Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection was only released on September 12, but the legend of a player called the "Wazzler" is already spreading.

According to Steam reviews, this guy is like Thanos; running into him on ranked is inevitable. The unholy beatdowns he delivers are, too. It all makes perfect sense, though, because the Wazzler is none other than Justin Wong, 9-time EVO champion and the greatest Marvel vs Capcom player of all time.

Getting bulled in a fighting game by Wong is nothing new. For example, a clip of him showing an eight-year-old the ropes in Mortal Kombat X has made its rounds on the internet for years. But Marvel vs Capcom is Justin's specialty, and this time, it's adults quitting the game in frustration.

The first mention of the Wazzler comes from Steam user "TongOfDmg," who claimed that their run-in not only ruined his night but drove him to refund the game. Meanwhile, several other users have left reviews warning of the impending danger of Wazzler and the dire consequences of his wrath.

But maybe they've got Justin all wrong. Maybe, in a twisted way, his reign of terror is for the benefit of mankind. I mean, Steam user "formerly" said they made their entire family dinner while locked in an Iron Man combo. And anyone who brings family together like that is alright in my book.

Justin himself seems to be having fun with the situation and acknowledged it on his Twitter. But what he said next might shake Marvel players to their core. After reaching the number one rank on the Steam and PlayStation 4 ladders, he announced the Nintendo Switch would be next.

It appears no platform is safe from his expanding empire, and I worry for myself and other Xbox players when the MvC collection comes to Xbox One next year. The only certainty is that if you dare go online with the Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection, you must beware Wazzler.

The post Justin Wong is terrorizing the online ladder in MvC Fighting Collection appeared first on Destructoid.

The Z Fighters are ready for Battle!

Bandai Namco released the latest update of Dragon Ball FighterZ earlier this week. Version 1.38 sees major changes to both character balance and universal system mechanics.

The new balance patch is DBFZ's first in over a year and comes nearly seven months after the game received a long-awaited rollback netcode update on February 28. The patch was handled by Bandai Namco and the developer Arc System Works in a team effort.

Version 1.38 focuses on increasing player options and game speed by buffing character damage and pressure sequences, and decreasing the effectiveness of over-centralizing mechanics. Other changes include buffs to anti-air attacks, invincible super moves, and the speed of normal attacks.

Overview of Changes

Z Assist (C Type)

C Type assists received a universal nerf by having their cooldown time increased. The move retains its ability to generate huge advantages and mixup opportunities but will no longer be the highly abusable tactic it has been in previous patches.

Sparking Blast

Players can now Super Dash or perform Special Moves out of any Special Move while Sparking Blast's effect is active. This change boosts the overall power level of all characters and allows players to have greatly increased freedom of expression when attacking or juggling their opponent.

Anti Air Attacks

Certain invincible moves that could only be stopped with crouching heavy attacks now have increased vulnerability to anti-air attacks, increasing player options for dealing with approaching opponents.

Super Moves

The invincibility of Super Moves for each character starts faster, giving them increased utility.

Special Moves

Light, medium, and heavy variations of Special Moves now count as separate attacks towards the Z combo limit. This change gives players enhanced freedom of expression in their combo routes.

Normal Moves

Many normal attacks are now faster and remain active for a longer period of time. Some characters received new attack extensions or the ability to extend attacks even after missing the opponent.

Dragon Ball FighterZ Version 1.38 Full Patch Notes

Dragon Ball FighterZ Patch Notes 1.38: Battle version requires updating, meaning previous version replays will no longer be viewable.

The post Dragon Ball FighterZ – new patch, big changes, Version 1.38 appeared first on Destructoid.

It's not an understatement to say that 2XKO is one of the most highly anticipated fighting games of 2025, as the title brought the world of Runeterra and many of its champions to the new genre in a way not even the most optimistic fans expected.

But as many might have realized during its tests, although welcoming, the game has a pretty steep learning curve, especially for those new to fighting games in general. To help you get ready for its official debut, here are the 10 best fighting games to play while waiting for 2XKO.

Street Fighter 6

• Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S/X, and PC
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
• Does it have crossplay? Yes

To start with the obvious picks we have Street Fighter 6, the game that injected new blood into the most decorated franchise in fighting games history through a new visual approach and the debut of way more dynamic mechanics, such as its Drive system.

That mix makes the game both one of the best titles in the market for those looking to fight to their heart's content, as well as a premier pick for those looking to learn the fundamentals of what a fighting game is all about. After all, if you want to learn, who better to teach you than the franchise responsible for lighting the genre ablaze?

Guilty Gear Strive

• Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S/X, and PC
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
• Does it have crossplay? Yes

The latest title in the Guilty Gear franchise and its most successful release in decades, Guilty Gear Strive brings to the table a reinvention of the franchise's signature fast-paced combat style, all while keeping its hardcore DNA intact. That means that although considerably easier to approach when compared to previous GG titles, courtesy of its straightforward universal mechanics and wide array of easy-to-perform but great-to-execute combos, Strive will still demand a lot of precision and quick thinking if you wish to truly rock the battlefield.

BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle

• Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and PC
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
• Does it have crossplay? No

A 2v2 tag title that mixes characters from the BlazBlue, Persona Arena, Under Night In-Birth, and even RWBY IPs, BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle shies away from the franchises' known execution-heavy combat style in favor of a more casual friendly approach.

But don't worry, as even if not as demanding as many would wish at the start, Cross Tag Battle still shines as a technical beast, where performing optimal combos will demand just as much discipline and mastery as fans are right to expect.

The King Of Fighters XV

• Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S/X, and PC
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
• Does it have crossplay? Yes

Featuring the latest iteration of KOF's signature tag approach, where players pick an order at the start and can only swap between characters after the one in the field is defeated, King Of Fighters XV is both a great fighting game overall and one of the best for those looking to get the hang of mastering multiple mains at once. The game is also way more lenient execution-wise when compared to the old-school KOF titles, thus making it a perfect entry point for those new to the franchise.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

• Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S/X, and PC
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
• Does it have crossplay? Yes

A spin-off to the acclaimed Granblue Fantasy franchise, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising brings to the table the mix of unmatched presentation and high technical selling Arc System Works is known for. You will also find in the game's simple input feature —which allows players to perform skills through one to two-input combinations—one of the best tools for those both new to the scene and intermediate fighters. Honestly, the way the game allows you to mix the simple and standard technical inputs makes the feature a godsend for those still learning the timing of their combos.

GFVR is also the only game here to have a free version. Currently available on all of its platforms, the version offers newcomers the ability to get a feel of the game, and take Gran and a few other characters to battle in select online and offline modes.

Marvel vs Capcom Infinite

• Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S/X, and PC
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
• Does it have crossplay? Yes

Released in 2017, Marvel vs Capcom Infinite brought fans the return of the franchises' 2v2 style featured before Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes in 2000, a feat that unfortunately was overshadowed by the game's unremarkable presentation and half-baked state at launch. But if you manage to go past that, Infinite does bring to the table the quality one can expect of a Capcom tag-fighter, as we can see in its well-implemented new mechanics, improvements in overall gameplay, and now-well-balanced roster.

Right now can also be considered the best time to dive into the game, as the Marvel vs Capcom Infinite & Beyond mod project, which is spearheaded by content creator Maximilian Dood and is set to bring to it both a visual upgrade and some gameplay-related changes, is currently in production.

Dragon Ball FighterZ

• Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and PC
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
• Does it have crossplay? Yes

A game that puts players in the shoes of many of the most powerful warriors of Akira Toriyama's franchise, Dragon Ball FighterZ made a splash by fusing a never-seen-before fidelity to the source material with an action-packed spin on the tag-fighter genre.

A 3v3 fighter which, in a manner similar to the Marvel Vs. Capcom franchise, works as a trial-by-fire for all looking to learn how to block efficiently and steadily open opponents for damage, Dragon Ball FighterZ will force you to either learn or watch your whole team get obliterated.

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 (2016)

• Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S/X, and PC
• Does it have rollback netcode? No
• Does it have crossplay? No

The middle point between the more-grounded approach of MVCI and the flashy style of Dragon Ball FighterZ, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 brings to players a more refined version of the high-speed combat system seen in MvC2, all paired with a roster of 50+ members.

True to that and taking into account its high execution demand, the game can also be considered the ideal pick for those looking to learn how to actively use assists and carry long combos. Believe me, learning to carry your combos in UMvC3 will make you fit to play any character you wish, no matter your fighting game of choice.

Skullgirls 2nd Encore

• Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and PC
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
• Does it have crossplay? No

One of the most stylish fighting games to ever hit the market, Skullgirls 2nd Encore is a safe bet for all looking for a tag-fighter, as the title brings a unique feel through its noir style and over-the-top animations, the latter which gives birth to just as engaging as they are out of pocket combos.

The game's approach to team building is also a huge plus, as even if players can —like in most tag fighters— take the field with fewer characters than their opponents in up to 1v3 battles, doing so in Skullgirls will offer stat boosts. That makes learning your mains less overwhelming, as you can steadily increase your team size while staying competitive.

Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid

• Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and PC
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
• Does it have crossplay? Yes

Released in 2019, following the success of the Boom Studios' Shattered Grid event, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid can be considered the best title within our list for those looking to get comfortable with 2XKO, as the game showcases a straightforward approach to specials, while also being focused ground-based combat and revolving around similar combo structures. The only downside here lies in the game's current player base, which is definitely on the low side, even when compared to more dated titles.

Now that you know what to play while waiting for 2XKO, don't forget to also check out all of the game's confirmed champions.

The post 10 best fighting games to play while waiting for 2XKO appeared first on Destructoid.

With Dr. Doom the focal point of the current Fortnite season, players will have to confront one of the better-known antagonists from Marvel Comics. However, those with a keen eye who play fighting games may notice that Doom has an attack hearkening back to his Marvel vs. Capcom (MvC) days.

Players partaking in the new Absolute Doom season are feeling the wrath of the very notorious "foot dive" move he performs in Marvel vs. Capcom 3. On Twitter, user CaptainGalxy highlighted Dr. Doom's signature hit as it appears in Fortnite — and it looks like plenty of folks have nostalgia for it.

It seems like Victor von Doom leaps into the air, charges up with a glowing green aura, and announces his attack with an insult-to-injury "you're beneath me" quip. Take the hit or move out of the way, as it won't kill you, but it will disorient you from its pushback. This has to be an intentional nod to the Marvel vs. Capcom fighting game franchise.

