Dual Heroes is a 3D fighting game developed by Produce! and released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997. Published by Hudson Soft in Japan, Electro Brain in North America, and Gaga Interactive Media in Europe, it was directed by Keita Amemiya with character designs by Tamotsu Shinohara.
Set in a post-apocalyptic future, Earth undergoes drastic changes after a cataclysm. 120 years prior, humans began migrating to artificial satellites, but "Judgment Day" struck before completion, shifting the Pacific Plate and forming a new continent. 100 years later, humans rebuild and discover Gaiathyst, a gravity-like energy mineral that becomes a new power source. Nations war over it, but traditional weapons fail under its influence, so mining power armor is repurposed for combat. The alien Zodgierra Empire then invades and conquers Earth. Emperor ZORR creates the "SAP" super-gravity device, making survival impossible for unarmored beings in its range. A few brave souls rise up to overthrow ZORR—they are the true heroes.
Gameplay features a "Medal Match" mode where players earn medals by battling AI or other players. As the first fighting game with analog controls, Hudson Soft programmed multiple AI personalities per character to mimic different playstyles, making single-player feel more like multiplayer.
However, the game received poor reviews upon release, with critics panning its gameplay, controls, and fighting mechanics. Australia's *Nintendo Gamer* magazine even voted it the "worst game" ever. Its low quality is partly blamed on flawed AI, as enemies often recklessly chase players and fall off cliffs to their deaths.
Still, Dual Heroes holds a place in gaming history as a 3D fighting title for the Nintendo 64.