Pit-Fighter

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Sega Mega Drive
    Mega Drive
  • Sega Mega Drive
    Mega Drive (Rev. A)
  • Sega Master System
    Master System

PitFighter MDTitleScreen.png

PitFighter MD title Oct1991.png

PitFighter SMS Title.png

Pit-Fighter
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Tengen
Sega Master System
Domark
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Distributor:
Sega Mega Drive
Domark (EU)
Licensor:
Sega Master System
Tengen
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Master System
Atari Games
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Developer(s) of original games: Atari Games
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
Lisa's Sound Driver[1]
Genre: Action[2][3]

















Number of players: 1-2
Official in-game languages:
Sega Mega Drive
  • English
  • 日本語
  • Sega Master System
  • English
  • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Mega Drive
    JP
    ¥7,800 (8,034)7,800e[4] T-48033
    Sega Mega Drive
    US
    $59.9559.95[6] 301027-0150
    Sega Mega Drive
    EU
    301027-0170
    Sega Mega Drive
    PT
    Sega Mega Drive
    UK
    £39.9939.99[10][11] 301027-0170
    Sega Mega Drive
    SE
    (Rental)
    Sega Mega Drive
    AU
    Sega Mega Drive
    KR
    GM8033JT
    Sega Master System
    EU
    MK 29009-50
    Sega Master System
    PT
    Sega Master System
    UK
    £32.9932.99[13][14] MK 29009-50
    Sega Master System
    BR
    028250
    Tectoy: Todas as Idades
    Non-Sega versions

    Pit-Fighter or Pit Fighter (ピットファイター) is a 1990 arcade fighting game by Atari Games. Tengen ported it to the Sega Mega Drive internationally in 1991. The Kremlin ported it to the Sega Master System with a new soundtrack by The Doomsday Machine and with Domark releasing it in Europe in 1992.

    Gameplay

    Mega Drive version

    Pit Fighter MD, Masked Warrior.png

    The Masked Warrior

    Like other early fighting games, such as SNK's Street Smart, gameplay resembles a beat-'em-up but structured around matches involving only two to four combatants. Fighters must punch and kick their opponents until only one of them has health remaining. Fights take place in a closed arena, surrounded by a raucous crowd. The crowd can interfere by attacking, dropping usable weapons, or pushing a stray player back into the fight.

    Fighters can move from side to side with Left or Right but also back and forth with Up and Down. They dash with Left Left or Right Right. Fighters punch with A and kick with B. Punches are fast but do light damage, while kicks are slower but have better damage and reach. They jump with C and jump kick with B+C (which can knock opponents down). They dodge attacks with A+C or duck with Down+A+C. Fighters can be knocked down from being pummeled or thrown or having objects thrown at them, and the player must press any button multiple times to get back up. Fighters can be kicked while knocked down. Each fighter has three "super moves," which are special techniques that do more damage than normal moves and usually knock down opponents. Super moves are executed by pressing A+B+C (with the exact move chosen randomly).

    Weapons and objects such as knives, throwing stars, sticks, crates, or even motorcycles can be picked up by standing over them and pressing A+B, then used or thrown with A. Weapons can increase the damage or range of the fighter's attacks. Some barrels contain a Power Pill power-up that makes the fighter temporarily stronger and take less damage from hits if picked up. Any fighter, including computer-controlled opponents, can pick up a Power Pill. Opponents can also be picked up with A+B and thrown with A.

    The game can be played by one or two players simultaneously. There are three playable fighters and eight unplayable opponents. In two-player games, opponents are battled cooperatively in four-person fights. If the second player joins in the middle of a one-player match (by pressing  START ), the match is finished as a three-person fight, but subsequent fights are four-person matches. Though players can hurt each other, it is only necessary to defeat the computer-controlled opponents. Players are rewarded cash (acting as the score) after each match for knockouts, "brutality," and completing the match.

    Players do not have their health replenished after each match. Instead, each player starts the game with three lives and loses one whenever the fighter's health bar is emptied. A match can be continued (optionally with a different fighter) with a full health bar if the player has extra lives remaining. Otherwise, the game ends for that player.

