The Making of Amer: Fighting
"Creating a fighting game was one of the main ideas we wanted to execute when we started the company."
Amer: Fighting is a new solo and multiplayer beat ‘em up made by Mad Hook Games in Jordan. We spoke to the company's CEO Hazim Al-Hanball, to discuss the making of the team's latest game. You can also read our review of Amer: Fighting.
IsaKaba: What inspired the creation of Amer: Fighting?
Hazim: Creating a fighting game was one of the main ideas that we wanted to execute when we started the company. Many games from our childhood, including Def Jam Fight for New York, Tom and Jerry, Power Stone and other fighting titles inspired the its creation.
Why did you choose the beat 'em up genre? Was that intentional to keep gameplay accessible, or were there plans for more complex combat mechanics?
After studying the market, we found that an easy beat 'em up game with straightforward control is missing; you can find other games with complex physics-based controls that don't give the player full control.
We wanted to create a mix of fun, chaos, and competitive gameplay with easy, responsive controls.
Were there any features or mechanics that didn’t make the final cut? If so, why?
Yes, many features. Mechanics and game modes are not yet released because of the nature of how we work. Since we are an indie developer, we wanted to ship the title out as fast as possible so we can start building the game with our community and decide the next step based on feedback and a healthy loop between us and the players
Multiplayer seems to be the heart of the game. Was that the plan from the start?
Yes, the plan was multiplayer first, but there is a lot of single-player content connected to the progression that we will ship gradually later this year.
What do you think makes Amer: Fighting stand out, and what part of the experience do you most want players to enjoy?
What makes Amer: Fighting stand out is that it is an easy pickup and play game for all ages, and you don't have to invest a lot of time to learn the mechanics, yet it gives room for pro players to excel.
Another key point is that the game features unique, yet relatable, characters set in a world inspired by the real Arab world. This makes it engaging for both Arab players and those less familiar with the culture.
Can you share a funny or memorable moment from the development process?
We encountered a funny bug during development—whenever a player gets knocked out, two dead player models spawn, collide with each other, and then go flying off. Sometimes, even more than two show up for no reason!
How does this game fit into your studio’s long-term vision?
This game is a part of our IP (Amer) roadmap. We will create multiple games around Amer and his world, which all fit into our vision to build the Amer Universe.
Are there plans to bring the game to other platforms outside the PS5? And what's next for Mad Hook Games after Amer: Fighting?
Yes, we will release Amer: Fighting on PC later this year, and possibly on other consoles. For now, we’re focused on scaling and improving our current games. There’s also a big project in the works, but unfortunately, I can’t share any details about it just yet.
You can check out Amer: Fighting for PS5 on PlayStation and wishlist it for PC on Steam.
