Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side

n/a

Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega Interactive Development Division
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code US 1995-06-06 $49.9549.95 4427 EU 1995-05 4427-50 UK 1995-05 £49.9949.99 4427-50 BR 1995-10 063576

Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side is a Sega Mega-CD fighting game released in 1995. It is an enhanced and expanded version of the Sega Mega Drive title, Eternal Champions.

Story

The Eternal Champion is an immortal, cosmic being who feels that the balance of the universe and time has been disturbed by the deaths of key individuals destined to change the world for the greater good. To restore the balance, he holds a great contest in which the winner is granted the gift of new life, allowing them to fulfill their rightful destiny.

It is revealed that the Eternal Champion has a sinister counterpart: the Dark Champion. The Dark Champion appears and declares that he also will enter the contest and that he has hidden four more warriors, preventing the contest from truly being fulfilled. The contestants must not only achieve the aims of the Eternal Champion but also face the Dark Champion to win their lives back.

Gameplay

The game plays similar to other fighters of the day. The player has a selection of immediately playable characters, and many more unlockable ones. Players must fight their way through a series of matches with different opponents in order to face the Eternal Champion in a long match. When certain requirements are met they can perform finishing moves and stage specific finishing moves.

After defeating the Eternal Champion on the default difficulty setting or higher, the player must face the Dark Eternal Champion. On the Neophyte difficulty, the player only has to face the Eternal. On Champion difficulty, the player faces the Dark Eternal Champion as the Eternal Champion. Considering the broken status of both the Champions, it is a fair fight for the most part.

Basic controls are the same as the first Eternal Champions game. Once again, the game can be played with a three-button gamepad but a six-button gamepad is recommended. There are three kick buttons: snap (weak), thrust (medium) and wheel (strong); the other three buttons are for punches: straight (weak), lunge (medium) and swing (strong).  START  pauses the game, jumps, crouches and / move forward or backward depending upon the direction the characters are facing; / in the opposite direction of the one the character is currently facing blocks.

Each character has a taunt (+), which decreases some of the user's Inner Strength, though decrease the opponent's Inner Strength by an even larger amount.

Finishing moves

The original Eternal Champions title only featured Overkills. Challenge From the Dark Side has the return of the Overkill in addition to other new fatalities. The finishers have much more gore than the first game which slapped an M for Mature rating on the box. Some argue that many of these finishers, although not pre-rendered, are far gorier than any of the ones featured in the Mortal Kombat series at the time. Unlike the original, when a finisher is activated music stops playing, and (except for Vendettas) the activator of the finishing move teleports away. After teleporting away, the opponent then unfreezes and the finisher kills them. With Vendettas, both characters remain on screen, then the character whom used the vendetta kills the opponent themselves.

• Overkill: The Overkills featured in the original Eternal Champions title are present in Challenge From the Dark Side. Some have been made gorier and others have been removed for more violent and visually impressive ones. Stage fatality. Activated when opponent lands on a specific spot in the stage with no health left.
• Sudden Death: A Sudden Death is a new fatality introduced in Challenge From the Dark Side. Sudden Deaths function similarly to Overkills. However, Sudden Deaths may be activated if the character lands on the activation spot with 33% health or less, not just if the player loses their health.
• Vendetta: Introduced in Challenge From the Dark Side, each human character has a personal finishing move which is activated with a button combination that varies from character to character. They can only be activated when a specific condition is met. To use a vendetta, the player must stun the opponent with 33% health or less, get in close (not too close though), and enter the combination for the player's character's Vendetta. Then the music stops and the character kills the other one. While this sounds like it may contradict the personalities of characters such as Larcen, it actually makes more sense if one reads the manual. In the manual, it says that the Dark Eternal Champion has the power to influence the Champions to kill each other. Each time this happens, the Dark Eternal Champion gets stronger and the Eternal Champion gets weaker.
• Cinekill: Cinekills are by far the most difficult of finishing moves to activate. introduced in Challenge From the Dark Side, these finishers are only activated when the player lowers the opponent's health the 33% or less, performs a power combo to get Infinite Inner Strength, and stuns the opponent with the other conditions met. If successful, The user's character will be teleported away, then a portal will open up and the Dark Champion will manifest himself, point to the opponent exclaiming "TO YOUR DEATH" and teleport away along with the opponent. Then an FMV sequence starts up where the Dark Champion kills the character with their worst fear inside his Cimmerian Complex.

Characters

Playable

All of the characters from the original game return. Every returning character gains some new moves, and some old moves have been changed or removed.

Four new characters are added: the female pirate Riptide, the pharaoh Ramses III, the voodoo priestess Raven, and the cowboy Dawson.

