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2D Fighting Games of My Interest

Game list created by Paulo Júnior

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7.7

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive

I like: the gritty, moody tone, dial-a-combos, they are too scripted but at least don't take over the entire gameplay system like in other games. Arena transitions when you uppercut the enemy in some places, run button, great soundtrack and sound effects, cool juggle system and a lot of (cool) characters to choose. Also the functions the special moves of the characters have. This is imo the best version that has extra characters not present in the original arcade release.

Similar versions on SNES, Sega Saturn, PS3 (Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection)
Arcade is also a good edition, and there's the balanced (by fans) version, Tournament Edition.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

Killer Instinct 2 - Arcade

It's Killer Instinct, what more do you want said? I will say something, though. The atmosphere is better in the first game (still great here), but the gameplay is significantly better in this second. Comprehensive easy combo system, easier combo breakers! Throws! Supers!

7.9

The King of Fighters '98: The Slugfest - NEOGEO

KoF is my favorite fighting game series and this is my favorite one.
I like: sleek moves, neat counter-throw, unique 3 people battles, dodges and supers. The roster is immense and memorable, music tracks are awesome. The locales are exotic and evocative and change from round to round and your teamates appear there and have reactions.... This also has some of the best versions of these characters, with the best movesets. Combo input timings are too strict and annoying to me, though (it's like that in every KoF game).

Also on Saturn, PS1 and DC.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

8.4

Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle - NEOGEO

Great atmosphere. Kinda like AoF (cool zooming included) but the game's not excessively hard. It's a tag game though. Also, it's a bit clunkier than the very best fighting games.

8.5

Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR - PlayStation 3

I like: great tutorial mode, deep systems, the roman cancel system (I especially love the added slowdown to this iteration of it), great characters and movesets, great graphics and sounds. Burst and dead angle attack are combo break mechanisms.

I dislike: way too strict timings for inputs, unecessary clutter mechanics, excessive focus on combos and excessive hitstops. I actually prefer XX #REload, but that might be due to nostalgia. Xrd wins, in the end, due to the tutorials.

Also on Steam.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

219

8.2

Mortal Kombat - PlayStation 3

It was really, objectively, the best MK to date. I like the idea of supers in MK (in the form of x-ray moves), but I don't like the implementation, it's too long and hurts the pacing of the matches. It's especially too long considering it's so easy to execute. Animations are also below average graphically, which is baffling considering MK had the best animations of all fighting games during the original trilogy. Apparently, it even has combo break mechanism.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

8.3

Street Fighter Alpha 2 - Arcade

Best iteration of classic SF before it started getting imo crazier and generic-er in 3/Alpha 3. I prefer SSFII's art style but this plays better. Soundtrack is a tad bland, though.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

7.2

The King of Fighters 2000 - NEOGEO

Much better implementation of strikers. No pre-fight special character interactions and soundtrack's just decent, though. Has the same improved graphics and sleek presentation of 99, but with a good roster and the dodge mechanic fixed. I like its style.

Also on PS2 (NESTS Collection) and GOG.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

4.7

Tuff E Nuff - Super famicom and SNES

Dead Dance. The atmosphere is very good, very to my tastes and the game is decent. It's not as good as the biggest fighting games, but it's something unique that I like and wish had continued and improved. It's biggest holdback is only having 4 playable characters (and the bosses through a complex cheat method). Also, shamefully the western release cut a looot of stuff, like the damage that characters suffer during fights and even the endings!