    Every third fight is a bonus round known as a Grudge Match. The loser of the match is whichever fighter is knocked down three times by his opponent. In a one-player game, the player fights against a computer-controlled clone of the player's chosen fighter. In a two-player game, the players fight each other. Losing a Grudge Match does not cost a life, but the winner gets bonus money.

    The final battle, the Championship Match, is between one player and the Masked Warrior, a mysterious entity that taunts the players between matches. In two-player games, the Championship Match is preceded by a special Elimination Match where both players fight, with the winner going on to face the Masked Warrior alone.

    Pressing A at the title screen opens the options before starting the game. Players can set individual difficulty levels (higher is more difficult, with a default of 3 for each player) and set the game mode (Normal or Practice, with Practice simply being a Grudge Match).

    Items

    Pit Fighter MD, Power Pill.png
    Power Pill
    Increases the damage dealt and reduces the damage taken by the fighter if picked up. The fighter flashes while its effects are active.

    Fighters

    Pit Fighter MD, Fighters.png
    Buzz
    A former pro wrestler and bodybuilder. He is slow but strong. His Super Moves are the Killer Body Slam, Headbutt, and Piledriver.
    Pit Fighter MD, Fighters.png
    Ty
    A champion kickboxer and pit-fighter. He is quick and has powerful kicks. His Super Moves are the Flying Double Kick, Spin Kick, and Roundhouse.
    Pit Fighter MD, Fighters.png
    Kato
    A master of the Flying Dragon style of karate. He is fast and agile. His Super moves are the Lethal Dragon Punch, Flip Kick, and Backhand.

    Matches

    There are eight opponents, but some of them opponents are fought more than once, for a total of ten matches before facing the Masked Warrior. Additionally, there are four Grudge Matches, fought after every two regular matches until the tenth match. In two-player games, the Championship Match against the Masked Warrior is preceded by an Elimination Match between the two players.

    Pit Fighter MD, Match 1.png

    Match 1
    A fight against the Executioner.

    Pit Fighter MD, Match 2.png

    Match 2
    A fight against Southside Jim. This is the first match with weapons and objects that can be picked up.

    Pit Fighter MD, Match 3.png

    Match 3
    A fight against Angel. This is the first match with a Power Pill that can be picked up for a temporary offensive and defensive boost.

    Pit Fighter MD, Match 4.png

    Match 4
    A fight against C.C. Rider.

    Pit Fighter MD, Match 5.png

    Match 5
    A fight against Chainman Eddie.

    Pit Fighter MD, Match 6.png

    Match 6
    A fight against Heavy Metal.

    Pit Fighter MD, Match 7.png

    Match 7
    A rematch against Angel.

    Pit Fighter MD, Match 8.png

    Match 8
    A fight against Mad Miles.

    Pit Fighter MD, Match 9.png

    Match 9
    A rematch against Southside Jim.

    Pit Fighter MD, Match 10.png

    Match 10
    A fight against two Chainman Eddies.

    Pit Fighter MD, Championship Match.png

    Championship Match
    The final fight against the Masked Warrior.

    Master System version

    Pit Fighter SMS, Grudge Match.png

    Grudge Match

    Pit Fighter SMS, Masked Warrior.png

    The Masked Warrior

    The game is a fighting game where players must punch and kick their opponents until their energy runs out (the fighter turns blue when defeated). Fights take place in small arenas surrounded by a crowd. The player begins by choosing one of the three playable characters, who each have different moves, speeds, and powers.

    Fighters can move in any direction using the D-Pad. If fighters wander into the audience members to the left or right edges, they are pushed back into the arena. They punch with 1 and kick with 2. They jump ahead by pressing Up+1 and jump ahead with a kick by pressing Up+2. Each fighter has a special move that can be performed with 1+2. These moves can only be done a limited number of times per match (shown by three grey circles in the top of the screen). Some moves knock fighters over. Downed opponents can be attacked by pressing 1 or 2 when standing over them. Fighters can recover quicker from being knocked down by pressing the buttons rapidly.

