Xbox

Capcom Fighting Evolution

You can’t fault Capcom for trying something different with their tried-and-true 2D fighting franchises, and for the most part, Capcom Fighting Evolution is a success. There are instances where the logistics of Capcom Fighting Evolution fails, but the problems are small enough to overlook if you’re hardcore enough to drop forty bucks on a 2D fighter for the Xbox. If you have to ask what a 2D fighter is, then you’re probably too young to own this game and will not appreciate it (these are the same folks who comment on sprite screenshots with quips such as “these look like original Nintendo graphics!”). Those who are hardcore 2D gamers, or have always wanted toe the line with various characters from the Capcom universe will want to give this one a long look. The forty dollar price point helps, but you may want to give it a rent first to make sure the slight balance and integration issues don’t upset your fickle stomach.

The disaster that this game represents is best summarized in its release context. Alongside a sixth installment of Street Fighter II, Capcom Fighting Evolution is Capcom's first meaningful new fighter since Capcom vs SNK 2. The fact that it is trumped in every way by Hyper Street Fighter II not only serves as a testament to Street Fighter II's staying power, but also to just how badly Capcom underachieved with Evolution. 10-20 more characters, more modes (at least the standard Time Attack and Survival should be there), and a good dose of extras could have saved Evolution from itself, but as it stands, Capcom has made a fighter that only its most direct target audience can appreciate. However, Xbox Live play does add some much needed value to the package, and does warrant at least a rental from any fighting gamer looking for something else to take online.

Characters, backgrounds and voiceovers are all recycled from past games. It's a good history lesson to newcomers but even ardent fans might feel a little betrayed that there's nothing really new here. Teaming up and fighting with characters from other titles in the series is a nice touch but it's nothing more than a novelty. Nothing in this game has really evolved and as much as I like the online play there is other online fighting games out there that are better. Your best option is to rent this game first - and watch out for freaky European kids.

If you’ve played any Capcom fighting game in the past half decade, there’s really not much to see here. Granted, the core gameplay elements of the game are acceptable, with a robust fighting system and overall, it still is a fairly competant game, but in an age of Guilty Gear and Soul Calibur, a game needs more to distinguish itself from the ever crowded fighting game gallery. CFE definitely had the potential to expand on its predecessors, but by sticking to genre conventions, it was wasted. CFE offers nothing new to merit a purchase; the fundamentals are there, but Capcom could have done much more with the game.

I can remember a time when there was nothing I wanted more than a Capcom crossover game. I'm not talking about an over the top Marvel vs. Capcom aerial rave combo-frenzy either, but rather, a good old-fashioned amalgamation of Street Fighter clones with an equal emphasis on strategic defense and aggressive offense. I wanted a game that had the same sense of style and flexibility as Vampire Chronicles and Street Fighter Alpha 3, but also provided a character selection that reached into a multitude of established franchises and brands. Most of all, though, I needed to know for certain whether or not Ryu was just as much of a badass in the Darkstalkers universe as he was in his own.

Like it or not, Capcom has created some of the best and most memorable 2D fighting games known to all gamers. Their roster includes franchises such as Street Fighter (and trillions of sequel’s and remakes), Darkstalkers, and many more. Since there are so many different fighting games, players have always wanted to prove that their favorite character could take their friends favorite fight character in a different game. If you were one of these people, Capcom has heard your plea and created a fighting game that takes characters, their moves, and other things and puts them in one game to face off against each other. Now that your wish has come true, are you ready for the challenge?

Capcom Fighting Evolution is a fun game, but when you really get down to it, it is barely worth the $30 price tag. The gameplay is fun, but not anything you have never seen before. There are very few gameplay types and each gameplay type is exactly the same except who you are playing against. Xbox Live is a major plus, but not to make up in the other areas this game lacks. The graphics and audio do a great job of complimenting the game and giving it that arcade-type feel, but won't be winning any awards. Overall, if you are a fighting fan, this is well worth your time and money, otherwise wait it out until Dead or Alive 4 on the Xbox 360.

