Star Gladiator Episode I: Final Crusade

Summary

Star Gladiator Episode I: Final Crusade is a 1996 3D combat game developed by Capcom for the PlayStation-based ZN-1 arcade system. It marked Capcom's first foray into polygon-based fighting games, arriving just a few months before the original Street Fighter EX, which Capcom had collaborated on with Arika. A PlayStation version was launched in October 1996, and in 1998, it was succeeded by a single follow-up title, Plasma Sword.

Storyline

Set in the 24th Century, this 3D fighting game features battles between humans and humanoids. It includes combo systems, counterattacks, and a cast of unusual fighters, particularly Saturn, who wields two yo-yos as his primary weapon. The game's story follows humanity's expansion into space, the colonization of new planets, and encounters with alien species. Not all of these encounters are peaceful, so in 2348, the Federation begins developing a powerful plasma-based weapon. The project is led by Dr. Edward Bilstein, who discovers a hidden human ability that connects the mind to immense energy. The weapon proves effective, but it's later revealed that Bilstein used real people in his experiments, leading to his exile and the project's shutdown. Four years later, rumors of the Federation's powerful weapon have calmed tensions, and peace has returned. But when a small rebel group known as "The Fourth Empire" attacks and destroys a military base, it becomes clear that Bilstein is returning to Earth for revenge. In response, the military assembles a team of individuals capable of wielding the plasma force to defend the planet in a final stand.

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Release dates by platform

Artwork

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