Every Game That Could Be In Capcom Fighting Collection 3 Explained

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming experiences under my belt, I can’t help but reminisce about the games that have left us longing for more. Games like Onimusha Blade Warriors and Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble, which, despite their flaws, were gems in their own right.

Despite advertising little more than a joint Indie World and Partner Showcase, Nintendo delivered game reveals to many gaming demographics recently. However, even RPG fans may not have been hit as hard by the Direct as the fighting game community. The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection was dated mere weeks away, and, as an even bigger surprise, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 was announced for 2025. Eight retro titles may seem odd to get excited over, especially after the first Capcom Fighting Collection had ten, but these are no ordinary games.

The new Capcom Fighting Collection 2 compensates for its limited range of games by featuring more prominent titles compared to those in the original Capcom Fighting Collection. Titles such as Plasma Sword, Capcom Fighting Evolution, and Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper are reminiscent of games from the first CFC, like Cyberbots and Hyper Street Fighter 2. However, standout additions such as Capcom vs. SNK, Power Stone, and the long-awaited Project Justice surpass even the first collection’s popular Darkstalkers library in appeal. At this stage, there are only enough games for another Capcom Fighting Collection, although not every eligible game may be included.

Headlining Capcom Fighting Collection Titles

Capcom Fighting All-Stars

If Capcom aims to surpass the success of “Capcom Fighting Collection 2”, they should kickstart a new version of the “Capcom Fighting Collection” with their most prominent remaining character. The only thing comparable to the iconic “Capcom vs. SNK” is an enticing title that fans never got to experience. Initially, “Capcom Fighting All-Stars” was the concept for what eventually became “Capcom Fighting Evolution”, a 3D Capcom crossover fighting game in development and playable state. However, “All-Stars” was canceled due to negative feedback. With “Street Fighter 6” now acknowledging it, this is the perfect moment for Capcom to release this game from their archives.

Street Fighter EX

It’s a toss-up whether Capcom decides to include the long-lost “Capcom Fighting All-Stars” in the upcoming “Capcom Fighting Collection 3“. However, there is another series that Capcom could potentially leverage to match its previous collections featuring “Darkstalkers” and “CvS”; the “Street Fighter EX” series. This collaboration between Capcom and Arika (the developers of “Fighting Layer”) produced a full trilogy of games with enhanced versions before being discontinued. Although these games may not be as polished as typical Capcom-made “Street Fighter” games, they still have a dedicated fanbase and offer unique mechanics that can make gameplay quite thrilling.

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom

As a passionate gamer, I’ve always dreamt of seeing some iconic crossovers in the gaming world, and one collaboration that I think would create an even bigger buzz is the return of Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. This tag-team fighter was a fantastic blend of characters from the renowned Tatsunoko animation studio and Capcom. It’s currently available on Wii and arcades, but imagine the excitement if it landed on more platforms!

Street Fighter X Tekken

One more big name for Capcom Fighting Collection 3 presents itself, and that name is Street Fighter X Tekken. This game was delisted from Steam years ago due to technical issues that remain unfixed, and also suffered from console-exclusive characters and gameplay-impacting DLC that made SFXT‘s frustrating design even more disliked. Including it in a new collection would be the chance to right many of its wrongs, even if Infamous’ Cole MacGrath, and Sony’s Japanese mascots Kuro and Toro have to be left out.

Capcom’s Third Fighting Collection’s Likely Inclusions

Tech Romancer

Among various games worthy of being spotlighted on the cover of the hypothetical “Capcom Fighting Collection 3”, one title seems almost certain to be included. Although they have distinct mechanics, “Tech Romancer” is often referred to as the spiritual successor of “Cyberbots”. Notably, “Tech Romancer” draws even stronger inspiration from the iconic mecha series that were popular in the 90s. Despite not having a significant fanbase, it stands alone as the last standalone Capcom arcade fighting game not included in the previous collections. As such, its inclusion seems inevitable.