8.3

Garou: Mark of the Wolves - PlayStation 2

It has a great cast, great graphics and sound both art-wise and technical-wise. It's also stylish. The best-looking SNK fighter, perhaps the best-looking fighter period. It also features a dodge and a parrying system that's much better than the excessively technical implementation in SFIII and a system where some options are opened to you when your life is at a point of the bar of your choosing.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

8.5

Guilty Gear X2 #Reload - PC Games

It has not only dashes, also air dashes, air combos, special defenses of all kinds and also defense-breaks. Steep learning curve. It's also somewhat moody, it has sort of a grit to it that I like. Also, extreme emphasis on combos makes the game very repetitive. I don't like this combo ideology where combos are too contextual, cancelled moves that can only be cancelled on hit, it makes them too detached from the rest of the gameplay; it's like they are a mini-game shoehorned into the system. Burst and dead angle attack are combo break mechanisms. I like roman cancel too.

Also on PS2 and Steam.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

7.8

Killer Instinct - Arcade

The original outstanding-looking and awesome-sounding moody arcade beast. The roster is cool and combos are fun. It even has combo breakers, it created them! It's abit too bureaucratic in these breakers though, they're too much of a hassle to pull of. It's repetitive, too.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

7.7

Samurai Shodown II - NEOGEO

7.9

Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers - NEOGEO

Paulo Júnior's rating:

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Lower best

Best but not the bestest

8.8

The Last Blade 2 - Arcade

This has dashing, enhanced special moves and a parry system that's easy to grasp. I also think the cast is rather bland. Each character has two modes for the player to choose from: Power or Speed, which changes certain characteristics of how they play. The use of stages without music, with only ambient noise, works well in this game and helps give it personality.

Also released on the PS2.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

8.6

YūYū Hakusho: Makyō Toitsusen - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive

2 planes, possibly four characters, transitions in some stages, Desperation Moves, some characters can double jump, there are dashes and dodges and air comboing.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

8.4

Mortal Kombat Trilogy - PC Games

The most complete version of MK3, it as a lot of content. The aggressor bar is not a great addition but it can be disabled. PS1 and Saturn versions had terrible loadings but PC doesn't have them.

http://cubanraul.altervista.org/mkt/index.htm

209

7.6

Killer Instinct - Super famicom and SNES

Perhaps it's nostalgia goggles. I don't know, but I really like this version of this game.

I like: fun combo system, cool roster, awesome soundtrack, interesting theme, tone and storyline.

I dislike: repetitiveness, all characters play similar.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

8.2

Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire - Sega Saturn

A.k.a. Darkstalkers 3. Good roster, amazing visuals both art-wise and technically (great animation!), great soundtrack and great, well-paced, fluid gameplay. I also like the implementation of the block reversal mechanic named guard cancel. It also has dashing, enhanced special moves using meter (ES moves), supers (EX moves) and airblocking. It does have typical combos based on cancelling, but they don't take over the gameplay. It's a bit too lighthearted for my tastes, though. The Darkstalkers Ressurrection collection has a tutorial mode for Darkstalkers 3.

Also on PS1, Saturn, PS2 and PS3.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

8.2

Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo - PC Games

It's classic SFII, but with a Super bar. The best iteration (and last iteration) of the classic. Vanilla SF's cast is bland to me, but it gets away with it for being the first of its kind. The game feels a bit dated to me. Yoko Shimomura also made a really iconic soundtrack.

Also on PS2 (Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2), PS4 ( Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection).

Paulo Júnior's rating:

Real Bout Garou Densetsu Special: Dominated Mind

Real Bout Garou Densetsu Special: Dominated Mind... - PlayStation

A plane-less Fatal Fury game of the Real Bout era. Good scenarios, great soundtrack, good roster, good gameplay.

7.8

The King of Fighters XIII - PlayStation 3

It looks stunning, although definitely lacking in visual content compared to older KoFs (team partners in scenario background, differences in the arenas from round to round). The engine is fast, furious and faithful to how a KoF should play (not too combo-based and with short supers that don't hurt the pacing of matches). The interactions through textboxes are nice, but I'd like sprite animations too. Combo timings are very weird and tight though.

Also on Steam.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

6.6

Eternal Champions - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive

Too hard, but with good 16-bit graphics, cool roster and arenas, cool soundtrack, nice unique special moves and the best "fatalities" ever. I also really like the visual style that sits between the cartoony of most 2D fighting games and the gritty realism of MK/KI.

