Eternal Champions

From Sega Retro

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EternalChampions title.png

Eternal Champions
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Wii Virtual Console
JP ▼ 		600pts600
Wii Virtual Console
US ▼ 		800pts800
Wii Virtual Console
EU ▼ 		800pts800
CERO
Missing Parameter!

Eternal Champions (エターナルチャンピオンズ) is a 2D fighting game developed for the Sega Mega Drive by Sega Interactive. The game was pitched as Sega of America's attempt to cash-in on the popular Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat franchises, and was released in 1993.

Story

Welcome to my chamber. I am the Eternal Champion, keeper of this vast fighting complex. It exists in a place and time corrupted by centuries of misuse and destruction.

My purpose in this grand scheme is to maintain the balance between good and evil, light and darkness, hope and despair.

Now this balance has been lost and the very fabric that holds the world together will be torn apart.

Your future, my present, has been destroyed by a cruel and unjust twist of fate.

Nine individuals from various periods in time were killed before their lives could affect this dark existence.

I have observed each of their short lives and have been powerless to stop the chaos.

I have spent the centuries harnessing my own power for this very moment. I am the pure and untouched energy of all the great martial arts masters that have lived before me. Their skill, wisdom, knowledge, and inner-strength are at my command.

Even with the force of their collective powers, I can only reward one of the nine individuals with the gift of life. Any of them can have an equally profound effect on the future. For this reason, the contest must take place.At the end of this contest, only one will remain. The victor will be returned to life a few seconds before his death, allowing him to avoid the past with the knowledge to change the future.

Only one may live so that the balance may be achieved.

Let the contest begin...

Gameplay

Much like its highly influencial peers, Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat, Eternal Champions is a 2D one-on-one fighting game in which players fight as one of a variety of different characters, in this case dragged from different periods of time to do battle. The player fights their way through a contest, hoping to face the "Eternal Champion" and return to their normal life. Like Mortal Kombat, there is a high level of violence.

If the player loses a round in contest mode, they not only have to fight the person they fought prior to the person they lost to, but also the person before that fighter.

There is also a training room to build up a player's skills with various challenges to try, a two player mode, and a tournament mode for up to 32 people to fight in one-on-one contests with a choice between 3 different modes of tournament play. Characters can perform special moves by inputting combinations.

Each special move costs an amount of inner strength, which is the little Yin/Yang symbol that appears next to the health bar at the top of the screen during a fight. In stages, if an opponent lands on the correct spot, they will be killed by something from the background in a finishing move known as an "overkill".

The CPU is able to attack the player even if it's inner strength is empty. This was fixed in the sequel.

Playable Characters

{{{imagewidths}}} Shadow Yamoto
{{{imagewidths}}} R. A. X. Coswell
{{{imagewidths}}} Jonathan Blade
{{{imagewidths}}} Jetta Maxx
Jetta Maxx initially started life off as a male clown character, who according to Michael Latham, saw his special move ideas recycled for the Senator secret character in Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side.
{{{imagewidths}}} Slash
{{{imagewidths}}} Trident
{{{imagewidths}}} Xavier Pendragon
{{{imagewidths}}} Mitchell Midleton Knight
{{{imagewidths}}} Larcen Tyler

According to the series' executive producer and designer, Michael Latham, the character Dawson from Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side, was originally planned to appear in this game. Chin Wo and Blast, secret characters from Challenge From the Dark Side, were also planned for the original game as well. These characters were scrapped due to ROM limitations.

Basic Controls

Although the game can be played with a standard three-button control pad, it will leave the player at a major disadvantage, with the updated six button control pad being the preferred option.

Kicks

  • A Snap (weak kick)
  • B Thrust (medium kick)
  • C Wheel (strong kck)

Punches

  • X Straight (weak punch)
  • Y Lunge (medium punch)
  • Z Swing (strong punch)

Other controls

  •  START  Pause game
  • Up Jump
  • Down Crouch
  • Left Move forward or backward depending upon the direction the characters are facing
  • Right Move forward or backward depending upon the direction the characters are facing
  • Left or Right in the opposite direction of the one the character is currently facing while opponent is attacking to do a block

Taunt

Each Character has a taunt, activated with X + Z. Taunts decrease some of the user's inner strength to decrease the opponent's inner strength by an even larger amount.

