Introduction Treasure developed Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen for the Mega Drive, and Sega published it in Japan in 1994, with a Brazilian release following later. Based on the popular manga and anime by Yoshihiro Togashi, the game lets players control Yusuke Urameshi, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei and many other characters from the series. Its biggest…
Introduction SNK released The King of Fighters '94 for the Neo Geo in 1994, and it became the first game in one of the longest-running fighting series. The game brought together characters from other SNK titles, including Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier, along with new hero Kyo Kusanagi. Instead of…
Introduction SNK released The King of Fighters 2000 for the Neo Geo in 2000 as the direct follow-up to The King of Fighters '99. The story continues the NESTS saga, with the mysterious organisation working behind the scenes of a new tournament while K' and his allies try to uncover its plans. Players pick a…
Introduction SNK released Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa’s Revenge for the Neo Geo in 1996. The story returns to the sorcerer Shiro Tokisada Amakusa, who is trying to return to the world of the living, and a group of warriors sets out to stop him. New characters include the brothers Kazuki and Sogetsu Kazama, ninja fighters…
Introduction Mortal Kombat arrived in arcades in 1992 from Midway, and Acclaim brought it to the Genesis in 1993 with a huge marketing campaign. Seven fighters – Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Kano, Raiden, Scorpion and Sub-Zero – enter a tournament run by the sorcerer Shang Tsung, with the four-armed Goro as the champion…
Introduction SNK released The King of Fighters ’99 for the Neo Geo in 1999, opening a new chapter of the series known as the NESTS saga. The story introduces K’, a mysterious fighter connected to a shadowy organisation, who becomes the new lead character. The biggest change is the team structure: teams now have four…
Introduction SNK released The King of Fighters ’95 for the Neo Geo in 1995, the second game in the series. The tournament returns with its three-on-three team battles, but this entry introduced the Team Edit mode, allowing players to build their own teams from any of the fighters rather than using fixed trios. It also…
Introduction Mortal Kombat II hit arcades in 1993, and Acclaim brought it to the Genesis and other home systems in 1994. The tournament moves to Outworld, where the emperor Shao Kahn has given Shang Tsung another chance to defeat Earth’s warriors. The roster grew to twelve playable fighters, with newcomers including Kitana, Mileena, Jax, Kung…
Introduction SNK released Samurai Shodown III: Blades of Blood for the Neo Geo in 1995, giving the weapon-based fighting series a darker, more serious tone. Set in feudal Japan, the story follows a group of warriors hunting the ruthless swordsman Zankuro Minazuki. The biggest change is that every fighter comes in two versions, Slash and…
Introduction The King of Fighters 2002 was released for the Neo Geo arcade system in 2002, developed by Eolith and Playmore after SNK’s original company had closed. Rather than continuing the series’ ongoing story, it is a dream match that gathers fighters from across the previous games into one large roster of around forty characters….
Introduction Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers first appeared in arcades in 1993, and Capcom brought it to the Super Nintendo in 1994. It was the fourth version of Street Fighter II, and the first to add new characters since the original roster: Cammy, the British special forces operative; Fei Long, a Hong Kong…
Introduction Street Fighter Alpha 2 arrived in arcades in 1996, and Capcom brought it to the Super Nintendo later that year. Set between the original Street Fighter and Street Fighter II, it expanded the roster with fighters such as Sakura, Dhalsim, Zangief, Gen and Rolento alongside returning favourites like Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Guy. Its…