It may have been a long time coming. Still, are finally transitioning to eSports, and the history of this illustrious genre is getting recorded and observed by newcomers and veterans alike. And looking back, not every series was Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, some having just one release before fading away in�🎀� time.
Resurrections like 2019's Samurai Shodown prove that holding out for a past classic to make a comeback isn't always a lost cause. From genre-defining mainstays to legitimate oddities, it's time to dust off the arcade sticks and make some noise to bring these lost classics out of the past and into the modern spotlight.
Updated December 27, 2022, by Chris Sanfilippo: After almost twenty years of arcade exclusivity, The Rumble Fish 2, one of the fighting genre's cult classics, had its first-ever console launch! In our latest update, we decided to give attention to this long-forgotten series, along with two other hidden gems. Additionally, we listed each home console these series are available on.
16 💖 Riv♐al Schools
Even though the last entry of the Rival Schools series launched over twenty years ago, ther⛄e remains plenty of interest in a revival of the high-octane fighter that resembles a toned-down version of .
Outside of Kyosuke being a playable character in Capcom vs. SNK 2, the series has remained dormant, with fans clamoring for its return. Luckily, Akira Kazama's addition to Street Fighter 5 may indicate a series resurgence in the future, whether it's a new title or more crossover appearances in Street Fighter 6.
Platforms: PlayStation, Dreamcast
15 ♊ Power Stone⛎
To those who remember it, Power Stone was a memorable foray into carnage on the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Sega Dreamcast. Players could compete in a complete 3D environment, use weapons and stage obstacles, and even transform 💃into their powerful alter egos after collecting three fabled power stones.
After Power Stone 2,꧅ the franchise seems to have fallen by the wayside, as there has been no word from Capcom that they will bring the series back. Until then, fans of the game will never fꦦorget, and those unfortunate enough to have never played the series will continue to miss out.
Platforms: Dreamcast, PSP
14 Cyberbots
Mecha fighters are not new by today's standards. Consider, for instance, the slew of Gundam titles, like Gundam Versus and Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxiboost. Still, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness was a unique fighting game of its time, even by Capcom's standards. The title was a spin-off of the successful beat-em-up game Armored Warriors (Powered Gear in Japan).
Cyberbots stood out from its peers for several reasons. For instance, it was one of few 90s Capcom fighters that did not feature a six-button layout.🥃 Plus, the pilot𝔍 characters did not affect gameplay. Instead, mechs called VAs (Variant Armor) were the primary means of combat. While Cyberbots never experienced a console launch outside Japan, its legacy continued with guest characters in several Capcom Versus games and a spiritual 3D successor, Tech Romancer.
Platforms:
- Sega Saturn (Japan Only), PlayStation (Japan Only)
- PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC [Capcom Fighting Collection]
13 Eternal Champions ♎ 🍌
When and dominated arcades in the 1990s, one fighting game was an absolute must-play on the Sega Genesis, and that game was Eternal Champions. What made Eternal Champions unique was that it incorporated elements of the titles mentioඣned above while still feeling🌃 original all on its own.
If Killer Instinct can be brought back and succeed in today's fighting game landscape, why can't a game that allows players to fight as an actual Shih Tzu?
Platforms: Sega Genesis, Sega Genesis Mini, Wii (Virtual Console)
12 😼 🔴 Bloody Roar
One of the best fighting game franchises that thrived on the Sony Playstation, Bloody Roar and its sequels were among the best 3D fighters ever made. Though the gimmick of changing into a raging beast mid-battle was neat enough, the game's combat was as fluid as any Tekken or Virtua Fighter game at the time.
When the series made it to the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:PlayStation 2, it was clear that the novelty had worn off as the quality of the last two games failed to match its predecessors. As a result, the series has been dormant since 2003's Bloody Roar 4.
Platforms: PlayStation, PS2, Gamecube, Xbox
11 Fighter's History
Remember Data East? The discontinued game company produced several arcade staples, including the Magical Drop and Burger Time series. But did you know they also developed a 2D Fighting game series? Fighter's History was Data East's answer to Street Fighter. Furthermore, Capcom noticed and took Data East to court for copyright infringement (although the court ruled in DE's favor).
While Street Fighter's influence on Fighter's History is undeniable, one mechanic set the two series apart. In Fighter's History, players could temporarily stun their opponent by repeatedly attacking a weak spot on their body.
Platforms: SNES, Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, Sega Saturn, Nintendo Switch Online (SNES Virtual Console)
10 ꧑ Primal Rage
Nothing turns the eye quite like an old fashion monster mash, and therein lies the appeal of Primal Rage. Trading punches and kicks for teeth an🦄d tails, players ꩲassume the roles of titanic beasts as they bite, claw, and even vomit their way to victory.
Primal Rage was a massive hit on arcades and home consoles, with a sequel in the works. Then, unfortunately, Atari pulled the plug, leaving all hopes for more dinosaur carnage dashed forever. Though Primal Rage 2 never saw the light of day, ඣits story received a comic book adaptation in 1997.
Platforms: 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, 32X, Amiga, Atari Jaguar CD, Game Boy, Game Gear, MS-DOS, PlayStation, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, SNES
9 ♔ Virtua Fighter ౠ
With the runaway success of the Tekken series, it's shocking that the granddaddy of all 3D fighters, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Virtua Fighter, was put to pasture. Sega's 3D fighting series revolutionized the genre and was well-loved from its early days as a polygonal mess to its refined later titles.
Since the critically acclaimed Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, the landmark franchise has been uncharacteristically dormant save for being a playable mini-game in Yakuza 6. However, there were some noticeable resurgences over the years. For instance, EVO 2019 featured Final Showdown in a side tournament. And a remastered version, Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Shodown, launched in 2021 on PS4.
Platforms: Sega Saturn, Sega 32X, Microsoft Windows, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System, Game.com, R-Zone, Dreamcast, PS2, GameCube, PS3, Wii (Virtual Console), Xbox 360, mobile, PS4
8 💦 𒐪Fighting Vipers
Did you know that Virtua Fighter had a lesser-known sister series? Fighting Vipers was a game series that utilized the same engine as Virtua Fighter 2. However, this title was intended to draw more players from the Western audience. Fighting Vipers received warm critical reception, but didn't last past its sequel, Fighting Vipers 2.
So what sets Fighting Vipers's gameplay apart from Virtua Fighter's? Both games use a three-button system. However, Fighting Vipers features enclosed arenas (meaning no ring-outs) and a destructible armor mechanic.
Platforms: Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, PS2, PS3 (PSN), Xbox 360 (XBLA)
7 🔯Bushido Blade
Bushido Blade's brilliance was simple: No life bars or time limits and death in a single blow.ꦏ The samurai-themed fighter was as close to an actual sword fight as gaming could get, and the sheer scale and depth of the game were well before its time.
While the series never continued beyond the second entry, its spirit lived on in the poorly received Kengo series for the PS2 and Xbox 360.
Platforms: PlayStation