10 Best Fighting Games From The 1990s

10 Best Fighting Games From The 1990s

The 1990s helped produce some of the most iconic fighting game franchises ever, and brought the genre right to the forefront.

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During the 1990s, fighting games became increasingly popular. It was a stark contrast to the 1980s when brawlers tended to focus on story-driven co-op side scrollers like Double Dragon. The one-on-one fighting formula was a relatively newfound concept at the time and brought to full fruition thanks to a number of excellent titles.

The best fighting games of the ’90s did something to set themselves apart from the pack. Some focused on gore and violence, while others focused on tactical gameplay, top-notch character rosters, and inventive variations on the existing formula. The best fought their way to the top, standing victorious on top of a sea of copycats.

10 Bushido Blade (1997)

In the 1990s, fighting games were experiencing massive popularity thanks to breakout hits like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, but some developers saw the need to eschew the established formula and start thinking outside the box. Games like Bushido Blade were born straight out of that kind of sentiment, taking a page from the best samurai movies of ever made.

Though largely forgotten today, Bushido Blade was a huge success in the 1990s. Not only did it take advantage of a 3D space to great effect, but it also prioritized strategy over all-out brawling. Just a single well-placed hit could spell doom for a player who let their guard down, which was an unprecedented shift in fighting games, even by today’s standards.

9 Dead Or Alive 2 (1999)

The first Dead or Alive tried to capitalize on eroticism to sell as many games as possible, and in that regard, it succeeded. However, that’s not to say there wasn’t a solid fighting game underneath its superficial veneer. Dead or Alive 2 built upon the foundation of the original, making it one of the coolest 3D fighting games of the time period.

Fighting mechanics were a standout, featuring things like counter reversals to catch opponents off guard and deliver a punishing blow. This forced players to be quick on the controls, lest they get flattened by an incoming barrage of attacks. It was one of the defining games of the 1990s fighting game circuit.

8 King Of Fighters ’98 (1998)

SNK’s Neo Geo arcade/console platform made for some spectacular fighting games in the 1990s, many of which are icons to this day. Its crowning jewel was the King of Fighters franchise, which was updated annually with new fighters and features. Of all the ’90s iterations of this series, ’98 still stands at the top.

Though it lacks a storyline, KOF ’98 makes up for it with a focused, diehard approach to fighting mechanics. It’s essentially a fantasy pool of SNK fighters thrown into the mix in order to create the ultimate dream team. SNK somehow managed to elevate the formula to new heights, thanks in large part to a spectacular character roster.

7 Tekken 2 (1995)

The second Tekken game capitalized on the newfound success and attention given to blocky 3D fighting games like Virtua Fighter, while building on its own legacy. The result was one of the most popular fighting games of the decade, hitting just a few years after 2D hits like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat became household names.

In many ways, Tekken was a step up from Virtua Fighter, its spiritual parent. Combat was fluid, dynamic, and much different from the typical formula of the decade. Combos took precedence, and that would help influence future 3D fighting games yet to come, including subsequent Tekken sequels.

6 Killer Instinct (1994)

Famed developer Rare got into the fighting game field in 1994 when they developed Killer Instinct, which can best be described as a hybrid of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. It gained notoriety and acclaim for doing something different, while also offering one of the most robust and creative character sets in gaming.

Though it never achieved the same status as other hits of the decade, it is still a household name with longevity attached to it. Killer Instinct prioritized over-the-top combos as a staple game feature, essentially claiming the mechanic for itself. Ports to the Super NES and Nintendo 64 only helped solidify its reputation.

5 Night Warriors: Darkstalkers Revenge (1995)

Darkstalkers was Capcom’s attempt to capitalize both on its own CPS arcade hardware, and the runaway success of Street Fighter. Rather than square humans off against one another, Darkstalkers pit various monsters of myth and legend against one another using the same approach as many great horror parody films.

The second game in the series was undoubtedly a step up from the first, even if it was little more than just an enhanced edition of the original. Night Warriors had a slightly better character roster and also introduced chain combos into the mix. Many consider it to be the most well-balanced of the entire series.

4 Virtua Fighter 2 (1994)

SEGA went for broke when it got into 3D polygon territory with the first Virtua Fighter game, but it became clear that they couldn’t rest on their laurels. Virtua Fighter 2 hit arcades shortly after the release of the original, and it was a monumental step up, especially from a graphical point of view.

It later became one of the great masterpieces of the SEGA Saturn console when it was ported in 1995. Virtua Fighter 2 loosened up the combat made famous by the original, sped up the action a bit, and introduced a host of cool characters with better models and textures. It became an overnight success and helped pave the way for future games in the 3D genre.

3 Samurai ShoDown (1993)

SNK’s Neo Geo hardware had become synonymous with Street Fighter-type clones in the 1990s, but every once in a while the company would move away from the pre-established formula. Games like Samurai ShoDown were the result, blending weapons-based action in with traditional hand-to-hand combat.

Samurai ShoDown stands tall as an instant classic due to its game mechanics. Characters could parry attacks, participate in tug of war weapons locks, and even lose their weapon in mid-fight, putting them at a major disadvantage. All this, with rich Japanese motifs and themes, plus a dynamic cast of characters.

2 Mortal Kombat II (1993)

The first Mortal Kombat took the world by storm, empowering the rebellious counter-culture, whilst stoking the anger of parental groups and Congressional lawmakers alike. It was only natural that the overnight success would mean a greenlit sequel. Mortal Kombat II delivered on that front.

In almost every way, Mortal Kombat II was a definitive improvement over the original. New Mortal Kombat rivalries were established, combat was far more fluid, the character roster was greatly expanded, and the overall scope of the game’s narrative was enhanced. For many MK fans, it’s still the ultimate entry in the series to this day.

1 Street Fighter II: Champion Edition (1992)

No other 1990s fighting game was more popular, iconic, and influential than Street Fighter II. From its digital loins came a cascade of copycats and blatant, shameless rip-offs, such as the controversial Fighter’s History by Data East. The Champion Edition of the game was a huge upgrade from the original, and one of the most recognizable fighting games in history.

Street Fighter II’s addictive gameplay, outrageous character roster, and unmatched fight mechanics made it an overnight success. It became the torchbearer for every single fighting game that succeeded it, and its longevity can be measured in how many updates were released, not to mention a big-budget, yet nonsensical Street Fighter movie.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/best-1990s-fighting-games/

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