As someone who grew up with a GameCube controller in hand and countless hours spent battling it out in the realm of crossover fights, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia when I look back at these Capcom vs. Marvel showdowns. These games were more than just a battle between superheroes and street fighters; they were my introduction to the world of fighting games, a world that has since become an integral part of my life.
Capcom, widely recognized in the gaming industry since the seventies, significantly boosted its influence during the late eighties and nineties. Iconic games like Street Fighter 2, Final Fight, and Resident Evil not only showcased their prowess but also established them as a formidable competitor in the gaming sector.
Various enterprises attempted to surpass them or collaborate with them, resulting in some of the most iconic partnerships on record. Notably, Capcom itself has combined its own intellectual properties, but for the sake of this list, we’ll focus on instances where Capcom characters squared off against those from other companies’ franchises. Here are examples of such crossover events involving Capcom characters.
14 Cross Edge
The Darkstalkers Enter the World of JRPGs
- Developer: Idea Factory.
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360.
- Release: May 2009.
As a gaming enthusiast, I can say that diving into the world of Cross Edge was an intriguing experience. This turn-based team battle RPG wasn’t exactly met with a flood of praise when it first launched, but it stands out as one of Capcom’s more unusual collaborations. They teamed up with Bandai-Namco, Nippon Ichi, Idea Factory, and Gust Corporation to create a unique crossover. Characters from games like Disgaea, Spectral Souls, Ar Tonelico, Blazing Souls, Atelier Marie, Mana Khemia 2, Darkstalkers, and even York and Miko from an unspecified title were brought together in this game. And to add a touch of the unexpected, our heroes found themselves transported to another world through an isekai-like event.
Most of these games are well-known RPGs, with the exception of Darkstalkers, a fighting game. Characters like Morrigan, Lilith, Dmitri, Felicia, and Jedah, who have a gothic horror theme, seem out of place compared to the usual RPG characters. However, their inclusion might be strategic – to add diversity and uniqueness to the game, something that the Breath of Fire characters didn’t offer. Alternatively, it could be that Idea Factory admired Capcom’s Darkstalkers series and wanted to highlight it more.
13 Street Fighter X Tekken
The Black Sheep of Tag Games
Street Fighter X Tekken has experienced a renewed appreciation among critics, as certain fans adored its final product and more recent updates addressed several initial issues. However, despite this, it didn’t meet the expectations of either Capcom or Bandai-Namco due to its development seemingly being plagued with misfortune. It was intended to cash in on the success of Street Fighter 4 and the prestige of Tekken as the top 3D fighter, showcasing impressive trailers of their characters engaging in combat.
Instead of providing a clear array of techniques, it was filled with perplexing microtransactions, gems, an uproar over its pre-installed DLC, and a comeback feature (‘Pandora’) that could potentially cause the player to lose the game if triggered unintentionally. At its core, it delivered solid gameplay reminiscent of both Street Fighter and Tekken, but if its flaws had been addressed, it might have gained more traction, not impacted the sales of Tekken Tag Tournament 2, and Bandai-Namco’s anticipated response, Tekken X Street Fighter, wouldn’t be considered vaporware.
12 X-Men vs Street Fighter
The Beginning of a Beautiful Crossover
Capcom’s partnership with Marvel has been thriving, particularly since they introduced a beat-em-up style game centered around The Punisher. However, it truly flourished when they integrated them into their fighting games. In 1994, X-Men: Children of the Atom marked a significant advancement for the genre, and Marvel Super Heroes built upon that in 1995. The year 1996 saw the beginning of an iconic series with X-Men Vs Street Fighter.
This game features tag-based combat, allowing characters like Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li to team up with X-Men members such as Cyclops, Wolverine, and Storm. The action is faster-paced, enabling players to switch between characters seamlessly to maintain combos. Despite its age, it remains enjoyable for many players. However, compared to the intense three-way battles of later Marvel games, some might perceive it as less complex due to its limitations as a crossover game.
