Zootopia Arena

Zootopia Arena is a fighting game for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. This game uses 3D graphics, 2D Sprites, and a 2D style of gameplay. The story of the game is basically our heroes saving Zootopia from the Vulpai Zaibatsu, a faction made entirely of foxes bent on the extinction of all other species.

Zootopia Arena is one of those games that uses an auto save feature. However, the game doesn't use this feature during the story arcs. See further below.

Menu Controls
It's pretty simple. You move the cursor using the D-Pad. The Left Control Stick/Circle Pad works too. To select stuff, hit the A button. To go back to a previous menu, hit the B button. There's also a Back command you can use in some menus.

Battle Controls
As mentioned above, Zootopia Arena uses a 2D style of gameplay. You move the characters by pushing Left and Right on the D-Pad or by pushing the Left Control Stick/Circle Pad left and right. To make your character run toward the enemy instead of walking toward them, push the Left Control Stick/Circle Pad in the direction your character is facing, then quickly push it again in that same direction and this time, hold it in that position. The character will keep running until you either move the Left Control Stick/Circle Pad again, let it go, attack, or get attacked. To make your character do back-steps instead of just walking away from the opponent, do like you would if you were gonna make them run, but instead, push the Left Control Stick/Circle Pad in the direction opposite of the direction your character is facing. You can also dash and do back-steps using the D-Pad. Push Left or Right once, then quickly push it again. If you dash forward, then hold down the button to keep dashing.

To make your character jump straight up, push the Left Control Stick/Circle Pad upward. To make your character jump forward, push the Left Control Stick/Circle Pad up and to the direction the character is facing (If they're facing right, then push the Left Control Stick/Circle Pad up and to the right to make your character jump forward). To make them jump backwards, push the Left Control Stick/Circle Pad up and to the direction opposite of the direction the character is facing (If they're facing right, push the Left Control Stick/Circle Pad up and to the left to make your character jump backwards). You can also jump using the D-Pad. When you jump over your opponent or vice versa, you and your opponent will automatically turn around to face each other again. Another thing, you can attack while in the air.

To make your character crouch down, push the Left Control Stick/Circle Pad down. Once again, you can also crouch with the D-Pad. You can't move while crouching, but you can attack and guard while crouching.

To make your character block attacks, move backwards like in most other fighting games. If your character is moving backwards while your enemy is attacking, the character will automatically block. You can also block while crouching. Just push the Left Control Stick down-left or down-right depending on the direction your character is facing. The D-Pad also works in this situation. Be careful, though. Some attacks are unblockable and you can still get hit if you're guarding in the wrong area (A low attack can only be blocked by a low guard).

Now for attacking. Attacking is mapped to the A, B, X, And Y buttons. Each character has a number of basic attacks done by pressing these buttons. Some basic attacks are done by pressing the buttons by themselves. Others are done by pressing the buttons while pressing a D-Pad button or holding the Left Control Stick left, right, or down. As mentioned above, there are some attacks that can be done while crouching or while in midair. Many of these basic attacks, you can string together to make combos.

Throw attacks are mapped to the R button and taunting is mapped to the L button. Taunting has a benefit in this game. See further below. As for throwing, you can't block a throw, but you can escape by pressing R before the throw is executed. You'll have little time to do this, though, so be quick.

When you fall down on the ground, you have the option to attack as you get back up. Hit A, Y, or B while knocked down to launch a rising kick. Hitting A while knocked down makes your character to a middle rising kick. Hitting Y while knocked down makes your character do a high rising kick. Hitting B while knocked down makes your character do a low rising kick.

When launched by the enemy or hit while in midair, you can perform an ukemi to get right back on your feet. Push the Left Control Stick upward or push Up on the D-Pad as you're about to hit the ground. If you do it too soon or too late, then the ukemi won't happen and you'll just fall down on the floor. Good thing you can do a rising kick as mentioned above.

Now for the Burst mechanic. Bursting is done by pressing L and R at the same time. Bursting is just the thing when you're busy being pummeled by an enemy's combo. When you do perform a Burst, the Power Meter, which is mentioned further below, will charge up on its own for a few seconds. You will also consume one Burst Icon. Each character starts off the match with two Burst Icons and can only have up to two Burst Icons. If you use a Burst Icon, then to gain a new one, you must lose a round.

Pausing the game is done by hitting the Start button while a battle is going on.

Unless I'm missing something, I think that about covers it for the controls.

