Ehrgeiz (World, EG2/VER.A)

Ehrgeiz is a fast-paced, two-player fighting game released in arcades in 1998 from Square and Namco. Players select from a diverse roster of fighters competing for possession of the powerful artifact known as 'Ehrgeiz,' battling through interactive environments to claim victory. The gameplay emphasizes dynamic combat with a distinct feel reminiscent of games like Power Stone, featuring characters rendered in 3D. Beyond the core roster, Ehrgeiz incorporates elements from Square’s immensely popular PlayStation title, Final Fantasy VII. Skilled players can unlock additional playable characters and costumes through achieving specific milestones within the game, including facing off against familiar faces such as Cloud and Tifa. The game's structure encourages repeated play with secrets and challenges to discover. Utilizing Namco System 12 hardware, Ehrgeiz delivers a technically impressive experience for its time, requiring players to master an eight-way joystick and four buttons to execute precise attacks and combos against their opponent.