11 Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter
“The Wildest Crossover You Never Dreamt”
Prior to Capcom’s expansion of their projects with the initial release of Marvel Vs Capcom, they had swapped out most of the X-Men characters with those from Marvel Super Heroes to create Street Fighter Vs Marvel Super Heroes. Characters such as Cyclops, Wolverine, and boss character Apocalypse remained, while Storm, Sabertooth, and Gambit were replaced by Captain America, the Hulk, Spider-Man, and Omega Red.
From my perspective as an avid gamer, it felt like I was stepping right back into the world of X-Men Vs Street Fighter. The stages were remarkably similar, albeit with a few visual enhancements such as Peter Parker making an appearance on the TV studio stage when Spider-Man wasn’t in play. The tag system gameplay was identical, but the characters had minor move adjustments and more super combo options. The announcer seemed even more excited, shouting “HYPER CHARGING STAAAARRRR” when someone won a round with their supers.
10 Namco x Capcom
The First Step in Monolith Soft’s Action RPG Series
- Developer: Monolith Soft.
- Platform: PlayStation 2.
- Release: May 2005.
Initially, when folks learned that Namco was teaming up with Capcom, they anticipated a fighting game similar to Marvel’s style. What they actually received was a tactical role-playing game that never left Japan. Western enthusiasts could only marvel at its impressive introductory video featuring Ryu and Jin from Tekken exchanging blows, Chun-Li kicking with Wonder Momo, Mega Man Legends’ Volnutt and Roll firing with Xenosaga’s KOS-MOS, and a reference to Resident Evil: Dead Aim and Dino Crisis featuring Regina and Fong Ling.
In this story, both timeless Capcom and Namco characters, along with many others, find themselves entangled. The main duo, Reiji and Xiaomu, must unravel the mystery behind why these diverse realms are intersecting. Despite its widespread appeal, critics suggested that Monolith prioritized fan service over game equilibrium. This means they focused on creating enjoyable interactions between various characters rather than refining the depth of the gameplay mechanics beyond using Ability Points to chain opponents together.
9 Project X Zone
Namco x Capcom x Sega
it boasted numerous characters engaging in humorous banter, and the gameplay was as deep as a typical beat ’em up. However, with its emphasis on free movement and timing-based Critical Hits, combat became more enjoyable.
In this new collaboration, characters from Namco and Capcom, along with Sega favorites such as Akira and Pai (Virtua Fighter), Sakura (Sakura Wars), Ulala (Space Channel 5), and Bruno Delinger (Dynamite Cop or Die Hard Arcade) join the mix. Despite their entertainment value, the character lineup leans more towards personalities from other RPGs rather than the surprising picks seen in Namco x Capcom. Fans of Tales of Vesperia, Super Robot Wars, God Eater, Valkyria Chronicles 3, and others will find joy here. However, those anticipating a meeting between Sonic the Hedgehog, Klonoa, and Blanka may be disappointed.
8 Project X Zone 2
Namco x Capcom x Sega x Nintendo… Kind Of
Each time, these dimensional fissures occur, but this time they’ve drawn in characters from a Nintendo video game! Specifically, figures from one of their franchises have been transported here. Chrom and Lucina, hailing from the Fire Emblem Awakening series, are now part of the action-packed strategy gameplay. The mechanics remain largely the same, as paired units can execute combos and Critical Hits, with Support Units adding extra hits to the mix.
This game has a stronger appeal due to its diverse character interactions, especially since there’s a wider range of characters this time around. Role-playing enthusiasts might express regret over the diminished presence of their beloved franchises, but if they’ve ever been curious about how Yakuza’s Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima would respond to Phoenix Wright from Ace Attorney, or watch Chun-Li, Xiaoyu, and Pai grapple with realizing they’re all stereotypical kung fu girls, or even engage in combat against Segata Sanshiro himself, Project X Zone 2 will surely satisfy that craving.
7 Tatsunoko Vs Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
Perhaps the Most Underrated Crossover Fighter
- Developer: Eighting.