Stage Themes or Character Themes?
Zootopia Arena uses both stage themes and character themes and you have the option to switch between them. In the Options menu, there's a Battle Music setting located in the Audio section. Your two choices are Stage Themes and Character Themes and you can change that setting any time you're in the Options menu. There are, however, some themes that play regardless of your Battle Music setting. One of these is a song that plays during mirror matches and the other is a song that plays when both fighters are one round away from winning the match.

Note: The song that plays when both characters are one round away from winning the match does not play during Story Mode battles as all Story Mode battles, with the exception of the final battle of the True Ending, are one round fights. As for the final battle of the True Ending, that fight is a two round fight.

Modes
Every fighting game's gotta have a multitude of modes to choose from. Here are the modes present in Zootopia Arena.

Story Mode
Here, you play through the game's story. Zootopia Arena's Story Mode consists of a Prologue, a story arc for each individual character, and a True Ending. First, you view the prologue, then once that's done, you'll start playing through each character's story arc. At first, only one story arc will be available. But, after you clear it, more story arcs will become available and even more story arcs will become available as you clear those. Basically, you gotta clear character's story arcs to unlock other characters' story arcs. Once you clear every character's story arc, you unlock the True Ending. This is where the game's final scenes and final battles take place. Once you clear the True Ending, you'll clear all of Story Mode.

One thing you should know is that at certain points in the story arcs and the True Ending, the game will offer to let you save the story so far. If you do, then you'll be able to go to Story Mode's Load menu to continue whatever story arc you were working on from where you left off. Whether or not you use this feature will not affect your overall Story Mode progress. You're not exactly saving the game, just the story arc you're working on. Am I making sense?

Arcade Mode
Here, you choose a character and then you fight your way through ten stages. Most stages have you fight a random character, but Stages 4, 8, 9, and 10 have you fight a specific opponent. Which characters you face in Stages 4, 8, and 9 depend on the character you pick. Basically, those characters are your character's "rivals". As for Stage 10, most, if not all characters will face the game's primary boss at Stage 10. If you manage to beat Arcade Mode, you'll see your character's Arcade Mode Ending and then you can watch it again at any time in the game's Gallery, which we'll get to later. You'll also unlock that character's corresponding Profile Card design and icon. These, we'll also get to later.

Versus Mode
Here, you pick two characters, pick a stage, and then the two characters have a battle to see who wins. Can be played by one player or two players.

Survival Mode
This is much like Arcade Mode except if you lose once, that's it. Game over. Also, instead of just ten stages, you keep on fighting enemy after enemy until you finally do lose.

Score Attack Mode
Just like in Arcade Mode, you fight your way through ten stages. However, in this mode, it's mostly just about getting a high score. Stages 1-9 all have random opponents. You could end up facing anyone. As for Stage 10, if you manage to get there, you'll be face-to-face with a secret character. Beat that secret character to unlock him as a playable character.

Time Attack Mode
Once again, you fight your way through ten stages. However, in this mode, it's mostly about finishing in as little time as possible. Stages 1-9 have you face random opponents. You could end up fighting anybody. Stage 10, however, if you manage to get there, you'll come face-to-face with another secret character. Beat that secret character to unlock her as a playable character.

Training
This is pretty self-explanatory. This is where you can practice using the characters in this game. Just like in Versus Mode, you pick a character to play as and your opponent. In Training, though, the opponent is just a training dummy. Usually, they'll just stand around and do nothing, taking everything you throw at them. But, you can change this setting in the Pause Menu. Your other option is to have your opponent act like a real opponent and fight back. Another thing about Training is that in this mode, you don't have to go back to the Character Select and Stage Select screens to change your characters and stages. In Training, you can change your characters and stages from the Pause Menu.

Profile Card
This is where you can customize your Profile Card. This card is shown to other players when you battle online and also to players met through Nintendo 3DS Streetpass or Local Wireless. The name shown on your card is your system username. You can change the card design, icon, and character portrait of the card to anything you have available. The character portraits are how you pick who your favorite character is. As for the icons and card designs, many of these are available from the start and you can unlock more. Some are unlocked by purchasing them in the Gallery. Others are unlocked by clearing Arcade Mode. For example, if you clear Arcade Mode with Judy Hopps, then you'll have a perfectly good Judy Hopps character icon and Judy-themed card design all ready to go.

Local Wireless
Here, you can battle with people close by using a Local Wireless connection. First, either open a Lobby or search for an existing Lobby. Then, let the search for other players begin. If you set up your own Lobby, then you can set the rules of the match; how many rounds, how much time on the timer, and which stage the match takes place in. Once you've decided, the search begins. Also, if you set up your own Lobby and you're successful in finding other players, you can choose which of those players you want to face. After you and your opponent choose your characters, the match can begin. Meanwhile, the other players in the Lobby will be watching the match unfold. After the match is over, your opponent's Profile Card will be saved to the Gallery and then you can choose another opponent to fight. You can even have a rematch with the opponent you just fought if they're still there.

