G.A.S.P!! Fighters’ NEXTream

• JP release: 26th March 1998
• PAL release: 1st September 1998
• NA release: 29th September 1998
• Developer: Konami
• Publisher: Konami
• N64 Magazine Score: 47%

What does Generation of Arts, Speed and Power mean? It means someone really wanted the game’s initials to spell out “GASP”. As for “Fighters’ NEXTreme”? I have absolutely no idea – probably why this was renamed to the extremely generic “Deadly Arts” in America. This is another fighting game on the N64, one that has one interesting feature, but is unfortunately not that fun to play.

GASP is all about combos, but the input window makes it difficult to pull any off, so I found a couple of simple moves and spammed then. The default timer is very short, so KOs are unlikely and if time runs out, you get judged on multiple categories, so the person with less health may win. The characters are all completely uninteresting and just look like prototype versions from other fighting games.

The one interesting thing is “create-a-fighter”, although options are extremely limited. You then train by fighting others and, if you win, you get to learn one of their moves, although with how much of a faff they are to perform, it doesn’t mean much.

This joins the rather large list of bland fighters on the N64.

Poor

Combos are so hard to pull off that even attempting them is too much of an effort, while characters have all the appeal of Anne Robinson.

Tim Weaver, N64 Magazine ’22

Remake or Remaster?

The create-a-fighter could be done in newer games, but needs to be better than this.

Official Ways to get the game

There’s no official way to play G.A.S.P!! Fighters’ NEXTream

Europe

Japan

North America

fighting N64