Way back in the untamed world of the 90's a plucky little game came into existence called Clayfighter, a stop motion, comical farce of Street Fighter/Mortal Kombat. Back in those days I didn't care for fighters, I mostly blame my upbringing. They were viewed as too harsh for me and other youths especially thanks to Mortal Kombat hitting the scene and sadly Street Fighter kinda got lumped into it by association. Of course today I know Street Fighter isn't anything to shield from children's fragile psyche and Mortal Kombat is just, well desperately clinging to shock factor that sadly still works but what I'm saying is that there was a time in which these things were seen as one of the ultimate taboos... in my woefully small world that is. However, one day I happened upon this gem, this goof ball, cartoony spoof of all the things I was shielded from, sure it was clunky as Hell, but it was what brought me into the genre. I've always loved the look and talent it takes to do stop motion so that alone roped me in and the rest is history as the series progressed from one sequel to another. Nowadays I love fighters, they're one of my favorite genres and while Clayfighter fell to the wayside some decades ago (or at least feels like it) I'll always remember it fondly for getting me into that style of gaming, I guess you could call it my gateway drug into tourny fighters.
What does all this amount to? A lot of nostalgic drivel that's going nowhere, but does at least express why I slapped in this stop motion horror! Clayfighter 63 1/3 was one of those great stepping stones for those who grew up much the same way I did. It took that plucky little idea and ramped it up, making it more dark but kept that off kilter humor, improving on it in fact. It's a shame that it never got past the Nintendo 64, I'd have loved to see these continue on and maybe get some real care given to them, to make them legitimately good fighting games and not just liked for their humor (because as much as I like the games, they're clunk master generals at best) In any case, with a new era for Clayfighter came all new villains, hell, it gave us villains period as opposed to a cheap "N.Boss" and recolored "clones", and at the center of this villainy was the gun armed maniac himself, Dr. Kiln.
Dr. Kiln was one of those great cartoon villains who managed to be both funny and creepy as hell in one fell swoop. His design was just goofy and unsettling enough and voiced by the amazing Charlie Adler, there was no way to not enjoy him. Of course, my heart always goes to Icky Bod Clay when it comes to this series to the point that I added him in AAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the way back in my very first Halloween Countdown... feels like forever ago. Of course, since he's been added I can't add him in again (because you know, I "never" repeat characters or anything) I felt it was time to give Dr. Kiln a shout out as he was another of my favorites from the series.
I'm... not really sure why this one turned into like a nostalgic romp/game review, but eh, whatever works. Enjoy ya' damn October, kids!