3 Button Controller Usage

Much like Mega Drive ports of the Street Fighter games, the player can press  START  to switch between punches and kicks. However, due to this, the pause game feature is activated by pressing A+B+C, which may interfere with moves that require all three buttons pressed at once). The controls are otherwise similar.

Activator

Eternal Champions was also packaged with the Activator in North America, and therefore is compatible with it. The game's manual has a list of moves for the activator.

History

Legacy

Sega of America took great pride in Eternal Champions, with the game selling very well in Western territories and being re-released under the Mega Hit Series, Classic Mega Drive and Sega Platinum Collection ranges, amongst much spin-off merchandise. However, the game was never fully adopted by Sega of Japan, who preferred to concentrate efforts on the Virtua Fighter series (and later products such as Fighting Vipers and Last Bronx). As such, Eternal Champions was sidelined after Sega's US operations were downsized during the late-1990s and is unlikely to make a return in the foreseeable future.

Nevertheless Eternal Champions was followed by the Sega Mega-CD title Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side, released in 1995 and saw two spin-off games, Chicago Syndicate and X-Perts. A second sequel, Eternal Champions: The Final Chapter, entered production but work was halted by Sega's Japanese arm.

Eternal Champions has since been re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console service. It also saw a comic strip in the early days of Fleetway's Sonic the Comic.

Production Credits

Developed By: Sega Interactive Development Division
Lead Artist & Animator: Albert Co
Lead Programmer: John Kuwaye
Programmers: Steven Lashower, Jack Loh, Michael Terlecki, Pravin Wagh, Christopher Warner, Ala D. Diaz
Artists: David C. Russ, William Kier, Maureen Kringen, Art Wong, Kevin Lee, Rachel Wong Coleman, Steve Knotts, Larry Flores
Designer: Michael Latham
Executive Producer: Michael Latham
Producer: Mark Nausha
Technical Director: Christopher Warner
Music Composers: DMP Entertainment, Joe Delia, John Hart, Jeff Marsh

Artwork

  • EternalChampions Art 1.jpg

Promotional Material

  • EternalChampions MD US PrintAdvert.jpg

    US print advert

  • EternalChampions MD BR PrintAdvert.jpg

    BR print advert

  • 1993 12 - Teaser Eternal Champions.jpg

    ES print teaser

  • 1994 01 - Eternal Champions.jpg

    ES print advert 1

  • 1994 02 - Eternal Champions.jpg

    ES print advert 1 (Variation)

  • 1994 05 - Software Mega Drive.jpg

    ES print advert 2

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
62
97
80 №14, p42/43/44
71 №17, p22/23
82
82 №25
97 №16, p60-65[1]
78 №38, p80/81/82
90
95 №1, p94/95[2]
72 №51, p60/61
94 №29, p36/37
85 №17, p10
Sega Mega Drive
 83
Based on
13 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[3]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
90
[4]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE) PAL
83
[5]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
65
[6]
Console Mania (IT)
92
[7]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
92
[8]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
91
[9]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
63
[10]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
65
[11]
Freak (IL)
90
[12]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
75
[13]
Game Power (IT) PAL
84
[14]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
90
[15]
GamesMaster (UK)
81
[16]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
86
[17]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
50
[18]
Hyper (AU)
85
[19]
Joker (SI)
93
[20]
Mega (UK) PAL
71
[21]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
84
[22]
Megablast (DE) PAL
73
[23]
Mega Force (FR)
95
[24]
Mega Power (UK) PAL
85
[25]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
82
[26]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
97
[1]
Megazone (AU)
92
[27]
Player One (FR)
78
[28]
Power Unlimited (NL)
90
[29]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
95
[30]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
95
[31]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
72
[32]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
94
[33]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
93
[34]
Sega Force (SE)
90
[35]
Svet Kompjutera (YU)
88
[36]
Sonic Mag: B.D. & Jeux-Video! (FR) PAL
85
[37]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
66
[38]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
85
[39]
Supergames (AR)
80
[40]
Todo Sega (ES)
95
[41]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
84
[42]
Video Games (DE) PAL
81
[43]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
50
[44]
Sega Mega Drive
 82
Based on
43 reviews