    Objects can be picked up by pressing Down+1, then thrown with 1. Smaller objects, such as knives and shuriken, are used as projectile weapons. Larger objects, such as barrels and crates, are lifted over the fighter's head, preventing the fighter from moving until the object is thrown. Both kinds of object knock over the opponent on impact.

    Players are awarded cash after each victorious battle, with extra cash awarded for using flying kicks and special moves or knocking the opponent down (called "KO's"). The player's health is not replenished between matches. If the player loses a match, the player must use a continue (shown by red hearts in the top of the screen) and attempt the fight again from the beginning with a full health bar, or the game ends if the player runs out of continues.

    Every third fight is a bonus round known as a Grudge Match, fought against a clone of the player's chosen fighter. The winner is whichever fighter knock the other one down three times. Losing a Grudge Match does not cost a continue, but the winner gets bonus money. The final battle, the Championship Match, is against the final boss, the Masked Warrior.

    Pressing 2 at the title screen opens the options before starting the game. There are three difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, and Hard). The player can set the starting match (between 0 and 2, with 1 starting at the second match and 2 starting at the third match) and set the game mode (Normal or Practice, with Practice simply being a Grudge Match). Two-player games have three different game types: I (normal fight), II (same as I but no cash winnings), and III (same as I but no special moves). Two-player games are always competitive fights against each other rather than cooperative fights against computer opponents as in the arcade version and the Mega Drive port.

    Items

    Pit Fighter SMS, Power Pill.png
    Power Pill
    Increases the damage dealt and reduces the damage taken by the fighter if picked up. The word "POWER" appears below the fighter while the item's effects are active.

    Fighters

    In two-player games, players are asked two times to choose a character: once from the options screen, then again after starting the game. The first time includes the fighters below as well as many of the opponents faced in the game; the second time only includes the three fighters below. Only the second selection counts (perhaps due to a programming error).

    Pit Fighter SMS, Fighters.png
    Buzz
    A former pro wrestler who can perform the Body Slam.
    Pit Fighter SMS, Fighters.png
    Ty
    A kickboxing champion who can perform the Flying Kick.
    Pit Fighter SMS, Fighters.png
    Kato
    A karate black belt who can perform the Combo Punch.

    Matches

    There are eight opponents, fought in ten matches (with two opponents appearing twice) before facing the Masked Warrior. There are four Grudge Matches, fought after every two regular matches until the tenth match.

    Pit Fighter SMS, Match 1.png

    Match 1
    A fight against the Executioner.

    Pit Fighter SMS, Match 2.png

    Match 2
    A fight against Southside Jim. This is the first match with weapons and objects that can be picked up.

    Pit Fighter SMS, Match 3.png

    Match 3
    A fight against Angel. This is the first match with a Power Pill that can be picked up for a temporary offensive and defensive boost.

    Pit Fighter SMS, Match 4.png

    Match 4
    A fight against C.C. Rider.

    Pit Fighter SMS, Match 5.png

    Match 5
    A fight against Chainman Eddie.

    Pit Fighter SMS, Match 6.png

    Match 6
    A fight against Heavy Metal.

    Pit Fighter SMS, Match 7.png

    Match 7
    A rematch against Angel.

    Pit Fighter SMS, Match 8.png

    Match 8
    A fight against Mad Miles.

    Pit Fighter SMS, Match 9.png

    Match 9
    A rematch against Southside Jim.

    Pit Fighter SMS, Match 10.png

    Match 10
    A rematch against Chainman Eddies.

    Pit Fighter SMS, Championship Match.png

    Championship Match
    The final fight against the Masked Warrior.

    Production credits

    Mega Drive version

    Source:
    In-game credits (original)
    Pit Fighter MD credits.png
    [15]

    Source:
    In-game credits (revision)
    Pit Fighter Rev A MD credits.png
    [16]

    • Thanks to: Rusty Dawe
    • Special thanks to the original coin-op team at Atari Games
    • Graphic and Package Design: Louis Saekow Design
    Source:
    US manual
    Pit Fighter MD US Manual.pdf
    [17]


    Master System version

    Source:
    In-game credits
    Pit Fighter SMS credits.pdf
    [18]


    Versions

    The digitised graphics of the original arcade game (later popularised by Mortal Kombat) were significantly degraded to fit the color limitations of the Mega Drive and the Master System. The arcade version also features sprite scaling to give the illusion of depth as fighters move toward or away from the player and three-player fights, which are both not present in the console ports.