With the resurgence of the Marvel fighting games, namely the first two, this obvious nod to the franchise is just what we need to keep the momentum going. What better way is there to build hype than to possibly reenact the iconic moments between characters who appear in these older titles and who are now in Fortnite?  

As someone who puts dozens of hours a month into fighting games, this crossover, especially with its detailed fan-service additions, make the new season of Fortnite that much more enticing to hop back into. This really is the “New Age of Heroes” in a different coat of paint. Hopefully, some of these collaborations bring those who aren’t even into Fortnite out, at least to see how far it has evolved since the “OG” days.

The post Fortnite’s Dr. Doom gets his MvC foot dive in the latest season appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the most highly anticipated fighting game releases outside of the big three, 2XKO will allow players to take control of their favorite League of Legends champions in 2v2 battles where team synergy and mastery are the keys to success.

But given how League's roster is composed of more than 160+ playable characters, it's a given that the large majority of them won't be featured in the spinoff. So that you can see if any of your favorites made the cut, here are all of the champions and skins confirmed to be present in 2XKO.

All 2XKO confirmed champions and skins

The 2XKO roster is currently composed of Ahri, Yasuo, Darius, Ekko, Illaoi, and Braum, with the Hero of Freljord being its latest addition. It's also worth mentioning that Jinx is all but confirmed to join the above, as glimpses of her early gameplay can be seen in a few Riot Games videos focused on the title. You can check out more on each of the confirmed characters below, which includes a look at all of their skins.

Ahri

One of the first champions ot join the 2XKO roster and an absolute fan favorite, Ahri is a rush-down character who excels at applying pressure from both close and mid-range. She also has in her projectiles the right tools to keep opponents in check and open them up for highly damaging mixups on both the ground and the air.

All 2XKO Ahri skins

The only announced skin for the nine-tailed fox in 2XKO is Dynasty Ahri. Like in the original game and as you can see below, apart from her overall look, the skin also changes the color of both her Foxfire orbs and effects to bright pink. Like with each champion's default look, all skins in 2XKO also have color variants.

Yasuo

Equally beloved and hated by the game's community, Yasuo is a character who excels at neutral given his ability to deflect projectiles by performing Wind Wall and the range of his normals/specials. His biggest tool, however, lies in his Calm stance, which enables long-range attacks and can be canceled from any of his specials for extended combos and highly damaging mix-ups.

All 2XKO Yasuo skins

Bladesong Yasuo is the only Yasuo skin revealed for 2XKO. Featuring a look that led to many Varus comparisons upon its reveal, the skin was —like Dynasty Ahri— made available for the first time during the game's August 2024 Alpha Lab test. No skins apart from Dynasty Ahri and Bladesong Yasuo were revealed at the time of writing.

Darius

Featured as part of the game's roster since the world first learned about what would become 2XKO, Darius is a mid-range heavy hitter capable of keeping opponents locked in place through both range and might. That is further amplified by his ability to apply the Wound effect to targets, which boosts your duo's block (or chip) damage against them. But be careful, as the effect will end and need to be reapplied after any member of your team takes damage.

Ekko

A mix-up machine and one of the game's most technical but rewarding characters, Ekko excels through his ability to perform unthinkable reversals and cross-ups by activating his Z-Drive, which allows him to place afterimages in the field and then rewind to their position at will. As we can expect of a prodigy, he also has in his Attempt #37 Ultimate a great tool, as it can be performed as a counter to either escape tricky situations or finish a match with style.

Illaoi

Even if having in her high-damaging normals and more straightforward specials a great source of damage, Illaoi has in her ability to spam tentacles in the field her biggest differential, as they can either automatically attack opponents or perform follow-ups. That allows the Truth Bearer of Nagakabouros to excel at controlling the tide of battle, all while also being capable of performing extended combos. Just keep in mind that the tentacles can be easily destroyed by a single hit.

Braum

A heavy-hitter capable of freezing opponents on the spot, Braun is a character that mixes utility with a solid defense, the latter a fruit of his ability to shield himself and his ally by performing Stand Behind Me. He can also acquire Unbreakable by performing certain moves, which will provide armor. Unbreakable can also be spent to power up many of his specials, such as The Heart of the Freljord, as well as his assists.

When will 2XKO be released?

2XKO is set to be released in 2025 for both PC and current-gen consoles —PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. As you wait for the game to be released, don't forget to also check out our League of Legends Swarm Tier List.

The post 2XKO roster: All confirmed champions and skins appeared first on Destructoid.

Broken characters are not a strange concept for fighting game fans, as even the most cherished and acclaimed franchises within the genre have a few within their mix.

But which among this wide array of infamous faces can be considered the strongest, or for some, most unfair? For all looking to see where their worst nightmares sit at the table, here are the 10 most broken fighting game characters in history.

10. Phoenix/Dark Phoenix (Marvel Vs Capcom 3)

Although one of the most fragile members of its roster, Phoenix opens our list for one reason above all, she has a boss-like second phase. To be more specific, Phoenix can turn into Dark Phoenix and recover all of her HP in all MvC3 versions if defeated while having five-meter bars. But like most bosses, she does not simply rise from the ashes, as the health regen is paired with a full-screen Hyper, a 20% All DMG boost, and the ability to perform enhanced versions of all of her already upper-tier moves.

As a statement of how good the character is, even after being heavily nerfed with the release of Marvel Vs Capcom Ultimate, Phoenix is still one of the most broken members of its roster to this day.

9. Hilde (SoulCalibur IV)

One of the most straightforward characters here, Soulcalibur IV's Hilde terrorized the community in the game's heyday given her long-range and known Doom Combo, which allows her to either get a guarantee ring-out from almost anywhere in most stages or start a massively damaging loop by chaining set charged attacks.

To no one's surprise, that caused her to be eventually banned from multiple tournaments, as matches involving her would often end as soon as she managed to score a hit.

8. Bayonetta (Super Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS)

In 2016, Nintendo decided to stay true to a fraction of Bayonetta's true power for her debut as the final DLC of Super Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS (or 4), which resulted in the Umbra Witch being able to zero-to-death targets no matter her placement by performing Witch Twist mixups. But wait, what if you beat her to the punch? In this case, she can, to this day, lock you in place by performing Witch Time for a guaranteed combo as well as stop you on your tracks from a distance by using a wide array of different projectiles that, if hit, will open you for a TOD.

Even if nerfed heavily since her debut, it's no surprise why many still dread meeting Bayonetta when returning to SSB4 on either its native platforms or on the Nintendo Switch.

7. Pet Shop (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future)

One of the most well-known broken characters in fighting game history and a highlight in a game famous for its unbalance, Heritage for the Future's Pet Shop is the definition of a frustrating matchup, as apart from being able to automatically avoid lows and flying to create distance, he can also make use of homing projectiles and hit you at all times by dropping stalagmites with his Icicle Break Special.

The latter is what segments his spot here, as his ability to use the ability while being attacked and freely act while his projectiles are on the screen allows Pet Shop to perform multiple unblockable mixups, many known to lead to TODs.

6. Sailor Uranus (Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Jougai Rantou!? Shuyaku Soudatsusen)

Arc System Works's Sailor Moon S is, for many, the most broken fighting game ever released, given its over-the-top damage calculations and easy TODs, but no member of its roster comes close to Sailor Uranus. The reason for that does not lie in her damage or the various applications of one of her specials. Instead, it's all about her broken Shadow Dash move, which allows Uranus to traverse almost the entire screen at unmatched speed and becomes invincible if performed as a reversal when on the player 2 side.

The above allows her to both avoid most attacks and perform easy punishers, which can lead to her TODs and a few highly damaging special moves. Like most characters here, Uranus is currently banned from many competitions.

5. Lab Coat Android 21 (Dragon Ball FighterZ)

Lab Coat Android 21 is both Dragon Ball FighterZ 's last DLC character and one of the most recent personifications of DLC-meta. The reason? She was in a league of her own at launch by having both no noticeable weaknesses and the ability to lower the DMG of enemies by 21% while also increasing her Special DMG by the same amount through her Photon Pulse command grab —which, of course, could be easily performed mid-combo for a guaranteed hit.

The above led to the character being slightly nerfed a few months post its release, as well as banned from multiple tournaments. Today, Lab Coat 21 is still considered a top tier, even if she is no longer alone at the top.

4. Meta Knight (Super Smash Bros Brawl)

Super Smash Bros. Brawl's version of Meta Knight is considered by many as the most broken character the Smash franchise has ever produced, a title he earned in part given his phenomenal mobility, omnidirectional moves, and ability to juggle opponents to oblivion through his Shuttle Loop attack. The biggest reason, however, lies in his ability to stall, as Meta Knight players can force time-out wins by both planking and then siz-zagging (or scrooging) below the arena or by performing his vanishing move Dimensional Cape before making a series of key inputs to trigger a glitch and stop him from reappearing.

As a surprise to no one, the above saw Kirby's rival being banned from multiple competitions, while those who still consider him legal decided to apply specific rules to guarantee fair play.

3. Gill (Street Fighter 2nd Impact and 3rd Strike)

Another character capable of resurrecting, Gill is infamously considered the most broken character in the Street Fighter 3 series, which says a lot considering the series' other great surprises, such as 2nd Impact's Ibuki.

Available for the first time in the home console port of 2nd Impact, Gill brings to the field all you can expect of a boss character by pairing his already-mentioned ability to come back at full life with unblockable AoE suppers and the ability to deal massive amounts of chip damage, the latter which can cause you to be defeated without him having to land a single clear hit. To top it all off, he can also perform TODs.

2. Akuma (Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo)

Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo's Akuma is both one of the most ruthless bosses in fighting game history and one of its most broken fighters. Showcasing what I can only assume to be a lore-accurate description of the Destroyer of the Heavens, Akuma can send off extremely fast projectiles, has access to an unbelievable on-air fireball, and can perform improved versions of all of Ryu and Ken's moves. That is then paired with the highest damage in the game and an ability to —like Pet Shop— perform unblockable mixups at will.

1. Ivan Ooze (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition)

The most infamous face when the subject is broken characters and by far the most unfair to ever be featured in a fighting game, MMPR: The Fighting Edition's Ivan Ooze is a nightmare capable of performing a wide array of spammable and multi-hit homing moves, most of which possess invincible variants. Also, did I mention that he is immune to throws, is the only character in the game capable of flying, and makes his inability to block meaningless through the way all of his moves —that's right, all of them— can lead to TODs?

Now that you know who are the most broken characters to ever debut in a fighting game, don't forget to also check out the 10 best fighting games that aren't Street Fighter, Tekken, or MK.

