Gameplay - ★★★
Roster - ★★★
Graphics - ★★★★
Sound - ★★★

So I ran through the arcade version of this game and to be fair, was quite surprised by it.

The game is a 2D fighter reminiscent of Street Fighter in almost every regard. It's SNK, so that's to be expected of the time to be honest, as Capcom and SNK were synonymous of each other at the time in the arcades.

As far as the game goes, gameplay is pretty decent, with only some things leaving me scratching my head as I progressed through the arcade. After Stage 3, the difficulty really ramps up a whole lot, which makes it difficult to actually learn anything when the AI is doing max damage combos for each character you face.

The mechanics of the game are underwhelming but interesting, having 2 modes, "Speed" and "Power" - This does as you could expect. Speed gives you access to combos and 1 frame links, whereas power focuses on more poke heavy gameplay and rewards smart use of your specials, outputting heavy damage but punishing you heavier for fucking up. There is also a parry button which I find interesting, but overall honestly, I didn't end up using it all that much. I'm sure better players would have used this to its full advantage, but I am not one of them.

So it plays like the average 2D fighter of the time and graphically the game slaps. The soundtrack is crisp but nothing too memorable. The roster is decent, but no-one really caught my eye on who to play as to be honest. Overall it's generally a decent 2D Fighter. I could have done a lot worse with picking this one to play next.

Gameplay - ★
Roster - ★
Graphics - ★
Sound - ★★

So, I'm not even really sure why 2024 has started me off here, but it has.

This game is. Bad. Like, very bad. Roster is small, the graphics leave a lot to be desired, the game has remarkably less frames of animation than the original street fighter on the DOS that came out 20 years earlier than this, Donkey has meth teeth. Overall, just miserable.

No story, but there is a practice mode, which is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard considering there are only two buttons, so not a particularly hard game to master. There are hadouken inputs for each character though. Actually you could argue these are the only inputs worth using, as even the AI thinks so, spamming them a lot faster than you can, so good luck with that.

So most games I touch on the mechanics, so here's the rundown. Two buttons. Punch and more punch. Motion inputs, and a special bar that just, doesn't work - I pressed every button combo I could think of but just couldn't find the combination that worked. Also weirdly there's death pits - Holes in the map that act as insta death. Yeah, these are traps just for the player, because the AI sure as shit isn't falling in them.

This game has no redeeming qualities. I could have played absolutely anything else. Tekken 8 is out for fuck sake. What on earth am I doing with my time. But instead I got to stare at all 3 frames of animation each barely recognisable character had. Do not bother, this game is miserable.

Gameplay - ★★★
Roster - ★★
Graphics - ★★★★
Sound - ★★★

So, Virtua Fighter 3 was an absolute nightmare to get my hands on, considering MAME doesn't work for it, and instead I had to get a Sega Model 3 emulator, which in case you haven't heard of that, I wouldn't blame you as to be honest, I hadn't heard of it either up until I went to emulate the game.

Aside from that, when it was running, my lord was it a treat. Lets start with the gameplay. So problems aside from it being a little bit clunky with the dodge buttons, the layout was clean and generally had no problems whatsoever in terms of actually playing the game, and actually found myself wanting to learn how to play it more as I went along, something which isn't really something I tend to do. There are no command lists, as this is an arcade release, but the fact that it makes you want to put more money in to complete a full run is something else, and isn't too difficult either, which is both a blessing and a curse, as although it is relatively easy to complete, it would be nicer if the AI had half a brain, though at this point, I'm not sure whether that's just me adjusting to the jank that is old fighting games.

The stages are my favourite part of the game by far. They're unique, with different levels of height, with my personal favourite being the desert stage purely because of how aesthetically amazing it actually looks. the ring out is also super satisfying with characters essentially ragdolling off the side. General graphics look great for the time as well, with 3D models that although primitive definitely have some charm to them.

There isn't a whole lot bad to say about this game to be completely honest. I think that there is definitely room for improvement, but even the sound is great. Not overly-amazing, and not quite as iconic as say Street Fighter or Tekken, but strong nonetheless - hell even the new stage sound sticks out in my mind during transitions.

Aside from that, unfortunately the game is marked down for the hitboxes/Iframes being inconsistent at best, as well as a lack of variety in the move department. There isn't a whole lot of commands per character, each character plays somewhat the same and each arcade run can be complete relatively easy. I think that with some time it would be easier to work out what character is good at what, and there is clearly some balance issues I can see within the small roster of 16, with some characters having access to much quicker moves off the mark, and some moves just outright having terrible hitboxes. The game is fun at face value, but with enough time, you could definitely find a way to abuse the systems in place, and there aren't many to be honest.

