Pankration
Pankration is a fighting game concept with a lighthearted tone inspired by the threatrical nature of of pro-wrestling, initally developed for a one-off presentation at Expo-Tees. The tone is intended to playfully satirise fighting game characters and storylines by comparing them to wrestling and theatrical fighting, while also indulging in that same silliness. Other inspirations include Guilty Gear, Kill La Kill and No More Heroes.
The storyline follows former baseball prodigy and our heartbroken hero, Jayden, who initially joins an open fighting tournament called ‘Pankration’ to win back his ex-lover Zeke, also known as the dreaded ‘Helel’ within the ring, but switches gears halfway through and aims to win to put his ex in his place instead. Through his journey, he comes across other pro-fighters and other rookies alike who have their own unique curios, fighting styles and inter-personal drama within the Pankration.
A 40+ page PDF concept document is available for purchase on Patreon.
Jayden, the newcomer and rookie fighter
Jayden development sketches
Jayden development sketches
Explorations of Jayden's movement style
Helel, biggest heel fighter in the Pankration and Jayden's (recently) ex-boyfriend
Exploration of Helel's movement style
Helel development sketches
Helel development sketches
Sketches of a younger Jayden and Zeke
Deedlebopper, an alien princess looking to best Earth's champions in combat
Marravilla, a luchadora veteran close to retirement
Kitty Krisis, a cutesy kitty-themed boxer with a hidden set of claws
Apocalypse Baby, a junkhead with a passion for the extreme
Additional fighter dev sketches (Apocalpse Baby)
Additional fighter dev sketches (Apocalypse Baby)
Additional fighter dev sketches (Tag Team)
Additional fighter dev sketches (Bear Grappler)