	Shadow
	Full name: Shadow Yamoto Time period: 1993 AD Occupation: corporate assassin Fighting style: Taijutsu and Ninjitsu
	A corporate assassin from Tokyo, whose change of heart ended her career and her life at the hands of another corporate assassin. She is thrown off the top of the building of the company she worked for, the Black Orchid, by the very same assassin she learned her skills from. She gets a new outfit in this game. Move list (Special moves) Name Command Description Shadow Punch Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP + HP  Shadow leaps ahead with a mystical ninja punch, which causes her opponent to fly backward on impact. High Jump Angle Kick Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK  Shadow jumps high into the air, then comes down with a dive kick. Twirling Fan Attack Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LK  (one twirl) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK  (two twirls) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HK  (three twirls) Shadow does one or more cartwheels (depending on which button is used), then attacks with a steel fan. Shadow Mode Hold  LP + MP + HP  for 3 seconds Shadow becomes a shadow and can attack without being harmed for 5 seconds. Smoke Screen  LK + MK + HK , then  LK + MK  (reappear on left)  MK + HK  (reappear on right)  LP + MP  (reappear on left in the air)  MP + HP  (reappear on right in the air) Shadow disappears for a moment before reappearing next to her opponent. Alternatively, the player can input a special combination while she is invisible to reappear in a different location. Shuriken Throw Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP  (slow) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP  (fast) Shadow throws a shuriken straight ahead. The speed depends on the button used. Knife Throw Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP  (slow) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP  (fast) Shadow throws a knife at an upward angle. The speed depends on the button used. Smoke Bomb Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP  (slow) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP  (fast) Shadow throws a bomb at an arc. The speed depends on the button used. Flying Mine Uzume-Bi  HP  Shadow throws a mine that explodes on impact. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Flying Step Tobi Ashi Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LK + MK  Shadow slides along the ground, sweeping her opponent. Banzai Blitz Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Shadow performs a five-strike blitz combo. Rock and Roll  HK  Shadow rolls along the ground behind her opponent and attacks repeatedly. Fan Block Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP + MP  Shadow blocks using her steel fan, which reflects projectiles. Insult  LP + HP  Shadow taunts her opponent, which leaves her open to attack but drains her opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  HK  (close)
	Larcen
	Full name: Larcen Tyler Time period: 1920 AD Occupation: ex-cat burglar Fighting style: Praying Mantis Kung Fu
	An ex-cat burglar and Praying Mantis Kong Fu expert from Prohibition-era Chicago. Unlike most members of the mob, Larcen did not want to kill. He only fought for the knockout. He is killed when his mob tricks him into taking a small but powerful time bomb to kill a police chief in a hospital. Larcen realized that it was a bomb much too late and attempted to throw it out the window, but it went off before he could. He, the target, and many others, including many children in the nurseries, were killed in the blast. Move list (Special moves) Name Command Description Slash and Turn Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP + HP  Larcen rolls forward and punches with his bladed knuckles. Ceiling Crawl Hold for 1 second, then + HK  Larcen jumps onto the ceiling. He can move along the ceiling with and . After a short several seconds, he performs a Ceiling Drop. Ceiling Drop  HP  while grabbing the ceiling Larcen dives while attacking with his claws and foot blades. Air Sweep  LK + HK  Larcen jumps backward while throwing his grappling hook out toward the ground, which sweeps his opponent. Long Distance Sweep Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  Larcen crouches and throws his grappling hook out, which sweeps his opponent. Power Sweep Hold  LK + MK + HK  for 1.5 seconds Larcen attaches his grappling hook to the ceiling and uses to swing ahead while kicking. Sai Throw Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP  Larcen throws a sai across the screen. Swinging Hammer Fist  LP + MP + HP  Larcen throws a series of quick punches. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Machine Gun Blitz Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Larcen performs a five-strike blitz combo. Mantis Strike  LK  Larcen rises diagonally upward with a knee strike. Backflip Kick  HK  Larcen does a backflip kick that can hit opponents all around him. Reflect Back Projectile + LP  Larcen swats away a projectile at double speed. Insult  LP + HP  Larcen taunts his opponent, which leaves him open to attack but drains his opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  HP  (close)
	RAX
	Full name: RAX Coswell Time period: 2345 AD Occupation: cyber-fighter Fighting style: Muay Thai Kickboxing
	A destructive combination of man and machine from the far future. He is killed to ensure a winning wager. Move list (Special moves) Name Command Description Lock and Load  LK + MK  RAX targets his opponent and then launches an energy ball at them from his eye, which dizzies his opponent on impact. Air Jets Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK  RAX hovers high in the air using the jets on the bottom of his feet. He stops hovering after several seconds or if the player presses  MP . Cyber Punch  LP + MP + HP  RAX dashes and punches. Cyber Kick  LK + MK + HK  RAX dashes and kicks. Jet Knee Smash Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HK  RAX hovers in the air, then uses his jets to fly across the screen with his knee forward. Overload  LK + HK  RAX overloads his system and launches an energy ball across the screen. Shockwave Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP + HP  RAX sets the ground in front of him ablaze. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Thrash 'n' Bash Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  RAX performs a five-strike blitz combo. Jet Uppercut Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  RAX uses his jets to uppercut diagonally upwards. Atomic Knee  MK  RAX rises diagonally upward with a knee strike. Turbine Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LK  RAX spins in place, which pulls opponents to the opposite side of him and neutralizes projectiles. Insult  LP + HP  RAX taunts his opponent, which leaves him open to attack but drains his opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  MP  (close)
	Slash
	Full name: Slash Time period: 50,000 BC Occupation: prehistoric hunter Fighting style: Pain