I think that's another issue I had with the game, and that's how bland everything actually is. There isn't a whole lot of variety to be had in the game, and that's through no fault of the game itself as I truly do believe that the game pushed itself to a technical limit with the stage height mechanic and sound design. Almost as if the height itself acts as a fighting game mechanic not too dissimilar to Tekken 4.

I could go back to this game and enjoy a run of it any time, but wouldn't spend longer than half an hour doing so.


Gameplay - ★
Roster - ★★
Graphics - ★★
Sound - ★★

Honestly, there is nothing great to say about EITHER versions of this game. I played both the super Famicom and Sega Genesis versions through and yet still I cannot fathom how absolutely abhorrent this game truly is.

I can give a few things a pass on this - graphics is probably the high point of this game on both versions, but better on the genesis. The controls are, weird to say the least on the SNES, with light and heavy punches and kicks respectively. No command list, but it seems they have taken a leaf out of street fighter's book for this one.

The SNES version of the game plays weirdly. Almost as if every special outside of projectiles are very Bison esque, with ways to travel across the screen, and even less ways to punish it, with Raphael's AI continually doing his version of a Psycho crusher, leaving you open to a grab, something which isn't too dissimilar to SF2 Bison, where there is no way to tech grabs in this. Annoying, but not completely out of options.

The roster is a bit of a strange one, with War swapping out for Ray, and Casey replacing Shredder, as well as some random other character being swapped with April.

Overall, the aesthetic, roster, and feel go to the Genesis version, but neither perform well, and both feel painful to play. No way of training or labbing without going against an AI that can read your inputs as was common for the day, no way of knowing what characters have charge inputs and what ones follow Shoto rules, and no real feedback when attacking either. The only thing that the game had going for it was that if you closed your eyes, you could sort of imagine that you were playing street fighter. Well, that would be if the god awful sound design didn't destroy your immersion.

The sound on this game is terrible. The game in general is terrible. There are very few redeeming factors to this game, and I spent way too long trying to come up with arguments for it. The only thing I can possibly let it off for was sprite work and stages as honestly, the gritty look of the Genesis version really does look decent for the time. Other than that, I don't think I'll be picking this one up again any time soon. I think one or two arcade runs are good enough for this to leave it well alone.

Gameplay - ★★
Roster - ★★
Graphics - ★★★
Sound - ★★

Injustice really does just fall short of everything that I want out of a fighting game. The games feel clunky to play - there's a weird weight to everything you do - the roster is sub-par, with characters that honestly I could care less about. The graphics are a redeeming feature, as is probably the single player. Mechanics are the same as the first with small tweaks.

Sure the combo system is okay, but overall it's just forgettable. I'm certain that people with more of an affinity to DC would enjoy it more than myself but from my point of view, I can't stand it in a world where NRS make solid games but manage to fumble the bag so heavily when it comes to Injustice

Gameplay - ★★★★
Roster - ★★
Graphics - ★★★
Sound - ★★★

Honestly this is a weird one. To say this is a fighting game is baffling but it is, by all intents and purposes a fighting game. It has combos, it has fun, it's weirdly fast paced? I don't know what to make of it.

Honestly, the game is nothing like what the others are. It's a turn based fighting game - the premise is so out there and yet, it works? Think Toribash, except you're selecting applicable moves and mechanics from a command list versus moving individual limbs - Reminds me of being younger and watching stickman fights but you control the animation. I'd be lying if I said I didn't spend a stupid amount of time just seeing what works and what doesn't.

Overall, there really isn't anything like it. A limited roster, limited graphics and limited everything slightly drags it back, but for what it is and the platform that the dev has created for people to go in with workshop and add things to is amazing

Gameplay - ★★★★
Roster - ★★
Graphics - ★★★★
Sound - ★★

Okay, so this has been a while since I've done a review and Street Fighter is the reason. I've played the game a decent amount on release to the point of burnout, but can confidently say that I have seen what I need to to review it.

Capcom stepped their game up from their previous title, which honestly isn't all that hard. They innovated with the World Tour mode allowing you to make your own character and play through a story which honestly, I couldn't recall if I wanted to, but regardless of that, it was fun to play around with customisation and to start fights with random old women on the street by just uppercutting them and that alone is probably worth the price tag.

