Late 2000s is a very good period for 2D fighting game lovers. SNK is finally getting his ass on working on making something new for King of Fighters XII, Sammy/Arc systems Works is still working on this game that is not guilty Gear but look like it after having released Fist of the North Star two years ago and Sengoku Basara X, Yuki Enterprise/Examu inc. is taking firm roots with Arcana Heart series. Then there are Capcom, the Capcom that people assumed to have quit the fighter business after the CFAS and Capcom Fighting Jam fiascos to focus on franchises like Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Sengoku Basara and the funky Phoenix Wright.

It was a semi-surprise when Capcom announced a fourth Street Fighter. What was a little more surprising was the announcement of a Versus game. Tatsunoko vs Capcom.

I knew nothing much about Tatsunoko, excepted maybe Macross, Gatchman, Samurai Pizza Cats, Karas and Shurato. I admit I’d expect more something like Jump Comics vs Capcom, but I guess copyrights would have been a bitch.

Like all versus (excepted vs SNK) from Capcom, you have tag, air combos, crazy over the top specials, mechas coming to smash your face in and heroes in tight spandex outfits.

I have rather low expectations for this fighter, I mean, who in USA remember Polymar, Yatterman and so on? Maybe they remember Samurai Pizza Cats or Macross or Karas. And how many around the world gonna bitch about Capcom’s choices in their own character pool? I bet a lot.

Then there are the rather odd choice of semi 2D/3D. But the vision of the trailer put me at ease. Capcom is not pissing in its fans’ shoes. Should the game meet success, sequels that will increase the roster and cement the gameplay shall be expected.

Whoever Daisuke Ono voice, he made me feel gay

A small note regarding the game layout. The first versus, X-Men vs Street fighter has six attack buttons, Marvel vs Capcom 2 has 4 attack buttons. Tatsunoko vs Capcom, like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, has three attacks + one subsystem (tag) button. It means that it gonna heavily focus on the offensive with poking and mind game options stripped down to the strict minimum. But having played JoJo, I can expect it to be a fun game. Let’s hope for a success and sequels.

I am loving this period. 2D fighters may not enjoy their popularity of the early 1990s, but they show that games like Tekken, Soul Calibur and Virtua Fighter has not killed them. There are now a very wide and varied choice, and not just from SNK & Capcom, the third man Arc Systems, but also from small companies like Yuki enterprise and amateurs in doujins circles. And the choices are very varied in flavour. You want speedy and crazy over-the-top combo fest? Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, Melty Blood and Tatsunoko vs Capcom will be for you. Something a little more lay back while keeping bursts of adrenalin? KoF12 and Akatsuki Blitzkampf are waiting. Something more footsie? While it looks 3D, Street Fighter 4 is coming. Something a bit more original? Immaterial and Missing Power from the touhou series is right here, you may want Scarlet Weather Rhapsody for a more beginner friendly Touhou fighter.

Oh now I whore more Touhou out

Ô I miss imba Sakuya’s Za Warudo

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