To celebrate the new Capcom Fighting collection, I like to play Capcom’s fighting game that no one like: Capcom Fighting Evolution (2004) on PS 2.
Nice fire picture although it looks comic-ish. The same opinion also goes to this title screen. But you have to take it as granted because this game is rushed although the idea of fighting game with roster of all of Capcom’s fighting game seems a good idea to me.
Here’s the roster which consists of 4 characters from 5 fighting games plus 1 original character: Ingrid who I will pick because she’s the exclusive character for this game. So, the total character is: 21. That’s quite solid number of characters in a roster. You probably think, the roster is substantially weaker than in any Marvel Vs Capcom game. Yes, but as I’ve said before that this game is rushed. In the original design, the game is supposed to be in 3D, includes 3 original characters (Ingrid is one of them and the only one included in this finished version) and new super mechanic but it wasn’t meant to be. If you are curious enough what happen -or to be more precise- Wha Happun to this game, you should check this Matt Mcmuscles video here.
Back to the roster. I’m naturally disappointed that there’s no Captain Commando here. But let’s look at the bright side shall we. There are some characters from Darkstalker that may or may not be continued depends on how hard the hardcore fans pressing Capcom to make more Darkstalker. Then characters from very obscured RPG fighting game: Red Earth or Warzard, are here. This game is 2 on 2 fighting game so you have to choose 2 characters from this roster, kind of like first Marvel Versus Capcom.
My first opponent is Kenji from Red Earth! He’s ninja that has Shoto-clone moveset but I think his attack power is slightly weaker than the father of Shoto: Ryu. The control is pretty standard Capcom fighting game. Joystick or D-pad to move left or right, duck, or jump. Holding the direction away to block enemy’s attack. You have 6 buttons for punch and kick with 3 variety of strength. Since Playstation controller has 4 shoulder buttons and 4 face buttons which is more than enough for the 6 buttons of punches and kicks, you can have shortcut button for 3 punch or kick buttons simultaneously.
Of course, Kenji the ninja can use cannon. He reminds me Nioh where cannon’s skill is in Ninja skill tree for some reason. You won’t be surprised if I tell you that Ingrid is magic caster type of fighter. Like no way, she’s grappler type fighter with that skinny body. You can see her puffy sparkling magic ball near Kenji in this screenshot. It’s performed by the usual quarter-circle-forward motion plus punch. However, the magic ball travels pretty slow although its trajectory has some elevated arc into it. I mean sure, it’s my fault not to pick Ryu with more convincing looking projectile but I still stick to my choice here.
One thing you should know about me is: I like to perform crouching heavy kick a lot. I get high satisfactory whenever I successfully sweep enemy’s leg. If the character has sliding kick as crouching heavy kick, that makes them high priority for me to pick. Although, I won’t pick M. Bison ever. I’m not that daft.
After finishing a round, you have to choose who you pick from your team to fight for next round simply by pressing either punch or kick button. Here’s the feature that King of Fighter game should use instead of planning the team before every fight. In my opinion that is.
Unfortunately, this is mirror
match as we both choose Jedah Dohma the boss character from Vampire Savior
(which is the 3rd instalment of Darkstalker series). For some reason, Jedah cut
off his head as his standing heavy kick. I swear. He’s not this masochist
dumb in original game.
Well said, my man. I picked Jedah because he’s badblood with horrid looking moveset, usually involve blood. Also, he has Grim Reaper’s Scythe.
Our next opponent is Guy and Guile. We are fighting in train station somewhere in Japan. Ingrid gets stunned because of merciless attacks from Guy. Or she’s embarrassed to see topless E. Honda.
It’s not hard to figure out the input command for the special super move. It’s the usual quarter-circle-forward motion twice and then press punch button. In Ingrid’s case, she blows a super explosive magic bubble.
Apparently, me and Guy has something in common. We both like sweeping kick. I should crouching block more often.
Jedah’s projectile called Dio Saga, stay still on the air for seconds and apparently, I can manipulate enemy’s ai with it. By the way, in this playthrough I don’t read the movelist from Capcom Fighting Evolution FAQ. Instead, I read it from Vampire Savior FAQS made by someone named ByWay. I can look up the proper movelist FAQ but -you know- I’m lazy, just like that.
I can defeat Guile thanks to Dio Saga but once again Guy defeat me with crouching kick. No wonder, I like him in Street Fighter Alpha 3.
Take this graceful anti-air kick! Scout_cheers04.wav
Ingrid lost the round but in the end Jedah defeats Guy thanks to his sharp projectile. It seems Dio Saga is the key to win the match so I have to spam it often.
Now I have to fight my main from Street Fighter 3: Alex who’s based on Hulk Hogan. It seems he will be added in the roster of Street Fighter 6. I’m happy for him.
Then I fight the famous school student Sakura. Speaking of school student, did you know that Jedah’s cloth is based on boy’s school uniform?