- Platforms: Arcade, Nintendo Wii.
- Release: January 2010.
Interestingly, while the Namco x Capcom series, featuring characters widely recognized in both East and West, remained exclusively within Japan’s borders, Tatsunoko Vs Capcom, a game primarily centered around characters less known outside of Japan and among hardcore anime fans, surprisingly made its way to a global audience. With Street Fighter 4’s popularity serving as a catalyst, Nintendo teamed up with Capcom to secure the necessary licenses for this crossover game, allowing it to break free from Japan’s shores. However, it seems that only the characters on Tatsunoko’s side benefited from this global release, excluding Hakushon Daimaoh from The Genie Family.
In the preview for Marvel Vs Capcom 3, four new characters were introduced: Zero from Mega Man X, Frank West from Dead Rising, Joe the Condor from Gatchaman, and Tekkaman Blade (also known as Teknoman. This showcase included streamlined controls and some common moves between Capcom’s characters. Instead of the traditional 3-on-3 battles, it switched back to tag team matches. The game was well-received, sparking a dedicated fanbase eager for a sequel. However, without a major company managing the licenses, a follow-up might not be feasible.
6 Tekken 7
The Raging Demon Terrorizes the Tekken Cast
The rocky debut of “Street Fighter X Tekken” made the prospect of “Tekken X Street Fighter,” a game that would’ve given Street Fighter characters Tekken-style move lists, less enticing. This was especially true when “Tekken Tag Tournament 2” didn’t sell well enough to make Bandai-Namco consider it a success, leading them to contemplate archiving it alongside the “SoulCalibur” series. However, they decided to take a chance with “Tekken 7,” which turned out to be the highest-selling game in the Tekken series.
Particularly notable was when they provided players a sneak peek into what TxSF could have felt like by incorporating Street Fighter’s Akuma into the team. He not only joined the roster, but also played a significant role in the narrative as a character assigned by Kazumi, Heihachi’s late wife, to eliminate her husband and their demonic son, Kazuya. However, his 2D-inspired jumps, rapid combos, Demon Flips, EX moves, super combos, and tormenting of the other characters made him a menace on the roster. Despite his high level of skill, he became an elite-tier character, causing Tekken fans to fear the distant prospect of him returning for Tekken 8.
5 Capcom vs SNK: Millennium Fight 2000
Mastering the Art of the Combination Attack
In the Western world, the main competition for Street Fighter is Mortal Kombat. Conversely, in the Eastern region, it’s King of Fighters that gives Street Fighter a run for its money. Since the 1980s, Capcom and SNK have been competing both on stage and off, but by the late 1990s, the producers of Street Fighter 2, Yoshiki Okamoto, and his former colleague, now the producer of King of Fighters, Takashi Nishiyama (who also co-created Street Fighter 1), came to an agreement to create a series of games featuring characters from both franchises.
In essence, SNK contributed the most entries in total, albeit a significant number were for the less mainstream Neo Geo Pocket Color console. Conversely, Capcom’s entries garnered more popularity, starting with “Capcom vs SNK: Millennium Fight 2000”. Unlike the “Marvel” series, the fighting style in this game was a blend of elements from both “Street Fighter” (character combos, Capcom rhythm, etc.) and “King of Fighters” (a 4-button layout, SNK rhythm, etc.). However, the initial installment seemed less polished than its successor due to its fixed Ratio system and limited options for the groove.
4 Capcom Vs SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001
Offers the Finest KOs
Over the past two decades, Capcom Vs SNK 2 has held up remarkably. Its initial flaw, the Ratio system, was rectified to enable players to choose their preferred characters. Moreover, it introduced additional game modes or ‘Grooves’ inspired by various Capcom and SNK fighting titles. This versatility allowed characters who were strong in one style to become formidable in others (for example, Sakura could use her Shououken dashing strikes for repeated combos in the A-Groove). Although its stages may not convey the same atmosphere as the original CvS1, it compensates with excellent music.
