Ring of Destruction: Slam Masters II

Game Details:

This title is extremely ambitious in its fighting system. The game retains all the characters from its predecessor and adds several intimidating new faces. The core system is built around three buttons: Attack, Grapple, and Taunt. The most outstanding improvement is its "Super Meter," which, when full, allows you to unleash a spectacular "Team Super" with visual impact that was second to none at the time.

Thanks to the involvement of Tetsuo Hara, the characters' expressions and muscle textures are incredibly detailed. The game even includes some destructible stage elements and the classic "ring rope" interaction—you can throw opponents into the ropes and use the rebound to land powerful combos. This is also one of the most brilliant appearances for Mayor Haggar from *Final Fight* in a versus fighting game.

Game Guide:

• Grapple Mechanics: Although it's a 2D fighter, grappling is still the soul of this game. When characters are close, pressing the grapple button initiates a brief mind game. From here, using directional inputs and the attack button, you can perform various throws like back suplexes, shoulder throws, and even high-damage aerial slams.
• Using the "Rope Rebound": This is an advanced technique. When you knock an opponent into the ropes at the edge of the screen, they will bounce back. Master the timing and press a heavy attack or special move command at the moment of rebound to execute a high-damage, unblockable combo.
• Mayor Haggar's Core Strategy: Haggar is recommended for beginners. Although his "Spinning Piledriver (SPD)" requires a full-circle joystick motion, its grapple range is extremely wide. Using grapples on an opponent's wakeup, combined with his various dashing punches, allows you to create intense pressure.
• Practical Use of the Taunt: In this game, taunting isn't just for humiliating your opponent; it also slightly increases your Super Meter. Taunting during the safe window after knocking down an opponent will help you build your super faster.
• Defending Against Supers: When facing an enemy's super move, don't just block backwards. This game has relatively high blockstun, so the best option is to evade or counter with a short hop or a specific invincible move (like some characters' uppercut-style attacks).