Japanese release of Bloody Roar. PS1 fighting game with beast transformations for each character, making fights spectacular and dynamic. Accessible and fun, a good series entry point for fans of arcade versus fighting.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players12+
Description
Japanese and Asian release of the Zoanthrope 3D versus fighter where genetically engineered fighters take animal form. Fighter by Hudson Soft and Eighting, released in 1997 in Japan, Asia and Europe. Eight beast wrestlers, Beast gauge for transforming, fast combos and breakable arenas. Hyper Beast Duel edition.
Bloody Roar - Hyper Beast Duel review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
The subtitle Hyper Beast Duel names exactly what you are looking at: the second in which the human body breaks open to let the beast out. Every animal form has its own gait, guard and claws, and the game sharpens the contrast with hard lighting and restrained urban settings that leave the silhouettes all the room they need.
Is Bloody Roar - Hyper Beast Duel still worth playing in 2026?
A fighting game from Hudson and Eighting, Bloody Roar stands out for its transformation mechanic, where each fighter morphs into an anthropomorphic beast to multiply their blows. The fast pace, the readable bouts and the spectacle of the transformations give the title a real identity in a crowded genre. The small roster and limited technical depth place it behind the heavyweights. A snappy, original versus fighter to recommend for fans of arcade brawling and of concepts that stand apart.
