Capcom Continues To Disappoint Me

Here’s the new trailer for the Japanese 3DS game, Monster Hunter 4. Anybody who knows me, knows that Monster Hunter is one of my favorite games. They also know that I’ve grown accustomed to playing it on the PSP. I can get down with dual analogs, but after 2000+ hours of playing with the “Monster Hunter Claw”, it’s next to impossible for me to adjust to the 3DS’s control scheme. The last game was the first Monster Hunter title I skipped since MHF first hit the U.S. on the PSP. If this does come Stateside, I may just have to pick it up. Damn you, Capcom! This could have both looked and controlled better on the PS Vita.

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Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max

The Street Fighter series is as big a part of our gaming history as the Mario, Sonic, and Pac-Man franchises are. Without Street Fighter, we probably wouldn’t have Mortal Kombat, King of Fighters, or even Soul Calibur, Tekken, or Virtua Fighter. Capcom brought on a change in the genre that was as significant as what Nintendo did with Super Mario Bros. and the NES. Prior to Capcom’s involvement, the best gamers had to play was Yie Ar Kung Fu and Karate Champ.

SNK VS Capcom: Card Fighters DS

The warning signs were all there, but I ignored them all. I’ll be completely honest, even when I saw the screenshots, I had a sinking feeling, so I didn’t expect this game to be as great of a classic as the original, but I thought it would have some semblance to the original (or its slightly modified Japan-only sequel). The latter was true, but, well… that’s the only source material from any earlier titles, and they tore that from the shared traits of its classic predecessor. Another hint came to me from the boxart. Look at the back – no screenshots whatsoever. That alone made my heart sink. I mean, screenshots are an expected part of any game box, be it for a console or portable game. Of course, from the beginning, I tried not to compare Card Fighters DS to its classic NGPC predecessor (mainly because I knew no game could’ve compared to it, due to my nostalgic memories of the original), but even without those lowered expectations, I can safely say SNK Playmore screwed up…big time.

SNK VS Capcom: Card Fighters’ Clash

Back when the Neo Geo Pocket Color was new (if you had it), you had to have two games to recognize its greatness: SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium & SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters’ Clash. This game stands out from most NGPC titles, mainly because it isn’t a fighter. But, don’t be fooled, it’s just as fast-paced as its relative, MoTM. Perhaps, even more so.

SNK VS Capcom: Match Of The Millennium

For many, SVC:MotM was the reason to buy a NGPC. For many others, this game was the reason they’re hitting themselves for not getting a NGPC. For the many of you in the latter category, have no fear as both the NGPC and this game have been re-released in some stores (Namely Electronics Boutique). Even so, they’re still remarkably hard to find.

Monster Hunter Freedom 2

Perhaps the hardest decision a developer has to make has to do with niche sequels. On one hand, you have the enthusiastic word-of-mouthers telling their friends about their favorite game, hoping to get them involved in it. On the other hand, you also want to appeal to a wider audience, making it more profitable and better worth your effort. Do you make the game more accessible for newcomers or do you appease the already established fan base? A lot of companies have struggled with this dilemma, but none seem to balance the two as well as Capcom.