    Magazine articles

    Main article: Pit-Fighter/Magazine articles.

    Promotional material

    Main article: Pit-Fighter/Promotional material.

    Physical scans

    Mega Drive version

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    {{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
    Based on
    0 review
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
    60
    [19]
    Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
    70
    [20]
    Console XS (UK) PAL
    92
    [21]
    Computer & Video Games (UK)
    82
    [22]
    Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
    70
    [23]
    GamePro (US) NTSC-U
    100
    [6]
    Game Zone (UK) PAL
    90
    [24]
    Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
    70
    [25]
    Hobby Consolas (ES)
    82
    [26]
    Joypad (FR)
    80
    [27]
    Joystick (FR)
    79
    [28]
    Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
    30
    [29]
    Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
    30
    [30]
    Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
    56
    [31]
    Mega (UK) PAL
    70
    [32]
    Mega (UK) PAL
    78
    [33]
    Mega Action (UK)
    89
    [34]
    Mega Action (UK) PAL
    49
    [35]
    Mega Force (FR)
    75
    [36]
    MegaTech (UK) PAL
    80
    [37]
    Mean Machines (UK) PAL
    81
    [38]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK)
    81
    [39]
    Player One (FR)
    70
    [40]
    Power Up! (UK)
    72
    [41]
    Power Play (DE)
    61
    [42]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    70
    [43]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    95
    [44]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    92
    [45]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    89
    [46]
    Sega Force (UK) PAL
    90
    [47]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
    75
    [48]
    Supersonic (FR)
    81
    [49]
    Tricks 16 bit (RU)
    76
    [50]
    Video Games (DE)
    60
    [51]
    Sega Mega Drive
    74
    Based on
    34 reviews

    Pit-Fighter

    Mega Drive, JP
    PitFighter MD JP Box.jpg
    Cover
    PitFighter MD JP CartTop.jpg
    PitFighter MD JP Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Pit-Fighter MD JP Manual.pdf
    Manual
    PitFighter MD JP pcb.jpg
    PCB
    Mega Drive, US
    PitFighter MD US Box.jpg
    Cover
    Pitfighter md us cart.jpg
    Cart
    Pit Fighter MD US Manual.pdf
    Manual
    Mega Drive, EU
    PitFighter MD EU Box.jpg
    Cover
    PitFighter MD EU Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Pit Fighter MD EU Manual.jpg
    Manual
    Mega Drive, FR

    Pit-Fighter MD FR Manual.pdf
    Manual
    Mega Drive, PT

    Pit Fighter PT Manual.pdf
    Manual
    Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT orange)
    PitFighter MD SE Box Rental.jpg
    Cover
    Mega Drive, AU

    PitFighter MD AU cartback.jpgPitFighter MD AU cart.jpg
    Cart
    Mega Drive, KR
    PitFighter MD KR cover.jpg
    Cover
    PitFighter MD KR cartback.jpgPitFighter MD KR Cart.jpg
    Cart

    Master System version

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    {{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
    Based on
    0 review
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    Consoles + (FR)
    44
    [52]
    Consoles + (FR)
    67
    [53]
    Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
    13
    [13]
    Digitiser (UK)
    40
    [54]
    GamesMaster (UK) PAL
    20
    [55]
    Joypad (FR)
    74
    [56]
    Mega Force (FR)
    78
    [57]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    47
    [58]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    75
    [59]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    75
    [60]
    Sega Zone (UK) PAL
    72
    [61]
    Video Games (DE)
    9
    [62]
    Video Games (DE)
    9
    [63]
    Sega Master System
    48
    Based on
    13 reviews

    Pit-Fighter

    Master System, EU
    PitFighter SMS EU Box.jpg
    Cover
    PitFighter SMS EU Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Master System, PT
    PitFighter SMS PT cover.jpg
    Cover
    Master System, BR
    PitFighter SMS BR cover.jpg
    Cover
    PitFighter SMS BR Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Pitfighter sms br manual.pdf
    Manual

    Technical information

    Main article: Pit-Fighter/Technical information.