	A cave man of superior intelligence. His fellow tribesmen see his intelligence as a threat and stone him to death. Move list (Special moves) Name Command Description Fire Club  LP  Slash shoots a fireball from his club that burns opponents on impact. Ice Club  MP  Slash shoots an ice blast from his club that freezes opponents on impact. De-Claw Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  Slash shoots a claw from his club across the screen. Power Thud Club Swing  MP + HP  Slash jumps in the air and drives his club into the ground when he lands, knocking over opponents on the ground. Spinal Crush + MP  (close) Slash hangs off his opponent while he bashes their head with his club. Bone Breaker + HP  in midair (close) Slash slams his opponent to the ground and bashes them with his club. Running Headbutt Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HK  Slash charges at his opponent with a headbutt. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Caveman Beating Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Slash performs a five-strike blitz combo. Club Dive  MK  Slash leaps over his opponent, batting them with his club as he passes over. Double Foot Kick  HK  Slash flips forward, attacking with his feet. Bat Back Projectile  LP + MP  Slash swings his club and bats away an incoming projectile. Insult  LP + HP  Slash taunts his opponent, which leaves him open to attack but drains his opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  HK  (close)
	Trident
	Full name: Trident Time period: 110 BC Occupation: gladiator Fighting style: Capoeria
	A genetically engineered hero of Atlantis. The Romans and the Atlanteans decided to hold a fight to determine which of them would rule the surface and which would be plunged into the ocean's depths, and Trident was created to be the Atlantean's champion. However, the Romans rigged the fight and crushed Trident beneath a large stone pillar. Move list (Special moves) Name Command Description Depth Charge Field  LP + MP  Trident surrounds himself in a blue field. If he touches his opponent in this state, the opponent moves as if they are underwater for a duration. Bio-Drain Field  MP + HP  Trident surrounds himself in a red field. If he touches his opponent in this state, the opponent does half damage for a duration. Bio-Stun Field  LK + MK  Trident surrounds himself in a green field. If he touches his opponent in this state, the opponent is temporarily stunned. Repulser Field  MK + HK  Trident surrounds himself in a yellow field that repels opponents and prevents them from moving close to him (and vice versa) for several seconds. Wavemaster Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LK  (teleport left) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LK  (teleport center) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LK  (teleport right) Trident disappears and reappears somewhere else. Spinning Trident  LP + MP + HP  Trident spins his trident in front of him at high speed like a drill. Plasma Bolt Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  Trident shoots a plasma bolt across the screen from his trident, which dizzies his opponent on impact. Liquid Mode  LK + MK + HK  Trident transforms into a liquid state and moves forward a short distance, letting him move through opponents and projectiles. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Whirlpool Kick Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LK + MK  Trident balances on his trident and spins like a top with his legs in the air. Neptune's Fury Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Trident performs a five-strike blitz combo. Tidal Wave  HP  Trident summons a rolling wave to knock opponents off their feet. Slash Spin  LK  (backward)  HK  (forward) Trident spins on the ground while holding his trident out. Insult  LP + HP  Trident taunts his opponent, which leaves him open to attack but drains his opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  LK  (close)
	Midknight
	Full name: Mitchell Midleton Knight Time period: 1967 AD Occupation: bio-chemist Fighting style: Jeet Kune Do
	A scientist turned into a vampire by a virus he originally created for warfare during the Vietnam War. However, he had a change of heart and stole the dangerous virus back from the government. While running from government officials, he accidentally falls into a vat of chemicals with the vial containing the virus, and he is turned into a vampire. The government retrieved this mix and unleashed it on parts of Vietnam, where the people infected with it became vampires. Due to his eternal life, Midknight spent nearly 200 years trying to find an antidote. As a result, most of his body is decaying. He is killed before he has a chance to find a cure. Move list (Special moves) Name Command Description Doom Dog  LK + MK  Midknight transforms into a wolf and pounces on his opponent. Bedazzle  LP + MP + HP  Midknight shoots an energy bolt from his eyes that does no damage but forces his opponent to walk toward him if it hits. Manifest  LK + MK + HK  Midknight becomes resistant to damage for a duration. Mist Attack  LK + HK  Midknight vaporizes into mist, flies over to his opponent, and attacks with impunity. He returns to solid form after attacking or if the attack if blocked. Flying Wall Smash Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  Midknight flies across the screen, slamming his opponent against the wall. Life Drain + LP + MP + HP  (close) Midknight grabs his opponent and siphons a sixth of their life force. Ceiling Ram Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HK  (close) Midknight grabs his opponent and slams them into the ceiling. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Rapid Fire Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Midknight performs a five-strike blitz combo. Demon Fang Kick Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HK  in midair Midknight flies forward with an energized kick. Shoulder Roll/Side Kick  HP  Midknight somersaults over his opponent, then kicks them from the other side. Overhead Stomach Punch + LK + MK + HK  (close) Midknight hoists his opponent over his head and punches them in the stomach, sending them flying across the screen. Insult  LP + HP  Midknight taunts his opponent, which leaves him open to attack but drains his opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  MK  (close)
	Xavier
	Full name: Xavier Pendragon Time period: 1692 AD Occupation: warlock/alchemist Fighting style: Hapkido Cane Fighting
