Dating back to the early '90s with the release of games like Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat, fighting games have been an integral genre of video games for roughly thirty years. With the popularity of modern fighting games like Dragon Ball FighterZ and most recently Guilty Gear Strive, it's safe to say that the genre is currently in a good place. However, with a rich, thirty-year history, there is a multitude of older fighting games that many players haven't experienced due to a lack of accessibility.
Whether these games are over ten or twenty years old, there are plenty of fighting games that deserve a second chance at life through an HD remake, not unlike what we've seen in recent years with the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Today we're going to explore some great fighting games that deserve an HD remake.
10 Hokuto No Ken
Released in 2005 by Arc System Works, Hokuto No Ken is a 2D traditional anime fighter based on the Fist of the North Star anime series. Featuring fast-paced gameplay built around high damage output, Hokuto No Ken is a game in which every character feels broken in their own special way.
Unfortunately, not only has the game never been released outside of arcades and the PS2 but it has also never been released outside of Japan. Perhaps one day we can see it return and join the ranks of anime fighters.
9 Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom
Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom was released in 2008 and is by and large the most underrated entry in the Capcom Vs. franchise. Bringing together characters from several classic Capcom video games as well as characters from the Japanese animation studio, Tatsunoko - which is home to several iconic franchises such as Speed Racer and Science Ninja Team Gatchaman - the game was only ever released in arcades and on the Nintendo Wii.
The First Capcom Vs. game to feature 3D graphics, the game featured flashy super moves and combos that Capcom Vs. games are now known for.
8 Rival Schools
Originally released for the PS1, Rival Schools is a 3D fighting game developed by Capcom in 1997 and is one of the most underrated fighters developed by the company. Featuring a school-based setting and a memorable roster of students and teachers from rivaling schools, the game has never been re-released or ported outside of a Japan-exclusive PSN port in 2012.
An HD remake of Rival Schools could do wonders for potentially reviving the series - something Capcom may be considering, as Akira, one of the most popular members of the roster is confirmed to be appearing in Street Fighter V as DLC.
7 Power Stone
Another underrated Capcom fighter, Power Stone is a cult classic that debuted on the PS1 in 1999. Far from a traditional fighter, Power Stone is a somewhat hectic 3D arena fighter that features dynamic fighting environments and wieldable items.
Since its release, Power Stone has been one of the most blatantly neglected games Capcom has ever released. So many developers could do it well, so we can only hope it's brought back.
6 Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
While the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure anime and manga series has received several fighting games in the past few years, such as Eyes of Heaven and All Star Battle, Capcom had actually released a lesser-known 2D Jojo's Bizarre Adventure fighting game in 1998.
It primarily focused on characters from Stardust Crusaders. Though the game was made available for digital download on the PSN and Xbox Live Arcade in 2012, it was delisted a mere two years later. As the Jojo franchise is more popular than ever now seems like as good a time as any to give the game an HD remake.
5 Sailor Moon S
Yes, you read that correctly. Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Jōgai Rantō!? Shuyaku Sōdatsusen, or simply Sailor Moon S for short, is a Japan-exclusive Sailor Moon fighting game for the Super Nintendo that has garnered a cult following in recent years due to its absurdly overpowered roster and salt-generating nature.
Unfortunately, due to being a nearly thirty-year-old game that was never released outside of Japan, it's far from the most accessible game to play.
4 Weaponlord
Another fighter with its origins on the SNES (as well as the Sega Genesis), Weaponlord is a weapon-based 2D fighter with an incredibly metal aesthetic. Released in 1995, the game is home to several excellent mechanics such as parrying attacks and even weapon durability.
As a lesser-known release, Weaponlord has never received any kind of sequel, remake, port, or remaster. There are many great fighters on the SNES, so it's a shame this one has gone untouched since.
3 Darkstalkers
Despite its popularity in the 90s, Capcom's Darkstalkers series has been left to fade into obscurity in recent years, with its last proper release coming out all the way back in 1997 with the release of Darkstalkers 3.
A stylized 2D fighter with several horror influences, though the game did receive a port in the form of Darkstalkers Ressurection in 2013, Darkstalkers is the perfect game for a graphically updated rerelease, much like Super Street Fighter II: HD Remix.
2 Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee is a fighting game with some of the most loyal players on the planet, continuing to stick with it despite newer games in the same series being released, as they prefer the mechanics of Melee. This has led to Melee players needing to use outdated technology at their tournaments for years, with players even resorting to creating their own means of playing the game online.
While several other developers such as Capcom and Arc System Works frequently rerelease older titles on newer hardware, this has never happened for the Smash Bros. series. Perhaps a bone could be thrown to Melee players, allowing the game to be played on Nintendo Switch with online capabilities.
1 Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: New Age Of Heroes
While Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is one of the most genre-defining fighting games of all time, inspiring several fighters that followed it and being featured at Evo for the better half of a decade, it is currently unavailable to play for most players who don't have it on its original hardware. Released of the Dreamcast and PS2 all the way back in 2000, the game had temporarily been made available on both the Xbox Live Arcade and PSN in 2009, though it was removed from both of these services in 2013.
As the disaster that was Marvel Vs. Capcom Infinite destroyed many fans' faith in the future of the franchise, a remaster of one of the most beloved entries in the series might be just what it needs to get back on track.