The post The 10 most broken fighting game characters in history appeared first on Destructoid.

Riot Games has begun inviting players to participate in its 2XKO Alpha Lab test. If you're interested and want to join the action, here's how you can secure your spot in the test.

How to join the 2XKO Alpha Lab

For now, there are only two methods to join the ongoing 2XKO Alpha Lab test, and unfortunately, both rely on a degree of luck.

Receive an Invitation

The simplest way is to have Riot Games directly invite you. To be considered, though, you must have a Riot Account and sign up for the test on the official 2XKO website, if you haven't already. Make sure your account is using a verified e-mail, otherwise you won't be able to complete the next step.

Once you register for the 2XKO Alpha Lab test, you'll receive an interest survey in the e-mail you used. This survey must be completed to be considered for the test. When you're done, the final step is to wait for Riot to invite you. Should you receive an invite, it will also come in the registered e-mail, providing you the opportunity to choose your preferred platform to participate.

Recieve a Friend Referral

The other way you can join the 2XKO test is by friend referral. Some of those who were invited to the 2XKO test also received a referral invite they could use to bring someone else into the test. If one of these players sends you a referral, you can play in the 2XKO Alpha Lab test without a Riot invitation. To be clear, this referral is not a key. It is a literal link you must click on. Only those with a Riot Account can use it to download and play in the test.

Unfortunately, there are no other known methods for joining the 2XKO Alpha Lab test, so you'll probably need to wait for an invite from Riot to get a chance to play it. The Alpha Lab test officially began on August 8 and will run until August 19. Currently, the test is only available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC.

The post How to get into the 2XKO Alpha Lab Test appeared first on Destructoid.

It's almost time to start training as the Hunter x Hunter Nen Impact characters feature a wide move set and an astonishingly different range of heights all around. From Gon and his powerful punches to the massive Uvogin, there's likely a character for you in this anime fighting game.

Hunter x Hunter Nen Impact characters list

There is a mix of heroes and villains within the Hunter x Hunter Nen Impact characters list. Some star in the beginning of the anime while others are some of the fiercest foes that Gon and his friends face towards the end.

Here are all of the Hunter x Hunter Nen Impact characters currently shown off, as of the time of writing:

• Gon
• Killua
• Leorio
• Kurapika
• Hisoka
• Netero
• Uvogin
• Biscuit Krueger
• Chrollo
• Feitan
• Razor
• Kite
• Morel
• Meruem
• Genthru

All of these characters show their faces during the intro of the game, marking them as part of the base roster. Some notable exceptions so far include Ging Freecss (Gon's father), Illumi Zoldyck (Killua's terrifying brother), and Canary. There is definitely an opportunity for DLC in the future.

How does Hunter x Hunter Nen Impact play?

Hunter x Hunter Nen Impact is a 3v3 fighter that definitely takes inspiration Marvel vs. Capcom series. You're switching out characters mid-combo and resting allies so they can build health. Kurapika's chains make him a long-range fighter, while Gon is in everyone's face, striking with his fists. The protagonist, however, does have some ranged potential. Killua, meanwhile, has electrical powers he can use to stun his opponents.

Hisoka is a scary fighter to go against, as he has a mixture of physical and ranged attacks. He can also pull in foes for a sticky situation with his Bungee Gum power. Leorio is a surprisingly strong fighter, as shown in the Evo Exhibition tournament. He can strike the ground and hit his foes with projectiles from underneath; he's certainly unconventional.

The fearsome Uvogin from the Phantom Troupe has a ton of armor possibilities and he can be tough to face against. Established fighting game player Justin Wong during the Exhibition tournament stream said whiff-punishing Uvogin's slow attacks will help you a lot with countering him.

The post All characters in Hunter x Hunter Nen Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

Out of all the new characters to be announced for Guilty Gear Strive at EVO 2024, I don’t think Lucy from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was on anyone’s bingo card. 

In a now private video, Arc System Works revealed a new three-versus-three mode, new stages, and four new characters including fan favorites Dizzy and Venom as well as Unika from the upcoming Guilty Gear Strive anime. But most surprising of all is a guest character: Lucy.

We here at Destructoid love Edgerunners – it has a gripping story that expands the Cyberpunk world in whole new directions and just has some phenomenal characters. Lucy is an odd addition to the world of Guilty Gear, but in the grand scheme of things it isn’t all that weird.

Guilty Gear has similar themes and visuals to the world of Edgerunners, with bombastic over-the-top artwork and individualist ideas. Both Arc System Works and Studio Trigger are known for their flashy action, so I think Lucy will fit well into the roster.

We won’t see Lucy playable until 2025, so we’ll have to wait a while until we get to see her in action and how she fits.

The post Lucy from Cyberpunk Edgerunners is headed to Guilty Gear appeared first on Destructoid.

Although Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat are seen as the symbols of the fighting game genre, their styles are not guaranteed hits, with many preferring to venture toward other IPs for their daily dose of adrenaline.

But diving into a new fighting game is not a trivial matter, after all, no one wants to fall in love with a title only to find either a bare-bones experience or no one else playing it. Here are the best fighting games to play right now that are not part of the Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat franchises.

10. Killer Instinct

• Release date: November 22, 2013
• Available on: PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X
• Developed by: Double Helix Games (At launch) / Iron Galaxy Studios
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes

To start with a well-placed Wind Kick, we have Killer Instinct. Released in 2013 as a reboot, KI earned praise for its action-packed gameplay but divided many given its small roster and content approach. Fast forward 10 years and 20 characters later, and the game has grown to be an unquestionable success.

Looking a little more into its combat, Killer Instinct offers an easy-to-pick-up but highly technical approach that revolves around the ability to Combo Break. To put it on as few words as possible, the mechanic allows you to interrupt your opponent's offense through a well-timed input. Get the timing wrong, however, and you will be in for one hell of a time.

9. Brawlhalla

• Release date: October 17, 2017
• Available on: Mobile, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch
• Developed by: Blue Mammoth Games
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes

Brawlhalla is a live-service platform fighter that plays just like you would expect, you pick a character and then battle your foes until they either fall or are propelled out of the screen. Given its free-to-play status and cross-play/progression features, the game can be seen as the ideal pick for those looking to play online with friends new to the genre.

Brawhalla is also widely known for its crossover characters. But don't worry, as to avoid turning a F2P game into a pay-to-win experience, all of them (except Rayman) are presented as skins to already existing and free-to-obtain units.

8. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2016)

• Release date: December 16, 2016 (PS4) / March 7, 2017 (PC / Xbox One)
• Available on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Series S/X
• Developed by: CAPCOM
• Does it have rollback netcode? No

An enhanced version of the title of the same name, now running at 60fps, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 allows players to pick from a roster of 50 signature characters as they take part in 3v3 battles. In true MvC fashion, air combos are the norm here, and a well-timed assist can change everything.

If you can, I recommend playing the game's PC version, as even if its base roster already packs quite a punch, its community has done a phenomenal job by producing a wide array of extra characters.

7. UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes

• Release date: January 24, 2024
• Available on: PS5, PS4, PC, and Switch
• Developed by: French Bread
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes

The latest installment in the series and a direct sequel to Exe:Late[cl-r], UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes takes a natural step forward by smoothing its predecessor's edges and adding new mechanics to the mix. True to the franchise's fame, the title also features one of the most diverse rosters in the market.

It's important to point out that, even if visually similar to other sprite-based series like BlazBlue and even its older sibling Melty Blood, UNDER NIGHT is a completely different beast. The reason? The way its Grind Grid system awards control, all while penalizing backpedaling and pushing you to be as efficient as possible.

6. Soulcalibur VI

• Release date: October 19, 2018
• Available on: PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X
• Developed by: Bandai Namco
• Does it have rollback netcode? No

After the mixed reception of Soulcalibur V, Project Soul decided to bet all of their remaining chips in Soulcalibur VI, a soft reboot of the franchise taking place in a new timeline.

But although the game ended up failing to meet its publisher's expectations, SC6 succeeded in presenting the most polished version of the franchise's signature combat, now featuring improved animations and getting a breath of fresh air through new mechanics. In true Soulcalibur fashion, you will also find a good amount of single-player content here, be it from its in-depth character creation system or its Soul Chronicle and Libra of Soul modes.

5. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

• Release date: December 11, 2023
• Available on: PS5, PS4, and PC
• Developed by: Arc System Works
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes

An updated version of Granblue Fantasy Versus, now featuring new mechanics, improved visuals, and the more than welcome addition of rollback netcode, GBVS RIsing's ability to blend standard fighting and RPG elements makes it one of Ark System Works's most distinct games.

Apart from its story mode bosses, that can be seen in the game's cooldown mechanic. Also featured in the vanilla version, the mechanic does exactly what you might expect and adds different cooldowns to Special Moves/abilities, thus forcing players to plan their every move to maximize their damage and options.

4. Dragon Ball FighterZ

• Release date: January 26, 2018 (PC, PS4, Xbox One) / September 27, 2018 (Nintendo Switch)
• Available on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Series S/X, and Switch
• Developed by: Arc System Works
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes

The game responsible for raising the bar when it comes to anime/manga-based titles, Dragon Ball FighterZ takes the already over-the-top approach of most tag fighters and turns it up to 8000 by allowing players to both fly across the screen and make use of all of the planet-destroying moves they wish to come out on top.

The above is then paired with a roster featuring faces going from the classic Dragon Ball Z anime adaptation (and its many non-canon movies) to Super and even GT. In other words, no matter which season is your favorite, you are sure to meet a representative here.

3. The King of Fighters XV

• Release date: February 17, 2022
• Available on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Series S/X
• Developed by: SNK Corporation
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes

Even if it hurts not seeing KOF as part of the big three, The King of Fighters XV is considered by many as the franchise's best entry point since XIII. After all, long gone are the days when your execution needed to be pitch-perfect to land damaging combos.

The game also showcases significant improvements in presentation when compared to XIV, as well as a few new mechanics that premiered both at launch and later in the game's cycle (I'm looking at you, Advance Strike). The roster also doesn't disappoint and features a total of 59 characters at the time of writing.

2. Guilty Gear Strive

• Release date: June 11, 2021
• Available on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X
• Developed by: Arc System Works
• Does it have rollback netcode? Yes

The first Guilty Gear game to go mainstream, Guilty Gear Strive is the seemingly final chapter in the Soul Badguy story and the most inviting title in the franchise. Truly, what ArcSys managed to accomplish deserves commendation, as they succeeded in giving the series an overhaul while keeping its soul intact.