The game does fall short in a few places, namely the huge reliance on drive rush and impact, the roster being 16 characters on release (this one is a non-issue to some degree), toxic microtransactions and battle passes on a game which does not need it seeing as the game was full price anyway, and overall just a horrible user interface which isn't terrible when you get the hang of it, but having to explain how the invite system works to everyone you come across is mentally taxing, where back in the day, it was as easy as creating a lobby and inviting your friends.

Visually the game looks great and has a clear stylisation that makes it unique from anything we've seen from street fighter previously, with a more dark and gritty look, but on the flipside of that you have the absolute terrible OST that would need completely redoing if it were to spare your hearing.

Despite this, it's still a good and balanced game, with each character having clear winning and losing matchups and strengths, with universal mechanics making every character somewhat viable in a world where balance isn't something that is easy to achieve. I think that the small roster is what makes this possible, although it would have been nicer to get more for what you pay for. A single player mode that people aren't really incentivised to play as you don't get that much currency from it for unlocks. It's a fun single-player mode, but I feel as though everything gets very similar all too quick - Story has never been a strong point in fighting games and even having one is a huge plus, but for me the mode is forgettable.

Gameplay - ★★★
Roster - ★★★
Graphics - ★★★
Sound - ★★

This was actually a breath of fresh air in comparison to the first one (thanks to @slibslime for the recommendation) - The combo system is great this time around, actually feels like a playable game in comparison and I love it weirdly. I want to say that it still has some issues, such as no command list for any characters, but this time around it feels more complete and feels more like a modern fighting game. I enjoyed playing it, but falls short.

Also, Professor X sweep with his wheelchair

Gameplay - ★
Roster - ★★
Graphics - ★★★
Sound - ★★★½

So this is a shame. I wanted to enjoy this game, but just couldn't bring myself to actually bother to play it much further. Feels poor to control, with no training room, no proper single player content and just poor execution all round really.

Gameplay - ★★★½
Roster - ★
Graphics - ★★½
Sound - ★½

So I wanted to like this one - I labbed characters to get a hold of the mechanics but honestly? I just couldn't seem to get to grips with it. Game is floaty gameplay wise and struggles to really get off the ground. The ring out mechanics are interesting, as they make it so that the fighters stick to the arena specified, but honestly, roster is poor, sound design is equally as poor and game is very unmemorable

Gameplay - ★★★½
Roster - ★★★★½
Graphics - ★★★
Sound - ★★½

Honestly, this is a strong contender for my favourite game I have played so far. The game feels great to play, with a decent variety in characters, old and new (Skullomania sweep tho). Super fun game and honestly with some more time, could easily be higher than just 4. Sound is a bit lackluster, and stages are also kinda meh, but other than that, great game, with trials and unique mechanics adding to the combo system

Gameplay - ★★½
Roster - ★½
Graphics - ★★★
Sound - ★½

Game is fun to play with friends, and works decently well, with a nice stylised feel to the graphics, and plenty of mechanics to unpack that make it feel decent to play, but falls into a trap of most characters being clones of one another, so the characters never truly feel that unique. Sound design and stages aren't memorable at all. Can be fun in places but doesn't really make much of an impact on me

Going forward, want to make this the standard for my reviews - stars are out of 5
Gameplay - ★★
Roster - ★★
Graphics - ★★★
Sound - ★★

Multiversus is okay for the most part. I'm sure given more time this could be great, BUT, the game falls into the trap of not being unique enough from what it was cloned from, not to mention gameplay wise, it doesn't have the same feel as other platform fighters do. The aesthetic of the game is good, but falls short of being anything too memorable. I'm sure casually with friends the game would be fun, but it's not for me.

Honestly, it's okay. It's nice to see where the marvel mechanics come from, and it is great movement and mechanic wise, but it's not for me.

The reason this is rated so high is that it has some serious potential when it comes to being able to play and learn more, and I'm sure that the systems surrounding this game are great, but it falls victim to having a limited roster, as well as then also not having an in-game training mode and limited on the amount of credits you have for an arcade run, which is good to some degree for those that want a challenge, but not if you have no clue what you are doing and are learning the controls as you go through.

Despite all that, the gameplay feels nice to play once you get the hang of it. Just, no way of doing it other than trial and error. Audio graphics not so strong but nicely stylised I think.

Yeah, I'm not gonna go into too much detail with this one.

8 characters. All play terribly. Game is horrible. Visually not the worst game I've played of this era but definitely one of the more visually miserable