About

<h2>Overview</h2><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/4/363960-pg4.png" data-ref-id="1300-363960" data-ratio="0.71428571428571" data-width="336" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 336px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:71.4%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/4/363960-pg4.png" data-ref-id="1300-363960"><img alt="No Caption Provided" src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_small/0/4/363960-pg4.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/4/363960-pg4.png 336w, https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_small/0/4/363960-pg4.png 320w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" data-width="320"></a></figure><p>Pit-Fighter is a <a href="/belt-scrolling/3015-8588/" data-ref-id="3015-8588">belt-scrolling</a> fighting game developed and released by <a href="/atari-games/3010-794/" data-ref-id="3010-794">Atari Games</a> (with <a href="/konami-corporation/3010-87/" data-ref-id="3010-87">Konami</a> releasing it in Japan) for <a href="/arcade/3045-84/" data-ref-id="3045-84">arcades</a> in August 1990.</p><p>Similar to <a href="/violence-fight/3030-39270/" data-ref-id="3030-39270">Violence Fight</a> and <a href="/street-smart/3030-14670/" data-ref-id="3030-14670">Street Smart</a>, Pit-Fighter is an early example of a fighting game that incorporates several gameplay mechanics from beat-'em-ups such as <a href="/double-dragon/3030-20752/" data-ref-id="3030-20752">Double Dragon</a> and <a href="/final-fight/3030-6722/" data-ref-id="3030-6722">Final Fight</a>, including belt-scrolling movement for traversing the arena and items that can be picked up around the arena (including weapons, throwable objects, and <a href="/power-up/3015-700/" data-ref-id="3015-700">power-ups</a>). It is also the first fighting game to incorporate real-life actors for the game's characters (through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroma_key" rel="nofollow ">blue-screen</a> <a href="/digitized-sprites/3015-2288/" data-ref-id="3015-2288">digital processing</a>), a technique later becoming popular due to the <a href="/mortal-kombat/3025-7/" data-ref-id="3025-7">Mortal Kombat</a> series. It also features heavy use of <a href="/sprite-scaling/3015-7122/" data-ref-id="3015-7122">sprite scaling</a>. It later received a beat-'em-up successor, known as <a href="/guardians-of-the-hood/3030-35412/" data-ref-id="3030-35412">Guardians of the 'Hood</a>.</p><p>Up to three players fight their way through an underground fighting circuit as either <a href="/professional-wrestler/3015-26/" data-ref-id="3015-26">ex-pro wrestler</a> <a href="/buzz/3005-333/" data-ref-id="3005-333">Buzz</a>, <a href="/kickboxing/3015-4740/" data-ref-id="3015-4740">champion kickboxer</a> <a href="/ty/3005-32/" data-ref-id="3005-32">Ty</a>, or <a href="/karate/3015-8400/" data-ref-id="3015-8400">karate black belt</a> <a href="/kato/3005-215/" data-ref-id="3005-215">Kato</a>, earning prize money (score) based on their performance. Unlike other fighting games of the type, the game focuses primarily on co-operative play, with the game having up to six fighters on-screen at once (for three-on-three fights). However, players can attack each-other for points and prioritizing final blows on enemies, and the game includes bonus "Grudge Matches" for player-only fights.</p><p>The game is known for its ports of varying quality throughout 1991 and 1992 for numerous platforms, including the <a href="/genesis/3045-6/" data-ref-id="3045-6">Sega Genesis</a>, <a href="/super-nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-9/" data-ref-id="3045-9">Super Nintendo Entertainment System</a>, <a href="/game-boy/3045-3/" data-ref-id="3045-3">Game Boy</a>, and <a href="/atari-lynx/3045-7/" data-ref-id="3045-7">Atari Lynx</a>. In North America, the game was published by either <a href="/tengen/3010-752/" data-ref-id="3010-752">Tengen</a> (Atari Games's home brand) or <a href="/thq/3010-15/" data-ref-id="3010-15">THQ</a>. In Europe, the game was converted to various computer-based systems (the <a href="/amiga/3045-1/" data-ref-id="3045-1">Amiga</a>, <a href="/amstrad-cpc/3045-11/" data-ref-id="3045-11">Amstrad CPC</a>, <a href="/atari-st/3045-13/" data-ref-id="3045-13">Atari ST</a>, <a href="/commodore-64/3045-14/" data-ref-id="3045-14">Commodore 64</a>, <a href="/pc/3045-94/" data-ref-id="3045-94">DOS PCs</a>, and <a href="/zx-spectrum/3045-16/" data-ref-id="3045-16">ZX Spectrum</a>), all of which were published by <a href="/domark-software/3010-5/" data-ref-id="3010-5">Domark</a>.</p><p>The original arcade version of the game was also included in various <a href="/midway-games/3010-185/" data-ref-id="3010-185">Midway</a> compilations for sixth-to-seventh generation consoles, including the 2004 <a href="/midway-arcade-treasures-2/3030-7740/" data-ref-id="3030-7740">Midway Arcade Treasures 2</a>, the 2006 <a href="/midway-arcade-treasures-deluxe-edition/3030-17738/" data-ref-id="3030-17738">Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition</a>, the 2006 Japan-exclusive <a href="/game-center-usa-midway-arcade-treasures/3030-57138/" data-ref-id="3030-57138">Game Center USA: Midway Arcade Treasures</a>, and the 2012 <a href="/midway-arcade-origins/3030-39812/" data-ref-id="3030-39812">Midway Arcade Origins</a>.</p><h2>Gameplay</h2><p>Pit-Fighter is a three-button game, with two attack buttons (Punch and Kick) and one button for Jump. Each of these buttons can be combined to perform special maneuvers:</p><ul><li>Pressing Punch + Kick performs a grab attack, in which the player's fighter attempts to lift their opponent overhead and carry them around (where they can then throw them at other opponents or objects). Some heavier opponents, such as the bosses, cannot be thrown without a Power Pill.