Capcom, for the most part, is known for four things:Mega Man,Monster Hunter,Resident Evil, and their fighting games. With the latter, titles such asStreet FighterandMarvel vs. Capcompop to mind. Some people might point out titles likeTekkenx Street FighterorSNK vs. Capcom,but those two aforementioned franchises are the ones the majority of the mainstream gaming public know.
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But there are a fewCapcomfighting games, past and present, that went unnoticed or unappreciated. While these games might be hard to access in the modern age for varying reasons, it would be worth checking a few of them if possible.
7Gotcha Force
While it isn’t a pure fighting game,Gotcha Forcecombines fighting mechanics with third-person shooting. Players are called GF Commanders and use a mech called the Gacha Borg. Their goal is to repel an invading force called the Death Force.
The game wasn’t that popular in the West due to inadequate advertising from Capcom. It reached some success in Japan,where it spanned a manga. In 2012, Capcom did a re-print of the game, but it was in Japan only. Despite that, copies of the game are rare to find, mainly due to the recent cult following it has garnered.
6Fate/Unlimited Codes
TheFateseries has spanned various mediums. From anime and RPGs to visual novels,Fateis everywhere. So no one should be shocked to hear that the franchise also has a fighting game.Fate/unlimited codeswere first released for the arcades in 2008. The PlayStation 2 andPlayStation Portableversions came shortly after, the latter getting a Western release. It is a 3D fighting game based on the originalvisual novel.
There are13 characters to choose from, such as Saber and Rin Tohsaka. For the home release, the roster was expanded to 17, with Zero Lancer making an appearance. The game was successful, but it saw little interest from outside theFatefanbase. For those wanting to experience this game, physical copies are the only way to go since Capcom de-listed the title in 2012.
5X-Men Vs. Street Fighter
Following the success of another fighting game by Capcom calledMarvel Super Heroes,X-Men vs. Street Fighterwas released for the arcades in 1996. A SEGA Saturn and PlayStation 1 version followed later. It borrows mechanics from theStreet Fighterseries andMarvel Super Heroesbut also introduces a tag-based system.
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There arenine characters representing each franchise. This game is the first installment of theMarvel vs. Capcomseries, but has since been overshadowed by its more popular sequels.
4Power Stone series
ThePower Stoneseries was a set of two 3D arena fighting games for the arcade and SEGA Dreamcast. A PlayStation Portable re-release of the two games came out in 2006. The story’s premise is the search for the power stone. While fighting, if a character collects three stones, they can transform into a more powerful variant for a moment.
In Japan,Power Stonegot ananime and manga adaptation. Select characters from the game have also appeared inSNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clashand its sequel. Capcom has since been dormant on the series, but small cameos have appeared in other Capcom games since.
3Sengoku Basara X
Sengoku Basarais a series of hack and slash video games developed by Cacpom. The mainline games are set in theSengoku period of Japan’s history. Many have called these gamesDynasty Warriors"clones." In between the release of the 2nd and 3rd installment cameSengoku Basara X, a 2D fighting game.
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It was a collaboration between Capcom and Arc System Works, best known for theBlazBlueandGuilty Gearseries. For fans of those two series,Sengoku Basara Xshould feel very familiar, as it borrows the fighting mechanics from them. It handles like any Arc Sys fighting game.
2Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
Released for the arcade and Nintendo Wii,Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Starsisanother crossover, this time featuring characters from Capcom and various animes from Tatsunoko Production. Shows likeScience Ninja Team GatchamanandTekkamanare the ones represented. The game performs similarly to theMarvel vs. Capcomseries, and those playing on the Nintendo Wii have the option to use five different controls.
A standard Wii remote is recommended for those who want to ease into the game. On the other hand, a GameCube controller should be used if someone wants more flexibility. Due to its versatility,Tatsunoko vs. Capcomis an accessible fighting game. It never gained a large audience outside the arcade scene as the Wii wasn’t really well known for fighting games besidesSuper Smash Bros.
1Darkstalkers series
Darkstalkersis another 2D fighting game series. The first installment was released in 1994 in Japan, with the most recent release coming in 2022 as part of a compilation calledCapcom Fighting Collection. Darkstalkershas a darker vibe to it when compared to other Capcom fighting games. It borrows elements from folklore and showcasesthem in a gothic style.
In terms of gameplay,Darkstalkersborrows elements fromStreet Fighterbut adds new features such as air blocking. Characters such as Morrigan and Felicia are hugely popular, with the former appearing in over ten games. A few of them are not even in the fighting genre. Despite the popularity of some characters, Capcom hasn’t released a newDarkstalkersentry in a while.
