Mutant Fighter (1991). Play online

Summary

Mutant Fighter drops you into a frantic series of Death Matches where the prize is a throne of pure combat glory. I’m always impressed by the roster – three gritty human fighters (the Fighter, an Amazoness and a Hercules) face off against a bestiary of five monsters, from a snarling Werewolf to a towering Golem, a horned Minotaur, a fire‑breathing Dragon and a fearsome Beast. The game tracks Power, Speed and Defense for each character, and every successful hit builds Energy that fuels flashy special moves; there are 19 distinct attacks you can string together with combos.

What makes the arcade version feel fresh is the two‑player cooperative mode: two humans can tackle two AI opponents at once, and you even get to pick which challengers you meet for the first three rounds, after which the computer takes over. The title screen doubles as an on‑the‑fly tutorial, so the moves are clear before the real bloodletting begins.

In Japan it ranked as the second‑best table unit in August ’91, and English‑language presses such as The One and Sinclair User praised its graphics, sound and animation, giving it an 87 out of 100 and calling it “very classy.”

Storyline

Mutant Fighter drops you into a kingdom where the monarch has just been slain. To fill the power vacuum, a grand combat tournament is organized, pitting fighters against each other in one‑on‑one duels. You, the player, must battle twelve distinct opponents, each appearing in a separate round. Victory over each challenger brings you closer to the throne, and defeating the final foe crowns you the new ruler.
The tournament’s structure forces you to adapt to a variety of fighting styles, ensuring each match feels fresh as you climb the ladder toward ultimate authority.