( Arcade Game ) 3 Count Bout ( SNK 1993 )
03 Count Bout is a wrestling arcade game released by SNK in 1993.
Players can play as one of 10 fictional professional wrestlers to fight for the SWF championship title. Along with the standard wrestling match, fights locations include venues such as car parks and factories (turning it into a hardcore wrestling match, with less restrictions and the ability to use weapons). In addition to that, two players can join in together for two-on-two tag-team matches.
A feature of this game is its system. Gauges are displayed on the screen when you approach an opponent's wrestler during the match. The player can give priority to the technique by hitting the button repeatedly until the gauge meter is higher than the opponent's. Additionally, there are dashing techniques from a long distance, aerial killing from the top rope, promised foul attack, and middle distance batting techniques. Not only ordinary classic match rings venues are available, but also the street can be a match location as well.
The game consists of 5 championships with their own stages. The first stage type is a wrestling ring where the opponents can bounce from the edges and can be out of bounds. The second stage type is street wrestling, where there are objects to destroy and weapons to wield. The last stage is the electricity stage where the borders are harmful and weapons are used. Press the A button to punch. Press the B button to kick. Press the C button to jump. Press the A and B buttons simultaneously for a quick moving retreat. Pull the joystick twice in a direction to rush that way. If the player rushes in the direction of a boxing ring edge, they can bounce back. If the player is down, repeatedly press the A button and pull the joystick left and right to get up. Press the C button to body drop on a downed opponent. Press the A button many times rapidly to use a special attack. Press Button A or B on a downed opponent to grab and wrestle. When the player and opponent clash in a wrestle, press the A and B buttons as fast as possible to push back. Press Button D to pin down a downed opponent and hold him for 3 seconds to win. Alternatively, some fighters have holds which can force an opponent with low stamina to submit.
Story
SWF (SNK Wrestling Federation) is an organization that stands at the top of the professional wrestling world. The SWF decided to hold the "Worldwide Indiscriminate Class Tournament". The tournament is to determine the "true world champion" and allows the world's most powerful wrestlers to freely participate in the indiscriminate class with no weight limit. Moreover, the tournament incorporates a radical deathmatch, which seems to be the most severe battle in the history of professional wrestling.
Powerful people from all over the world entered, including the current SWF heavyweight champion and some ferocious wrestlers from the dark underground professional wrestling organization "Hole of the Lion".
The game was released for the Neo Geo AES on April 23, 1993 and was later ported to the Neo Geo CD on April 21, 1995. 3 Count Bout was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Switch on October 11, 2018.