🔮 How to Activate Special Skills
Special Skills are a core part of Eternal Champions and work the same way for every character. These moves are more powerful than regular attacks and are designed to give each fighter a unique edge in combat. They don't trigger randomly - you have to activate them deliberately, which makes timing and positioning especially important.
Special Skill Activation
To activate a character's Special Skill, press all three buttons from the same row at the same time. You can use either the punch row or the kick row.
- Punch row: U+I+O
- Kick row: J+K+L
Each row triggers a different Special Skill. Using the punch buttons activates one ability, while the kick buttons activate another, depending on the character. The input itself is the same for the entire roster, but the effects and tactical use vary from fighter to fighter.
🎮 Did You Know?
🕹 Built for Home Consoles, Not Arcades
Unlike most fighting games of the early 1990s, Eternal Champions was designed specifically for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive, not as an arcade game first. This allowed the developers to focus on deeper mechanics, story elements, and features that worked well on a home controller rather than coin-based arcade pacing.
⏳ Every Fighter Comes From a Different Era
The roster isn't just a collection of cool designs. Each character is pulled from a different point in time - from prehistoric ages to a dystopian future. Their lives were cut short before they could fulfill their true purpose, which is why the Eternal Champion brings them together for one final chance.
💥 Overkills Were More Than Just Finishers
Eternal Champions introduced Overkills, brutal finishing moves that depend on the stage and the opponent's position. Instead of a single universal fatality, these finishes are tied to the environment, making each arena dangerous in its own way and encouraging players to think about positioning, not just combos.
🧪 An Unusually Deep Training Mode
For a 16-bit fighting game, the training mode was surprisingly advanced. Players could practice against robotic traps, hazards, and simulations designed to teach timing, spacing, and reaction - not just button inputs. This made the game more demanding, but also more rewarding to master.
📀 The Series Didn't End on Genesis
The original game was followed by Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side on Sega CD, which expanded the roster, added new Overkills, and pushed the series in a darker direction. Several spin-off games were also released, featuring characters from the same universe.
📈 Strong Sales, Mixed Reactions
At launch, Eternal Champions sold well and even topped sales charts in the UK. Critics, however, were divided - some praised its ambition and depth, while others felt it was harder to pick up than faster, arcade-style fighters. That same complexity is what later helped it gain a cult following.
🧠 A Fighter That Rewards Patience
Eternal Champions isn't about constant aggression. Defense, spacing, and timing play a much bigger role than in many fighters of its era. Players who slow down and learn its systems often discover a game that feels very different from its contemporaries - and that's exactly why it still stands out.