But that was not achieved without its losses, as many see the removal of certain moves/mechanics as a tone-down. For me, although I believe GG Strive excelled in adjusting its scope to make sure everything would be up to par, I can't say that I don't miss the wild Dragon Install Sol combos featured in the older entries.

1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

• Release date: December 7, 2018
• Available on: Nintendo Switch
• Developed by: Bandai Namco and Sora Ltd
• Does it have rollback netcode? No

The latest in the series that helped coin the term platform fighter, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate takes the first spot in our list given how its easy-to-pick-up mechanics and welcoming presentation make the game a guaranteed fit for all, no matter if they are newcomers looking to have fun or seasoned players.

Another huge difference between the game and pretty much all other fighting games in the market lies in its star-filled roster of 82, which features both Nintendo staples and wild crossover characters. Have you ever imagined having Bayonetta and Samus fare off against Joker and Sora? Well, wonder no more.

The post The 10 best fighting games that are not Street Fighter, Tekken, or Mortal Kombat appeared first on Destructoid.

On January 1, 2019, the professional wrestling world was shaken up with the introduction of a new promotion: All Elite Wrestling. The company, spearheaded by Tony Khan, promised audiences an alternative to the longstanding WWE, with top-notch production, a stacked talent roster, engaging storylines, and, of course, world-class in-ring competition.

Of course, along with all of this, plans were in place for AEW to merchandise itself. First came a litany of t-shirts, followed by a partnership with Jazwares to produce AEW action figures, and, at long last, a video game.

AEW: Fight Forever, from developer Yukes and publisher THQ Nordic, was announced in 2020, promising gamers an experience similar to beloved titles like 2000's WWF No Mercy. The game eventually made it to store shelves on June 29, 2023, but did it manage to live up to such a high standard?

Upon release, Fight Forever proved a mixed bag. It earned praise for its fast-paced, fun-focused style, which was a welcomed contrast to WWE's slower, simulation-based 2K games. Fans also loved its strong roster and unique match types. Still, Fight Forever left a lot to be desired. Character customization is limited, and the story mode, Road to Elite, lacks depth. The graphics (chiefly wrestler likenesses) are hit-or-miss and, like seemingly every new game these days, there were some gameplay bugs in need of patches. Overall, though, it seemed a solid first outing for AEW in the gaming realm.

With the one-year anniversary of the release of Fight Forever right around the corner, one has to ask, is the game still worth playing all this time later? Here's the breakdown.

Fight Forever still has a lot to offer one year in

As a whole, there's still a lot to love about Fight Forever, especially if you're looking for a fun wrestling game to play with friends. Though the combat is simple, it's easy to pick up and makes for an enjoyable in-match experience. The match types present are all solid, with unique ones like the Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch making Fight Forever a must-play.

Thankfully, through the power of patches, most of the big issues plaguing the game around launch time have since been taken care of. Throughout its year in existence, Fight Forever has been greatly enhanced through post-launch content, too. First and foremost is the Stadium Stampede mode, where up to 30 players can wreak havoc in a massive arena in a battle royale-style experience. Other mini-games and the fighting game-esque Beat the Elite mode have also added replay value.

Then there are all of the roster additions that make the game feel a bit more current, as much of the base roster feels stuck in the 2020-2022 timeframe. Popular names like Samoa Joe, FTR, Swerve Strickland, Toni Storm, and Adam Copeland have joined the game, as have a host of others through paid DLC. New skins, arenas, customization options, and more have also come along.

Though it's unfortunate that it had to come through paid DLC, Fight Forever has become a more well-rounded, replayable package in its first year. There are more game modes and wrestlers to try out than at launch, assuming you want to pay for them, and patches have enhanced the overall quality of each playthrough. A year in, Fight Forever is more than worth picking up and playing, but it still has room to improve.

How Fight Forever can improve in year two and beyond

Despite all this, Fight Forever isn't perfect. The Road to Elite story mode is still a short, shallow affair, and the online player base has dropped significantly, especially on Steam, so online play is a challenge for most players. This makes it particularly difficult to enjoy Stadium Stampede, as without players around to fill out those lobbies, wait times skyrocket, assuming you can find a game at all.

Of course, with AEW constantly making new talent acquisitions there are some major names still missing from the roster, including Will Ospreay and Mercedes Moné. Preexisting Fight Forever characters like Toni Storm and the Young Bucks could also use new looks to match their current on-screen gimmicks.

So, with all of that said, what should the folks behind Fight Forever focus on in the game's second year and beyond? Adding onto Road to Elite in some way, or adding another story mode through DLC, would be a major plus. The same could be said for keeping up with the roster additions to keep the game feeling as fresh and current as possible.

Sadly, the developer cannot do much about the diminished online player counts aside from trying to entice players to pick up the game again. However, adding bots to Stadium Stampede to fill out lobbies could be smart, if for no other reason than to keep the mode playable for those who want it.

At the end of the day, Fight Forever still has a lot to offer gamers a year after its release. It has improved in more ways than one, amounting to one of the most fun modern wrestling games on the market. If you haven't played it in a while or haven't yet given it a shot, if you're a wrestling fan, you owe it to yourself to get in on it. At the same time, there's still plenty the minds behind it can improve upon. Should they do so, Fight Forever can and will go from great to truly elite.

The post One year later, is AEW: Fight Forever still worth playing? appeared first on Destructoid.

Mental Drink has today released a new version of 1997’s MS-DOS title Fight’n’Jokes, which doesn’t have any relation with 2017’s Fight’n Rage (that I know of). This re-release is pretty lavish, featuring rollback netcode and online multiplayer. That’s swinging for the fences.

If you hadn’t heard of Fight’n’Jokes, neither had I. It’s hard to overstate the massive impact that 1991’s Street Fighter II had on the game industry, so the ‘90s were packed to the rafters with fighting games looking to get in on that sweet, sweet success. This also resulted in a few parody games like Clay Fighter and Brutal: Paws of Fury. DOS wasn’t exactly the most happening place for fighting games, however. If you wanted to be taken seriously, you generally needed an arcade release.

What really caught my attention with this Fight’n’Jokes re-release was the sincerity behind it. About five people worked on the original release, but despite that, it looks pretty good for a late DOS title and it features most of what you’d expect from a fighting game. Sure, it’s two-button (plus a charge button), but so were a lot of the NeoGeo Pocket fighting games like SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium. I'm not trying to say it's great, it just punches above its weight class.

There are 10 characters plus four that are unlockable and 11 stages. You can re-map the controls, so it works easily with an arcade stick. The name alone sets it up like it’s supposed to be funny, but it’s mostly just cartoonish like a newspaper comic strip. The press release actually describes it as “semi-humorous,” which would be about right.

Mental Drink still features the same brothers who were behind Nasty Brothers Software, the creators of Fight’n’Jokes. The re-release ports the game to a new engine that runs natively on modern operating systems. Along with online multiplayer, that’s not an easy job. It really speaks to how much affection they have for the little title. It was previously ported to Switch and Xbox One, but that version didn’t have online multiplayer. They’re planning to patch the console versions to bring them to parity with the PC version.

Fight’n’Jokes is available now on PC. Although it’s listed as Early Access, the core game is complete. Mental Drink is just looking for feedback on the online performance.

The post 1997’s Fight’n’Jokes gets re-release with online multiplayer and rollback netcode appeared first on Destructoid.

Fighting games are the perfect place for a crossover — because everybody knows there's no better possible crossover than having our favorite characters fighting it out till the point of near death.

Most crossovers and guest appearances in fighting games rock because, on top of giving us wild interactions, they fill us with hope that different companies can work together to make magic. Still, some can't help but make you wonder "What the hell were they thinking?" — even when they're hilarious. This list is about those.

10. The weird Mega Man in Street Fighter x Tekken

Long story short, instead of bringing the version of Mega Man that we all know and love to SFxT, Capcom brought an infamous version of Mega Man that up until that point existed only on a comically ugly US box cover art. He looks awkward, moves awkwardly, and is just too old. Isn't Mega Man supposed to look just like a kid? This looks like a guy who spent his teens and most of his adult life working on his cosplay suit and only felt it was completed when his midlife crisis kicked in.

Were the devs secretly conspiring against Tekken? Maybe, but this is Capcom, a company that hasn't shied away from making quick bucks from DLC content, putting effort into bringing a dearly unloved design a reality. I believe Capcom deserves the highest possible praise for this one.

The only reason "bad cover art Mega Man" doesn't get a higher place on the list is that Capcom was in on the joke when they came up with this brilliant monstrosity.

9. Yoda/Vader in Soul Calibur IV

Having characters from Sci-fi stories in fantasy worlds will always strike me as odd. I know that the fact that they wield swords makes them look like worthy additions to a sword-fighting game roster, but are they? Like, either Kilik is getting his staff and then himself cut in half, one second into the match, or the lightsabers will just look useless and stupid.

So, unless you get Vader fighting Yoda, every match featuring these characters will look weird. Weirder still was how players had to wait three full months to have these characters facing each other off, as they were originally timed exclusives for different consoles.

8. A Battletoad in Killer Instinct

I get that Battletoads is a very challenging title, but that doesn't make it an M-rated game. You and I know damn well we've had our butts kicked in online games by kids whose heads would blow up in terror if they were to see The Ring's opening scene. Kidnapping a poor toad-of-battle and dropping it in a game with actual violence in it is just weird(ly hilarious).

It also doesn't help that Rash, the toad in question, got an edgy makeover. Rash will forever be a nice little toad who's only guilty of having poor driving skills. It'll never feel okay to witness him getting impaled by hundreds of ice spikes — even though it all happens off-camera.

7. Spawn in Soul Calibur 2

Todd McFarlane's Spawn is one of the coolest and weirdest characters in comic book history. I know nothing will ever kill my appreciation for the character, because I saw the Spawn movie and the only dire effect it had on my mental health was making me actually kind of enjoy it. Spawn's inclusion in Soul Calibur 2, however, feels very out of place.

Despite his grim gothic look, Spawn is a modern character who lives in the modern day. He can't help but feel like a weird alien in that colorful medieval fantasy setting. I know I'm making big claims since this is the series that features Voldo, but you know in your heart that this is true.

6. Solid Snake in Super Smash Bros.

For the longest time, I couldn't point out what was weird about Solid Snake being featured in the roster of Smash. The Super Smash Bros. series is only serious about bringing players some good fun, and the Metal Gear Solid series cannot help but feel bonkers — even at its most attemptedly serious.