Challengers from the Dark Side on Sega CD is an improved version of this but the soundtrack is worse. I'd rather play the Special Edition fan hack for Genesis.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

7.9

The King of Fighters '97 - NEOGEO

The art is really awesome, both visually and soundwise. Most certainly the best KoF that is not a Dream Match (has a story). Roster is also great! The biggest downside is sound design, with stages randomly having either music or just ambient noises.

Also on PS1, Saturn, PS2 (Orochi Collection).

Paulo Júnior's rating:

8.1

The King of Fighters XI - PlayStation 2

Admittedly cool tag mechanisms, good graphics, also said tag can be used as combo breaker.

The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle

7.2

The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle - NEOGEO

The graphics got better and the presentation (HUD, menus, transitions) is super sleek. Soundtrack is also great. Roster is lacking, but there are some cool new characters such as Whip and Bao. And strikers is unfitting of KoF, but makes for unique games. It also added counter and armor modes. The implementation of dodges is bad, though.

Also on PS1, PS2 and DC.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers

8.3

Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers - Arcade

I really like its atmosphere, awesome soundtrack and soft sense of grit that the more anime sequels lack. SSFIITurbo imo didn't add enough to make up for the weird color choices.

King of Fighters 2002, The: Unlimited Match - Tougeki Ver.

King of Fighters 2002, The: Unlimited Match - Tougeki Ver.... - PlayStation 2

Love that this is a "Dream Match" game with 99's roster additions, decent soundtrack and good arenas. And I also like the introduction of 'Super Movie Portrait Attacks'. Lack of character interactions before fights and no change in the stages between rounds hurt it, IMO. Combat system also starts getting too combo-focused for a KoF game. It's also a bit bland to me, not as charismatic or atmospheric as 98 and 2000. At least 2002UM has great characters that 98 lacks and is not a strikers game.

Also on Steam.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

Capcom Vs SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 - Sega Dreamcast

Love the roster, movesets, gameplay and the graphics. The sequel uses too much 3D for my tastes. This one has dodges, super moves and a system where teams have 2 or 3 characters depending on the strength of the character chosen. It also has a choice of type of meter. Soundtrack's kinda awful though.

Also on PS1.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

6.2

SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom - NEOGEO

Roster's lacking, stages look from average to bad with dull color usage. Gameplay's solid as are the soundtracks, though.

Also on PS2.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

Neo Geo Battle Coliseum - PlayStation 2

KoF was a crossover of three of SNK's franchises. This is a crossover of all of them! It looks, sounds and plays well and the roster is good. Scenarios, movesets and soundtrack are great. The only unique thing about this is being tag battles where only character of a duo must be beaten. The structure is odd consisting of 3 one-round battles per time and only then a change of scenario. It's annoying that Leona is never in any of these crossover games.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

Shin Gōketsuji Ichizoku Tōkon: Matrimelee

Shin Gōketsuji Ichizoku Tōkon: Matrimelee - NEOGEO

The best Power Instinct game.

Also on PS2 as Shin Gōketsuji Ichizoku: Bonnō Kaihō.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

7.6

The King Of Fighters XI - PlayStation 2

A tag team KoF. It plays really well. It also looks good, having come in a new arcade system. The addition of MoW characters in 2003 was neat, giving a sense of progression to the series, and it's nice seeing this continuing here. Roster's a bit lacking, though (no Leona, Mai's an unlockable). Good scenarios and soundtrack. Unlike most prior KoFs, this also feels somewhat new and fresh and the tag system feels more fit to KoF than strikers were.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure HD Ver. - PlayStation 3

I like how flashy the visuals are, and how eccentric yet charming it all is, and the use of guardian spirits is a neat piece of uniqueness. But the art is a bit too eccentric for me.

