Nine years ago, computers were just beginning to become regular household
objects. The console market was still limited to two-dimensional, sixteen
bit graphics and the popular gaming medium was still that of arcade fighting
games. Released for the PC, One Must Fall: 2097 is generally
considered one of the instant classics of its day. Reminiscent of Mortal
Kombat and Street Fighter, One Must Fall: 2097 combined
standard fighter elements with a futuristic, sci-fi, RPG side to its
tournament mode. However, years have passed since One Must Fall:
2097 drifted into obsolescence. Diversions Entertainment believes
they can reignite the fire behind One Must Fall with a major upgrade
for today's gaming audience.
One Must Fall: Battlegrounds enters the scene at a time when fighting
games are losing popularity. With One Must Fall: 2097, gamers
experienced some aspects of other genres, and the same is being attempted
with Battlegrounds. Traditional fighting games occur between two
players in a one-on-one battle. In reality, there has not been much
evolution of this fighting game element. Games have more generally changed
the settings and graphical aspects of fighters, such as the use of 3D
worlds. With that in mind, Diversions Entertainment is taking a big
chance with Battlegrounds by attempting to change the standards.
One Must Fall: Battlegrounds uses the recent explosive popularity of
Multiplayer Online Gaming to allow players to take on several opponents
simultaneously. Each fighter is a real person from around the world,
participating with as many as 16 opponents in either team battles or a
last-man-standing arrangement. This genre twister launches fighting games
back into the public view after a few years of dwindling popularity.
Multiplayer Online Games have become increasingly popular, and modern
fighting game fans often enjoy battling each other in tournament style
matches. By allowing multiple fighters at the same time, tournaments can be
come more interactive and invigorating.
While the largest feature boasted by One Must Fall: Battlegrounds is
its online capabilities, the plot and design of the game have not gone
unnoticed. In what are referred to as massive three-dimensional arenas,
players should feel entirely enveloped in the world that One Must Fall:
Battlegrounds creates. Since Battlegrounds is a sequel to a
nine-year-old game, it is a little difficult to understand exactly what the
plot is implying. Basically, 20 years have passed since 'World Aeronautics
and Robotics Organization' collapsed in the original One Must Fall. A
new tournament has been announced, allowing new contestants and robots to
battle each other with the most advanced military devices available.
Ten varying arenas set players inside huge areas of wide open combat-zones.
These arenas are not limited to being the backdrop for matches, but often
pose hazards and obstacles of their own. Hazard such as electrified gates,
sharp spikes protruding from walls and outside weaponry attacks, require
players to be conscious of their opponents, as well as their surroundings.
Strategic players may use the arenas' surroundings to their advantages, as
weaker characters can use the terrain to exploit its weapons or tricks.
Robots capable of being controlled by a list of pilots enable players to
take advantage of different skills and powers. Fifty personas, each coming
with varied levels of power, agility, endurance and focus, are available for
users to choose from depending on their personal fighting style. After
selecting a persona, the player then chooses from one of eight robots.
Robots and personas have a relationship that could either help or hinder
their abilities. For instance, personas with low endurance will not be able
to master slow, heavy robots. These robots also come with special attacks
and weapons, such as flaming jets or massive wings, and in case multiple
people want to use the same robot (which is inevitable, considering that
16 people can play and there are only eight robot types), each one comes in
a variety of color schemes.
Aside from its basic capabilities, Diversions Entertainment also
intends to make One Must Fall: Battlegrounds completely customizable,
making use of another PC gaming trend that has gone unnoticed by the
fighting genre. Plans for Battlegrounds include fully customizable
modding tools that players can use to create new looks for their robots,
design new arenas, new soundtracks or create new pilots. Perhaps the
intention here is to keep players coming back to One Must Fall:
Battlegrounds so they do not have to wait nine more years for another
sequel.