What's wrong? I believe that the year 2023 brought the realization that it's just weird to see a realistic depiction of an adult man from a series whose insights actually predicted, among other things, the dredge that social media would be for humankind, just shooting missiles at the likes of Jigglypuff and Pikachu. That's it, Snake in Super Smash Bros. was just Palworld in a time when I still wasn't ready for it.

5. Omni-Man/ Homelander in Mortal Kombat 1

This one is weird even if you forget that Omni-Man and Homelander are way stronger than any of the characters in the MK universe — a universe that features actual deities in it. They were both introduced in the game alongside Peacemaker, who actually makes sense because he does Kombat while being an actual Mortal.

The strangest thing for me here is that Omni-Man and Homelander are riffs on Superman, who more or less exists in the MK universe because of the Injustice series. Just make a fighting game whose entire roster is composed of Superman-inspired characters, then let me destroy them all with Goku.

4. Negan in Tekken 7

Negan is a popular character from the Walking Dead TV show, which means that either TWD takes place in the Tekken universe, or Negan came through a portal and should be using his time to raise awareness about world-ending zombie outbreaks in different universes.

Also, for a tournament dubbed King of Iron Fist, they seemingly allow every fighter to bring up to two swords, one gun, and a knife to a knucklefight. Aside from Yoshimitsu, a guy I assume is too weird and scary for a security guard to confront regarding the use of his sword before the fight, characters like Noctis, Master Raven, and more brought their own accoutrement to the bout. Then comes Negan, with a barbed wire-wrapped baseball bat likely covered in contagious goo. It feels a bit far, even by Tekken standards.

3. A Car in Fighter’s Megamix

The coolest thing about Fighter's Megamix is that even though that's what the name would lead you to believe, it's not just a fighting game crossover. Fighter's Megamix had the half-nice, half-utterly irresponsible idea of inviting many characters from non-fighting games into the ring. One of these characters is, and I kid you not, Hornet, a car from Daytona USA. And no, it doesn't just very easily run over their poor rivals — this is an anthropomorphic car, a quasi-transformer, that walks on two wheels and uses the other two for punching.

FM was the original video game crossover event, and even though it never managed to reach the heights of the Smash series, it was never second to it when it came to wackiness. Case in point, the car isn't even the weirdest character in the game.

2. A palm tree in Fighters Megamix

Yeah, it turns out that having a fighting car in the game wasn't weird enough, so the developers at AM2 included a secret character that's just the palm tree from the company's logo.

It's absolutely bonkers, yeah, but it's also ahead of its time as it totally seems to have predicted the bizarre custom characters that would end up invading the online matches of Soul Calibur.

1. Fred Durst in Fight Club

Remember how you had to clear Tekken 2's arcade once with every character, then with Kazuya, to unlock the Devil as a playable character? Well, in Fight Club, an astounding success in the art of missing the point, you just need to clear the game once to unlock an even darker entity: Fred Durst.

Fred is not even an inanimate object or a corporate logo. I do believe Mr. Durst is human, but I still cannot look at him in this game as anything other than the most bizarre guest appearance in video game history. He doesn't even speak or have a storyline — he's just there.

Yes, I know Fred Durst is famous for singing about breaking stuff, but did you ever catch him during the act — oh, maybe he just doesn't talk about it. Well played, Fred. Enjoy your deserved renaissance.

The post Top 10 most bonkers guest characters in fighting games appeared first on Destructoid.

It's a big day for fighting game fans, as the Evo Championship Series has locked in its main stage selection for a new year. Eight games will be featured across three days on the main stage at Evo 2024, including the likes of Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Mortal Kombat 1, on July 19 through 21.

The news was announced today on a special stream, hosted by Vicious, MajinObama, and other members of the fighting game community. Though many games get played at Evo, either on stage or in side tournaments, or even in hotel lobbies and outside the venue, these are the titles that will take the spotlight in this year's event:

• Tekken 8
• Street Fighter 6
• Mortal Kombat 1
• Guilty Gear Strive
• The King of Fighters XV
• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
• Under Night In-Birth 2 Sys:Celes
• Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike

The presence of Street Fighter 6 should be no surprise, given its record-breaking entrants from last year and incredible grand finals. Tekken 8 looks to carry forward the legacy of its series, and by all accounts it's doing well. It seems likely that these two will compete for the most entrants at this year's festivities in Las Vegas. Fellow newcomer Mortal Kombat 1 also shows up, carrying the NetherRealm torch in its Evo debut.

Guilty Gear Strive rounds out the expected giants, as the presumably largest 2D anime fighter around, and SNK gets an entrant in with The King of Fighters XV. Anime players get even more to play in Las Vegas, as Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising and Under Night In-Birth 2 Sys:Celes both secured slots.

The big draw for old fans and newcomers alike is the throwback game, an utter classic: Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. This year's throwback game is one that means a lot to the history of fighting games, and Evo will be hosting a tournament celebrating the classic title. With how much reverence there is for this one, I'm certainly looking forward to seeing who shows up for the next fight.

A new venue appears

There are more changes in store for Evo, including a new location. The West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center will now play host to Evo, and the show floor will be open all three days. Publisher booths, artist alley, and more will be open all three days, rather than just Friday or Saturday. The BYOC area will also apparently be larger than ever.

The Evo Showcase returns for panels and publisher news again too, as does the Evo Community Stage. Plus, the Evo ticket will now get you into both the arena and the general show floor, which is a nice shift. All eight games will take place on the arena stage this year, so no more splitting it out.

Tickets go live at the Evo site, so you can find all the attendance info there if you want to show up live in-person. It's an overall fairly predictable lineup, but that's by no means a bad thing; fighting games are really good right now, and the mixture of new entries and familiar standards here should hopefully make for a stellar Evo 2024.

The post Here’s the Evo 2024 featured tournament lineup appeared first on Destructoid.

The Dragon Ball Sparking Zero roster is so big that it looks like a custom MUGEN game. In a recent trailer featuring Goku and Vegeta, the ending shot showed what looks like a massive roster screen, with 164 slots.

If the final game truly fills out that screen, then we'd be looking at a fighter count that could exceed even Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with 24 different varieties of Goku and Vegeta so far.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero roster looks wild, but...

Despite the 164-character roster looking huge, you have to consider the multiple forms that Goku and Vegeta can take. These are all the forms that the two Saiyans transform into:

• Goku (Z - Early)
• Goku (Z - Mid)
• Goku (Z - Mid), Super Saiyan
• Goku (Z - End)
• Goku (Z - End), Super Saiyan
• Goku (Z - End), Super Saiyan 2
• Goku (Z - End), Super Saiyan 3
• Goku (Super)
• Goku (Z - Mid), Super Saiyan
• Goku (Super), Super Saiyan God
• Goku (Super), Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan
• Vegeta (Z - Scouter)
• Great Ape Vegeta
• Vegeta (Z - Early)
• Vegeta (Z - Early), Super Saiyan
• Super Vegeta
• Vegeta (Z - End)
• Vegeta (Z - End), Super Saiyan
• Vegeta (Z - End), Super Saiyan 2
• Majin Vegeta
• Vegeta (Super)
• Vegeta (Super), Super Saiyan
• Vegeta (Super), Super Saiyan God
• Vegeta (Super), Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan

That's quite a lot of different versions of just two characters. It doesn't even include their Dragon Ball GT forms or their fusions, like Vegito and Gogeta, so there could be more.

Other characters have been shown too, such as the fan-favorite Android 18, Piccolo, and even Hercule. Villains like Cell and Majin Buu are included as well.

The Dragon Ball series of fighting games has a legacy of long-ongoing DLC support. For example, The Hero of Justice Pack 2 for Xenoverse 2 launched more than six years after the game's initial release. It's easy to think that even this 164-fighter roster isn't the limit.

We don't know when we'll be able to play all 164 characters as Bandai Namco hasn't revealed a release date or window for Dragon Ball Sparking Zero. Hopefully, it will travel by Nimbus Cloud this year to the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

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In December, a fighting game based on the hit manga/anime Hunter x Hunter was announced. Yesterday, Bushiroad Games and developer Eighting revealed the first teaser for the game, now called Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact, as well as six playable characters.

In the brief 30-second trailer, we get some in-engine footage alongside voice-overs from Gon and Killua, presumably from their original VAs. We didn't get any gameplay or release date. However, it does seem that the game will utilize 3v3 fighting similar to Dragon Ball FighterZ.

As previously mentioned, it looks like the game has already confirmed six playable characters. The video shows Gon, Killua, Leorio, Kurapika, Hisoka, and Neteru all walking into a stadium and preparing for battle.

Great, another tournament arc!

Having watched the anime, it felt nostalgic to hear the VAs and see the Hunter x Hunter crew again. The graphics are a bit simple, but the game is in development, so it’ll shape up over time. Anime fighting games can be hit/miss. For every Dragon Ball FighterZ, there’s a Jump Force.

It does get me excited to see who’s going to be next. Perhaps Neferpitou or Mereum? Or maybe Ging? I bet he’d show up here instead of being there for Gon’s childhood. Still a bit sore about that.

If you haven’t read or watched Hunter x Hunter, it is a must for fans of great action and even better characters. It follows Gon, a young islander, who leaves his home to become the best Hunter ever, like his father. While it may seem charming at first, it gets dark –Chimera Ant Arc anyone?–, resulting in some of the best anime you can find. It’s a long watch but it’s worth it. 

Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact has no release date or platforms as of yet.

The post Hunter x Hunter fighting game gets official title and teaser appeared first on Destructoid.

With The Game Awards just around the corner, Sega has teased a new game announcement at the event. Sending teaser letters to fighting game content creators, it points towards a Virtua Fighter 6 reveal at Geoff Keighley's show.

On social media, content creators like Curiousjoi and Maximillian Dood have been posting images of said a press mailer they've received, a postcard that reads "New Era New Energy. Make sure to tune in to The Game Awards December 7th."

Maximillian Dood says on his Twitter post, "Curious, have these gone out to others that are NOT huge fighting game creators?"

One of the replies from Brodoof shows a screenshot from one of the Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown trailers. It has the same exact font, but the color is red instead of blue. This has led many to speculate the press mailing is setting the stage for something new in the Virtua Fighter franchise.

Sega could be planning a new Virtua Fighter with rollback netcode

One of the most important aspects of a modern fighting game is having a great rollback netcode. It lets players around the world battle it out and participate in tournaments online.

"I believe that implementing rollback will be absolutely necessary when developing future titles," said Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown producer Seiji Aoki when interviewed by Gamer Braves.