    ROM dump status

    System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
    Sega Mega Drive
     ?
    CRC32 1e0e0831
    MD5 d3794fd2a601aab217dae8928ef94438
    SHA-1 19f81e5d0c4564e06fdccd7a7e67d98fa04360f4
    1MB 1991-07 Cartridge Claimed to be a "beta" by No-intro, needs confirming.
    Sega Mega Drive
    CRC32 d48a8b02
    MD5 9af02a38fd858a7d4d54a6bc3b8cb75a
    SHA-1 8cd0ffaf3c29b3aa1f9068cd89cb64f492066d74
    1MB 1991-10 Cartridge
    Sega Master System
    CRC32 aa4d4b5a
    MD5 5535108813e568e4dd84a425ff2e928b
    SHA-1 409ccca9dcb78a20f7dd917699ce2c70f87f857f
    512kB Cartridge (BR)
    Sega Master System
    CRC32 b840a446
    MD5 585aed13ba548d0258a457cd6768511b
    SHA-1 e2856b4ae331aea100984ac778b5e726f5da8709
    512kB Cartridge (EU)

    References

    1. http://vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=LSD_(GEN_Driver)
    2. File:PitFighter MD KR cover.jpg
    3. 3.0 3.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
    4. Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1992" (JP; 1992-02-08), page 148
    5. GamePro, "June 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 40
    6. 6.0 6.1 GamePro, "December 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 70
    7. Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 9
    8. Sega Pro, "May 1992" (UK; 1992-04-16), page 7
    9. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-04-27), page 17
    10. Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 10
    11. Game Zone, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-18), page 27
    12. 12.0 12.1 Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 14
    13. 13.0 13.1 Computer & Video Games, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-15), page 78
    14. Sega Zone, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-28), page 10
    15. File:Pit Fighter MD credits.png
    16. File:Pit Fighter Rev A MD credits.png
    17. File:Pit Fighter MD US Manual.pdf, page 5
    18. File:Pit Fighter SMS credits.pdf
    19. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 177
    20. Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 36
    21. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 133
    22. Computer & Video Games, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-15), page 81
    23. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 79
    24. Game Zone, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-18), page 26
    25. Hippon Super, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-04), page 84
    26. Hobby Consolas, "Julio 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 50
    27. Joypad, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1991-12-1x), page 82
    28. Joystick, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 116
    29. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 79
    30. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 93
    31. Mega Drive Fan, "June 1992" (JP; 1992-05-08), page 83
    32. Mega, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 32
    33. Mega, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 76
    34. Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 64
    35. Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 80
    36. Mega Force, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-05-05), page 80
    37. MegaTech, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-20), page 28
    38. Mean Machines, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-27), page 58
    39. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
    40. Player One, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-07-10), page 136
    41. Power Up!, "Saturday, March 07, 1992" (UK; 1992-03-07), page 1
    42. Power Play, "3/92" (DE; 1992-02-12), page 140
    43. Sega Power, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-06), page 26
    44. Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 56
    45. Sega Pro, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-08), page 22
    46. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
    47. Sega Force, "Februrary 1992" (UK; 1992-01-23), page 28
    48. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
    49. Supersonic, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 11
    50. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 137
    51. Video Games, "2/92" (DE; 1992-04-06), page 28
    52. Consoles +, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 129
    53. Consoles +, "Avril 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 104
    54. Digitiser (UK) (1993-04-02)
    55. GamesMaster, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-03), page 90
    56. Joypad, "Avril 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 86
    57. Mega Force, "Avril 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 88
    58. Sega Power, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-03), page 37
    59. Sega Pro, "Christmas 1992" (UK; 1992-12-10), page 38
    60. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
    61. Sega Zone, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 65
    62. Video Games, "12/92" (DE; 1992-11-23), page 117
    63. Video Games, "7/93" (DE; 1993-06-30), page 99


    Pit-Fighter

    PitFighter MDTitleScreen.png

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