	An alchemist from the time of the Salem witch hunts. He is mistaken as a warlock and burned at the stake. Move list (Special moves) Name Command Description Phantom Strike  MP + HP  Xavier creates a portal and thrusts his cane through it, attacking from across the screen. Dragon Trap Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  Xavier throws a snake from his cane, which grabs and attacks his opponent if it touches. Midas Touch Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP  Xavier shoots a magic ball that transmutes his opponent to gold temporarily, stunning them. Attack and Smack  LK + MK + HK  Xavier extends his cane and uses it to grab his opponent, draw them in, and strike them. Swap Spell  LP + MP  Xavier casts a spell and switches positions with his opponent. Possession  LP + MP + HP  Xavier shoots a magic ball that switches gives the player control over the opponent's character (and vice versa). Damage is inflicted on each player's original character (rather than the character under control) for the duration of the spell. Confusion Spell  LK + HK  Xavier shoots a magic ball that confuses his opponent, scrambling their controls for 5 seconds. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Snap Back Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP  Xavier extends his cane to twice its length and uses it to attack in front of him. Wizard's Wrath Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Xavier performs a five-strike blitz combo. Dragon's Bite  HK  Xavier rises upward while attacking with his cane. Mystic Shield Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP + HP  Xavier spins his cane around defensively, which reflects projectiles. Insult  LP + HP  Xavier taunts his opponent, which leaves him open to attack but drains his opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  HK
	Blade
	Full name: Jonathan Blade Time period: 2030 AD Occupation: bounty hunter Fighting style: Kenpo
	A bounty hunter from the near future. Sent to track down a deranged scientist and his poisonous vile of chemicals. He is set up by his own government and eliminated. Move list (Special moves) Name Command Description Stun Beam Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  (standing shot) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HK  (crouching shot) Blade fires a energy ball from his wrist that does no damage but stuns his opponent momentarily on impact. Tracking Blade Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP + MP  Blade releases a spinning blade from his bracelet that hovers in the air before homing in on his opponent and exploding. Straight Blade Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP + HP  Blade releases a spinning blade from his bracelet that flies straight ahead into an opponent. Personal Shield  LP + MP + HP  Blade surrounds himself in a protective shield that reduces all damage by half while it is active. Projectile Containment Field  LK + MK  Blade uses his bracelets to slow any incoming projectiles to half speed. Wild Fury Attack  LK + MK + HK  Blade unleashes a flurry of palm strikes in front of him. Backfire  LK + HK  Blade shoots a tracking cursor that temporarily prevents his opponent from using projectiles. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Brick Wall Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK  Blade charges forward with his chest out, which causes his opponent to fly backward on impact. Excessive Force Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Blade performs a five-strike blitz combo. Slice 'n' Dice  HK  Blade uses the spinning blades ins his bracelets to slash his opponent multiple times. Lightning Strike  MK + HK  Blade charges himself with energy and dashes diagonally upward into the air, then diagonally downward back to the ground, hitting opponents in the way. Insult  LP + HP  Blade taunts his opponent, which leaves him open to attack but drains his opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  LP  (close)
	Jetta
	Full name: Jetta Maxx Time period: 1899 AD Occupation: circus acrobat Fighting style: Savate and Pencak Silat
	A circus acrobat trying to end conflict with China. She dies due to a terrorist sabotaging the assets for her high wire act, including the safety net that would have saved her life when she fell off the high wire. Move list Name Command Description Flying Choke Hold Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  Jetta throws her bracelet and sleeve at her opponent, which wraps around her opponent's neck if it connects and chokes them. Phase Hold  LP + MP + HP  for 1 second Jetta concentrates and doubles her movement speed for a duration or until she is hit. Resonate  LK + HK  while Phase is active Jetta begins to flash red. If she touches her opponent in this state, the opponent's movement is severely restricted for a duration. Bladerang Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP  (one hit) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP  (two hits) Jetta throws a Bladerang, a small projectile that returns like a boomerang, which hits one or two times (depending on the button used). Ceiling Grab Hold for 1 second, then + MP  Jetta throws a Bladerang, then jumps onto the ceiling. The Bladerang attacks multiple times and returns to Jetta, who then performs a Death Dive. Death Dive  LK  or  HK  while grabbing the ceiling Jetta dives down toward her opponent. Moving Corkscrew  LK + MK  (left)  MK + HK  (right) Jetta spins on her toes, dealing damage with her hand blades. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Corkscrew Uppercut Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP + HP  Jetta spins on her toes, disappearing momentarily into a cyclone, then reappearing with a rising uppercut. Gymkata Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Jetta performs a five-strike blitz combo. Power Burst  HK  Jetta crouches and sends energy waves out from her at diagonal angles from her bracelets. Ricochet Hold for 1 second, then + LK  (left) Hold for 1 second, then + HK  (right) Jetta spins into a ball, jumps to the ceiling, then rolls along the ground left or right (depending on the button used). Insult  LP + HP  Jetta taunts her opponent, which leaves her open to attack but drains her opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  LK
	Riptide
	Full name: Sophia de Medici Time period: 1566 AD Occupation: pirate Fighting style: Kajukenbo
	A famous female pirate from the Age of Sail. She steals treasure from a greedy pirate and is killed for it. Further, the pirate finds her family and kills and robs them out of revenge. Certain art works were stolen that would have otherwise changed the world, as their disappearance resulted in the knowledge not being attainable or known. Move list Name Command Description Ground Kriss Blade Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP  (straight ahead) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  (diagonally upward) Riptide throws a dagger across the screen. Air Kriss Blade Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP  in midair Riptide throws two daggers diagonally toward the ground. Thunder Clap  HK  (close) Riptide claps her hands around her opponent's head, which dizzies her opponent on impact. Eagle Talon  HP  Riptide quickly performs two punches and two kicks. Sea Legs  MP  Riptide throws a magic bubble that confuses her opponent, scrambling their controls for 5 seconds. Whirlwind Teleport Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HK  Riptide spins into a cyclone and reappears on the other side of her opponent. Fog Trap  MP  Riptide creates a fog of cloud that moves along the ground and sweeps opponents. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Flashing Daggers Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Riptide performs a five-strike blitz combo. Crow's Nest Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  Riptide performs a two-handed uppercut. Tidal Punch  LP  Riptide performs a watery punch that knocks her opponent down on impact. Whirpool Reflect Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LK  Riptide spins into a cyclone that absorbs projectiles. Insult  LP + HP  Riptide taunts her opponent, which leaves her open to attack but drains her opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  MK  (close)
