The thrill of the fight is what drives people to watch sports like wrestling and boxing, and seek out the bone crunching, blood curdling and death-defying feats of fighters participating in the Ultimate Fighting Championship but alas, most of us do not possess the strength, tenacity and endurance of the athletes who rake part in such sports and must appease the beasts inside us roaring for action by taking our skills into the virtual arena. This is where fighting games come into the mix, providing gamers with a stage to vent their frustrations upon the computer or opponents just lining up to take the hits.
One of the competitive forms of gaming available, fighting games have much influence over the gaming industry and have spawned some of the most prestigious tournaments present in the gaming industry today. The following are the best fighting games to play that are just a notch above the rest of the pack, and get gamers’ blood roaring whenever they get their hands on ‘em.
Best Fighting Games To Play — Street Fighter IV and Expansions (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Not one person who calls themselves a fan of fighting games would disagree with the fact that the latest iteration of the Street Fighter franchise deserves the top spot on the list of fighting games to play. When Street Fighter IV came out in 2008, in my opinion, it saved a dying fighting game industry riddled with subpar games. The Mortal Kombat series was progressively getting worse and King of Fighters was nowhere to be seen with a fresh new entry. Street Fighter IV brought that ‘something fresh’ to the table, setting the industry ablaze with its new take on the genre and becoming one of the first instances of 2.5D graphics in a fighting game.
As always, Capcom has not failed to deliver. The graphics in this fighting game to play are top notch, the gameplay is challenging yet amazingly simple, and the new additions to the tried-and-tested moves are much appreciated, especially the focus attack mechanic that lets you dish out more punishment than ever, while balancing out the steep difficulty curve for mastering Street Fighter III’s parry mechanic by dealing damage to the performer of the attack as well. The easy-to-play but hard-to-master nature of the game is perfect for everyone.
In classic Capcom fashion, AKA Street Fighter II, Street Fighter IV also got a ‘Super’ attached to it after it debuted and the game truly does justice to the word. Super Street Fighter IV brought 10 more characters into the mix of an already 25 character strong cast, along with balance adjustments to the mechanics and gameplay, making some of the fights more even. But best of all, all the characters are unlocked this time around and the game also brings an extra Ultra combo to all the characters, letting you deal even more damage to your opponents and making this the most popular, diverse and fun games available on the market and truly the best fighting game to play.
Recently, Capcom has struck yet again and added 4 more characters to the game, bringing the total cast to a whopping 39, along with new match making features and multiplayer adjustments, under the moniker Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition.
Although some of the balance adjustments made to the game this time round are much less welcome and only 4 additional characters make SSFIV AE seem like an unworthy addition in some people’s opinion, the fact remains that this is still the best fighting game available in the market today as you still get an awesome multiplayer experience and the ability to switch back to Super Street Fighter IV. Any fighting game fan wishing to get the most bang for their buck should seriously consider this as a must buy and one of the best fighting games to play of all time.
Get Street Fighter 4 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
Best Fighting Games To Play — Tekken 6 (Xbox 360, PS3, PSP)
The Tekken series is without a doubt one of the most prestigious and best fighting games to play, competing directly with the likes of Street Fighter; and Tekken 6 continues the tradition, offering the franchise’s biggest roster to date along with some great improvement to gameplay. Mechanics-wise, the game remains mostly the same from Tekken 5 and veterans will not find much new stuff to learn. Like its predecessors, this fighting game is easy to play, but hard to master, offering potential for some in-depth strategies and mind games.
Campaign mode in the fighting game is a dull affair and although it may seem as the main mode in the game, it is merely a distraction from the fighting game that lies underneath. But it offers a big roster and a lengthy scenario, and should appease those looking for some extra value from the game. The offline modes and online multiplayer are the main highlights of the game, and all use the tried and true Tekken fighting engine.
Players will get coins for almost every action performed in this fighting game this time round, with the main purpose being able to get extra customization items for every character and constantly earning the money for unlocking costumes is a great way to reward players that keep coming back for more. Tekken 6 lets gamers sink their teeth into one of the most enjoyable fighting game experience available on the planet, with the mechanics relatively unchanged from past titles, there are only four buttons to worry about and each is assigned to a limb of your character. It may seem simple and easy to pick up and play, but there is a deep system hidden under the surface of the simple interface.
Multiplayer action is also present in this fighting game and not only do players get one-on-one local matches, there is also a team battle option that allows you and a friend, or the computer, to pick out up to eight characters to fight with in a row. Reading your opponents moves and anticipating and interpreting their attacks is the most enjoyable element in the games.
Beginners might be able to get by in this fighting game by buttons mashing, but the fun and enjoyment follows when you start to get a hang of its intricate sub-systems. Tekken 6 has a lot to offer: a huge roster of interesting and well-balanced characters, great and refined gameplay, lots of modes to choose from, online multiplayer and seemingly endless character customization options. As one of the best fighting games to play, Tekken is not to be missed, and gamers still not familiar with this fighting game behemoth should give it a whirl.
Get Tekken 6 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PSP.
Best Fighting Games To Play — Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (Xbox 360, PS3)
The Marvel vs. Capcom series is fun and flashy, and best of all, it lets you pit characters from two separate universes, albeit imaginary, in a battle to the finish. Suffice to say, these are addictive fighting games to play and the third entry in the series, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, attempts to induce the same addiction in fans as its predecessors. The game is pretty good in coming up with some very obscure Marvel and Capcom heroes and villains that will give longtime fans of both worlds something to shout about, however, the game should not be taken as an expansive fighting game experience like the Street Fighter series. It is supposed to be fun, and the game does not fail in delivering a healthy amount of that promised element.
The core mechanics for the fighting game are fantastic, but hard to master, to say the least as the four main attack buttons have been remapped from two kicks and two punches to a set of light, medium, heavy and special attacks and now all characters have a move to launch opponents into the air for combos, and a shift to calling in partners through the assist buttons instead of pressing punch and kick. Veterans will have to learn many mechanics again due to the sweeping changes made to the game.
Although the basic format of the game is the same as its predecessors, the characters are pretty different, and visibly less than Marvel vs. Capcom 2′s roster of 56. However, the cast of 36 characters does not disappoint, and it seems Capcom has recognized the need for new characters as many new ones are available as DLC and even more will be available in the upcoming re-release of the game with the title Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
While the Marvel vs. Capcom series is often considered a button masher, it is anything but, and it can be quite difficult for new comers to adapt to its extremely fast pace and move sets, but a ‘Simple Mode’ is available that re-maps the three primary attack buttons to focus on special moves and abilities instead of strength-based punches or kicks.
Simply put, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 does not disappoint as one of the best fighting games to play when the mood hits, especially after a waiting period of a decade, bringing with it an astonishing balance and depth and making it easy to lose hours upon hours exploring team combinations and battle strategies in all the insanity the games induces. The fighting game is also great in the graphics department, especially in the fast paced action moments, and in all it is a game that is meant to be played by every fighting game fan.
Get a copy of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 for Xbox 360 and PS3.
Conclusion
Veterans in the fighting game scene will definitely gravitate towards Street Fighter or Tekken, while Marvel vs. Capcom has something for both new comers and experienced players in fighting games. All in all, I would recommend that you give each of these fighting games a chance before deciding on the ultimate realm where you will punish your opponents.
Which are the best fighting games you’ve played? Is there a game that should be in the top 3 and has been left out? Let us know in the comments.
