The year 2015. The date for the next Goketsuji tournament is approaching. Oume Goketsuji, winner of the last tournament, aware of her deteriorated physical strength, decided to look for her younger sister Otane to offer to her share the leadership of the clan. However the Goketsuji twins thought that their strength was not enough and decided to ask for the help of an outsider. This forced them to modify the rules of the tournament, allowing the participation of people outside the family. Now the twins not only have to retain their leadership, they also have to defend the clan against a rival family that wants the destruction of the Goketsuji clan.
 

 
ABOUT:  Known as Goketsuji Ichizoku 3 in Japan, Groove On Fight is a 2D fighting game developed by Atlus. The 1997 title released in arcades and on Sega Saturn only in Japan. Groove On Fight is considered to be the fourth installment of the Power Instinct series, taking place 20 years following the previous Goketsuji tournament. Artist Range Murata was behind the artwork for Groove On Fight in addition to working on prior entries in the series.
 
 
Known for having a darker and more serious tone than its predecessors, Groove On Fight features 11 default playable characters (but a total of 14 characters all together) — including the duo of Otane/Oume from earlier Power Instinct titles. Groove On Fight features smaller but more well-animated character sprites over the prequels and bizarre hand-drawn 2D backgrounds. 
 

 
Groove On Fight's gameplay features a 2-on-2 format, with the ability to tag your partner in at any time during the match. Similar to SNK's King of Fighters series, secondary characters are seen in the actual background and have several of their own animations. Characters on the sidelines will slowly regain their health back while the other characters are fighting.


The Stress Meter returns from previous titles but can now stock up to 9 meters and is now simply called the "Special Meter". Characters begin a match with 1 meter and Super Attacks cost one bar. Groove On Fight is the only title in the series where all Super Attacks are preformed in the same input (down, down+any Kick button and the Dash Attack button).
   

   
Differing from past installments of the Power Instinct series, Groove On Fight features a six buttons layout, using separate buttons for Powerful Blow and the Dash Attack. Characters also have the ability to "charge" their meter, but only when their teammate has been KO'd. Other notable gameplay mechanics include: Taunting, Unblockable Attack, Partner Attack (sidelined character will perform a jump-in attack), Body Toss (characters being able to pick up defeated characters and hurl them at opponents), Dual Attack (a series of attacks performed by both characters at the same time), and Pounce: (characters will attack a downed foe, done by pressing up + Light kick, Hard Kick).
   

  
The Sega Saturn port of Groove On Fight contains some differences to the arcade version. For one, many frames of animation are missing in the Saturn port. In the Saturn version, characters such as Damian, Bristol Weller and Bristol-D become playable once the player finishes the game with certain characters. The Saturn version also enables 4 players to play the game simultaneously when using the Sega Saturn multi-tap. The console port also contains an "Omake Mode" where players can view artwork of the characters, in addition to an arranged version of the soundtrack containing new music themes that did not appear in the arcade version.


FUN FACT:    Groove On Fight introduced the first openly gay couple in a fighting game — those characters being Damian Shade and Rudolph Gartheimer.
  
 

Page Updated: July 6th, 2022 Developer(s): Atlus Publisher(s): Atlus Artwork By: Range Murata Platform(s): Arcade, Sega Saturn Release Date(s): May 1997   Characters:  Solis R8000, Bristol Weller, Chris Wayne, Damian Shade, Falco, Rudolph Gartheimer, Hizumi Yokinoue, Larry Light, M.A.D, Oume & Otane, Popura Hananokoji, Remi Otogiri, Sujiroku Tenshinbashi, Bristol-D Featured Video: Related Games: Power Instinct Matrimelee, Power Instinct 2, Power Instinct, Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge, KOF '97, Darkstalkers 3, Guilty Gear, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Golden Axe: The Duel, Last Bronx, Fighting Vipers, Fighters Megamix, Samurai Shodown 4, The Last Blade, Street Fighter Alpha 2, Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact, X-Men Vs. Street Fighter, Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter, TEKKEN 3, Mortal Kombat 4, Global Champion, Daraku Tenshi - The Fallen Angels, Akatsuki Blitzkampf, Martial Masters, Galaxy Fight, Waku Waku 7    Gameplay Engine    Story / Theme    Overall Graphics    Animation    Music / Sound Effects    Innovation    Art Direction    Customization     Options / Extras     Intro / Presentation     Replayability / Fun     "Ouch" Factor     Characters     BOTTOM LINE           First Impression: Groove On Fight is a 2D fighting game that totally went under my radar in '97... and I know I wasn't the only one. 1997 was definitely a blockbuster year for 2D and 3D fighting games... with numerous revolutionary, record-breaking hits in arcades and on consoles. The PS1 era was going strong! But the Sega Saturn library was not slacking either! Like X-Men Vs. Street Fighter (1996), Groove on Fight was one of the few fighting games at the time featuring tag-team gameplay mechanics. However, Groove on Fight is a much slower and arguably simpler game than the likes of X-Men Vs. Street Fighter... which is possibly the game's biggest flaw, in my opinion. I mention X-Men Vs. Street Fighter, why? Not only because of the Tag mechanic, but in only two months time aafter GOFs release, Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter dropped. Just to set the timeframe of what caliber of fighting games were available in 1997. The classic 2D fundamentals are there, at least, and the evolutions of the Power Instinct series are interesting as they are wacky. I plan of diving into the game a littler deeper when I get a chance, but so far... I'm being honest, I don't think the gameplay of Groove On Fight was particularly great compared to the top 2D and 3D fighting games of the era. It's definitely a "slow" game, comparable to the pace of Samurai Shodown. Slow doesn't make it bad, but it does make it less playable and less fun, competitively. However, it's still an interesting game for many reasons. The box art and title of the game is great if you ask me. The "cool" and interesting character designs, KOF-inspired sidelined partners (who can tag in and interact with the fight), and the totally weird / random stages are among GOF's strongest aspects. It stands out visually as an interesting and unique fighting game, I'll give it that! The art style and 2D sprites (while tiny) have charm, too. If you're into games like Darkstalkers and Guilty Gear... you might find Groove On Fight's cast of quirky characters right up your alley. Too bad this game released only in Japan! Being Japan-exclusive automatically makes a video game cool, right? (It's usually true.) Groove On Fight is cool... if anything. In 2022, I finally can play this game. That said, I will eventually fully review and rate GOF. Until then, enjoy browsing the awesome art galleries and character profiles... and don't forget to respect the under-boob. Ohh yes, Solis R8000's under-boob is probably the most well-known visual from Groove On Fight. ~TFG Webmaster | @Fighters_Gen      Click Here for all posters / box artwork! Click Here for all concept artwork! FOLLOW    ON:                             TFG NEWS CHARACTERS GAMES