real thing.

Konami (America) Inc. is a leading developer of electronic entertainment properties, specializing in the home video game and coin-operated markets. In addition to the Konami Sport Series Games, Konami’s consumer titles include Castlevania and Contra among other top-sellers. Konami’s coin-op legacy includes such hits as Crypt Killer and Run and Gun 2. The latest information about Konami can be found at http:// www.konami.com. Konami (America) Inc. is a subsidiary of Konami Co., Ltd., a publicly traded company based in Tokyo, Japan.

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