Killing Zone , released on the PlayStation in 1996, is a unique fighting game featuring seven iconic monsters from literature and mythology. These initial seven monsters are all that can be played as, with no hidden characters to unlock or a final boss to defeat.
The gameplay focuses on these monster's respective fighting styles, with attacks often mirroring their characteristics. For example, the Skeleton can jump on opponents and stab them repeatedly, while the Minotaur gorges its prey with ease. However, most of the monsters are slow and un-manoeuvrable, which may be intentional to represent their weight.
The game features two playable modes: Normal Mode, where one player battles against the other six monsters, and Auto Mode, where a second player trains an AI-controlled monster through tournaments. In Auto Mode, the player can instruct the monster to perform various attacks and defensive plays, with the goal of teaching it the full range of moves.
While Auto Mode shows promise, its effectiveness is limited by the game's lack of a save feature. Despite this, Killing Zone remains an interesting and unique take on the fighting game genre.