Slam Masters

Regarding potential additions to a future Capcom Fighting Collection, it is expected that “Slam Masters” will be among them. The first game in this series, “Saturday Night Slam Masters”, stands out in Capcom’s library as it plays more like a traditional wrestling game rather than a fighting game. Its arcade-exclusive Japanese upgrade, “Muscle Bomber Duo: Ultimate Team Battle”, is similar but follows the same pattern. However, “Ring of Destruction: Slam Masters 2” was altered to be a standard 2D fighting game and even hints at being part of the shared universe with “Street Fighter” and “Final Fight”. Since an anthology of Capcom fighters would seem inadequate without “Ring of Destruction”, both games have a strong chance of making it into the third Capcom Fighting Collection.

Final Fight Revenge

When it comes to the Final Fight series, only one fighting game is available, which wasn’t exactly what fans expected. The game Final Fight Revenge, released in 1999, features scrolling 2D stage backgrounds that looked pixelated even by today’s standards, awkward conversions of classic Final Fight characters into 3D models, and gameplay that incorporates the series’ signature weapon-picking mechanic. The supers in Final Fight Revenge were often underwhelming and sometimes confusing to use. Few are clamoring for a return of this oddity, but it’s worth mentioning for completeness, as North America never received a console port of it.

Gotcha Force

Let’s not forget to mention another beloved title that deserves recognition. The uncommon GameCube game titled “Gotcha Force” is an arena mech fighter, developed by the same team who later made the Gundam Vs. series popular. This game boasts a vast roster of playable characters and offers a surprisingly engaging single-player mode, which has earned it respect from its dedicated community, despite its niche status. While it may be unlikely for “Gotcha Force” to appear in Capcom Fighting Collection 3 due to its unique gameplay style and GameCube origins, it would make a fantastic addition alongside “Tech Romancer“.

Uncertain Capcom Fighting Collection 3 Additions

Onimusha Blade Warriors

Only a few Capcom fighting games remain, either not given much attention or stuck in licensing complications that might prevent their return. Onimusha Blade Warriors falls into the first category as it’s a spin-off from the hack-and-slash Onimusha series and one of Capcom’s two platform fighters, along with Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble. Although its gameplay isn’t as refined as other Capcom fighters, Onimusha Blade Warriors offers significant value as a single-player title due to its numerous unlockable characters, costumes, and weapons across various modes. Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble would be best saved for a Viewtiful Joe collection.

Street Fighter: The Movie

Another “Street Fighter” game needs to be discussed, but it’s not a key draw for a “Fighting Collection” like the others. “Street Fighter: The Movie” is based on the 1994 live-action “Street Fighter” film and has earned a “so bad it’s good” reputation similar to “Mortal Kombat.” Although not universally popular, its quirky appeal – stemming from its digitized actors and odd gameplay mechanics – has been cherished by a dedicated group for years. The potential addition of “Street Fighter: The Movie” could lead to more licensing complications due to the actors, but it would undoubtedly delight some fans.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future

The JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future fighting game is one of the highlights of Capcom’s classic fighting game era, rendering the iconic Stardust Crusaders arc in gorgeous sprite art with appropriately zany mechanics. It even sports a surprisingly involved single-player story that includes opponents not adapted into playable characters. Fans are still competing in Heritage for the Future on Fightcade to this very day, but there they may have to stay. Despite JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure‘s ties to Street Fighter, its game rights may lie with Bandai Namco now. Combined with other possible owners like author Hirohiko Araki and Shonen Jump, securing HftF again might be tough.

Sengoku Basara X

As a fan, I find an intriguing similarity between JoJo’s predicament and Sengoku Basara X. While both may necessitate negotiations, they stem from distinct causes. Although Capcom owns the Sengoku Basara hack-and-slash series, it was Arc System Works who developed its fighting game adaptation. This unusual 2D fighter might not receive the same acclaim as ASW’s Guilty Gear series or even their iconic Hokuto no Ken fighter, but it serves as a unique game that binds these two companies together. If feasible, I long for its return in some form.

Alien vs. Predator

In future Capcom collections, fighting games aren’t the only possibility – other genres, such as beat-’em-ups, could also be included. A notable beat-’em-up contender is “Alien vs. Predator,” which originated from an early film of the same name in 1994. In this game, players take control of two cyborg Marines and two Predators as they battle against an Alien invasion. The game showcases some top-notch beat-’em-up combat from Capcom’s 90s era. However, it has remained exclusive to arcades due to licensing issues, but if these hurdles can be overcome, it could be a standout feature in the potential third installment of the Capcom Fighting Collection.

2024-09-02 15:34