Art of Fighting is a fighting game that follows the story of Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia as they search for their kidnapped sister Yuri in the streets of South Town. As they delve deeper, they uncover clues about the Sakazaki family's connection to the mob and a mysterious figure from their past.
The gameplay in Art of Fighting is distinct from other fighting games, featuring a Spirit meter that decreases as you perform special moves. This meter can be recharged, but doing so leaves you vulnerable to attack. When your health is low, you can perform a secret combination to unleash a powerful attack if the Spirit meter is full.
The arcade version of Art of Fighting does not allow players to choose from all characters, including Mr. Big and Mr. Karate.