Toribash is a weird game. It’s free, available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It’s a fighting game, but not like anything you’ve probably seen before. I heard about this game months ago, but at the time I’m not sure if there was a Linux release. When I finally heard I’d have a chance to play it, I downloaded it to see if the rumors about wanton violence and weird gameplay was true. It delivered on both counts.

The game is played in turns where the time in the fight is “Stopped” and each player plots their moves. Each player is represented by a blocky figure with joints and muscle groups that can be extended, contracted, relaxed, etc. The process of punching or kicking requires you to manipulate the muscle groups involved in making this action occur in your own body. For example, if you want to grab the opponents head, you have to move three or four different muscles to lift the shoulders, reach with the arm, grab with the hands, etc.

After you select a muscle to move, their is a “shadow” showing how your body will react when you start animating. If this isn’t what you intended, you can change around how you want to move. Then, when you want to end your turn, you press a button and several frames of animation will take place.

You then repeat the process of positioning your body, trying to grab the opponent and hurt them more than they hurt you. I haven’t decapitated anyone yet, but I have hurt someone’s arm. Right now, the most carnage I’ve seen was when I managed to make my own leg fall of when trying to attack someone STANDING STILL AND NOT FIGHTING BACK. How do you even DO that?

Toribash is a turn based, three dimensional, movement oriented fighting game with brutal deaths. It’s totally awesome. They’ve modeled real matial arts moves in the game. For example, you can even do Traditional Korean Taek Kyon.

That’s AWESOME.

They include lots of replays to let you see how people much better at the game fight. It’s a unique with a thriving community. It’s worth checking out, even just to play with the rag doll physics. I’ve got a few days to practice since Brawl isn’t here, but it’s very complicated. A solid hit so I could replay it would be fantastic.