Eternal Champions

Mega Drive, US
EC MD US Box.jpg
Cover
EternalChampions MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
EternalChampions MD US Poster Front.jpg
Poster (front)
EternalChampions MD US Poster Back.jpg
Poster (back)
Mega Drive, US (Mega Hit Series)
EternalChampions MD US Box Front MHS.jpg
Cover
Eternalchampions md us cart MHS.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, US (console pack-in)

EternalChampions MD US Cart NFR.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
EC MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
EternalChampions MD EU Cart Blue.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
(Classic Mega Drive)
EC MD EU Box Classic.jpg
Cover
EternalChampions MD EU Cart Blue.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
EC MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU
EC MD AU Box.jpg
Cover
EternalChampions MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU (Sega Platinum Collection)
EternalChampions MD AU Box Platinum.jpg
Cover
EternalChampions MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, Asia
EC MD Asia Box PAL.jpg
Cover
EternalChampions MD AS Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, BR
EC MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
EternalChampions MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Eternalchampions md br manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
EC MD KR Box.jpg
Cover
EternalChampions MD KR cart.jpg
Cart

External Links



Games in the Eternal Champions Series
Eternal Champions (1993) | Chicago Syndicate (1995) | Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side (1995) | X-Perts (1996) | Eternal Champions (LCD) (1994) | Eternal Champions: The Final Chapter (unreleased)
Eternal Champions related media
Book
 Eternal Champions Special (1994) | Eternal Champions: Sega Genesis Official Power Guide (1994) | Eternal Champions Adventure Gamebook 1: The Cyber Warriors (1994) | Eternal Champions Adventure Gamebook 2: Citadel of Chaos (1994) | Eternal Champions Official Sticker Album (1993)
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 File:MeanMachinesSega16UK.pdf, page 61 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega16UK.pdf_p61" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ File:OfficialSegaMagazine_UK_01.pdf, page 94
  3. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 72
  4. ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 72
  5. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-04), page 38
  6. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1994" (JP; 1994-02-08), page 19
  7. ↑ Console Mania, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 84
  8. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-15), page 64
  9. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "January 1994" (US; 1993-12-21), page 68
  10. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 44
  11. ↑ Famitsu, "1994-02-25" (JP; 1994-02-10), page 1
  12. ↑ Freak, "2/94" (IL; 1994-xx-xx), page 44
  13. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 2, Issue 1: December 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 27
  14. ↑ Game Power, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 34
  15. ↑ GamePro, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 44
  16. ↑ GamesMaster (UK) "Series 3, episode 19" (1994-01-11, 24:00) (+6:10)
  17. ↑ Game Informer, "January/February 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 26
  18. ↑ Hippon Super, "March 1994" (JP; 1994-02-03), page 61
  19. ↑ Hyper, "March 1994" (AU; 1994-xx-xx), page 32
  20. ↑ Joker, "Junij 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 23
  21. ↑ Mega, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 22
  22. ↑ Mega Action, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-28), page 16
  23. ↑ Megablast, "2/94" (DE; 1994-03-30), page 35
  24. ↑ Mega Force, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 1994-01-08), page 84
  25. ↑ Mega Power, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-17), page 24
  26. ↑ MegaTech, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-21), page 42
  27. ↑ Megazone, "March 1994" (AU; 1994-02-23), page 44
  28. ↑ Player One, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 80
  29. ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 3, Maart 1994" (NL; 1994-02-23), page 34
  30. ↑ Sega Magazine, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-10), page 94
  31. ↑ Sega Magazine, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-10), page 108
  32. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-06), page 60
  33. ↑ Sega Pro, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-01-27), page 36
  34. ↑ Sega Zone, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-27), page 46
  35. ↑ Sega Force, "6/94" (SE; 1994-09-14), page 20
  36. ↑ Svet Kompjutera, "Maj 1996" (YU; 1996-xx-xx), page 85
  37. ↑ Sonic Mag: B.D. & Jeux-Video!, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-04-15), page 34
  38. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  39. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "January 21st 1994" (UK; 1994-01-08), page 10
  40. ↑ Supergames, "Ano I, Numero I" (AR; 1994-xx-xx), page 14
  41. ↑ Todo Sega, "Enero 1994" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 42
  42. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 65
  43. ↑ Video Games, "2/94" (DE; 1994-01-26), page 46
  44. ↑ VideoGames, "February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 68
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