Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors has an appreciable amount of video game genius. Whereas many fighting games of the current century push out contrived story modes, Darkstalkers uses energetic and detailed visuals for more organic and impactful storytelling. See how Sasquatch's animations and stage reinvent the Bigfoot legend as a communal, lovable creature, or how Victor's level, with its day/night cycle and remnants of violence, serves as a frighteningly appropriate homage to Mary Shelley's classic novel. The graphics are so evocative and rich in meaning that they're liable to distract one from battle. Indeed, part of the key to mastering Darkstalkers is growing accustomed to its creative weirdness. No mere Street Fighter II esque cash grab, the game is mechanically ahead of its time with its air blocks and EX specials, setting the table for Capcom's future Street Fighter titles and the flashy (and troublingly overrated) Marvel series. Darkstalkers even produces unique suspense with its super bar that depletes with time, forcing players to make smart decisions faster. In today's world where philosophically bankrupt fanboys cheer on a neverending pandering cycle of crossover guest stars in fighters, they just don't make them like Darkstalkers anymore.