Our next opponent is Anakaris from Dark Stalker. He’s fun character to play as. Especially with his Egyptian chibi transformation magic. It turns Ingrid into cute baby. How sweet. Medic_sf12_badmagic07.wav
That’s very impressive split kick, Chun Li. No wonder, you’re the strongest woman in the world.
But can strongest woman in the world can take super explosive magic bubble? I don’t think so.
Oh shoot! Here comes M. Bison tag with that T-Rex from Red Earth/Warzard game. M. Bison looks very smug there. But again, if I tagged with giant dino as my fighting partner, I would have right to be biggest smug in the world.
First round doesn’t go well with Ingrid because M. Bison is agile bastard. Maybe I will have better chance if I fight him as Jedah?
Although Hauzer looks very imposing, he’s quite pushover. He’s pretty much susceptible to Dio Saga. But again, Sagat on the background looks confused with the projectile that stays in mid for quite long time.
I really like that Jedah’s super move Finale Rosso is here. The super move is he summons bunch of hands and drag his hapless opponent to hell. This super is unblockable but you can easily dodge it by jumping. In fact, the reason why Jedah is boss character in Vampire Savior, is his moveset has lots of unblockable move both special or super special move. Plus, he is quite agile.
But not as agile as M. Bison, apparently. Or is just me who’s rusty. We will have rematch between these boss characters later until I win.
Wow! Well said, M. Bison. Considering Jedah is demon.
As I said before that CPU opponent seems confused with what to do with the demonic scythe that stays in air. M. Bison probably more agile than Jedah (or at least when I’m controlled him) but he doesn’t know what to do if Dio Saga is in the air. Eventually I win.
So, the final boss in this game is Pyron from the first Darkstalker! He’s tough boss as always thanks to his flexible and unpredictable body form. Also, he’s fast.
I try pick Jedah to show Pyron who’s the better Darkstalker boss character but the round doesn’t end well for me. By the way, Pyron is the only one on his team. Since there’s no health remaining that carried over between character per round or tagging system, Pyron is not in disadvantage against our team.
Finally, I have figured out how to throw. It’s done by pressing both light punch and kick buttons and holding either forward or backward direction. I like this throw where Ingrid pettily toss Pyron as if he’s just cheap firecracker.
Ingrid’s other throw is she grabs Pyron’s face and bang it very hard with her other hand. It’s quite barbaric but then again you shouldn’t treat Pyron with tender care.
After several rematches, I can finally defeat Pyron by using super version of Dio Saga. Once again, Jedah’s projectile is the key to win. Demoman_sf13_influx_big01.wav
Now here comes the ending. All seems according to Jedah’s plan to make new demon world by destroying both old demon world and human world. But Dante Son of Sparda comes behind him. Another reason why I pick Jedah: I can see the cameo of the legendary Demon Hunter. This ending will be completed if Devil May Cry 3 OST – Taste The Blood played. I put the “To be continued” from Jojo Bizarre Adventure in that screenshot, because it is necessary, in my opinion.
As for Ingrid’s ending, it’s boring. She watches Pyron’s body vanishes slowly. Later she returns to her home with alien tractor beam. Finally, she’s off to take cold shower because fighting Pyron is very hot work. People seem don’t like this form of ending but me personally I like this ending comic made by UDON Entertainment Corp. It’s unique and also neat. Then credit rolls and turns out Keiji Inafune is involved making this game. If you don’t know, he’s producer of Megaman series.
Beating the game gives me rewards: unlocking Pyron, his place, and the OST of his place. I also unlock OST of Jedah’s and Ingrid’s. I heard there’s Shin Akuma to fight but I just stop here.
Capcom Fighting Evolution (2004) is fighting game with solid idea. But you should not expect much from this game because it’s rushed product. There are some differences between group on the roster. Like Street Fighter 2’s roster has high attack power and super meter that fills fast. Street Fighter Alpha’s roster has ability to make custom super move by pressing both heavy punch and kick buttons. Darkstalker characters can do follow-up attack on grounded enemy. Street Fighter 3’s characters are able to parry attack. That’s pretty neat feature although I question why Chun-Li is in Street Fighter 3 roster? The control and hit detection are good as I expected from game company that made dozens of fighting game. Although the roster is pretty weak, you can see the rest of Capcom’s characters on the background. This cameo probably the best feature in this game. I think the UDON comic as ending is pretty good idea and I like to see more of this. That’s my hot take. The music kind of good. While the sound effect is standard good.
Capcom Fighting Evolution (2004) is lovable rushed product. That’s my personal take. Play it or don’t, it’s up to you. Anyway, I have this wild prediction. Since Capcom give the right to make Marvel fighting game to Arc System Works, named Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls. Maybe. Just maybe. Capcom has plan to make new Capcom Fighting Evolution! Besides they busy updating Street Fighter 6 and making Resident Evil 9, that is.
