The one-player game consists of eleven battles, while a challenge mode allows two players to fight each other. Opinions differ, but the most popular games offer a balance between reflexes and strategy, where a cautious and crafty player can consistently win over an opponent who jabs the buttons rapidly. In that regard, Ultra Vortek is certainly a good fighting game. On the other hand, those who prefer the faster pace of more recent titles may find Ultra Vortek too slow for their tastes. Ultra Vortek's fighting mechanism is largely inspired by Midway's Mortal Kombat series.
Controls are responsive, with the three controller buttons providing two punches and a kick.
This is barely adequate, though the addition of short jumps and a backward hop helps. Each fighter has four to eight moves available, and they're wonderfully easy to perform. Handicapping, multiple-player matchups, even a setting for the number of rounds to win a fight are nonexistent. Ultra Vortek works if you just want to pound a friend, but comes short if you're looking for additional features. The graphics and sound in Ultra Vortek are among the best on the Jaguar to date.