Online Play
Here, you can use your Wii U or Nintendo 3DS to connect to the Internet and battle players through an Internet connection. If you think chatting through those headsets is allowed here, you're dead wrong. When you battle a player through Online Play, that player's Profile Card will be saved to your collection so you can view it at any time in the Gallery.

Streetpass
This is exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS version, obviously. In Zootopia Arena, the Streetpass feature is used to collect other players' Profile Cards so you can view them at any time in the Gallery. It's also used to battle AI representations of other players met through Streetpass. First, select a player met through Streetpass, then pick your character, and then your character and the other person's favorite character battle it out on a random stage. Once again, to choose your favorite character, you must set that character's portrait on your Profile Card.

I should also point out that you can only fight players met through Streetpass once each. If you want a rematch with any of these players, you'll have to meet them through Streetpass again before you can fight them again.

Fight Record
Self explanatory. It's where you view your records. Your records are divided into two sections. One is the Offline Records section and the other is the Online Records section.

Gallery
Here, you can look at concept art, illustrations, and other images, view characters' Arcade Mode endings after you beat Arcade Mode with those characters, watch Story Mode's animated cutscenes, and listen to the game's music and sound effects. You can also purchase unlockables such as designs and icons for your Profile Card and additional color sprites for the characters. How do you purchase these? Well, when you play Zootopia Arena, you can earn in-game cash to purchase unlockables in the Gallery. How do you get this money? By winning battles. Even winning Versus Mode matches can get you some money to purchase unlockables in the Gallery. Another thing you can view in the Gallery are other players' Profile Cards that you've picked up from playing online and through Streetpass and Local Wireless.

Options
Every video game needs this. The Options menu is divided into sections. We'll go over these one at a time.

Game Settings
Here, you can adjust the CPU player difficulty and choose how many rounds a player must win to win a match. The difficulty options consist of Very Easy, Easy, Normal, Hard, and Very Hard. As for the round win count settings, there's one for both Arcade Mode and Versus Mode. Both of these settings have one round as the lowest setting and five rounds as the highest setting. Another thing you can do in this section is adjust the time limit. Once again, there's a setting for this for both Arcade Mode and Versus Mode. Your time limit options consist of 60 seconds, 99 seconds, and no time limit. If you do have a time limit and time runs out while you're playing a round, then the character with the most health remaining is the winner. The clock goes back to its starting point when the next round begins.

Note: If the round win count setting is set to one, then that theme that plays when both fighters are one round victory away from winning the match will not play.

Brightness
Here, you can adjust the brightness of the screen. So, if you want the screen to be dark, fine. If you want it to be really bright, go for it.

Audio
Here, you can adjust the game's music volume, sound effect volume, and voice volume.As mentioned above, you can also change the Battle Music setting.

The HP Bar and the Power Meter
Now let's discuss the HP bar and the Power Meter. The HP bar is something everyone should know; it's your health bar. When your health runs out, you're KO'd. The HP bar changes color as it depletes. When the match begins, your health bar is yellow. When you go down to 30% health, your health bar will turn orange.

Now, we'll discuss the Power Meter. I don't know what else to call it for this game, but basically, this is Zootopia Arena's Heat Gauge. Filling up this meter allows you to execute Power Attacks and High Power Attacks. To fill this meter, you need to attack and hit the enemy. Getting hit also fills the meter. Taunting can fill the meter all the way up to 100, but only once during a match with a CPU opponent. Once you use this benefit, you'll have to wait until your next match against a CPU opponent to use the benefit again.

Special Attacks, Power Attacks, and High Power Attacks
Like in most other fighting games, each character has at least a few special moves for you to use. To execute these, move the Left Control Stick around a certain way and then quickly hit one of the attack buttons. How you need to move the control stick and which button you need to press depends on which special move you're trying to do. The D-Pad also works in this situation.

Next, we have Power Attacks. Power Attacks are this game's Distortion Drives and each character in the game has at least two of these. Just like regular special moves, Power Attacks are triggered by moving the Left Control Stick a certain way and then quickly hitting one of the attack buttons. How you need to move the control stick and which attack button you need to press depend on which Power Attack you're trying to execute. Again, the D-Pad also works. However, even if you do get the input right, you won't be able to trigger a Power Attack if your Power Meter is anywhere below 50. When you do execute a Power Attack, 50 points on your Power Meter are spent.