</li></ul><ul><li>Pressing Punch + Jump performs an evasive block/dodge, with a crouching dodge when the joystick is held downward.</li></ul><ul><li>Pressing Kick + Jump performs a jumping kick attack.</li></ul><ul><li>Pressing Punch + Kick + Jump performs the character's unique <a href="/special-attack/3015-327/" data-ref-id="3015-327">special move</a>.</li></ul><p>Other special techniques include:</p><ul><li>Double-tapping left/right performs an invincible dodge.</li></ul><ul><li>Pressing either attack button near a downed opponent performs an on-the-ground attack.</li></ul><ul><li>Pressing Punch button while their back is to an opponent performs a back attack.</li></ul><ul><li>Pressing Punch while over an item picks it up, which can be used as weapons (such as knives and sticks), throwable objects (such as barrels), and the Power Pill (which buffs both damage dealt and damage resistance).</li></ul><h2>Characters</h2><h3>Playable Fighters</h3><p>Each of the three playable fighters have their own unique attacks and stats. Unlike most fighting and beat-'em-up games at the time, players can choose the same character, with the color of their pants based on the player position (left being blue, center being red, and right being yellow).</p><ul><li><strong><a href="/buzz/3005-333/" data-ref-id="3005-333">Buzz</a></strong>, the <a href="/professional-wrestler/3015-26/" data-ref-id="3015-26">ex-professional wrestler</a>, specializes in powerful attacks. His special move is a powerful <a href="/command-grab/3015-7543/" data-ref-id="3015-7543">command grab</a> which, depending on what direction the opponent is facing, is either a body slam or a <a href="/piledriver/3015-3993/" data-ref-id="3015-3993">piledriver</a>. He can also perform a special move on downed opponents for a powerful body splash.</li></ul><ul><li><strong><a href="/ty/3005-32/" data-ref-id="3005-32">Ty</a></strong>, the <a href="/kickboxing/3015-4740/" data-ref-id="3015-4740">kickboxing champion</a>, specializes in longer-reaching attacks. His special move is a jumping two-hit spin kick. His kick attacks are sometimes powerful <a href="/roundhouse-kick/3015-509/" data-ref-id="3015-509">roundhouse kicks</a>.</li></ul><ul><li><strong><a href="/kato/3005-215/" data-ref-id="3005-215">Kato</a></strong>, the <a href="/karate/3015-8400/" data-ref-id="3015-8400">third-degree black belt</a>, specializes in speedy attacks. His special move is a standing six-hit combination attack. His punch attacks are sometimes powerful backhand strikes.</li></ul><h3>Unplayable Opponents</h3><p>The game includes eight unplayable opponents, with each match including a combination of them based on how many players are playing.</p><ul><li><b>The Executioner</b> - A shirtless fighter who wears an executioner's hood. He is the game's first opponent and, later on, is paired with Angel.</li><li><b>Southside Jim -</b> Wears a tank top and sweat pants. He is paired with either Mad Miles or C.C. Rider.</li><li><strong>Mad Miles</strong> - Wears a tank top and camo pants. He is paired with either Southside Jim, Chainman Eddie, or Heavy Metal.</li><li><b>Angel</b> - Femme fatale. She is paired with The Executioner.</li><li><b>C.C. Rider</b> - Wears a biker outfit. He is paired with either Southside Jim or Heavy Metal.</li><li><b>Heavy Metal</b> - Resembles a punk rocker. He only appears in the latter half of the game and is paired with either C.C. Rider or Mad Miles.</li><li><b>Chainman Eddie</b> - The game's sub-boss and a hulking fighter wearing chains and shorts. He is earlier paired with Mad Miles, and later on is fought in doubles (which can be easy for three-player games and difficult for single-player games).</li><li><b>Masked Warrior</b> - The game's final boss and a hulking masked fighter. He can only be fought in a one-on-one fight, and is very difficult to take down.</li></ul><h2>Progression</h2><p>There are ten matches that must be cleared before challenging the Masked Warrior. After completing every two matches, players face-off in a bonus knockdown-based Grudge Match.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"> </th><th scope="col">1+ Players</th><th scope="col">2+ Players</th><th scope="col">3 Players</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Match 1</td><td>The Executioner</td><td>The Executioner</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>Match 2</td><td>Southside Jim</td><td>Mad Miles</td><td>Southside Jim</td></tr><tr><td>Match 3</td><td>Angel</td><td>The Executioner</td><td>Angel</td></tr><tr><td>Match 4</td><td>C.C. Rider</td><td>Southside Jim</td><td>C.C. Rider</td></tr><tr><td>Match 5</td><td>Chainman Eddie</td><td>Mad Miles</td><td>Chainman Eddie</td></tr><tr><td>Match 6</td><td>Heavy Metal</td><td>C.C. Rider</td><td>Heavy Metal</td></tr><tr><td>Match 7</td><td>Angel</td><td>The Executioner</td><td>Angel</td></tr><tr><td>Match 8</td><td>Mad Miles</td><td>Heavy Metal</td><td>Mad Miles</td></tr><tr><td>Match 9</td><td>Southside Jim</td><td>C.C. Rider</td><td>Southside Jim</td></tr><tr><td>Match 10</td><td>Chainman Eddie (x2)</td><td>-</td><td>-</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After clearing the ten matches, all remaining players fight an Elimination Match with continues disabled to determine which player faces off against the Masked Warrior in the Championship Match.</p>