Ehrgeiz

Ehrgeiz, also marketed as Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring, is a 1998 fighting video game developed by DreamFactory for the Sony PlayStation. It uses a three-dimensional arena fighting system that supports both single-player and multiplayer battles, with an emphasis on fast-paced combat in polygonal environments. The game combines traditional fighting mechanics with arcade-style modes and arena-based stage design.

The roster includes a mix of original fighters created for the game and guest fighters from Final Fantasy VII. The Final Fantasy VII characters, notably Cloud Strife, were a major selling point and helped attract fans from Square’s RPG series to a fighting game setting. The guest fighters interact with the game’s standard moves and special abilities, contributing to a distinctive crossover experience.

Modes available range from standard one-on-one bouts to more structured single-player experiences, with progression through battles and boss encounters. The game also supports local multiplayer, allowing players to compete against friends.

Development and release: Ehrgeiz was developed by DreamFactory and released for the PlayStation in 1998. Its notable feature set stemmed from the collaboration between a fighting-game framework and Square’s popular Final Fantasy VII IP, marking an early example of heavy cross-pollination between a major RPG and a fighting game on home consoles.

Reception and legacy: Upon release, Ehrgeiz received mixed reviews. Critics praised the novelty of integrating Final Fantasy VII characters into a 3D fighter and the game’s presentation for its era, but raised concerns about control responsiveness, camera handling, and balance. The title remains remembered for its cross-genre experimentation and for paving the way for later 3D fighters that incorporated recognizable RPG guest characters.