Mage: The Ascension in Arcus Prima Arena

A spinoff fighting game from the popular RPG. Released only (and in fact, the only release) for the abortive Panasonic QT console, MTAIAPA is now a rare and highly sought-after game among enthusiasts.

In the story mode, after another acrimonious dispute between the inhabitants of Marmo and Sybilla blasts a hole in the pericarp, the dragon Taihu declares that one ruler for the realm must be chosen, by tournament. Meanwhile, various foes and frenemies of the chantry enter through the security breach.

Characters

Base Game

Cara Stang

Unlock Condition: Available at start.

Title: The Not-A-Lasombra Lacerator

Style: Kunst des Fechtens

Default Costume: Black catsuit

Special Moves:

Rip the Man Body: Blades of darkness messily slash the enemy.

Domination: Cara forms a sigil. If the enemy is caught, they are paralysed.

Form of Creatures: Cara becomes a wolf (ground) or dire owl (air) and rushes the enemy.

Finisher: Cara's shadow erupts with tentacles to pin the enemy, and she drinks their blood.

Alternate Costumes:

Silver catsuit

Rubber dress

Quaesitor robes (note: this causes Cara to use an alternate fatality, where the loser is dominated, and commits suicide)

Transylvanian cape

Christopher Westin

Unlock Condition: Available at start.

Title: The Too-Straightlaced Terminator

Style: Pankration

Default Costume: Military fatigues.

Special Moves:

Brofist: Westin's cyber-arm glows, and he punches the enemy across the screen.

Grinding Wheel: Westin kicks a downed enemy. A lot.

Crimson Leaf: Westin attacks the enemy from a down position.

Finisher: Westin draws his gun and shoots the enemy.

Alternate Costumes:

Black suit & mirrorshades

Hoplite armour

SF0 Cyborg

Loincloth

Elizabeth Allegheny

Unlock Condition: Beat game as Cathy or Kana.

Title: The Deuce of Deuces Dissembler

Style: Quicksilver Hand of Dreams (supposedly)

Default Costume: Jeans & joker-motif shirt

Special Moves:

It's Mightier!: [counter] Liz ducks out of the way and jabs the enemy in the face with a pen.

Trap Cards: Liz scatters cards on the ground. If the enemy runs on them, they slip and fall.

Tech Technique: Liz draws a laser pistol, pulls the trigger, then hastily throws it at the enemy. It explodes.

Finisher: Liz wins arbitrarily, then wakes up.

Alternate Costumes:

Harlequin

Shrine maiden

School uniform

Etherite minidress

Wheelchair

Marilia Caldwell

Unlock Condition: Beat game as Cara.

Title: The Overbearing Onyx Overlord

Style:

Default Costume: Gothic lolita

Special Moves:

Fireball: Quarter-circle forward + punch

Angel of Thunder: Lightning falls across the screen

Mirror Shield: A ghostly angel redirects attacks at the enemy

Finisher: The screen explodes.

Alternate Costumes:

Goth

Ghost

Onyx Overlord

Crowley hat

Tweenager (reduced hitbox and lifebar)

Xia Yu Lan

Unlock Condition: Beat game as Shu.

Title: The Unpurchasable (really) Underground

Style: White Crane

Default Costume: Black hoodie

Special Moves:

United Front: Han Yi Ling tags in and attacks the enemy in tandem.

Death Between Instants: Yu Lan hyperaccelerates and crosses the screen to attack.

Sword Phantom: A flick of the sword creates a false image of Yu Lan.

Dongfeng: Yu Lan throws her sword at the enemy.

Finisher: Yu Lan vanishes into the background, then emerges to shoulder-tap and decapitate the enemy. (note: in the Pentex Plant level, she instead kicks the enemy into an acid vat (1st victory) or a giant fan (2nd victory)

Alternate Costumes:

Hello Kitty hoodie

PLA fatigues

Han Yi Ling

Cardboard powersuit cosplay

Interlopers DLC

Guro

Unlock Condition: Beat game as Maya.

Title: The Mean Old Mage-Killer

Style: Metal*Psychic Warfare

Default Costume: Green fire cyberdemon

Special Moves:

Urban Decay: Guro stamps his foot, and rubble falls from the top of the screen.

Sin City: [throw] Prehensile wires erupt and attack the enemy with needles, knives, stiletto heels and 90s comic books.

Hellraiser: Screen-length beam.

Finisher: Guro possesses the enemy.

Alternate Costumes:

Meiji-era (steampunk)

Yu Lan