Vicious Circle (prototype)

Nine distinct characters clash in Vicious Circle, a two-player fighting game developed by Atari Games and created in 1996. Players select from this roster to engage in head-to-head combat utilizing an eight-way joystick and six buttons for controlling attacks and movements. The game's aesthetic draws comparisons to the popular Killer Instinct series, suggesting a focus on exaggerated character designs and impactful special moves. This title represents a prototype version of what Atari Games intended to release; it never saw full distribution or commercial play. Built using unique Atari Cojag hardware, Vicious Circle incorporates both an R3000 processor running at 33 MHz alongside the Jaguar processor operating at 26 MHz for gameplay and sound respectively. The system’s dual DAC chips handle audio output. While intended as a fighting game, this version remains largely unexamined due to its prototype status. It provides a glimpse into Atari Games' design process during the mid-1990s and offers an unusual combination of hardware components within a versus fighting structure.