To many a gamer, Capcom needs no introduction, having introduced the likes ofStreet Fighter,Megaman, andResident Evilinto the limelight, among many others. Oftentimes, many of its characters are integrated into various crossovers, includingPuzzle Fighter,Capcom Fighting Evolution, andTeppen.
However, Capcom seems to be gearing up for more cross-company crossovers with the recent announcement ofTerry and Mai as DLC forStreet Fighter 6as well asMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classicshaving been announced. As the new collection’s title implies, not only can these crossovers become classics in their own right, but often also franchises themselves. This list will look at crossover series which prominently focus on the greater Capcom brand, as they’re put alongside the characters of another, and rank them based on average critical reception calculated by averaging the known critic scores of the relevant games.
Games Accounted for:
Project X Zone, the 3DS spiritual successor to PS2’sNamco X Capcom(as well as its Namco-only spin-offEndless Frontier) received largely mixed responses from reviewers. This is a rare entry, as it is one of the few Capcom crossover series to predominantly focus on RPGs. Criticisms were largely aimed at the gameplay, which was considered tedious by some. However, others appraised it more positively.
Most of the praise was heaped onto the concept of the crossover. The game includes many characters from the various franchises involved, and everyone gets a decent bit of screen time. Due to its inclusion of these various worlds colliding, among other things, the game was described positively as “fanservice.” These elements, as well as seeing all the various characters, Capcom or otherwise, interact make both ofthe games very fun to play through.
The sequel, despite averaging around roughly the same score, received more positive reviews overall. Critics largely viewed it as an improvement over the first, with many praising the more streamlined gameplay. Praise was also once again directed towards the banter between characters.
Beyond this franchise, Namco has crossed over with Capcom in games such asStreet Fighter X Tekken,Tekken 7, and an apparently upcomingTekken X Street Fighter.
Average Critic Score: 71.57/100
Capcom vs. SNK 2
More Fighters…More Fighting Styles…More Mayhem…The world’s two fighting giants collide in this colossal slug-fest! Now, it’s time to settle the score! Capcom vs. SNK 2 unleashes lightning fast animation and classic arcade fighting action on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.Choose from an arsenal of over 44 characters from the Capcom and SNK fighting universes and customize your fighting style with even more fighting “Grooves.” Capcom vs. SNK 2… a brawl buster of epic proportions!
Due to both of these companies focusing largely on fighting games, a crossover implementing each of their characters just made sense. Whether it’sSNK vs. CapcomorCapcom vs. SNK,the majority of the fighting game crossovers received largely positive reviews overall from critics.
The game that received a more mixed reception overall wasSNK vs Capcom. Many of the critiques were focused on the lack of balance. One critic from Game Over Online, noted the game to have “the single worst case of SNK Boss Syndrome” they had ever seen. Other critics disliked the graphics, and compared the game unfavorably to others available on the various platforms, as well as the previous crossovers the companies shared.
The Card Fighters game has a similarly mixed reception, dragged by a single entry;Card Fighters DS. The sequel was criticized for its poor translation and production values, as well as a game-crashing bug present later on. However, its predecessor,Card Fighters Clashwas viewed far more positively. Many enjoyed the gameplay as well as the older style of graphics, recieving wide acclaim upon its re-release on the Nintendo Switch. Despite occasional poor entries, the series largely had a positive appraisal from critics. With SNK characters slated to appear inStreet Fighter 6, it’s possible this series could see a revival as well.
Despite the first official game not receiving a score on metacritic, most critics seem to feel positively towards the later entries intheMarvel vs. Capcomseries.Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3scored lower than the original for the limited number of additions between itself and its predecessor (such as only six new characters.) Despite that, others praised it and its predecessors for its roster and gameplay.Marvel vs Capcom, despite its lack of a score, is one of the most commercially successful games Capcom has released.
The least critically hailed entry in the series isInfinite,which was criticized for the roster moving away from the X-Men origin point of the series, the graphical stylings, and the small roster in general. Even more positive reviews hoped for patches or updates to improve the series, but most never came.
Earlier entries were more positively praised.Marvel vs Capcom 2was noted for its expansive roster (totaling 56 characters) as well as its flashy over-the-top style. With a new re-release coming for the Switch, it’s fair to say the older games will find themselves some new fans in the near-future.
1Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars
Average Critic Score: 85
While the series only retains one entry,Tatsunoko vs. Capcomis neck and neck withMarvel vs Capcom 3for the most critically hailed game listed here on Metacritic. The Wii-exclusive game is critically hailed as one of the best fighting games on the console, with many critics encouraging Capcom fans to get to know the less-recognized Tatsunoko characters from series such asScience Ninja Team GatchamanandYatterman.
Praise was given to the beginner-friendly control system. While other contemporary games such asStreet Fighter IVwere noted to be more complex, critics still tended to find this game very enjoyable to play through. Despite being one of the most critically acclaimed Capcom crossovers, this singular game has yet to see any sort of resurgence, likely owing in part to its lack of availability outside the Wii, a console on which fighting games are not prominent.
