The 3rd tier 2D fighting game thread

[CIT]

One of my guilty pleasures are 2D fighting games that time has forgotten, that were either to obscure (or imbalanced) to ever gain a real following. Games that are not Street Fighter, Guilty Gear or King of Fighters. Games that aren't even Darkstalkers or Samurai Shodown.

One of my big favorites is Fighters History Dynamite (a.k.a. Karnov's Revenge). I'm sure everybody knows about the Capcom vs. Data East lawsuit that resulted from this, but man, the game fucking rules. Really easy and fast execution on the moves and the "weak spot" mechanic really adds a tactical edge. And let's not forget that raw, visceral pow in yo face Data-east-ness as embodied by Mizoguchi. Really brings back memories of the first Sonny Chiba Streetfighter movie where you'd see x-rays of people's bones being shattered when he punches them. Apparently the game still has a following in Japan at least, as INH even put out a DVD for it.

Another great one is Breakers Revenge. Developed by Visco, but almost feels like the Alpha upgrade for FDH!

I also like the Suiko Enbu games, Dragoon Might, Asura Buster, and later Gundam 2D fighters.

OK, tell me about your favorite 3rd tier 2D fighting games!

[Hagane]

Karnov's Revenge is indeed great. It's my favorite SF2-style game besides Super Turbo.

Another great underrated fighter is World Heroes Perfect. Plays like a proto-Guilty Gear (first appearance of Roman Cancelling!) with SF2 elements. Akatsuki Blitzkampf is a nice doujin fighter that was rather successful and got a few arcade sequels.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Ninja Master's (with blood on) is the only ever 1vs1 fitghter I recall getting serious about.

[broken harbour]

I enjoy Golden Axe: The Duel, despite it's balance issues and weirdly super loud music (which sucks.) It's fun, not that great, but fun. Plus almost no one remembers it, so it's cool to whip out when my friends come over.

Where does Weaponlord stand? I'd call it a 1st tier fighter that time forgot. It's brilliant, complicated, deep, incredible, but almost nobody knows about it.

[drauch]

I'm a big Breaker's Revenge Tia fan. She's got it all man. Never leaves my cabinet. I dig most of the Neo games mentioned, including Waku Waku 7. Not really a fan of Astra Superstars and Galaxy Fight.

I abhore Weaponlord. I disagree with the constant unsung praise. It's too clunky and slow for its "deep" fighting system that relies on simultaneous weapon contact to no end and the insane reach each character has. Plays like an even worse version of Primal Rage and everyone is the serpent.

[broken harbour]

I abhore Weaponlord. I disagree with the constant unsung praise. It's too clunky and slow for it's "deep" fighting system that relies on simultaneous weapon contact to no end with insane reach. Plays like an even worse version of Primal Rage in my eyes.

Heh, at least Weaponlord doesn't have any weird Gorilla fart attacks!

[drauch]

Not trying to be an ass, but I really, really hate that game. I love the music, the style, and the fatalities are cool, but I just can't get past how damn clunky it is.

[Hagane]

Besides being a bad game, it gets praise for things it didn't pioneer (like parries or weapon based combat).

[Bananamatic]

Which tier is Shaq Fu

[Hagane]

Shaq fu tier.

[CIT]

Yeah, Weapon Lord is a dud IMO. Developer bit off way more than they could chew with the game system.

Now Eternal Champions on the other hand is a really good Western developed fighter from the time.

[broken harbour]

I should state that I haven't actually played Weaponlord in a very, very long time, possible a decade +. Perhaps my rose tinted sunglasses are obscuring my view of that game.

[KAI]

ASUKA 120%, button smashing awesomeness.

[Ganelon]

The period from mid-1993 to mid-1994 has most of my favorite fighting games. Basically, I enjoy everything that resembles Super Street Fighter II Turbo: a simple fighting game with smooth controls and without complex combos, air blocking, and other extraneous features.

To be picky, the Capcom v. Data East lawsuit arose from the original Fighter's History, which was as slow as WW/CE, had 6 buttons, and similar specials. Data East tried to move the Fighter's History series towards its own direction with FHD's 4-button layout, odd new specials moves, and vastly faster charge times. FHD is definitely one of my faves too.

I also consider Kaiser Knuckle (Global Champion in the US) and its prototype half-sequel Dankuga on the same level.

Console-wise, I enjoy the console-only Advanced VG games since they play a lot smoother than many other female cast fighters (e.g. Pretty Fighter) without the crazy combos of others (e.g. Asuka 120%). WeaponLord is too complex for me to consider fun. I respect the creators a lot but adding a lot of great ideas into 1 game doesn't always result in the best implementation.

[Leandro]

FHD, Breakers, Waku Waku 7 and specially Ninja Masters are all really well done games...

What would you call 2nd tier 2d fighting games?

[Pretas]

Weaponlord deserves some recognition for being the first fighting game designed for online play (through XBAND).

[Jonathan Ingram]

Way of the Warrior
Street Fighter: The Movie
Rise of the Robots
Rise 2: Resurrection
Brutal: Paws of Fury
Shadow: War of Succession
Twin Goddesses
Shaq Fu
Primal Rage

[broken harbour]

What would you call 2nd tier 2d fighting games?

Darkstalkers Series
All the Marvel Universe Capcom 2D fighters (X-Men, MSH)
Marvel vs Capcom
Capcom vs SNK
Original Mortal Kombat series (despite it's huge popularity at the time)

Still all great fighting games, but you know, not quite up to the level of SF2 Turbo, KOF, SSF4.... etc...

[Hagane]

I'd put SSFIV in the fifth tier or so.

[CIT]

What I meant by tier in the OP is popularity, not quality. And by that definition SSF4 rules the 1st tier.

[drauch]

Way of the Warrior
Street Fighter: The Movie
Rise of the Robots
Rise 2: Resurrection
Brutal: Paws of Fury
Shadow: War of Succession
Twin Goddesses
Shaq Fu
Primal Rage

I think those are filed under "trash."

[Drum]

Battle Monsters is the best. THE BEST.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwfo0oFmEX4

[Drachenherz]

Which tier is Shaq Fu

hell-freezes-over-before-I-even-consider-touching-this-heap-of-shit-game-with-a-ten-foot-pole tier.

[lilmanjs]

Last Blade series, is that 3rd tier 2D fighting game material? If so, I love the hell out of that series.

[SuperDeadite]

Kabuki Itouryouden on PC-Engine is quite nice.

[Hagane]

What I meant by tier in the OP is popularity, not quality. And by that definition SSF4 rules the 1st tier.

Oh, yeah in that case it goes up some tiers.

[Ed Oscuro]

The Last Blade games? You gotta admit they're nice to look at...can't believe I was interested in buying those instead of Metal Slug games at one time. Sheesh...

What tier is Tao Taido (I haven't looked at it in years, but this game just reminded me of it and its insane button combo system).
And King of the Monsters? (I know the second one isn't a 1v1 fighter.)

Shaq Fu tier,

[GaijinPunch]

Speaking of Data East, where does Suikoenbu fit in? Never put much time into it, but it's pretty nice looking. I also like Data East quite a bit.

[Ed Oscuro]

I love the Karnov's Theme remix in Revenge.

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

I dunno, maybe the Power Instinct series, Waku Waku 7, or Rage of Dragons. I like those games but they don't seem to be very popular at all.