The Forgotten Capcom Fighting Evolution Returns on Nintendo Switch

Capcom Fighting Evolution is returning after 20 years in Capcom's latest collection. This Capcom crossover fighter joins the iconic video game franchise's underrated fighters in Capcom Fighting Collection 2. The previous Capcom Fighting Collection was released in 2022 and focused on their more popular video games. This list includes Rival Schools, Capcom Vs. SNK, Plasma Sword, and the Power Stone series. This collection also directly succeeds the Capcom Fighting Collection that came out two years ago.

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What is Capcom Fighting Evolution?

Capcom Fighting Evolution is a 2v2 head-to-head crossover fighting game. You play as iconic Capcom Characters and fight through numerous enemies. The final boss that you face off against is Pyron, the main antagonist of the first Darkstalkers game. If you have met the conditions, however, your secret opponent will be Shin Akuma. Both characters are available as secret characters.

At first glance, there is a lot that makes this game stand out. This game, however, is a Capcom fighter based using only Capcom-created fighters. Capcom often has a rich history with crossover products, like Marvel or Tatsunoko.

This helps the roster stand out from many of Capcom's other fighting projects. For example, this game features characters from three different Street Fighter games; Street Fighter II, Street Fighter Alpha, and Street Fighter III. In addition, underrated fighting games like Darkstalkers and Red Earth are also given focus in the roster.

Fighting Evolution Had a Bad Reputation

Capcom Fighting Evolution was released in 2004 to negative backlash from fighting game fans. The main criticisms focused on the game's apparent reuse of character sprites. Characters played the same previously as they did in other games, but they were missing frames. The lack of frames made certain characters look and play badly, which was off-putting to players. In addition, the series also lacked a proper representation of Capcom's fighting games. Street Fighter was given three separate slots, and while there were Darkstalkers playable, the iconic Morrigan was only listed as a cameo.

Capcom Fighting Evolution's roster has a distinct gimmick that lets them play differently. Each character has to play with the gimmicks and mechanics from the game they represent. For example, Ryu from Street Fighter II can perform a super combo at max level, but cannot use air blocks. Darkstalkers characters like Jedah Dohma can use enhanced versions of their base moves. Leo from Red Earth has a 'gem gauge' that lets them level up or unleash powerful attacks using gems. At first glance, this made the pool of characters diverse in how they could play. However, it also made them harder to balance due to how distinct they were.

Before Capcom Fighting Evolution

Capcom Fighting Evolution's reputation soured fans on the product and furthered the decline of 2D fighting games. The game's concept was not always like that, though. Capcom Fighting Evolution's ideas were done better by an earlier game; Capcom Fighting All-Stars. Capcom All-Stars was a canceled 3D fighting game that ended up influencing Evolution's ideas. All-Stars featured more franchises, including both Final Fight and Rival Schools. It also had a streamlined combat system that all the characters adhered to.

Capcom Fighting All-Stars featured an interesting story, focusing on the fictional 'Metro City' being in danger. A terrorist, named Death, threatens to destroy the city with a bomb named the 'Laughing Sun'. Mike Haggar, one of the main characters from Final Fight, organizes the various playable characters into a team to save Metro City. To defuse the bomb, the team has to find a bomb code, which is split into pieces. Each piece is held by one of The Codeholders, original characters in the game known as Ingrid, D.D., and Rook. Fighting All-Stars also had a time limit, and multiple endings depending on what time you beat the game.

A Fighting Game of Infamy

Capcom Fighting All-Stars was an ambitious project that was canceled before it's time. The main reason behind its cancellation was that it didn't 'feel' like a Street Fighter game. The beta tests in 2003 only provided them with negative feedback over how unfamiliar the game was. Despite the tragedy, the game found a way to live on through the much more maligned Capcom Fighting Evolution. Ingrid was even featured as a playable character and implemented Fighting All-Star's combat system as her style.

Capcom Fighting Evolution is an interesting game when looking at the ideas it came up with. It is a unique concept that very much owes its success to its time. Capcom's fighting games were changing, and a transition to the modern 3D style was needed. Capcom Fighting Evolution lacked passion, and the game suffered from it. However, the game's flaws also make it a unique analysis for 2D-3D fighters. Capcom Fighting Evolution is not out yet, as it is going to be released in 2025. However, the game is still worth the click if you want to play one of Capcom's more quirky projects.

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This article was originally written by Alexander Miles.