	Ramses III
	Full name: Ramses III Time period: 1151 BC Occupation: pharaoh Fighting style: Hung-Gar Kung Fu
	An Egyptian pharaoh. He has a fear of water. His murderer pushed him off of a cliff into the Nile, where he drowned to death. Move list Name Command Description Sun Reflection Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  Ramses III absorbs a burst of light and reflects it back to his opponent as a projectile attack. Anubis Block  LP + MP + HP  Ramses III turns into an Anubis statue, reflecting projectiles and nullifying other attacks. He stays in this form for 3 seconds, though he can be changed out of it manually by repeating the button combination. Wrap Attack Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP  Ramses III throws a mummification wrap straight across the screen, which damages and briefly mummifies his opponent if it hits. Teleport Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP  (teleport left) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  (teleport right) Ramses III disappears and reappears somewhere else. Snake Attack Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HK  Ramses III transforms into a serpent, burrows underground, then bursts out of the ground under his opponent with a vicious bite. Torch Attack Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP  Ramses III transforms into a living fire and moves back and forth along the ground. Hack and Smack Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP + MP  Ramses III does multiple strikes with his hook and flail from a crouched position. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description King Combo Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Ramses III performs a five-strike blitz combo. Thunder Lizard  HK  Ramses III performs a rolling kick forward, then slashes downward with his flail. Jackal's Bite  MP  Ramses III punches forward, summoning a jackal spirit to extend the range of his punch. Phoenix Dive  HP  in midair Ramses III dives diagonally downward with the spirit of the fiery phoenix. Insult  LP + HP  Ramses III taunts his opponent, which leaves him open to attack but drains his opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  MK  (close)
	Raven
	Full name: Raven Gindar Time period: 1820 AD Occupation: voodoo priestess and healer Fighting style: Hsing-I Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do
	A voodoo priestess with power over time and aging. She was blind to her own dark fate when the spell was reversed on her by an evil witch doctor. The result of the spell rejuvenated his severely decrepit and wrinkled body and killed Raven in the process. Move list Name Command Description Time Smash Hold  LP + MP  for 1-3 seconds Raven throws an hourglass at her opponent. It does more damage if the buttons are held for longer, with the full 3 seconds also knocking her opponent backward. Voodoo Attack Hold  LK + HK  Raven pulls out a voodoo doll and punches it, which also punches her opponent. Time Add/Subtract  LK + MK  (adds time)  MK + HK  (subtracts time) Raven throws an hourglass at the game's timer, which causes it to increase or decrease by 10 seconds. Double Fang Kick  LK + MK + HK  Raven performs six quick kicks, alternating between low and high. Create Void  HP  Raven creates a rift above her opponent that sucks them in and damages them before dropping them back out. Time Split Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP + HP  Raven channels her hourglass, then teleports fives times in different locations, with a brief window between each teleport to attack. Destabilize Time  LP + MP + HP  Raven uses her hourglass to slow her opponent for a duration. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Mambo Combo Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Raven performs a five-strike blitz combo. Serpent Rainbow Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LK  Raven kicks, as the snake tattoo on her leg comes to life and attacks in an arc in front of her. Raven's Fury  MK  in midair Raven spins and slashes in a downward dive. Time Fold Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP  Raven generates a time shield that reflects projectiles (along with a second blast). Insult  LP + HP  Raven taunts her opponent, which leaves her open to attack but drains her opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  MP
	Dawson
	Full name: Dawson McShane Time period: 1849 AD Occupation: gambler Fighting style: Shotowando
	A cowboy from the Old West. A lone wolf with a taste for gold and an eye for justice. He is hanged by the town's local group of outlaws after capturing one to take to court. Dawson originally was planned for the first Eternal Champions game but was scrapped due to ROM limits. Move list Name Command Description Round-Up  MK  Dawson removes his hat and swings a throwing star tied to his long ponytail in an arc, then rolls forward and performs an uppercut. Roll the Dice  HP  in midair Dawson curls into a ball and dives diagonally downward. Tumble Weed Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LK  (close) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK  (medium) Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HK  (far) Dawson rolls along the ground like a tumbleweed, knocking over his opponent on impact. Dual Knife Throw Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP  Dawson throws two knives across the screen. Rattlesnake Belt Grab Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MP  Dawson whips his belt forward. If it hits his opponent, he uses it like a lariat to pull them in and follows up with a punch. Spit Attack Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + LP + MP  Dawson spits tobacco at his opponent, which slows them for a duration. Hat Strike Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + HP  Dawson throws his hat, which travels about half the width of the screen before returning back like a boomerang, potentially hitting his opponent multiple times. Move list (Skill moves) Name Command Description Gold Strike Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK + HK  Dawson performs a five-strike blitz combo. Gentleman's Quarter Hold for 0.5 seconds, then + MK  Dawson removes his hat and swings a throwing star tied to his long ponytail in an arc. Spinning Axe Pick  HK  Dawson spins around and performs a series of strikes, followed by swinging his throwing star to knock his opponent back. Step Out  HK  (close) Dawson swings his leg downward in close range, hitting up to time times with his heel. Insult  LP + HP  Dawson taunts his opponent, which leaves him open to attack but drains his opponent's Inner Strength. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Vendetta  HP

