ClayFighter 63⅓

About ClayFighter 63⅓

ClayFighter 63⅓ (1997) is Interplay's claymation fighting parody for the Nintendo 64, spoofing Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and Killer Instinct across multi-room arenas.

ClayFighter 63⅓ in Depth

On the Isle of Klaymodo, a purple meteor called Bessie holds Bawk Choy, the key ingredient in Dr. Kiln's world-conquering mutagen. With the voodoo practitioner Happy Harry Houngan, Kiln has created henchmen such as Bonker, a clown gone bad, and Ickybod Clay. When Houngan bursts into the lab, a vial of the mutagen shatters on Kiln's hand, which he has to amputate; the severed hand scurries off into the jungle with Houngan in pursuit. Meanwhile a ship on a "three-hour tour" capsizes nearby, stranding Bad Mister Frosty, wok chef Kung Pow, Taffyman and Blob.

Like earlier ClayFighters, it uses stop-motion claymation rather than traditional computer animation. Most arenas have multiple rooms, 26 in all, and players can punch or kick each other into new rooms where the fight continues. It parodies other fighters throughout: a three-level super combo bar like Street Fighter Alpha, parries like Street Fighter III, super attacks that riff on Street Fighter moves, and a Killer Instinct-style combo system with mock names such as the "Itty Bitty Combo" and "Triple Brown Betty Combo". Next Generation found it "just so damn silly" that anyone who had played Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat or Killer Instinct would find it hilarious, but questioned paying $69.99 for "a good, albeit short-lived, chuckle".

Making ClayFighter 63⅓

Interplay developed it as the third ClayFighter, produced by Jeremy Airey with designers Eric Hart and Rodney Relosa, aiming to make a legitimate fighting game that humorously parodied the genre's big franchises, replacing their extreme violence with gross or funny actions. Released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997, it was largely panned, averaging 48 per cent on GameRankings; reviewers found the humour and parody effective but criticised its gameplay, animation and AI, leaving it with little long-term appeal.