Original version also on Arcade, DC and PS1.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike - Fight for the Future

8.6

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike - Fight for the Future... - Arcade

A less bland SF with cool new characters, an excessively difficult parry system (the first of its kind), incredible graphics and jaw-dropping animations. It kind of doesn't play like an SF game.

Also on DC, PS2, PS3.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

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Promising

I need to play 'em more to judge.

Guilty Gear Strive

It's streamlined, seems like it has a more elegant gameplay design, more intuititve but not less complex. It also has stage transitions.

8.4

Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[st] - PlayStation 4

Characters with unique character traits, lenient combo system.

7.7

X-Men vs. Street Fighter - Arcade

The sequels got too crazy for me. I like the verticality in this and how any special move can be made in the air.

Also on Saturn.

7.6

Real Bout Fatal Fury Special - NEOGEO

7.6

Fate/Unlimited Codes - PlayStation 2

Has breakers, also cool atmosphere and I like the lore. A bit too 3D-like imo.

7.9

Killer Instinct - PC Games

Although I prefer the old artstyle and 2's gameplay ideals. But I do like the gameplay style and the tutorials seem awesome. It even has a system that analyses the player's playstyle and turns into an AI, and a mode where players can fight offline against other players AIs. Combos seem to add repetitiveness, though. Has combo breaker, at least.

Also on X-Box One.

Asuka 120% Limited: Burning Fest Limited [Japan Import]

Asuka 120% Limited: Burning Fest Limited [Japan Import]... - Sega Saturn

Clashes are cool.

Mortal Kombat 11 - PlayStation 4

An interesting story with time-travel shenanigans that ends the plot started in 9. X-rays were replaced with something more interesting. Annoyingly, stage interactions are still here. Also, combo break mechanics has been turned into a weak, clunky thing. Although the roster's good, the only one missing is Ermac. They also say the tutorial mode is really good. Atmosphere seems on point and reminds me of MK3!

Mortal Kombat 1

I find the kameo system unappealing and a lot of stages look un-atmospheric but the gameplay seems like the best in MK to date, graphics are spectacular. It even has combo break mechanism (sadly tied to bar, though).

7.5

Groove on Fight - Arcade

Looks like a more serious Power Instinct game with great sinister atmosphere.

Samurai Shodown - PlayStation 4

The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match

9.1

The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match - PlayStation 2

I've played it a bit but need to play more. It's nice to have all the new characters. Also on Steam.

Paulo Júnior's rating:

Rumble Fish - Arcade

Cool, sometimes atmospheric.

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MAYBE

Thinking about it

Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact

Marvel Tokon - Fighting Souls

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Voters of this game list - View all

I love 2D fighting games. I also suck at them. Nevertheless, I like their dashing pixel art and how modern they can feel.

To understand this, it's probably better to explain my personal preferences. I enjoy flashy super moves, but not if they're so long that they hurt the pacing of matches. I also prefer them to not be too cinematic that they feel detached from the rest of the gameplay. I like big rosters, I won't play with most of them but I'll at least get to fight against varied opponents. I like games that give personality to the characters through means of character interactions pre-fights and such. Of course I like good graphics, good soundtrack. I also for some reason like dodges and throw-escaping/teching in games. Stage transitions be it from one stage to another (UMK) or changes inbetween rounds (KoF98) are nice, too. I prefer games that don't feel repetitive, so I prefer games less combo-based, because combos are usually pretty boring chaining of similar-looking, similar-feeling normals (GG). A combo break mechanism is appreciated. I also like special moves with unique properties such as a weird hitbox pattern or, better yet, an effect like the ones in MK (freezing, pulling, etc). A good story is desired but neither required nor expected. I like complex but elegant systems, intuitive systems, systems that are deep, which means easy to get and hard to master. Atmosphere is also something I love and need.

The order is defined by which games I think are most interesting to play with someone else in what I believe to be the optimal way to play this type of game: local multiplayer.