Unorganized Vs. Broken Vs. Innovative (either way all sides win)
The story was mainly about four gangs (five if you include the bosses) fighting each other in one's own turf. Pretty basic information as it is, since there was no story mode, nor endings. The introduction gave you visualization of what the story was about.
If I were in 1997, I would have thought that the graphics were pretty good for a PSX game in 1997. The gameplay graphics, especially the character designs, were up to par with games like Tekken, preferably Tekken 2. The introduction FMV, however, was its weakest point.
The collective roster ranged from a Rave DJ, a rapper, a pimp, a hobo ninja, a cheerleader, and much more. These characters, in itself, were unique and innovative. The styles-Pi Gua, Aikido, Wrestling, etc.-were mainly what the characters used. Some had the same fighting styles as others, yet different design, voices, and winning poses.
The music may have been very few, with a list of 10 songs (12 if you included the introduction and win/lose music), but, personally, the music was a lot more realistic than Tekken 2. It was just not as catchy as Tekken 2. This was probably one of the only soundtracks in a PSX fighting game that I've ever heard of with REAL music, including vocals and live rock (some techno included), while you were fighting. The SFX was occasionally unnoticeable.
The combat system was VERY unorganized:
1. You couldn't jump.
2. When your opponent was knocked down far distances, your character began to do its own moves.
3. Moves were randomly used. If you press the same button, there was no guarantee that the same moves will occur.
The VERY weakest point was the gameplay, which was extremely broken. There was no difficulty, whatsoever, so gamers were prepared to lose numerously in this game. If you were new to fighting games, you would have gotten a refund, but if you took risk, it would have needed to practice a lot to beat at least one character. There was barely a command list, yet alone functions with each button offensively and defensively, to help you win a match. Even practice mode (Exhibition), you were beat up for a very long time until you finally gave up.
The game had potential of being a great fighting game, but the extremely broken gameplay took it away. It seemed to be VERY incomplete. If THQ hadn't rushed this game, I'm pretty sure it would be one of the best PSX fighting games, and would live on in the future. Although Slap Happy Rhythm Busters, its spin-off, was released, gamers outside Japan never got that experience, so the series just went and gone, until THQ/Polygon Magic plan something with the series again.