The story (if that's how it is...), is that a battleship named SKELTON CREW (that looks like a fairly normal cruise ship on the outside) is being commanded by the notorious Mad Scientist Dr.D, and has set sail on to the Atlantic Ocean, with the standard goal of Take Over the World. So a special force of three fighters are dispatched to put an end to his plans and bring him to justice:
- Kevin: The Leader of the group and a Jack of All Stats, another expy of Ryu.
- Zill: The only female member, a Fragile Speedster that you don't want to mess with.
- Gear: An ex-captain of the American Navy and the Mighty Glacier of the group, his throws are very destructive.
In addition to the three starting characters, you can unlock and play as the defeated bosses (except the last two), each one with his/her own set of moves (with a lame excuse and being Easily Forgiven, though), they are:
- Mevella: The Dark Action Girl of the terrorist group, Dressed Like a Dominatrix and fights with a whip, which gives her an extended range of attacks.
- Fharaoh: An ancient evil Pharaoh that was woken up by Dr.D to serve him in his goal, fights with Extendable Arms and Egyptian Blue Magic.
- Gonza: A kabuki and sumo fighter who fights by using grapples (and his shoes).
- Garuda: A witch doctor who doesn't stop chanting while he's launching his feather projectiles.
- Chen: A chinese pirate armed with a sword, very fast and capable of using a dragon projectile attack.
In addition, this game included the ability to play it like a Fighting Game, where two players can choose anyone of the heroes and bosses (again, except the final two) for a simple Fighting Game experience.
Big Fight provides examples of:
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Accidental Innuendo: Just because of the Translation Train Wreck mentioned below, some lines became like this. For example: "Now I came to my sense. Can you take me into partnership?", upon unlocking a boss as a player character. - Defeat Means Playable: As noted above, if you defeat a boss, they will become playable from the next stage immediately onward (with the exact same dialog when you defeat them). The only exceptions are the last two bosses for obvious reasons (due to being The Dragon and the Final Boss).
- Developer's Foresight: If you're playing as Chen or Mevella, you can't pick up any weapons. Although you'll receive bonus points for picking them, they will disappear and if the second player is playing as one of the heroes or one of the other Bosses, they wouldn't be able to use it.
- Dressed Like a Dominatrix: The very first boss, Mevella, is the only female one and of course she's dressed like a dominatrix in a black bodysuit open down to her navel, a red ribbon belt, and black boots. Obviously, she's armed with a whip.
- Dual Boss: Both TX-No.3 and Dr.D attack during the Final Stage, although Dr.D is somewhat a "Get Back Here!" Boss due to him only stepping in and out of the battle depending on his life bar.
- Giant Mook: The big sailors are the biggest and one of the most dangerous enemies in the game. They have a powerful charge and can perform a deadly Bear Hug (in higher levels, if you don't mash buttons and wiggle the joystick fast (specially as Zill or Mevella), you will lose a life, guaranteed!)
- Hair Flip: Both Zill and Mevella do this when clearing a stage. Fittingly, Mevella does this in a more provocative way, giving the player a good view of her thighs.
- Hyperactive Metabolism: Well, just like any other Beat'em up. Although most of the food only replenishes a small amount of health.
- Improvised Weapon: Many of them! Although we have the standard baseball bats, grenades, and even a harpoon gun...you can also use a bucket, a frying pan, a football, want me to keep going?
- Limit Break: If one player is knocked to the ground with low health, a bar named "Anger Power" appears, the player must mash the buttons to fill it before the player gets up. If it's successful, the player will receive a power boost that increases his/her attack and gives the ability to set his/her enemies on fire for a limited time (this would be seen again in the first game of the Rushing Beat series, released later on the same year). Note that this also applies to Bosses too, and they will ALWAYS fill up his/her gauge regardless.
- Murderous Thighs: Mevella can perform a Headscissor on an opponent, and she has a more powerful variant (a command half-circle move) in which she grabs her opponent and spins her body on the unfortunate opponent. And Zill can perform a painful backbreaker with her thighs.
- Nepharious Pharaoh: The Boss of the Aquarium level, and it's named...Fharaoh.
- Shout-Out:
- The name of The Dragon, TX-No.3, is a reference to Tatsumi's early game TX-1.
- One of the enemies is called J.J., uses a hockey mask and attacks with his metal claws.
- Spin Attack: Most characters and bosses incorporate these moves in their repertoire, usually is the standard Cast from Hit Points special move.
- Story Branching: After clearing the very first zone, the player must choose which part of the ship should he go: The Quarter Deck (that leads to the Funnel), the 1st Deck (leading to the Garden Pool), or the 2nd Deck (which lead to the Aquarium). The player can only do this once, as the levels onward will follow a predefined pattern based on this decision, except for the Final Stage.
- SNK Boss: Both Final Bosses, due to their higher HP, long range attacks (TX-No.3 loves to spam his grab and weapons), and their tendency to always grab the player as soon as they try to do it first. And you have to fight both of them for most of the time.
- Translation Train Wreck: The game is infamous for this, it could gave Zero Wing a run for its money!
- What Happened to the Mouse?: The Ending only shows the three heroes, without even mentioning the other Bosses who joined your partnership, even if you clear the game as one of the Bosses.
- Whip of Dominance: The first boss Mevella fights with a whip, which combined with her revealing black bodysuit gives her a clear Dominatrix motif.
- Wrestler in All of Us: Most of the players and bosses have two throws, Gear and Garuda are specialists with this.
Now I came to my sense. Can you take me into tropership?