Bosses

	Eternal Champion
	The Eternal has been around since the beginning of time. As a result he has seen everything through the course of time. Including the destruction of the human spirit. He sees that certain individuals throughout time have had their lives taken before they were to fulfill their destiny which would have changed man kind in some way. He rescues these key individuals in hopes of restoring the balance of good and evil. He has the power of taking the essence of animals. His primary forms are a Falcon, Tiger, Shark, and Dragon.
	Eternal Champion 2
	He is not a new, more powerful version of the Eternal. Eternal Champion 2 is the Eternal with new animal abilities that were created to use against the Dark Eternal Champion. These new forms are the Millipede, Unicorn, Elephant, and the Electric Eel.
	The Dark Eternal Champion
	The Dark Eternal Champion was born after the Eternal. As a result, he had an advantage. While he was aware of the Eternal's existence, the Eternal was not aware of his. He used this knowledge to speed through time ahead of the Eternal and hide four champions from him. Without these, the contest would just repeat itself over and over. He is the exact opposite of what the Eternal stands for. He is determined to make sure evil is never destroyed. He uses his opponent's fears against them and kills them with the said fears. When in a fight, he can call upon the destructive forces of nature such as Meteor Showers, Tsunamis, Hurricanes, and Tornados. He actually has two versions like the Eternal but only one of these forms is unlockable for play in duel mode due to his second version having devastatingly powerful and game breaking attacks.

Hidden

Main article: Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side/Hidden content.

In addition to the ones above, there are other characters that are unlocked by special means (or through in-game cheats). Three of them are omitted as they were previously listed: Eternal Champion 1, Eternal Champion 2 and Dark Eternal Champion. They can only be played as in duel mode however. Many of the secret characters are animals. As a result, they are unaffected by Overkills, Sudden Deaths, and Vendettas. The Eternals are all also invulnerable to the finishing moves. However, the animal characters and Eternals may trigger Overkills, Sudden Deaths and Cinekills on human opponents (though secret characters all lack Cinekills).

