Critical Blow
PlayStation · 1997
About this game
A legend exists among the fighters and martial artists of this world, of a mysterious scarab badge that only the most elite warriors will earn.
This badge, sent out by the mysterious Merkuar, is in fact an invitation to a dangerous tournament held in England, where the contestants fight for money, power, and glory.
↓ Read more
Now, a poor young fighter from Hong Kong named Rickey Leon has just received one of these badges.
Critical Blow is a 1-on-1 fighting game, and the sequel to Shadow Struggle .
Though the game features a full-3D view, gameplay takes place in a traditional 2D plane.
In addition to a standard life meter, each character has a Special Guage, which increases as the battle proceeds and allows the characters to use special moves of varying power, called Assault Blows, Super Blows, and the titular Critical Blows.
Several game modes also allow the player to earn, apply, and wager a number of types of Cards, which provide different benefits to the character such as extra moves, stronger attacks, or elemental affinities.
The game boasts four different game modes: Tournament, Trading, Theater, and Versus.
Tournament is a standard arcade mode where the player can select any available character and fight the others in sequence.
Trading mode allows the player to fight computer opponents to earn additional cards.
Theater mode is the main story mode, featuring fully-animated cutscenes following the main character, Rickey Leon.
Finally, Versus mode is a 2-player free battle mode.
It is possible to optionally use and wager cards in Versus mode.
There are ten characters initially available, with several more unlocked as specific conditions are met.
About PlayStation
The original PlayStation (1994) brought CD-based gaming and 3D graphics to the mainstream, ending Nintendo's console dominance of the previous two generations. It's now firmly in "retro collecting" territory: original jewel cases with intact manuals command a real premium over disc-only copies, and several RPGs from its later years (when Sony deliberately courted the genre) are among the most expensive commonly-collected games from the era.
Gamevaro tracks Critical Blow for PlayStation with separate market values for loose, complete-in-box (CIB) and factory-sealed copies, sourced from real eBay sales. Prices also vary by region — PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J releases of the same game often sell for different amounts due to print run sizes and regional collector demand.
Adding Critical Blow to a Gamevaro collection takes seconds — search by title or scan the box barcode, and the app fills in cover art, release details and current pricing automatically. This PS1 release dates back to 1997.
Price history
Market values by condition
NTSC-J
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | NTSC-J | €13.04 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | NTSC-J | €25.87 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | NTSC-J | €52.16 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | NTSC-J | €135.61 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | NTSC-J | €149.17 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | NTSC-J | €20.87 |
| 2026-07-10 | Item only | NTSC-J | €25.86 |
| 2026-07-10 | Box Only | NTSC-J | €20.86 |
| 2026-07-10 | Manual Only | NTSC-J | €13.04 |
| 2026-07-10 | New (sealed) | NTSC-J | €135.55 |
| 2026-07-10 | Complete in Box | NTSC-J | €52.14 |
| 2026-07-10 | Graded New | NTSC-J | €149.10 |
| 2026-07-05 | Item only | NTSC-J | €72.58 |
| 2026-06-18 | Box Only | NTSC-J | €20.57 |
| 2026-06-18 | Item only | NTSC-J | €25.65 |
| 2026-06-18 | New (sealed) | NTSC-J | €133.69 |
| 2026-06-18 | Graded New | NTSC-J | €147.06 |
| 2026-06-18 | Manual Only | NTSC-J | €12.86 |
| 2026-06-18 | Complete in Box | NTSC-J | €51.42 |
| 2026-06-08 | Box Only | NTSC-J | €20.49 |
| 2026-06-08 | Item only | NTSC-J | €25.60 |
| 2026-06-08 | Manual Only | NTSC-J | €12.81 |
| 2026-06-08 | New (sealed) | NTSC-J | €133.16 |
| 2026-06-08 | Graded New | NTSC-J | €146.48 |
| 2026-06-08 | Complete in Box | NTSC-J | €51.22 |
| 2026-05-17 | Manual Only | NTSC-J | €12.76 |
| 2026-05-17 | New (sealed) | NTSC-J | €132.64 |
| 2026-05-17 | Graded New | NTSC-J | €145.90 |
| 2026-05-17 | Box Only | NTSC-J | €20.41 |
| 2026-05-17 | Item only | NTSC-J | €25.59 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Critical Blow has a steady sales history on the tracked marketplaces, meaning enough copies circulate to establish a reliable market price.
Complete-in-box (CIB) copies typically command a premium over loose cartridges/discs because the original box and manual are more fragile and get discarded or damaged over time — fewer complete sets survive.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Critical Blow worth?
Critical Blow for PlayStation is currently worth €72.58 loose, €52.16 complete in box, and €135.61 factory sealed. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Critical Blow rare?
Critical Blow has a steady sales history on the tracked marketplaces, meaning it trades hands regularly and isn't considered particularly rare.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Critical Blow?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. For Critical Blow, loose is €72.58 and CIB is €52.16 — CIB commands a premium because original boxes and manuals are fragile and often don't survive.
Ratings & Reviews
More PlayStation games