Finally, we have High Power Attacks. Just as Power Attacks are this game's Distortion Drives, High Power Attacks are this game's Astral Heats. Each character has one High Power Attack. Like the special moves and Power Attacks, High Power Attacks are triggered by moving the Left Control Stick a certain way and then quickly pressing one of the attack buttons. Once again, how you need to move the control stick and which button you need to press depend on which High Power Attack you're trying to execute and also, the D-Pad works too. When you successfully execute a High Power Attack, it's a one-hit KO. No questions asked, your opponent is done for. However, there are conditions to be met in order to perform these moves. You'll only be able to trigger a High Power Attack if you meet all three of these conditions. The conditions are as follows. Even if you do meet these conditions, it's still not enough. Each High Power Attack involves the character first trying to land a blow on the enemy or, in some cases, trying to grab the enemy. If they fail to land this first blow or grab the enemy, then the attack fails and you have to charge your Power Meter all over again. If they succeed, then the High Power Attack is executed in all its glory. You'll be treated to a flashy, cinematic sequence and all throughout this sequence, you'll be hearing an awesome song play in place of whatever music was already playing.
 * 1) Your character must be one round victory away from winning the match.
 * 2) Your opponent's health must be at 30% or lower.
 * 3) Your Power Meter must be charged all the way to 100. All 100 points on the Power Meter will be spent if you trigger the High Power Attack.

Size Mechanic
As anyone who's seen the movie Zootopia should know, the animals in the world of Zootopia come in many, many sizes. Some animals are really big and some are very tiny. Therefore, I feel the need to implement a sort of size mechanic. Basically, each character will have at least one move that can only be used on larger or smaller targets or work differently depending on the size the target is compared to the user.

Throws and low spin kicks are also affected by the size mechanic. Most grab attacks won't work on enemies who are too much bigger or too much smaller than the user. Basic throws are the best example of throws that won't work on targets who are too much bigger or too much smaller than the user. Then we have low spin kicks. They'll inflict damage on any target, but if a smaller fighter uses one against a larger target, that target won't be tripped.

Zootopia Arena Characters
Judy Hopps (Judy uses a pair of laser-shooting gauntlets given to her by Brandon Stepps. Judy uses a bit of a punch-heavy style.)

Nick Wilde (Nick uses a katana given to him when he joins the Vulpai Zaibatsu. The sword is capable of being lit ablaze thanks to a red Energy Crystal adorning the hilt. This allows Nick to perform fiery sword slashes and shoot waves of fire by swinging his sword.)

Patricia Swinton (The pig officer shown at the end of Zootopia's end credits. Yes, I gave her a first name, but that's only because I don't know her actual first name if she even has one. Patricia uses martial arts and has a laser pistol.)

Lawrence Lemmington (A lemming who pilots a red mech robot that's the average size of an adult cheetah. Being a Rodent Wrestler, much of Lawrence's moves are wrestling moves. Lawrence's mech can shoot fire using the flamethrowers built into its wrists. The suit can also throw some fiery punches.)

Mia Micera (A grey mouse who pilots a blue mech robot that's the average size of an adult cheetah. Mia is also a Rodent Wrestler, but whereas Lawrence uses a style tantamount to Pro Wrestling, Mia uses a style tantamount to Lucha Libre. Mia's mech can shoot lightning bolts from its hands and can also electrify its punches and kicks.)

Brandon Stepps (A black rabbit. Brandon uses self-taught Bunny Kung Fu and his weapons are a pair of Pincer Gloves, which are metallic gloves that can open and close like the pincers of a crab. These gloves can be used to punch, give the enemy a good hard pinch, and they can even open up to fire laser shots.)

Oscar Mustelas (An otter. Uses martial arts and has a myriad of gadgets at his disposal.)

Richie Grayson (A grey fox. Possesses a gun katana, which is a laser gun and a beam katana merged as one. Richie can switch between Gun Mode and Katana Mode any time during a fight and has decent skill with both modes. Obviously not as good as his mentor, Annie Artia, but we all know he'll get there. Richie's beam katana is green, as are the lasers he fires while his weapon is in Gun Mode. One last thing: When a battle begins, Richie always starts off in Gun Mode)

Annie Artia (An arctic fox, though some might not tell right away due to the coat she wears. Uses a gun katana, which is a laser gun and a beam katana merged as one. Annie can switch between Gun Mode and Katana Mode any time during battle and has great skill with both modes. Annie's beam katana is blue, as are the lasers she fires while her weapon is in Gun Mode. One last thing: When a battle begins, Annie always starts off in Katana Mode.)

