Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Eternal Champions delivers a classic 2D one-on-one fighting experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly brutal. Each of the nine combatants brings a unique arsenal of punches, kicks and special moves drawn from disparate eras—from a futuristic cyber-assassin’s energy blades to a neanderthal’s bone-crushing swings. The controls are responsive, allowing newcomers to pick up basic combos quickly while offering depth for veterans keen to master advanced chains.

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Beyond standard matches, the game introduces “Overkill” finishers that let you brutally dispatch a fallen opponent in a graphic flourish. These cinematic sequences are triggered by specific button combinations after depleting an enemy’s health bar, and they range from dismemberment to fiery explosions. If you prefer environmental carnage, stage kills let you hurl foes into hazards like spiked pits or collapsing catwalks—adding a layer of strategic creativity to each matchup.

The single-player tournament mode pits you against increasingly challenging AI in your quest to prove your chosen fighter worthy of resurrection. Along the way, each combatant has a bespoke ending that reveals how they might rewrite their tragic fate. While the game lacks a true arcade ladder with branching paths, the distinct endings and hidden unlockables provide strong motivation to replay with different characters.

Multiplayer duels shine thanks to a well-balanced roster: nimble grapplers can close distance quickly, zoning specialists keep opponents at bay, and heavy hitters punish mistakes mercilessly. Matches tend to be fast-paced affairs where a single misjudged opening can cost you dearly. Whether you’re playing local versus or trading rounds online, Eternal Champions rewards both tactical patience and flashy combos.

Graphics

Graphically, Eternal Champions stands out with richly detailed 2D sprite work that remains impressive even by modern standards. Each fighter is animated with dozens of frames, capturing unique idles, taunts and impact reactions. From the sleek, neon-lit stage of Blade’s dystopian metropolis to the mossy ruins of Trident’s sunken Atlantean temple, backgrounds are colorful and varied, immersing you in a fight that feels rooted in each character’s lore.

The character designs themselves are eclectic and memorable. Larcen’s agile frame and shadowy cloak contrast sharply with Midknight’s pallid skin and laboratory apparatus, while Xavier’s mystic robes swirl as he conjures ethereal projectiles. Special move effects—such as Shadow’s orange smoke grenades or Rax’s mechanical drones—pop off the screen and help you track high-impact attacks amid the action.

One of the game’s most talked-about visual elements is its gore. Overkill sequences employ dramatic camera zooms, stylized blood sprays and graphic dismemberment that were groundbreaking for the early ’90s. Stage kills further integrate the environment into your visuals: watch as bolts of lightning fracture a frozen pond beneath your foe or as a circus cannon sends an acrobat flying. These set pieces heighten the spectacle and give each victory a visceral kick.

Performance is rock-solid on original hardware and most modern ports, maintaining a smooth 60-frame-per-second pace even when multiple effects are on screen. Load times are minimal, ensuring that the only thing slowing you down between matches is your opponent’s bravado.

Story

At its core, Eternal Champions presents a straightforward but compelling premise: nine fighters who died unjustly across past, present and future have been plucked from the timeline by a mysterious cosmic being known as the Eternal Champion. Only one of them can earn true resurrection, tipping the balance between good and evil. This high-stakes setup provides an unusual narrative framework for a fighting game, grounding each battle in the hope of undoing a tragic fate.

The roster’s backstories are woven from diverse periods of Earth’s history. Larcen was a cat burglar who fell from a cathedral spire, Jetta was a circus acrobat lost in a deadly stunt, and Slash was a neanderthal hunted to extinction. Sci-fi and fantasy elements mix seamlessly, introducing Blade the bounty hunter, cyborg Rax, vampiric bio-chemist Midknight, corporate assassin Shadow, Atlantean warrior Trident and occultist Xavier.

Story content is delivered through brief cutscenes and text prologues at the start of each character’s path, culminating in unique endings that reveal how the victor alters their destiny. While the narrative isn’t as deep as a dedicated RPG, these vignettes are satisfying enough to give each fighter personal stakes. They also encourage multiple playthroughs, since you’ll want to see how different personalities fare under the Eternal Champion’s judgment.

For players seeking more context, the game’s manual and arcade marquee art expand on the mythology, painting a larger conflict between cosmic forces. Although most time is spent trading blows, the sense of a hidden puppet master and the promise of rewriting death add a layer of narrative intrigue that sets Eternal Champions apart from other fighters of its era.

Overall Experience

Eternal Champions remains a standout title in the pantheon of 2D fighters thanks to its brutal finishers, diverse roster and surprisingly weighty backstory. The core combat is tight and rewarding, whether you’re stringing together special moves or patiently baiting an opponent into a punishing Overkill. Each character has a distinct personality and playstyle, ensuring that no two matches feel the same.

Visually, the game’s detailed sprites and richly themed stages still impress, and the gore-heavy finishers provide a spectacle that few contemporaries dared to match. The colorful backgrounds, coupled with moody music cues and stage-specific hazards, make every fight memorable. Performance is impeccable, and modern reissues often include quality-of-life updates like online multiplayer and enhanced training modes.

The story may be lightweight by narrative aficionados’ standards, but the concept of fighting for a second chance at life gives your bouts a tangible purpose. Unlocking each hero’s ending and uncovering the full mythos of the Eternal Champion keeps you invested beyond the arcade ladder. Replayability is strong, whether you’re hunting for hidden moves, rivaling friends locally or climbing online leaderboards.

Overall, Eternal Champions offers a polished, adrenaline-fuelled package that holds up decades after its original release. It’s a must-play for fans of retro fighters and anyone intrigued by its unique blend of historical warriors, cyberpunk assassins and supernatural foes battling for redemption. If you’re seeking a classic fighting game with personality, depth and a dash of dark humor, Eternal Champions delivers on every front.

Retro Replay Score

7.6/10