Given how far 2D crossover fighters have come with gimmicky ideas, oddball characters, and flashy graphics, it seems almost unnatural in 2005 for a new game to be just a crossover fighter. But Capcom Fighting Evolution is just that -- a back to basics approach for Capcom that combines characters from Street Fighter II, Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter III, Darkstalkers, and Red Earth/Warzard, but doesn't add many twists. The characters play like they did in their original games, look like they did in their original games, and sound like they did in their original games.

Ever wondered who would win in a match between Street Fighter III's fearsome near-naked muscleman, Urien, and DarkStalkers' frisky near-naked cat girl, Felicia? No? At any rate, the answer to this and many other obscure fighting-game crossover-match questions may be found in Capcom Fighting Evolution. This is a competent product, offering a fair variety of characters and the responsive controls you'd expect from a Capcom fighting game. But it also feels like a relic, with its bare-bones set of options and decided lack of distinguishing features. The game is clearly best suited for hardcore fans of Capcom's fighting games, who might enjoy exploring some of the nuances here but probably won't find much reason to keep coming back. At least this version offers online play through Xbox Live to make up for the fact that it's hitting shelves half a year later than the otherwise identical PS2 version.

There are a few unlockables to check out and the fighting is solid, but I can't help but think that Capcom Fighting Evolution is actually step backwards, and it's also weighed down by the price of the game, which is a whopping $40. However, despite the high price and the several issues, those looking for an online fighting game will want to pick up Capcom Fighting Evolution right away. Everyone else who sees it as a curiosity piece would be wise to rent it first, as it isn't quite as "evolved" as I thought it'd be.

Capcom Fighting Evolution is an interesting idea that really could have been a better game had more fighters been included and some work gone into balancing. For casual fighting fans, this one is a definite pass and the money would be much better spent on one of the other 2D fighters available on the Xbox -- many of which can be found for a cheaper price than Fighting Evolution. Even hardcore Capcom fanboys may want to make this one a rent first title. You might have fun for a few minutes, but once the novelty wears off, you'll likely find yourself going back to other fighters.

Capcom Fighting Evolution was really just anything it was made out to be. I mean the idea of being able to play as these classic Capcom fighters is a great one, but the execution was so bland and un-original that it just caused me to sit back and wonder why they didn't put more work into this game to really make it more of a new game rather then a rehash of old 2D fighters.

Online play is expected by now and works smoothly when you can find a game. And it's too bad the character list is so short. Even so, fighting aficionados with any history in their bones will have plenty to appreciate in Capcom Fighting Evolution. They'll also get a kick out of the crossover mix between these very different games. It's just not the end-all, be-all compilation it could have been. The most unique thing about it is the chance to create match-ups between games with such different themes. Otherwise, most of these characters are available in other forms and in games you probably already have.

Fighting games and 2D games appear to be losing steam in this industry. A decade ago, people were freely spending quarters in arcades to play fighting games such as Street Fighter II. But as technology has progressed, 2D games became replaced by 3D games, and the fighting genre suffered. But over the past year, companies have been rehashing old favorites such as the Metal Slug and Street Fighter series, and releasing them with new features or bundles of older titles on one disk for the new consoles. Capcom is no stranger to this, and their newest release is Capcom Fighting Evolution.

Immense déception, Capcom Fighting Jam n'est pas du tout la compilation ultime présentée et espérée et se contente de proposer une absence d'innovation désolante, et une approche ludique discutable. Surfait et parfois éreintant de par son déséquilibre global, le titre de Capcom parvient étonnamment à éveiller parfois une once de chaleur en nous, en vous permettant de retrouver des sensations et une approche que l'on croyait oubliées. Allez Zangief, ne pleure pas...

There was a time when everyone looked forward to new, 2D Capcom fighters with a sense of anticipation, as Capcom was simply the best in the business. However, its output has dried up in recent years, and its last "new" game, Capcom Fighting Evolution, was a sloppy mess of cut-and-paste sprites and over five different gameplay systems. It disappointed us greatly on PS2, and now Evolution is finally hitting Xbox. The only evolution on display is online play through Xbox Live, and while this is a nice feature, it does little to make Evolution worth playing.

If Capcom Fighting Evolution is any indication of things to come, then here's to the extinction of the species. There was no reason to buy this game when it came out for the PS2, and there sure as hell isn't any reason to purchase this senseless port.