As common as it is today, it is hard to believe that there was a time where gaming franchises crossing over was just a pipe dream. Not only did Capcom break down the wall, but they took the combination of some of the most unlikely of franchises and made it the norm.
Whether it was a colossal successful partnership with Marvel Comics or a collaboration with rivals Namco and SNK, the “Vs.” series brought unforgettable experiences to the fighting genre. These are every Capcom “Vs.” games, ranked.
10 Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
The heavily derided, most recent entry in the legendary series was such a drastic step back in quality and presentation that it has left the series on life support. Infinite scaled back the action and character count while drawing from the MCU as opposed to the comics proper.
Gone was the 3-on-3 madness and even character assists for a more rudimentary tag-team system that just went against the hallmarks of the series. Infinite was disowned by the fans and was a commercial failure for Capcom, making it that much easier for Disney to put the kibosh on any future Marvel projects.
9 Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter
Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter was purported to be a sequel to the groundbreaking X-Men vs. Street Fighter, but for this 1997 entry Capcom operated on an addition by subtraction strategy. In hopes of curbing the infinite combos and glitches that made X-Men vs. Street Fighter legendary and adding characters such as Spider-Man and Dan, the game played like a toothless version of its predecessor.
Keeping the same backgrounds, music and character sprites from X-Men vs. Street Fighter and Marvel Super Heroes, this was a poor effort from start to finish and is the most forgotten game of the “Vs” series with its only saving grace being that it features the greatest announcer in fighting game history.
8 Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000
For the traditional fighting game fans, the biggest 2D fighters at the time was Capcom’s Street Fighter and SNK’s King of Fighters. The two rival companies put together a mishmash of their premier characters in the first of two Capcom produced brawlers that played like a balanced combination of the two signature franchises.
The game would introduce a ratio system and different styles of play, dubbed “Grooves,” to have multiple ways to build a team. The game was a strong, albeit limited step in the right direction. What this entry was lacking would be built upon in a big way in the follow up classic Capcom vs. SNK 2.
7 Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of the Super Heroes
The original Marvel vs. Capcom finally put the series back on track after the disappointment that was Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter and would also serve as the last major title released on Capcom’s CPS-2 arcade hardware. Adding characters such as Strider, Captain Commando, Venom and War Machine made the roster feel more diverse whereas the addition of a third assist option only added to the depth.
Though it was well received upon release, Capcom would put the series on a brief hiatus before returning in a big way in 2001 with a game that defined the genre.
6 Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes
A most unusual pairing between the anime studio Tatsunoko and Capcom, Cross Generation of Heroes served as a precursor to Marvel vs. Capcom 3 but stood on its own as a fantastic game. The odd pairing didn’t take away from the wild and fast-paced action, and the game featured unique character choices including Alex for Street Fighter III and Mega Man from Mega Man Legends.
The only downside for this title was that the game was exclusive to arcades and the Nintendo Wii, perhaps limiting its potential success or chances for further entries. Weird isn’t necessarily bad, and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom showed we can embrace the unexpected.
5 Street Fighter x Tekken
Saddled with DLC controversy upon its release as well as criticism on some optional gaming components Street Fighter x Tekken stumbled out of the gates, and that takes away from the fact that it was a very strong game at its core.
Featuring a strong assortment of characters from both the Street Fighter and Tekken franchises as well as implementing a system that would make Tekken veterans feel comfortable, this was excellent execution on Capcom’s part in a risky venture that could have been a lot worse. While the game couldn’t escape its early controversies, it is still a side game in major tournaments to this day.
4 X-Men vs. Street Fighter
The game changed forever when Capcom released X-Men vs. Street Fighter in 1996. This tag-team brawler was a high-octane experience where every character had an infinite combo, throws did unbelievable damage and the fans ate it up, even dismissing a revision that stripped these features to balance the game.
The beautifully drawn sprites, memorable stages and music as well as one of the greatest announcers in fighting game history made this a milestone game. Though the game was eclipsed by its sequels and is seldom seen even as a minor tournament game, the impact of X-Men vs. Street Fighter and what it set in motion was unmistakable.
3 Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds
After almost a decade of fan requests and industry fantasy, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 was finally released and a hit upon launch. Providing a character count even higher than Marvel vs. Capcom 2 as well as a battle system that felt like a natural evolution of its predecessors, the controlled carnage the series was known for never looked better. Following its release, Capcom would expand on the game even further with the release of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, which is considered the definitive version of the game.
The runaway success of this unlikely title was bittersweet to fans of the series with this being the last proper game of the franchise before Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite ruined it beyond repair.
2 Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium
For the fighting game purists raised on Street Fighter II and its comparable games, Capcom vs. SNK 2 served as the peak of the “Vs.” series. Improving on the previous title by removing character restrictions to ratios as well as adding six unique grooves, Capcom vs. SNK 2 emphasized variety without sacrificing depth.
From overwhelming custom combos to game-changing parries, this mash up between the genre’s biggest titans was played to perfection and has remained a fan favorite in the years since its release. While a third game is long overdue, there is still a strong community for the game as it is kept alive through emulation and tournament play.
1 Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
There was a period of time where Marvel vs. Capcom 2 was the title most synonymous with fighting games, and rightfully so. The absolute peak of the “Vs.” series had a cast of 56 characters, a refined battle system and the trademark chaos that became a staple of high level play.
Unlike any of the previous entries, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 was seen as the premier fighting game for many years until the release of Street Fighter IV and its sequel. To this day, no game has been able to usurp its place as one of the best fighting games ever made and at this rate, it will stand as one of the greatest fighters of all time.