Artie Vulpice (An arctic fox turned into a mutant fox after an Energy Crystal energy transfer gone wrong. Artie has cryokinetic powers and the ability to morph his body.)

Eric Silvos (A silver fox who wields two machetes. Eric also possesses umbrakinetic abilities and usually applies them to his sword slashes to boost their power. He can also fire an X-shaped projectile by swinging his machetes.)

Marissa Vuletina (An arctic fox who wears high-heeled greaves and uses a kick-heavy fighting style. The heels of her greaves are sharp like blades. Has a sister named Melissa Vuletina.)

Melissa Vuletina (An arctic fox who fights with a pair of claw gauntlets. Has a sister named Marissa Vuletina.)

Marcus Vuletina (A male arctic fox and the Vuletina sisters' father. Wields a rapier and is adept at fencing.)

Vira Volette (A female red fox who uses a two-handed sword. No elemental abilities to speak of.)

Sylvia Wilfox (A silver fox who uses a ring blade and relies on acrobatic skills. Sylvia's ring blade can also fire projectiles.)

Gregory Foxworth (A gold platinum fox. Primarily uses his fists and feet and possesses lumokinetic abilities. Gregory's fighting style relies heavily on the use of elegant, graceful moves.)

VUL-23 (A battle android built to look like a red fox and the game's primary boss. Adept at using her fists and feet, but her real weapons are the five swords that float behind her in a sort of cape-like formation. She can move these swords around using magnetism. She can not only use these swords to slash her enemies, but she can also fire shots from these swords.)

Guest Characters
Yin (Guest character from Yin Yang Yo! Unlocked by clearing Time Attack Mode.)

Yang (Guest character from Yin Yang Yo! Unlocked by clearing Score Attack Mode.)

Master Yo (Guest Character from Yin Yang Yo! Unlocked by winning 15 Survival Mode battles in a row.)

Non-Playable Characters
Characters who are fought in Story Mode, but are not playable by any means.

Vulpai Zaibatsu Soldier (Male) (As the Vulpai Zaibatsu is made entirely of foxes, it should be no surprise that these guys and the Zaibatsu members shown below are all foxes.)

Vulpai Zaibatsu Soldier (Female)

Stepps Industries Soldier (Male) (Stepps Industries isn't so discriminating. Their members can be different animals, ranging from smaller animals like rabbits and otters to larger animals like wolves and tigers. Stepps Industries even has foxes of their own. Foxes who are against the Vulpai Zaibatsu's insane ideas.)

Stepps Industries Soldier (Female)

Poison Machine (A mobile machine created by the Vulpai Zaibatsu. This machine is what's responsible for spreading miasma around the Rainforest District to poison it. Two of these are fought in Story Mode. One is fought by Lawrence Lemmington in his story arc. The other is fought by Mia Micera in her story arc. These machines are not without weaponry; aside from the miasma spouters, these machines pack laser cannons for ranged combat and razor sharp claws for melee combat.)

Stage Roster
Zootopia Arena's character roster is finally good to go. Now for the stage roster.

Savanna Central - Park

Savanna Central - Street

Savanna Central - Rooftop

Savanna Central - Train Station

Tundratown - Street

Tundratown - Climate Wall

Sahara Square - Street

Sahara Square - Climate Wall

Rainforest District

Poisoned Rainforest District

Stepps Industries - Front Door

Stepps Industries - Training Area

Stepps Industries - Laboratory

Stepps Industries - Top Floor

Vulpai Zaibatsu - Front Door

Vulpai Zaibatsu HQ - Training Area

Vulpai Zaibatsu HQ - Laboratory

Vulpai Zaibatsu HQ - Top Floor (Brandon Stepps is fought here by certain characters at Stage 10 of Arcade Mode.)

Vulpai Zaibatsu HQ - Basement Lab (This is where we fight VUL-23 in Story Mode's final battle. It's also where we face her in Arcade Mode's Stage 10. Remember, though, not all characters fight VUL-23 at Arcade Mode's Stage 10. Other characters fight a different foe when they reach Stage 10 of Arcade Mode.)

Woo Foo Dojo (Extra Stage. Unlocked alongside any of the three Guest Characters.)

Tundratown - Polar Strait (Extra stage. To unlock it, purchase it in the Gallery for $1000.)

Sahara Square - Canyonlands (Extra stage. To unlock it, purchase it in the Gallery for $1000.)

Sahara Square - Sand Dollar Casino (Extra stage. To unlock it, purchase it in the Gallery for $1000.)

Concert Hall (Extra stage. To unlock it, purchase it in the Gallery for $1000.)