	Chin Wo
	An acupuncturist from China in the year 1815 A.D. who practiced Monkey Kung Fu. Chin Wo was one of the best fighters in China but spent most of his time healing. One day the cousin of the ruling class challenged Chin Wo to a fight. Chin refused knowing that if he won the fight it would surely mean his death. Being a proud man, Chin wouldn't lose either. This left him with only one choice which was not to fight. The cousin made life very hard for Chin but he wouldn't budge on his decision. Finally the cousin killed an innocent street beggar and framed Chin for it. The cousin promised to drop the charges if Chin fought him. Seeing death in either situation, Chin chose to take the charges for the murder rather than give the cousin what he desired. He was beheaded in a public execution as a result. Chin Wo was planned for the first Eternal Champions game but was scrapped due to ROM limits.
	Thomas 'Blast' Chavez
	He was a Green Beret soldier from 1955 A.D.. Blast was one of the first special forces agents to perform gun and weapon running to Vietnam. During this time, the U.S. was only supporting the French effort. Blast was a chopper pilot, tasked with the duty of making clandestine drops of weapons over enemy lines. Blast made many of these runs with a man named Redux. During his final run before being scheduled for service in the United States, he ran into trouble. His final drop went fine and he was about to take off when Redux surprised him. Redux was a double agent for Vietnam. Redux pulled the pin off of a grenade and ran off the helicopter that was about to lift-off. Because Blast was strapped in for take-off he was unable to remove his harness in time and was blown up in the resulting explosion. Blast was planned for the first Eternal Champions game but was scrapped due to ROM limits.
	Thanatos
	Originally the Greek God of Death, he dwelt with his brother, Hypnos (Sleep) in the Underworld. He operated at his post until 1692 A.D., when during a routine pick up of a soul he was confronted by a force that was neither good, nor evil. This force seemed to exist in an indescribable middle that gave it powers that Thanatos was no match for. This force turned him into a mortal named Vespian, a mortal that was thought to be a warlock and was hence killed during the witch hunts of Salem. The force then took his post as god of death and has been performing the role ever since. This force changes the rules of death and taking lives that aren't meant to be taken. He uses edited and recolored versions of Xavier's sprites as well as his stage too.
	Yappy
	A Shi Tzu dog that once lived a life of luxury in the year of 1995 A.D.. He was owned by a rich woman who lived in a penthouse in New York City. When she passed away, she willed that her fortune be used to keep Yappy living in the same style that he was used to. An evil relative instead threw yappy out onto the street and took the money for herself. It was street life that gave Yappy his hard edge. He was killed while attempting to get revenge on the evil relative by chewing on her car's break line. Unfortunately, Yappy was crushed when the car slipped out of gear and rolled over him. Even though he is from New York City, Yappy strangely shares the same stage with Senator.
	Hooter
	This owl is the familiar of Thanatos' human form, Vespian. When Vespian was killed, Hooter spent all of his time observing the witch burnings, hoping he would gain revenge on the closed minded people that continued to this cruel act. One of the fanatics noticed that Hooter was always around when the witch burnings were occurring. This fanatic captured Hooter after a witch burning and threw him into the still burning fires of the warlock they had just killed. Like Thanatos, Hooter shares his stage with Xavier.
	Crispy
	A chicken who died in 1967 A.D.. He vowed he would never become part of the dinner table without a fight. He practiced Egg Fu, an ancient barnyard martial art. He was killed while attempting to rescue some other Chickens from becoming someone else's dinner. Clearly this character is a joke but his size and attacking style make him somewhat more formidable than some of the other animal characters. He shares the same stage with both playable versions of the Eternal, the Dark Champion, and Blast.
	Slither
	A pet snake of the owner of a bar from the Old West of 1820 A.D called the Snake Bite.. He picked up his brawling martial art, brawling from seeing bar fights. he was the Bar owner's favorite pet and was raised from a baby and treated like a son by the bar owner. Once Slither got bigger, he helped maintain order in the bar and could take on a whole barroom if necessary. He is killed while trying to stop an outlaw with a gun from robbing the register late at night. The last image he remembers was the bar owner taking a shot from the criminal between the eyes before dying. His stage is the same one as Dawson's.
	Zuni
	A circus performer monkey from 1902 A.D. at the Blue Dragon Circus. One day, Zuni noticed a gas lamp had tipped over and started a fire near the edge of the circus tent. Zuni tried to cross over to his trainer but was unable to make it because while trying to make it past the flames, he was accidentally stepped on by a circus elephant. The crowd was horrified by this turn of events so much that they did not see the fire that broke out of control, burning down the tent and killing everyone. He shares the same stage as Jetta.
	Senator
	A politician from Washington D.C. in the year 1995 A.D. that practiced that martial art of dishonesty. The Senator made a living by voting the ways of special interest groups and creating issues to make himself popular. He was surprised when he wasn't supported by his party for reelection. He once voted for a human rights issue and his party was angry that humanity was considered above their personal profits. When he lost in a land slide election after losing millions of his own money, he died of a massive heart attack. His character's sprites are actually edited Larcen Tyler sprites. Despite this, he is his own character with some unique attacks and animations. His character seems to be making fun of the politicians involved in the video game trials for some of the violent games of the 90's since many politicians are often considered as corrupt as some video games.

Stages

Stages are chosen randomly in the single-player mode but can be chosen manually in the two-player mode.

Black Orchid Rooftop

Shadow's stage.

Chicago Theater

Larcen's stage.

The Cyber-Dome

RAX's stage.

Great Rift Valley

Slash's stage.

Shores of Atlantis

Trident's stage.

Belgrave Square Labs

Midknight's stage.

Salem

Xavier's stage.

Syrian Desert Refinery

Blade's stage.

Blue Dragon Circus

Jetta's stage.

Off the Barbary Coast

Riptide's stage.

Abu Simbel Temple

Ramses III's stage.

Shengo Village, Trinidad

Raven's stage.

Hangtown Mine

Dawson's stage.

