Capcom’s finest prepare to duke it out with one of Japan’s most celebrated animation studios, but does this old-school brawler have the killer instinct required to survive in a market recently rejuvenated by stable mate Street Fighter IV? Read our Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars Nintendo Wii review for the answer.
Once the world’s most beloved video gaming genre, the humble 2D one-on-one fighter had fallen dangerously out of favour until Capcom managed to kick-start the planet’s interest again with the simply sublime Street Fighter IV early last year. However, when approaching Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars – which is the latest instalment in the company’s famous universe-colliding “crossover” franchise – it’s vital that you remember that this is a very different beast.
While Street Fighter IV called for the player to adopt a highly disciplined and tactical fighting style, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is all about the glitz and glamour. Even a fairly uneventful bout has the potential to transform your television into a hyper-active whirlwind of activity; special moves cause the very fabric of space and time to alter and the more aggressive attacks are so exuberant in their potency it’s a wonder your TV doesn’t spontaneously combust under the eye-searing strain.
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However, for all its astonishing visual effects, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is actually a far more streamlined experience than Street Fighter IV. Only three attack buttons are required (as opposed to the traditional six-button layout) and simple combinations of these buttons grant access to elements such as character-switching (you always have two fighters on your team) and taunting your opponent.
Having featured well-known Marvel comics characters in past instalments – including Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk – Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is a break from the norm because half of the roster is made up of brawlers lifted from numerous obscure Japanese anime series. While veterans of the ‘80s might recognise a few faces from Gatchaman (which was released in this part of the world as Battle of the Planets, or G-Force), the rest of Tatsunoko’s roster is going to be thoroughly alien to all but the most devoted anime enthusiast.
Not that it’s a massive problem because these colourful combatants remain just as much fun to use as their Capcom counterparts and in many cases the opportunity to explore new fighting styles is a thoroughly welcome one, especially when you consider how many times we’ve begrudgingly settled for the over-familiar likes of Ryu or Chun Li in the past.
To top it all off Tatsunoko vs. Capcom also features incredibly stable online play with the bare minimum of lag or latency. There’s even a ranking mode which tracks your multiplayer progress and ensures you always face-off against an opponent of comparable skill.
The only prospective fly in the ointment is that Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is almost unplayable on anything other than a Classic Controller or dedicated arcade stick, but once you’ve invested in one of these interface options there is nothing to stop you from experiencing one of the finest 2D fighters of recent memory.
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