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For me, fighting games continue to be a part of my everyday fundamental, button-mashing diet. It only seems like yesterday when I was able to execute my first Hadoken in Street Fighter II. The first time I managed a Fatality off Mortal Kombat’s Johnny Cage, ripping his pretty little head off in supreme satisfaction. The first time experiencing Kasumi’s bouncy-breasty radiance in her Rabbit swimsuit from Dead or Alive Xtreme Volleyball… Oh wait, that last one didn’t have any fighting it in, did it? Ok, more or less, it still had the bouncy-breasty radiance that DOA games are still known for. Upon further reflecting on perpetual conundrums, even cruddy fighting games still had a memorable gimmick or two, like how Primal Fury was essentially Mortal Kombat but with prehistoric animals. Or how Kakuto Chojin so hilariously ripped off Fight Club’s plot. Ah, how one mingles in the memories of the inconsequential!
Getting back to the point, there are still game companies which have stayed long with the fighting genre and continue to support it, despite knowing that the days of coin-op arcades have long passed (Japan notwithstanding). Newer entries continue to be pumped – and thanks to the advent of better net infrastructure, more and more franchises are taking the leap to online matchmaking. No longer content to just playing your homies from the hood or the local game cafe, you’ll now be given the opportunity to fool around with players from all sorts of regions. You haven’t played a real game of Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves until some random 15-year-old Asian munchkin promptly hands over your carcass in less than a minute.
Thusly, I solemnly declare that a brief rundown on potential, forthcoming Beat em’ Ups shall be in effective order. Heaven or Hell, let’s fight!
It was eventually going to happen. Being the milk-meisters they are, it was only a matter of time until someone at Capcom realized that there hasn’t been a new roman numeral attached to a Street Fighter in over 10 years. This could not be allowable! So to shake things up, firstly – the game’s gone completely 3D. Yes, this technically doesn’t make the first Street Fighter game to boast such a feat (EX says hi), but this time Capcom figured they’d go for a much more vividly-colored, cel-shaded appearance. Despite it’s exterior, SFIV will play closer to its 2D-roots as opposed to how other 3D brawlers are usually presented (Virtua Fighter, Tekken).
Other than that, there’s a lot more being implemented here than you’d expect. SFIII’s Parry System has been nicked; instead, players will have to get accustomed to what’s being called the “Saving Attack” or “Focus Attack” – a technique which acts both a defensive and offensive measure, but also comes at the cost of your Super Meter. In addition, you’ll also have what’s called the “Revenge Meter”, which builds up when a character receives damage. Have both these meters filled up, and you can perform an “Ultra Combo”, an enhanced Super-Move requiring two attack-buttons to execute (as opposed to one for regular Supers). Capcom recently confirmed that a home console version is very much in development, and that we should be expecting a release in early 2009. Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!
Transcending history… A babe in shining armor, wielding a spear in one hand and a dagger in another, is having her hands full with… a Sith Overload? While we doubt the gameplay has made any significant leaps since its last outing, Soulcalibur IV is all bout establishing an already winning formula, combo-ing with sleek visuals and competitive online play – the latter being a series first. Of course, adding Yoda and Darth Vader to the roster doesn’t hurt either, but they’re console-specific exclusives (Yoda = X360, Vader = PS3).
Talking about the online component, players will be given the fortunate opportunity in carrying over their custom created characters into the virtual matchmaking pit. SCIV also introduces “armor-breaking” into the mix. During battles, if you decide to block for too long, your avatar of choice will eventually lose certain clothing accessories and other fashionable wearables. It’s no strip poker, but it’ll do. Ivy’s huge knockers will be arriving in North America and Europe on July 29th and August 1st, respectively. Critically wounded!
Those hankering for the next entry in the King of Iron Fist Tournament need not look any further. With roughly 35 returning characters, along with 6 new characters to toy around with, Tekken 6 is going to be one big bloc party for PS3 owners. Director Katsuhiro Harada has said we’ll be seeing even more interactive battle stages and character customization in the coming home version (no release date pinned, though), but surprisingly, that’s not all. Two new fighting systems will be added into the mix, called “Rage” and “Bounce”. The Rage system allows players to gain more power when their health meter starts running in the low, while the Bounce system opens up for more juggle possibilities. Online versus play doesn’t exactly hurt either.
Developed by Arc System Works, BlazBlue is essentially the spiritual successor to the much-loved Guilty Gear series. And if you’re a fan, everything you’ve come to know about the Guilty Gear heritage is accounted for here: the crazy anime-art direction, the silky-slick animation, the intricate fighting mechanics, the rocking heavy-metal tracks… You name it, it’s got it. Only bigger, badder, and better. Now in glorious high-definition™! Be sure to check out Ryan Clements’ impressions over at IGN.
