Battle Arena Toshinden (バトルアリーナ闘神伝 Batoru Arīna Tōshinden) is a weapons-based fighting game for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and PC in 1994. It was one of the first fighting games to boast polygonal characters in a 3D environment, and it is credited for taking the genre into "true 3-D" due to its introduction of the sidestep maneuver.
It was an early killer app for the PlayStation, and Sony promoted it eagerly. However, they soon left the series, which was published by Playmates Interactive. By that time, fighting games like Tekken started emerging and Battle Arena Toshinden quickly declined in popularity. However it did spawn Battle Arena Toshinden 2 with many spin-offs and ports. Battle Arena Toshinden was the first 3D weapons fighter, and was succeeded in spirit by Soul Edge and other games of the genre.
Each character has his or her own unique set of basic moves, special attacks, and a desperation attack
that can only be used when the player has low energy (around 10% or
less). The player is able to move in 3D around the 3D arenas using the
L/R shoulder buttons, which can be used to dodge projectile attacks, or
get away from a dangerous spot.