"While it’s important to create content for fighting game fans, I think it’s important to also create content that viewers or newcomers to the fighting genre can enjoy," Aoki said in the same interview when asked about how to keep the game interesting for both new and returning fans and how they're approaching the eSports aspect of the industry. "For example, I can’t play soccer, but I love watching soccer."

It's just a waiting game now for eager fans to learn if Sega will revive the beloved Virtua Fighter franchise at The Game Awards.

The post Is Sega hinting at a Virtua Fighter 6 announcement for The Game Awards? appeared first on Destructoid.

Tekken 8 is just around the corner, and Bandai Namco released a glimpse of Leo's glorious combos and eccentric personality in a trailer Wednesday. Their stylish red and white jacket shines as they show off their impressive new counter.

The German fighter Leo Kliesen is back in Tekken 8 with their Baji Quan fighting style. With their hatred of the main antagonist Kazuya Michima, it makes sense if they make an appearance in the story mode. With the codename "Seeker of Truth," they'd likely join the battle to find out more about their murdered mother and missing father.

We didn't get many details in Tekken 7 as they were sidetracked by a love-stricken Yoshimitsu, but in Tekken 6, we learned that their mother worked for the Mishima Zaibatsu and G Corporation.

Leo is looking sharp

Not much seems to have changed with Leo's moveset, except for the previously mentioned counter. They'll still stomp their foes' toes and have an elaborate combo set up with their punches and kicks. It's been a few years since I've stepped into the shoes of Leo but one new move seems to be an impactful swirling kick in the air, which is shown in the trailer.

They also has a new grappling hook that's used for Leo's Rage Art. Perhaps this will be used in combos too, but we haven't seen it implemented yet.

The trailer also shows their adorable carefree personality as they're surprised by the Coffee Queen's name. They stagger back like an anime character as shown in the screenshot above.

We'll be able to play as the German blonde Leo when Tekken 8 releases on January 26, just a few months away. They'll be fighting against many combatants, like the first French fighter in Tekken Victor Chevalier and a mysterious Heihachi-like character named Reina, and the rest of the healthy launch roster for the new Tekken.

The post Tekken 8’s Leo punches their way to victory in new trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

The Tekken series is getting its first French fighter, as Victor Chevalier is joining the Tekken 8 roster alongside a new Paris-themed stage.

Announced on Thursday, game director and chief producer Katsuhiro Harada added context for the character on social media.

"Victor is actually the first French fighter for the TEKKEN franchise," said Harada. "I have had the idea of a French character in my mind for a long time and it finally came to fruition. Thanks to Vincent Cassel for inspiring me and for voicing him. And the stage is Paris itself, where I took my first Seine River cruise over 20 years ago."

Oui, oui, oui!

As Harada noted, Chevalier is voiced by French actor Vincent Cassel (Black Swan, La Haine). Victor Chevalier uses a blade, knife, and pistol as his weaponry. He also teleports across the screen as he slashes his opponents. Bandai Namco knows how to make older men look badass (remember Leroy Smith?).

The trailer also points out that Victor has a history with Raven, saying to him, "You've gotten pretty good, Raven."

A new stage set in Paris for the Tekken 8 Victor character

In this new Tekken 8 trailer, we see the action taking place on a boat moving across the river Seine. Harada said he took his first Seine River cruise over 20 years ago, inspiring this stage to come to life in game.

As you fight with Victor and other Tekken 8 fighters on the Paris stage, you'll see the sights like the Eifel Tower in the background. Hopefully, there's a nighttime section for the final round, in which it sparkles in gold lights—though there wasn't a hint towards that in the trailer.

It's interesting that Tekken 8 has a Paris-themed level because Street Fighter 6 has one too, set closer to the Eiffel Tower during a festival. It must be a good time for virtual brawling in France. Nevertheless, Tekken 8 releases on January 26 for the PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

The post Tekken 8 gets the series’ first French fighter in Victor Chevalier appeared first on Destructoid.

Mortal Kombat 1 has a hell of a DLC lineup on the way. Today's Omni-Man gameplay trailer showcases why he may just be the most badass of the bunch when he arrives this month.

Just as in the Invincible animated Amazon series, Omni-Man is voiced by the ridiculously awesome J.K. Simmons. Throughout the trailer, NetherRealm Studios shows off the actor's skills as he relentlessly mocks Liu Kang and his allies prior to beating the hell out of them.

We've seen what Omni-Man is capable of in a previous Mortal Kombat 1 trailer. But today's video puts the Viltrumite's full abilities on display. He's brutal, nimble, and of course, deadly. You don't need a subway train to showcase that.

A new kameo fighter is also on the way alongside Omni-Man's debut next week. Tremor, who originally debuted in 2000's Mortal Kombat: Special Forces, is a ninja like Sub-Zero and Scorpion but with earth powers. He pairs nicely as a kameo higher alongside Omni-Man. While the Invincible villain is pulling meteors from the atmosphere and smashing opponents with them, Tremor is doing the same with giant boulders right here from Earth.

Both combatants will join the fray on November 9 for those with the Kombat Pack. They are available a week later for everyone else as standalone DLC.

Following that, there's plenty more DLC in the pipeline. Quan-Chi and DC's Peacemaker are slated for sometime in the winter. Ermac and The Boys' Homelander are planned for spring. The apprentice of Scorpion himself, Takeda Takahashi, should be out as a playable fighter next summer. And Ferra, Janet Cage, Khameleon, and Mavado are all in the works as additional kameo fighters.

If you haven't given Mortal Kombat 1 a try, perhaps you should. In Destructoid's review, we thought it was great.

The post Omni-Man joins the Mortal Kombat 1 roster on November 9 appeared first on Destructoid.

The world of Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen is about to enter a whole new domain: video games. As revealed in today's trailer, Byking and Bandai Namco's Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash launches on February 2, 2024.

What does the Jujutsu Kaisen game cover?

In the game, players make their own 2v2 teams with more than 15 characters from the manga/show to choose from. As each character has their own set of abilities and attacks, combining them with others can lead to unique power dynamics

Narrative-wise, Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash adapts the events of season one of the anime, as well as Jujutsu Kaisen 0. In the story mode, you'll face familiar villains like Sukuna and Jogo and learn about the hidden world of sorcerers. With co-op and competition modes, you'll be able to team up with fellow sorcerers online and face others worldwide in casual or ranked battles. Players will also get to customize their face cards and fighters via costumes. New outfits and cards can be unlocked through gameplay and future DLC.

Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash will be available in three editions: standard, digital deluxe, and digital ultimate. While the standard only includes the base game, the digital deluxe has the Hidden Inventory/Premature Death DLC and a minigame based on Jujusta 2024 Baseball. Furthermore, the digital ultimate edition comes with all that plus a digital artbook and soundtrack. Additionally, it comes with a costume pack adapting outfits from the "Lost in Paradise" end theme from season one. If you preorder the game, you'll receive the First-Year Jujutsu High DLC costume pack.

Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash expands onto current-gen consoles on February 2, 2024. Pre-orders for Xbox, PC, and PlayStation consoles are available now, with Nintendo Switch's to be available at a later date.

The post Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash arrives in February 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

Perhaps most noteworthy for its depiction of extreme gore, Mortal Kombat has gone down as one of the best fighting series in all of gaming. But it must be tough to watch all that violence and take it seriously, especially if you're a trained professional.

In a recent video over on Doctor ER's YouTube channel, the titular doc (real name Dr. Jordan Wagner, DO) analyzes some of the most brutal moments in the upcoming Mortal Kombat 1.

Over the course of just nine minutes, Wagner gives their insight into some of the fatal moves pulled off in the game. Much of it leaves them shockingly amused but also inquisitive about how these violent acts would go down in the real world.

Not known for their realism, admittedly

Of course, there's nothing to say that Wagner is criticizing any sense of realism that Mortal Kombat 1 is displaying. However, there is room for some medical questioning, such as how long a heart would beat for after being ripped out of a chest, or what to do if you need to bring a severed limb to the hospital.

It's pretty interesting to see how someone in the medical profession reacts to all this guts and gore action. Wagner, who's been working as an ER doctor for several years, according to their website, often gives their take on violence in media, whether it's video games, animation, or real-life injuries.

In any case, it doesn't detract from the mindless violence of the game. If anything, it only adds to it. And if you are interested, Mortal Kombat 1 releases fully on September 19.

The post Here’s a doctor reacting to some of Mortal Kombat 1’s most gruesome moves appeared first on Destructoid.

Mortal Kombat 1 crossplay will not be coming to the game during its launch. WB Games has confirmed Wednesday over Twitter that it will arrive later via a patch.

"Launch is just around the corner and we can’t wait for everyone to sink their teeth into Mortal Kombat 1," says the official Mortal Kombat Twitter account. "Regarding Kross-Play, it will not be available at launch, but know we are hard at work at implementing the feature into the game and it will be koming post launch."

So, to put it all in one sentence: you won't be able to play Mortal Kombat 1 with fighters on platforms other than your own on day one.

Neither WB Games nor the developer NetherRealm has provided a release date or window for Mortal Kombat 1 crossplay.

Other replies ask if the game will support cross-save between PC and consoles. There has been no response from WB Games or the developer.

WB Games has confirmed that rollback netcode is used in Mortal Kombat 1. It's a popular connection tool that lets players have more stable matches.

Mortal Kombat 1 is releasing on September 19 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. You'll be able to preload the game a few days early. You can also get Shang Tsung as a playable preorder character bonus.

The post Mortal Kombat 1 won’t have crossplay at launch appeared first on Destructoid.

Since its reveal earlier this year, Mortal Kombat 1 has been unveiling its star-studded cast, one big name after another. Between J.K. Simmons reprising the role of Omni-Man from Invincible to John Cena being confirmed as Peacemaker, the roster is looking to be fierce in terms of both fighters and their actors. Warner Bros. Games revealed one more member of the cast in September: Megan Fox, of Transformers (2007) and Jennifer’s Body (2009) fame will be playing the role of Nitara in Mortal Kombat 1. 

For those who haven’t touched a Mortal Kombat game since Deadly Alliance, Nitara is a winged vampire who hails from a realm called Vaeternus. It’d appear she’s up to the same old antics, as the Nitara trailer showcases the vampiress fighting against Ashrah, Kung Lao, and more. “I grew up playing Mortal Kombat and I can’t believe that I’m voicing a character in the new game,” said Fox. “It’s an honor to be a part of one of the greatest video game legacies of all time.“

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah8VyRhiWiE

Again, Deadly Alliance was the last time fans of the series have been able to play as the winged vampire until now; though she was mentioned or referenced in Mortal Kombat: Deception, Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat 11. Nitara was also present in the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, where she was played by Mel Jarnson.

