# Retro Game: Warriors of Fate ## Overview *Warriors of Fate* is a masterpiece of the beat 'em up genre, plunging players into the epic battles of China's Three Kingdoms period. As a sequel to *Dynasty Wars*, this game expands the roster to five legendary warriors of the Shu Kingdom: Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Wei Yan. Their mission is to march against the massive armies of the tyrannical warlord Cao Cao and defeat his greatest generals in a series of spectacular, action-packed stages. ## Background Released in arcades by Capcom in 1992, *Warriors of Fate* is known in Japan as *Tenchi wo Kurau II: Sekiheki no Tatakai* ("The Devouring of Heaven and Earth II: Battle of Red Cliffs"). Based on the same manga as its predecessor, this sequel is widely considered to be one of the greatest beat 'em ups ever made. Capcom took everything that worked in the first game and refined it to perfection, creating a deeper combat system, more detailed graphics, and a more focused on-foot brawling experience. It stands alongside titles like *Final Fight* and *Captain Commando* as a pillar of Capcom's golden age of arcade action. ## Gameplay *Warriors of Fate* perfects the side-scrolling brawler formula. Up to three players can choose from the five distinct heroes, each with unique stats, weapons, and special moves. Unlike the first game, which was mostly on horseback, combat in this sequel is primarily on foot, allowing for a much deeper and more satisfying fighting system. Players can perform multi-hit combos, grab and throw enemies, and execute powerful special attacks using command inputs similar to those in *Street Fighter*. Each character also has a desperation move that clears out surrounding enemies at the cost of a little health. The game still features occasional horseback riding segments, but the core of the experience is the incredibly polished and impactful on-foot combat against hordes of soldiers and massive, memorable bosses.