Play Fighting Layer (Japan, FTL1/VER.A) Online

Fighting Layer is a 1999 arcade fighting game by Arika, playable today through MAME. It arrived late in the 2D fighting game era, a time when developers were experimenting heavily with new mechanics and character designs beyond the standard formulas. This game feels like a direct continuation of that experimental spirit, building on concepts from its predecessors but with its own distinct identity.

You control one of a diverse cast of fighters, each with a unique weapon or fighting style, and your objective is to defeat your opponent in best-of-three rounds. The combat is built around a three-button system for punches and kicks, but its signature mechanics are the Guard Breaker and the powerful Arika super moves. Breaking an opponent's guard opens them up for a devastating combo, while landing a super requires careful meter management and precise timing. The pacing is deliberate, favoring strategic play and patient defense over reckless aggression. It feels like a thinking person's fighter, where every decision carries weight and a single mistake can cost you the round.