In 1995, Battle Arena Toshinden stepped into the ring as one of the first fully 3D fighting games, showing the world what the next generation of combat could look like. In this episode, we explore how developer Tamsoft and publisher Takara moved from porting SNK titles to pioneering their own weapon-based fighter for the PlayStation. We discuss how its 8-way movement system and polygonal characters pushed the genre forward, influencing future series like Tekken and Soul Calibur. Our conversation also dives into its rapid sequels, spin-offs, and how it became one of the few games published by Sony, Sega, and Nintendo all at once. Join us as we slash, dodge, and duel through Battle Arena Toshinden on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.
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A Trip Down Memory Card Lane