Fur Fighters

Fur Fighters
Developer(s)	Bizarre Creations
Publisher(s)	Acclaim
Platform(s)	Dreamcast, Windows, PlayStation 2
Release	September 23 2000 Dreamcast Windows PlayStation 2
Genre(s)	Third-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

Fur Fighters is a video game developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Acclaim for the Sega Dreamcast in 2000, then later for the PC.

The game was designed very much as a standard third person shooter, but used a world populated by cute little animals as its setting. As a result, the game's depiction of violence is very cartoon-like without losing any of its intensity.

In 2001 an updated version for the PlayStation 2 was released as Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge.

Gameplay summary

In Fur Fighters, the player's job is to rescue the tiny animal babies who have been taken from their parents by the central villain, General Viggo. Viggo has scattered these babies all over the world, requiring the animal parents to explore, confront Viggo's henchmen, and rescue all of them. The gameplay featured many unique aspects for a third-person shooter of the time it was released, most notably making each level an extremely large, expansive area that requires sometimes hours of involved exploration to locate the babies and get rid of the enemies. (Examples include a giant construction site and an entire section of a large city, complete with buildings to explore, including a complete museum of modern art.) Maneuvering through these levels often requires careful observation of the environment so as not to get lost, as well as solving puzzles to figure out where some babies might be hidden or how to gain access to more of the level. Unlike most action games of this type, Fur Fighters distinguishes itself by featuring a system where the player can, at many intervals on a level, switch between one of many animal parents. Each parent has their own advantages and disadvantages, with many having special abilities allowing them to do certain things easier. This switching-out system also makes it easier for players who are low on hit points or ammunition to switch to a more playable character.

Critical reaction

While Fur Fighters was not a tremendous financial success and went almost unnoticed by the majority of gamers at the time, critically the game was almost universally praised for its size, scope, sense of humour, and attention to detail. The fact that mindless violence was not the sole gameplay element impressed many, and the game went on to become a sort of cult classic. In an attempt to take the series further with a larger audience, a new version of the game entitled Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge was released in 2001 on the PlayStation 2. It met with mixed success as it was simply an update of the original game with a few minor features included (such as cel-shading and real voices for the characters). Notably, the first level of the game is the "World Quack Centre", a play on New York's World Trade Center. Some people wondered if the level would be removed from future copies of the game after the events of 9/11, though that never happened. This may have to do with the fact that the game's storyline relies on each and every level to make sense.

Voice Cast

• Tim Wallers as General Viggo.
• Johnathan Booth as General Bristol.
• Corinne Kempa as Juliette.
• Scott McMurrey as Roofus.
• Guy Taylor as Bungalow.
• John Karnay (DreamCast version) as Rico
• Daniel York as Chang and Tweek

Characters

Roofus (The Hound)

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Roofus is the natural born leader of the Fur Fighters. He is also the only member who can dig holes in the ground. After defeating Viggo years ago he gave it all up to settle down with his wife, Winnie and their children, until Viggo returned and kidnapped them. Roofus decided to battle for one last time to save them and get rid of Viggo once and for all.

Chang (The Firefox)

Born in Hong Kong, China, Chang is the smallest of the Fur Fighters and therefore is the only member who can get into small places. Chang is probably the most useful of the group as he has a scientific mind, is quick witted and is brilliant with weapons. His mission is to save his wife, Mai and children.

Juliette (The Cat)

Born in Paris, France, Juliette is the only Fur Fighter who can climb up and down walls; she is also the only female in the group. Juliette is very athletic and can be very short-tempered and stubborn. She prefers to fight alone, but if persuaded she will stay with the group. Her mission is to save her husband, Claude and children.

Bungalow (The Kangaroo)

Born in Alice Springs, Australia, Bungalow is the only Fur Figher who can jump high and far. Best friend of Roofus, Bungalow is rather slow and dim-witted; he does not realise his own strength or ability. He seems to be very happy to take orders from the other members. His mission is to save his wife, Esmerelda, and children.

Rico (The Penguin)

Born in Argentina, Rico is the only member of the Fur Fighters who can swim underwater. Rico is not the most serious or fully-focused member as he seems to think himself as a hero. He is also overconfident about his fighting skills and is a total daydreamer. His mission is to save his wife, Juanita, and children.

Tweek (The Dragon)

Born in Fur Fighter Village (presumably, as he is only a day old), Tweek is the youngest member of the Fur Fighters. He is also the only member who can glide. His family was taken by Viggo, and Tweek was taken in by the other members who taught him how to use weapons, allowing him to help in the war against Viggo. His mission is to save his mother, Gwynth, and his brothers and sisters.

General Viggo

He is responsible for kidnapping the Fur Fighters' families and trying to take over the world. Viggo is pure evil, yet well spoken. He leads his army of stupid bears against the Fur Fighters and he is also surprisingly strong.

General Bristol

Bristol is a ghost that helps guide and advise the Fur Fighters during their mission against Viggo.

Sergeant Sternhouser

Sternhouser is the personal fitness trainer of the Fur Fighters who loves dancing and gives them better weapons.

Fur Fighter Babies

These little guys are the Fur Fighters' children who need rescuing from different parts of the world.

Gwyneth

Tweek's mother and the real sixth member of the Fur Fighters—that is, before she was kidnapped and mutated by Viggo. She is now a metal dragon who soars the skies of New Quack City.

Juanita

Rico's wife. Ordinarily she keeps Rico in line when he says something... "inappropriate". She is now a demonic giant penguin who contaminates the waters of Beaver Power.

Claude

Juliette's husband who is easily amused and a talented artist. He has become a gigantic creature in a space suit, who is destroying the main satellite of Cape Canardo.

Esmerelda

Bungalow's domineering wife. She has a habit of hitting Bungalow on the head with a saucepan. She is now a 200-foot-tall monster who keeps the lava nice and warm in the swimming pool at Dinotopolis.

Mai

Chang's wife. She is also small in stature, and is also a Firefox. She has become a quick and agile force to be reckoned with in the form of a slithery silver fox, and resides in the distant temple of Anatat Tatanatat, aka City of Fear.

Winnie

Wife of Roofus who was kidnapped and thrown into a portal by Viggo. She is now an enormous and powerful force to be reckoned with in the form of a large, malevolent dog, and resides in the distant temple of Anatat Tatanatat, aka City of Fear.

External links

• Bizarre Creations' Website
  • Fur Fighters at Bizarre Creations