No longer confounded to the 2D spriting-style of earlier titles, gentlemen, say hell-oh to “100 percent completely hand-drawn”. Yes friends, King of Fighters XII is one sexy drop of digital honey. Take this moment to see some of the recent Famitsu screens over at SNK-Capcom. Go on, I’ll wait.
Finished? Fabulous! Aside from it’s gorgeous new look, KOFXII will also being seeing a return to the classic 3-on-3 elimination style battle system (first introduced in ‘94). In fact, one thing SNK-Playmore had mentioned, was that they want to have the game more accessible to newcomers. Although we most likely won’t be seeing this puppy coming to home consoles sometime till next year, we’ll always have that first AOU/GDC trailer to rub salt into our waiting-wounds. ARE YOU OKAY?
If there were ever a game that was the parallel equivalent to farting in front of your in-law’s faces, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe could fit very snuggly into that categorization. There’s just something about waiting on news to what supposed to be the next-gen debut of a well-known franchise, while not exactly excelling in the genre it promotes, still holds a respectable fan base nonetheless – only to find out Midway for one reason or another, chooses to stick comic book characters in it. Paging Doctor WTF!
And if that wasn’t enough, Fatalities are no longer in the equation. Yeah, you read that right. No more yanking-off-Johnny-Cage’s-pretty-little-head reminiscence time for this bugger. In place, MK vs. DC will have what’s being called “Finishers”, but there’s still no concrete info on how these are going to work out (I mean, how do you “finish” an opponent without killing him, anyway?). That said – I’m very much fascinated in seeing how this whole mess comes together. The notion of “Klose Kombat” (a sort-of real-time damage system, that too not only to be cosmetic) sounds swank, but really, it all comes down to the core mechanics. Let’s hope sheer “novelty” alone doesn’t end up being the top most of MK vs. DC’s priorities.
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Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 01:25 am GMT +5.5 at 1:25 am
hey I heard the next mortal combat game is going to star Solid snake and the rest of the Metal Gear cast…the last time they tried something like this it sucked I dont quite remeber wht it was called …i think Rise of the Imperfects…Scorpio VS the dark Night…Geez I never thought I’d see this day…I wonder what the dialogues are goignt o be like…”Get over here” vs “Holy cow Batman the batrang aint going to do any good, should I call Gordon and ask for back up?…”the rest look close to perfection…
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 02:30 am GMT +5.5 at 2:30 am
Nice article dude.
Friday, June 6th, 2008 09:54 pm GMT +5.5 at 9:54 pm
I know that Street Fighter is gonna be available for PC also. How many of the other games you mentioned will also be released for PC?
Monday, June 9th, 2008 02:16 am GMT +5.5 at 2:16 am
From the look of things, Street Fighter IV seems to be the only one getting a PC edition. BlazBlue could potentially hop on board (I believe there was a Guilty Gear PC port as well), but the rest seem unlikely. Some of these arcade titles haven’t even been announced for consoles either, but that’s already a no-brainer. ;P
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 05:54 pm GMT +5.5 at 5:54 pm
[...] first Hadoken in Street Fighter II. The first time I managed a Fatality off Mortal Kombat??s Johnnyhttp://theangrypixel.com/blog/2008/06/02/5-luscious-1-not-so-luscious-beat-em-ups-for-2008-beyond/Spain’s beloved, tender-hearted warriors The San Luis Obispo TribuneIn his “Ode to the Artichoke,” [...]
Monday, December 15th, 2008 11:30 am GMT +5.5 at 11:30 am
[...] When talking about how the Mortal Kombat series has evolved over the years, even the most retro of gamers will, more likely than not, pass some sort of snide, overly-sarcastic remark. Not that other series haven’t been a victim of this either, especially if your name is Jean Claude Van Dam. But I digress. When Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe (MKDC) was first revealed to the world, it was hard not to giggle a little. While Capcom had done a similar idea roughly ten years ago when pitting the likes of their Street Fighters against the Uncanny X-Men, neither party didn’t have the crux of the entire internet population of Nelson Muntz to breathe down their electronic inboxes. And yeah, we had our fair share of stabs at it too. [...]
Saturday, September 26th, 2009 07:56 am GMT +5.5 at 7:56 am
строительство улиц и переулков
Кинули теперь в аське ссылку для эту обнова – не жалею, сколько потратил дата и перешел:)
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 12:00 am GMT +5.5 at 12:00 am
I, as well, have a very pit-bull who may be the most supporting animal I’ve ever owned. Quickly, a new dog breed will come together for your media to blast, as they have done rotties and dobies in earlier many years. Unfortunate that media sensationalism breeds much inaccurate data.