Production credits

• Developed by: Sega Interactive Development Division
• Lead Programmer: John Kuwaye
• Programmers: Hideki A. Ikeda, Ala D. Diaz, Frank E. Lucero, Steven Lashower
• Engine Programmers: Christopher Warner, Mike Terlecki, Kevin Burley
• Lead Artist and Animator: David Russ
• Artists: William Kier, Steve Knotts, Art Wong, Kevin Lee, Kich Ma
• 3D Artists: Herman Cheng, Stephen McClure, D.A. Ruffolo
• Designer and Executive Producer: Michael Latham
• Producer: John Brandstetter
• Assistant Producer: Erik Wahlberg
• Technical Director: Mike Terlecki
• Technical Support: Hooell Monleon
• Music Director: Tristan des Pres
• Music: Tristan des Pres
• Cinepak Sound Effects: Tristan des Pres, Jeffrey Tveraas
• Guitars: Jeff Snider
• Drums and Percussion: Calvin Lakin
• Game Sound Effects: Tristan des Pres, David Delia, Jim Dobson, Jeffrey Tveraas
• Audio Programming: Jim Dobson
• Voice Actors: DMP Studios, Jeffrey Tveraas, David Delia, Carolyn des Pres, Jim Dobson
• Cinematic Sequences by: Kronos
• Cinematography: Albert Co
• Senior Animator: Francis Co
• 2nd Unit Animator: Andy Koo
• Technical Support: Jim Tomasko
• Backgrounds: Stanley Lui, Larry Paolicelli, Ernie Kinard
• Marketing: John Garner
• PR Coordinator: Terry Tang
• Manual: Carol Ann Hanshaw, John Garner, Michael Latham, Erik Wahlberg
• Cinepak Assistance: Katy Weathers, John Brandstetter
• Test Manager: Mike Weiner
• Game Balancing: Rey 'Freako' Alferez, Janine Cook, Jeff 'Freaky Boy' Junio
• Lead Tester: Anthony Lynch
• Assistant Leads: Rick Greer, Mark Griffin, Chris Lucich
• Testers: Dermot Lyons, Emily Albertson, Timothy Spengler, Marc Dawson, Todd Morgan, Mark Paniagua, Atom Ellis, Michael Baldwin, Christine Watson, Blair Bullock, Maria Tuzzo, Jeff Loney, Lance Nelson, Tracy Johnson, Kim Rogers, Matt Underwood, Steve Bourdet, Darin Johnston, John Jansen, Sam Saliba, Gregg Vogt, John Amirkhan, David Wood, Stan Weaver, Mike Williams, Mark Subotnick, Fernando Valderrama, Arnold Feener, John Melchior, Rachael Bristol, Lorne Asuncion, Jeff Kessler, Joel Breton, David Dodge, Michael Weiner, Don Carmichael, Aaron Bandur, Peter Clark, Aaron Drayer, Sean McInnes, Randy Norfleet, Robert Owen, Edward Chennault, Armando Anguiano, Charles Artoux, Renata Bailey, Chris Charles, Robert Deloach, Rob Flores, Steve Rapp, Leonard Sayers, Ken Spalasso, Erik Larsen, Dan Pendergast, Jennifer Vernon, Phil Co, Andrew Stess, Peter Golyn, Jeff Jones, Howard Gipson, Alfred Dutton, Nick Katakis, Jason Friedman, Lloyd Kinoshita, Eric Simonich, Sean Doidge, Sancho Martinez, Edward Riel, Robert Buckingham, Nathan Tan, Dan Webber, Jeffrey Martin, Doug Smith, Nathan Clark, Dana Green, Mike Herauf, Roger Somerville, John Ries, Randy Smaha, Matt Stipicevich, Mark Pentek, Amber Junier, Kerry Kirkham, Morgan Weiss, David Paniagua, Noah Mackenzie, Erik Griss, John Demakas, Len Jung, Jeff Hedges, Mark Vitello, Danny Lam, Tim Turner, Ly Ly, John Maclachlan, Scott Morris, Nicole Tatem, Gerrey Langford, Todd Slepian, Sean Potter, Erik Thompson, Eugene Valenzuela, Nelson Chiu, Niklaus Daniels, Mike McCollum, Abraham Navarro, Dylan Manger, Mike Borg
• Special Thanks to: Mark Nausha, Rod Nakamoto, Nancy Nakamoto, Claude Foucault, Joe Miller, Steve Payne, Bob Lindsey, Sandy Christensen, Fred Weimer, Harry Chavez, Joyce Takakura, Jef Feltman, Larry Loth, Omega Group, James Brandstetter, Anita de Guzman, Richard Garfield, Bruce, Shilo, Steak

Program Code/Design (C) 1995 SEGA

All Rights Reserved

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Next Generation (US) #1: "Premiere Issue 1995" (1994-12-08)
also published in:

• Sega Visions (US) #23: "February/March 1995" (199x-xx-xx)

Artwork

• 

  US prototype cover

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source Computer & Video Games (UK) 92 №162

	92
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Consoles + (FR) 85 Digitiser (UK) 85 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 61 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 95 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 73 GamesMaster (UK) PAL 84 Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL 87 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 89 Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL 90 MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-U 70 Mega (UK) PAL 92 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 87 Next Generation (US) NTSC-U 75 Player One (FR) 33 Sega News (CZ) 100 Sega Power (UK) PAL 91 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 84 Top Consoles (FR) 35 Top Consoles (FR) 45 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 90

	78
Based on 20 reviews

Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side

Mega-CD, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Mega-CD, EU
Cover
Manual

Mega-CD, UK
Cover
Spinecard Disc Manual

Mega-CD, BR
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side/Technical information.

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1	506,486,736		CD-ROM (EU)	4427-50
✔	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1	506,131,584		CD-ROM (US)	4427

External links

• Moves list on GameFAQs