Mortal Kombat 1 releases on September 19 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The post Megan Fox joins Mortal Kombat 1 roster as Nitara appeared first on Destructoid.

Katsuhiro Harada, the director of Tekken 8 and long-time veteran of the series, has responded to what he refers to as "silly threats." In a recent tweet, he hits back at online trolls with a pretty lengthy statement about what harassment leads to.

In a recent post on Twitter, Harada decided to give his take on the threats that have been coming his way online. One such example comes from a no-named user who says they will hit the director "with a Burning Hammer" (a move used by Tekken wrestler King) if Tekken 8 doesn't feature Eddy Gordo.

https://twitter.com/Harada_TEKKEN/status/1689456340564111361

Harada makes it clear that, serious or not, such threats affect he and "everyone at FGC" (fighting game community). In a three-point post, he outlines what comments like these leads to. Number one being that security is bumped up, which "increases operating costs and increases the burden on the players" who attend.

Motivation also decreases

He goes on to say that "company founders, board members, and lawyers 'Don't like to be intimidated'," and that he does not "adopt the views of those who use 'We' when expressing their opinions," as though such people represent all fans.

The end result is that studios simply have no motivation to carry on making games when threats are being made. Tekken 8 is highly anticipated, and the last thing fans want or need is for the team to not want to keep working on it.

Yet still people persist. Immediately below Harada's tweet, one user says they will be spending their money elsewhere because companies like Bandai Namco easily forget the "narrow demographic who, mostly, go out of their way to afford" a "luxury product." Harada's response to this is a bit more... direct. So, as he's said before, don't ask him for shit.

The post Tekken 8 director fires back at ‘silly threats’ over the roster appeared first on Destructoid.

Evo is a major event for fighting game tournaments and news. This year, we've seen updates announced for some of the biggest games in the genre, including Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Mortal Kombat 1. There's even a brief teaser for SNK's next bout. Here's all the news at Evo 2023 you should know about.

[caption id="attachment_395265" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

Street Fighter 6 x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

After a musical performance of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song, Capcom announced a new crossover for Street Fighter 6. Starting August 8, there will be four skins for your custom characters based on the radical reptiles, pizza-riffic emotes, new titles, stamps, mobile wallpaper, and camera frames. This bit of EVO 2023 news was one of the highlights of the show for me.

https://youtu.be/TY-k6jYzXtg

A.K.I. joins the battle in Street Fighter 6

Capcom also teased its next Street Fighter 6 character, A.K.I. She looks twisted, and poisons your custom character in the trailer. No gameplay was shown, but we do know she'll be available sometime this Fall.

[caption id="attachment_395269" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via Mortal Kombat YouTube channel[/caption]

Ashrah, Havik, and Reptile are in Mortal Kombat 1

Three new characters were announced in a stellar Mortal Kombat 1 trailer. You'll be able to play as Ashrah, Havik, and Reptile when the game arrives on September 19, 2023. Ashrah is a surprising choice, as she hasn't been in the series since the PS2 game Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. Regardless, she looks like she fits in with her brutal Fatality. Sareena is also coming back, but as a Kameo fighter this time around.

[caption id="attachment_395273" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via arcsystemworks YouTube channel[/caption]

Johnny returns in Guilty Gear Strive's Season Pass 3

Shirtless and ready to strike his foes, Johnny returns as the first character of Guilty Gear Strive's Season Pass 3. He swings his katana with a quickening pace, and also unleashes cards, even turning people into them and slashing them up when the opportunity arises. He'll be available to play on August 24.

Season Pass 3 will include one more character in 2023 and an additional two in 2024. It will also come with two more stages, more color variants for your characters, and two extra colors for the Season 3 characters.

Arc System Works also confirmed that the game's reached 2.5 million players, making Guilty Gear Strive a huge success for the studio.

https://youtu.be/cTyy0kgQ8Ug

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves hypes up the crowd

After The King of Fighters and Samurai Shodown getting acclaim from fans and critics alike, the Fatal Fury series is returning with City of the Wolves. Not much was announced, but there was a little teaser by SNK, showcasing Terry and Rock Howard in the game. The graphics seem to be an upgrade too, with more visual details and improved lighting.

No release date has been given, but SNK fittingly said it is "furiously in development."

[caption id="attachment_395281" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via SNK OFFICIAL YouTube channel[/caption]

The King of Fighters XV adds Najd and Duo Lon, and KOF XIII gets a re-release date

On August 8, Najd will be available as a DLC character in The King of Fighters XV. Duo Lon will then follow her sometime this Autumn, which starts on September 23 and ends on December 21.

Additionally, The King of Fighters XIII Global Match will hit PS4 and Switch on November 16 with rollback netcode.

https://youtu.be/30GpU_0A8Rg

Raven and Azucena join the Tekken 8 roster

Fan favorite character Raven and the coffee-obsessed newcomer Azucena are a part of the Tekken 8 roster. Raven is using his shadow skills that might remind you of Naruto's Shadow Clone Jutsu. Meanwhile, Azucena has an intriguing dodge feature with some tasty counters shown off in the trailer. Tekken 8 still has no release date attached.

[caption id="attachment_395287" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via RIot Games' YouTube channel[/caption]

League of Legends fighting game Project L adds Yasuo

The in-development 2v2 fighter Project L is adding the champion Yasuo into the mix. His move set includes a far-reaching sword and quick attacks in the air. He can also release tornados and wind walls against his opponents.

"He can outplay with mix-ups, he can go to the air for really technical combos, play defense with his wind wall, or honestly just win neutral with his huge normals," said lead champion designer Alex Jaffe. Sadly, no release date for Project L was announced amid all the news at Evo 2023.

https://youtu.be/GYIOUxYBukw?t=354

Plankton is a new character in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

The tiny Plankton from Bikini Bottom is joining the bout in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 in a mech. He has all sorts of weaponry to fight off the likes of Aang, Reptar, and Spongebob SquarePants. He, alongside Squidward, will be a part of the main roster when the game launches later this year.

https://youtu.be/2Dc4F_fC0nc?t=42

Killer Instinct is getting a huge update

Cult-favorite Killer Instinct is getting a major update from Xbox Game Studios and Iron Galaxy for the first time in years. It will include better matchmaking, a balance update, and all-new 4K support on Xbox Series X|S. It will be coming this Fall. Now that Iron Galaxy and Xbox are working together on this, perhaps talk of a sequel could arise between the two companies after Rumbleverse's shutdown in February.

https://youtu.be/m55Ju_OmSvU

Under Night In-Birth 2 Sys:Celes is bringing "Dramatic Stylish 2D Fighting Action" in 2024

After more than ten years and many versions, Under Night In-Birth is getting a sequel. It will be launching early next year for the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Sorry, Xbox fans. Additionally, there will be rollback netcode.

Arc System Works says there will be "completely redesigned visuals" and "even more playable characters to be added" down the line. The trailer's description also touts that there will be "new moves and new battle systems" that further evolve the battle in Under Night In-Birth 2 Sys:Celes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbI26Ehde3g

GranBlue Fantasy Versus: Rising gets a release date

The release date for the sequel Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is November 30, as announced at Evo. As the festive season begins, we'll be battling it out as Gran and other characters in a three-part story and a new mode called Grand Bruise. Additionally, there is crossplay and rollback netcode available in this new version of the game. More characters are available too, including Anila, Grimnir, Nier, and Siegfried.

https://youtu.be/yKUH3zTNWMk

Maypul comes to Rivals 2

Finally, the fox-like combatant Maypul joins the Smash-like Rivals 2. She brings three different plants with her to the battle, including Lily, Terry, and Poppy. She'll also be the fastest character in the game. Maypul's combos look thrilling in the trailer itself. The game launches sometime next year.

That's it for Evo 2023 news cycle. Which fighting games are you most looking forward to next year, and will you be playing as Michelangelo in Street Fighter 6's avatar battles?

The post All the fighting game news from EVO 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Tekken 8 was originally announced in 2022, and a Closed Network Test was recently released on multiple platforms in July. To the dismay of the developers, some gamers have since cracked the CNT to play it in unintended ways. Bandai Namco is warning players against playing Tekken 8's cracked CNT, and those caught could face consequences.

[caption id="attachment_392950" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Be patient or risk a ban

Players with the cracked CNT can not only play the game offline, but continue to play it beyond the test period. In a Twitter post, Bandai Namco warned that this violates its Terms of Service and the Tekken World Tour's Code of Conduct.

https://twitter.com/BNEesports/status/1685978121948770305

Unauthorized access to the CNT could result in a ban from the upcoming Tekken World Tour and other official tournaments. In other words, competitive players may want to heed this warning. It is understandable why developers would emphasis this penalty in particular. Those playing the cracked version would have a headstart on practice, which could affect the results of official tournaments.

This isn't the only problem the CNT has caused, as it has also resulted in Tekken 8's partial roster leaking. Though Bandai Namco has officially announced 16 characters, the leak reveals a longer list of playable fighters.

It has certainly been a good time for fighting game fans. Street Fighter 6 launched to critical acclaim in June, and Mortal Kombat 1 will launch on September 19. Bandai Namco has not yet revealed a release date for Tekken 8.

The post Bandai Namco warns players to stop playing the Tekken 8 cracked test appeared first on Destructoid.

The best stages of fighting games transport us to an exciting arena. It could be a stunning wilderness, a ruckus crowd, or an ancient temple. What's most important is how they set the tone of the fight and if the intractable nature of the stage is well suited to a fighting game. Let's hear the roar of the crowd and get stuck in on what makes an exciting fighting game stage.

[caption id="attachment_394297" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

The stunning setting from stages of fighting games

Arguably, the most important element is the graphics of each stage. There's always a balance between being too simple and too distracting. For example, I hate it when pro fighting game players always pick the plain white training stages during EVO or local meetups that take me out of the experience. On the other side of the coin, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Final Destination has way too much going in the background that keeps me off focus.

The best fighting game stages have enough flair to be entertaining but not too still to the point of boredom. Duomo di Sirio is one of my favorites from Tekken 7, for example. There's not a lot going on in the background, but there's an elegance to the European-inspired setting. There are sculptures in the background and illustrative architectural touches that make it stand out. As the battle continues, you can punch your foe off the balcony, giving a more dynamic feel to the fight. The stage's music is also exhilarating.