It was beneficial that CvS2 was released on multiple platforms, as compared to CvS1, which was only available on arcades, Dreamcast, and a reduced version for PS1. This wider availability of CvS2 allowed it to become many people’s first encounter with SNK’s characters. The game’s increased reach and expanded gameplay attracted a large audience that continues to anticipate a potential Capcom Vs SNK 3. The announcement of the Capcom Fighting Collection 2 and the inclusion of Terry and Mai from Fatal Fury/KOF in Street Fighter 6 might not have been as significant events without the popularity that CvS2 generated.
3 Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Mega Man, Ryu, and Ken Settle It in Smash
Initially, Nintendo’s iconic fighting series, Super Smash Bros, confined its roster to characters within its own franchise for the initial two versions. However, starting from Brawl, they began incorporating guest characters, such as Solid Snake from Metal Gear, Sonic the Hedgehog from Sega, Cloud and Sephiroth from Final Fantasy 7, and Bayonetta from PlatinumGames. While they weren’t the first to do so, their inclusion undeniably sparked the trend of guest characters that has become a common feature in fighting games today.
In the game Super Smash Bros for Wii U, Capcom characters were introduced with Mega Man becoming a playable character, Dr Wily appearing as an Assist Trophy, and the Yellow Devil from Mega Man 1 serving as a boss on one of the stages. Later on, Ryu from Street Fighter was added as downloadable content. In the updated version, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, both Mega Man and Ryu are now default characters, with Ken (an echo fighter for Ryu) and Guile (an Assist Trophy) also making an appearance. Despite the coolness of the Street Fighters, Mega Man seems more at home among the adorable mascots like Mario, Kirby, Sonic, and others.
2 Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3
Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Cross Fists With the World Warriors Once More
Fans had been anticipating a fresh installment of Marvel Vs Capcom for more than ten years, and they received not one but two new games! Initially, it was expected that players would only receive Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds with a variety of DLC expansions. However, due to the Tohoku earthquake affecting the development of these additional content packs, Capcom and Eighting opted to release an enhanced version of the game called Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3. In this updated edition, all the planned DLC characters were integrated into the core roster alongside some fresh faces.
Over time, it has emerged as the definitive rendition of the game, featuring streamlined controls similar to those found in Tatsunoko Vs Capcom for a faster gameplay experience within Marvel games. Its 3D graphics breathe life into the classic characters and the newly introduced ones add depth to the gameplay. Characters such as Vergil, Zero, and Phoenix frequently took center stage, but mastering them required players to delve deeper into their mechanics and skillfully utilize features like X-Factor to gain an edge. Although the balance was still precarious, it exhibited a more thoughtful approach compared to MvC2.
1 Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Get Ready to Kick Butt
As hyped as the Capcom Fighting Collection 2‘s re-introduction of the Capcom Vs SNK games is, they couldn’t match the excitement of the Marvel Vs Capcom Fighting Collection. The chance to play every entry in the Marvel series up to Marvel Vs Capcom 2 was gobsmacking, with reactions online going viral because fans thought it would never happen after the lackluster Marvel Vs Capcom: Infinite.
Among the choices available, the one that received the most attention is the least polished one. MvC2, developed quickly to fulfill Capcom’s agreement with Marvel before the deadline, explains its unbalanced gameplay, creatively random stages, and the jazz soundtrack, which was initially criticized for being inappropriate. Despite these flaws, its introduction of 3-player teams and customizable assists gave rise to strategies that made it more popular than its refined predecessor, Marvel Vs Capcom 1. These features would later serve as inspiration for modes like the 3-on-3 in Dragon Ball FighterZ and the upcoming mode in Guilty Gear Strive.
Read More
- LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- USD MYR PREDICTION
- USD PHP PREDICTION
- USD ZAR PREDICTION
- SOL PREDICTION. SOL cryptocurrency
- USD COP PREDICTION
- CKB PREDICTION. CKB cryptocurrency
- AVAX PREDICTION. AVAX cryptocurrency
- DEP PREDICTION. DEP cryptocurrency
2024-08-29 16:55