Eternal Champions is a 2D fighting game developed by Sega Interactive Development Division and published by Sega for the Genesis on August 14, 1993. As one of nine warriors from different time periods, each of which had untimely and unjust deaths, players participate in a fighting tournament (in which, if they defeat the Eternal Champion, their fighter is brought back to change his/her fate and restore the good of mankind).
The game received an enhanced version, titled Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side, for the Sega CD on February 5, 1995. This version added new characters, new game modes, video cutscenes, an enhanced soundtrack, and new deadly finishing moves (adding extremely graphic violence). The game also received two action-adventure spinoffs: X-Perts (a Genesis game starring Shadow Yamoto) and Chicago Syndicate (a Game Gear game starring Larcen Tyler).
Eternal Champions control scheme, and gameplay elements largely adopted from other popular fighting franchises. The control scheme (similar to Street Fighter 2) consisted of 3 punch, and 3 kick buttons. The major issue for the consumer being the original genesis controller consisted of 3 buttons, pressuring users to purchase a 6 button controller or joystick. With the 3 button control scheme, the user was required to awkwardly hit the start button to swap between punches and kicks.
Depending on the distance of the opponent, a button press would automatically adjust for location. For example pressing A would result in a kick, but in close quarters the same button press would result in a knee. Each character had a large set of special moves. To prevent constant use of special moves (similar to The Art of Fighting), the game adopted a stamina system called “Inner Strength”. An inner strength orb indicator appeared on screen as a Ying Yang symbol. Each special move would decrease the orb by a certain percentage. If the orb was depleted, the gamer had to fight without special moves until it completely recharged.
The game also adopted stage fatalities of Mortal Kombat called Overkills. If an opponent was knocked down from the appropriate location, into the correct spot a stage specific overkill occurred. For example, in Tridents level the player was required to stand on the left hand side of the mermaid statue, knocking down their opponent facing them from the right. If done correctly the downed opponent would be hauled into the water by vines, losing their remaining life while only blood surfaced.