Bustling or serene, fighting game stages can fit different qualities

Additionally, the best stages show the environment's culture perfectly. Street Fighter 2's Shopping District depicts a bustling Chinese market. There's a cyclist rolling down beside the fight as a chicken flaps its wings inside a cage, a woman is washing her hands in a bowl, and meat is hung up by hooks. To give a more recent example, Street Fighter 6's Fete Foraine presents a stunning Parisian night. The Eiffel Tower is glowing in the background of a market filled with a clown, food stalls, and a spinning ride. There are also people enjoying their food on red and white cloth tables. Capcom does a great job of detailing its stages with all sorts of references and cultural reflections of each environment.

If you want a stage that's more serene, take a look at Genbu Temple, also in Street Fighter 6. It's not populated with onlookers to the fight, but the slight monochromatic styling of the stage next to the pink blossom trees is so striking. Awesome stages can take different forms.

[caption id="attachment_394294" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Cinematic stages

NetherRealm's recent fighting game output has provided interactive stages. They're cool because your environment presents a new layer of strategy to each bout. In Injustice: Gods Among Us, you're able to bounce off a car's hood to get out of the corner or ride a motorcycle into your opponent in Wayne Manor. There's even the option to smash The Joker's face into the car. You can also launch your opponent out of the arena with an impressively detailed cinematic cutscene.

Meanwhile, Dragon Ball FighterZ impresses anime and fighting game fans alike with its thrilling animations that seem ripped straight from the show. One critical element of the stages in this game is how they can crumble around you. If you use a powerful ability, the environment is wiped out, adding believability to the intense cutscenes that play beforehand.

https://open.spotify.com/track/6WdFcnGJNgLOeL4RBCU95l?si=5e500366ef3a46c8

The music

While some games focus more on the character themes nowadays, each stage's music is important in capturing excitement in a fanbase. While Jin and Heihachi are simply fighting on a shallow ocean floor and nothing else, the "Infinite Azure" track is spectacular. The beats are addicting and maintain an intense tempo, but there remains a calm tranquil tone that's refreshing to listen to. It features a few surprises in the composition, like a heavier emphasis on the percussion mid-song. Without this music, it would be a dull yet beautiful stage to fight in.

Going back to Dragon Ball FighterZ, "West City" retains the upbeat yet heavy stakes of battle. The deep bass, strings-focused melody, and then the horns all make for an epic theme while you're fighting against the likes of Tien, Cell, and Goku. While the environments show an accurate recreation of West City from the anime, the music truly makes it a fantastic stage I go back to over and over again.

You cannot talk about great fighting game stage music without mentioning "Jazzy NYC" from Street Fighter III: Third Strike. The deeper cymbal section at the beginning represents a hip-hop energy as you enter New York City. The theme is lively and has you bobbing your head up and down. The jazzy saxophone-like MIDI has an amazing solo in the middle of the song that just exudes energy. It's one of, if not the, most popular stage theme in Street Fighter history. If the music is right, it will emphasize the stage's vibe perfectly.

What are your favorite fighting games stages?

There are so many fantastic fighting game stages out there. I personally have a soft spot for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale's novelty approach to mixing two games into one area, like God of War and Ratchet & Clank in Metropolis. There's also the majesty of Tekken 5's Moonlit Wilderness with its gorgeous moonlit sky and flowers that glow from its light; it has an epic theme with it, making this stage the ultimate package. What are your favorite fighting game stages?

The post What makes an exciting fighting game stage? Let’s dive in appeared first on Destructoid.

Each Tekken in the series is usually a landmark for console generations, with its spectacular graphics and superb game design, and that's certainly the case with Tekken 8. With its stunning lighting, entertaining new Heat system, and crisp netcode, this entry is certainly going in the right direction with its closed network test. Get your fists ready if another test or the full game arrives soon. There are many reasons why I can't wait for the next battle.

[caption id="attachment_394395" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The next evolution of Tekken

The Tekken series has stepped it up again with its thrilling combat system. It keeps evolving, with each game adding a new compelling element; this time, it's the Heat system. The Heat Timer heightens the attack power of your character and enables you to chip damage away from foes even if they're blocking. You can only use it once per round, but it is key to your survival. Heat Smashes can be activated during the timer, letting you perform a flashy, yet powerful attack. It takes around a fifth of your opponent's health. The Heat System ups the stakes as it runs out, and the other player desperately blocks incoming strikes for around 10-15 seconds.

That's not all about the Heat system, however. There are certain moves—like Jin's Heat Engager—that activate the timer automatically within a combo. Button mashers may hate this, but if you use it strategically, these moves can be effective at disrupting your foe's reign-of-terror combos. Another way to stop your foe from attacking is a Power Crush. It's a counter that's utilized to stop yourself from getting juggled. Rage Arts are also back and are flashy as ever.

Tekken 8 feels great to play with all-new moves and combos to initiate on your opponent. In the excellent training mode, you can get used to the precise timing with every strike if you want to link a combo. Tekken 8 shows awesome bread-and-butter combos to perform on your enemies, and you can watch a video demo with the inputs on the screen. Combo challenges can also be shown through the UI, so you can reference them quickly. It's an approachable game for newbies who want to become intermediate players online.

How is the Tekken 8 netcode?

Despite Tekken 8 likely being many months away from release, the netcode during the alpha seems to be a success. Many games ran smoothly, as if the other player was sitting next to me in a local tourney. However, I did encounter a somewhat laggy game, despite there being five bars on my competitor.

[caption id="attachment_394396" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Damn, Tekken 8 is pretty

If you look at the trailers, you may believe there isn't a huge jump in graphical quality. Think again. Once you're playing it on a PS5, it's absolutely stunning. The facial animations of characters like Lee Chaolan are astonishing as he exaggerates his mouth and eyes. Additionally, you can see the intense hatred in Kazuya's face through his eyes on the main menu; it's actually haunting whenever you boot up the game.

The environments are filled to the brim with detail. The puddles in the New York stage reflect the lights from Times Square's advertisements, and the lighting from the neon signs stands out sharply on screen. You can even see the haze of smoke in the distance, and the crackling of the earth beneath your competitor's feet. The action is all in a wonderful 60 frames per second as well. You could name it as one of this generation's prettiest titles. Thank goodness there isn't a PS4 or Xbox One version holding it back.

As each battle continues, you'll see the sweat pouring from the characters as they desperately fight to win. Paul's sleeve breaks apart as he readies up his Rage Art and it remains that way for the rest of the match. Bandai Namco seems to pulling out all of the stops to make this as stunning as it can be.

Another neat factor of the game is the unique intros for rivalries in Tekken 8. When friends Lee and Paul face each other, they cross fists, breaking apart the glass under them in the Arena. It looks similar to how each Tekken trailer begins. This addition is a nice touch for long-time fans and adds further intensity to the fight ahead. The same happens with Jin and Kazuya as well.

Tone down the distracting music

Tekken 8's soundtrack is more like something you'd hear on a dance floor than an arena. The dubstep is obnoxious and distracting for some of the tracks included in this closed test, especially in the Urban Square stage. However, there is a standout banger for the Yakushima stage. It feels like a more rounded composition with gorgeous strings, stunning vocals, and a pumping backbeat that keeps the song moving forward. That's until the final round creeps in, and there's a blast of incessant dubstep within an otherwise great track. If this trend continues into the full game, I'm prepared to lower the music volume to 0 and put on my own playlist.

The electronic composition for the Arena stage is also decent but, in my opinion, goes way too hard with the bass. So far there are no tracks that come close to bangers like "Heat Haze Shadow" or "Infinite Azure" from Tekken 7 or Tekken 5's "Moonlit Wilderness."

Tekken 8's stellar so far

Bandai Namco hasn't pulled its punches with Tekken 8. Every character is animated incredibly well, and the action feels fluid, even more so than in Tekken 7. The new mechanics like the Heat Timer adds to the formula, creating a more fast-paced fighter that will be thrilling to watch at EVO and other tournaments. The music is a somewhat letdown as it's gone way too hard on the electronic and dubstep from past entries, but Tekken 8 is a promising fighting game I can't wait to get my hands on.

The post Hands-on: Tekken 8 seems ready for the next battle appeared first on Destructoid.

NetherRealm's Mortal Kombat franchise will be receiving a reboot with the upcoming title, Mortal Kombat 1. It is set to hit shelves on September 19 on PC and current-gen consoles, and in the lead-up, some of the characters and gameplay have been revealed.

The roster will feature plenty of classic characters such as Liu Kang and Johnny Cage, as well as cameos from DC heroes, including Omni-Man who will be voiced by J.K. Simmons.

[caption id="attachment_393385" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Mortal Kombat 1's Kombat Pack

Like other games in the franchise, Mortal Kombat 1 will be receiving post-launch content, and the first DLC pack will add comic book characters such as The Boys' Homelander and DC's Peacemaker, and Omni-Man. This should be good news for Omni-Man fans, as Invincible's second season is set to premiere on November 3. In an interview that took place during this year's San Diego Comic-Con, NetherRealm's Ed Boon revealed that Omni-Man will be voiced by Simmons, who also voices the character in the Amazon Prime animated series Invincible.

It isn't the first time Simmons has lent his voice-acting talents to video games, and he has also voiced Cave Johnson in Portal 2, as well as J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man 2: The Video Game and Spider-Man 3: The Video Game, to name a few of his roles.

Other confirmed voice actors include Andrew Bowen who is voicing Johnny Cage, Kari Wahlgreen who voices Kitana, and Sunil Malhotra who is the voice behind Kung Lao.

[caption id="attachment_393384" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Mortal Kombat 1 is on the way

Plenty of features from past titles in the series will be making a comeback. This includes Quitalities to annoy players who try to spare themselves the shame of a Fatality. The Air Kombos from Mortal Kombat: Armageddon will also be making a return, though they have been refined.

Though Mortal Kombat 1 will contain plenty of features from the franchise's past, it will also be introducing new elements. This includes the Kameo Fighters feature, which will allow characters to assist in fights. Confirmed Kameo Fighters include Sonya Blade and Kano.

If you're interested in sprucing up your roster, keep your eyes on the Premium Edition which includes the base game along with the Kombat Pack, 1250 Dragon Krystals (the in-game currency), and early access from September 15. Alternatively, consider the Kollector's Edition which features all the Premium Edition's content as well as a steel book, three exclusive art prints, an inspired Liu Kang in-game character skin, a total of 2700 Dragon Krystals, and a 16.5-inch Liu Kang sculpture designed by COARSE.

The post Mortal Kombat 1’s Omni-Man will be voiced by J.K. Simmons appeared first on Destructoid.