The Best PS3 Fighting Games
Marvel vs. Capcom 2
This arcade port takes everything players experienced in the arcade and perfectly translates it to the home console. The art alone is a major selling point for this title, with every character beautifully rendered in 2D pixel art, which the series has been known for.
Marvel vs Capcom 2 brought back the variable assist system in which players can summon their off-screen teammate to perform a special move for them. Play as characters from Street Fighter, Marvel Comics, Mega Man, and Darkstalkers with a 56-strong roster to choose from. This game is one of the best crossover titles in history and a favorite among fighting game fans.
Street Fighter IV
Street Fighter is back for the first time since 1999 with all-new 3D character models. Set in between the second and third titles in the series, Street Fighter IV brings back some of the classic action that made the second entry so famous. This sequel adds Focus Attacks and Ultra Moves which add a new level of combos for fans of intense button mashing.
Street Fighter IV is, unquestionably, one of the most beautiful titles in the whole series. The fighting has never been so fluid and the design has never been so visually appealing. Street Fighter IV is a definite must-play for fans of the genre.
Mortal Kombat
The ninth official title in the Mortal Kombat series is, by far, the best that Netherrealm has released. This title is an amazing revival for a series that had been bogged down by repetitive gameplay and boring story modes for years. However, now Mortal Kombat has been brought to the Unreal engine for even more kombat and karnage than the last titles.
All of the original characters are back, as well as some new ones that will have new players excited, all while giving series veterans some nice nostalgia. The moves are more devastating than ever with new X-Ray moves which allow the player to see the opponent's innards and bones become mush as they unleash a devastating blow. This is definitely a fan favorite in the franchise and an awesome revival to the series.
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
The beloved classic comes back for another round on the PlayStation Network. Originally developed by Capcom for the arcades back in the 1990’s, Street Fighter II helped build the fighting game industry into what it is today.
This title stays true to its roots by being an upgraded port of the original source code. While being a direct port, the graphics have been beautifully updated to translate well to the newest displays. The art has also been redrawn in order to modernize the game for newer systems since it’s been over 10 years since the original release. This title needs to be played by everyone, as it’s a true innovator among fighting games.
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger
BlazBlue has finally hit the West, and this is a title that westerners have definitely been missing out on. This is your typical one-on-one brawler that consists of using various combinations of moves in order to drain your opponent’s health. While the basic mechanics are very similar to most other one-on-one fighters, the deeper players delve into this title, the more they will realize this title is vastly different from others in the genre.
There are four different attacks players can perform on their enemy which can be strung together to fill up two meters which will allow players to pull-off special moves and guard breaks. This is a very interesting title that fans of fighting titles will come to love.
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection
Dark Resurrection is an update to the beloved Tekken 5. While this title is a port of the PS2 version, many things were updated to keep things feeling fresh while still keeping the bone-crushing combat of Tekken 5. Arcade Battle now includes more rankings, so there are plenty of new titles to gain as players increase their skill in the arcade.
Other changes include balancing, added character customization options and redesigns for stages in order to make them fit better into an HD format. Tekken has always been a staple in the fighting game genre and this entry is not one that should be passed up on.
Skullgirls
This is an awesome indie fighter that a lot of players may not be aware of. Developed by Reverge Labs, Skullgirls is a brilliantly stylized one-on-one fighter in which players take control of wacky characters as they brawl through multiple different modes. This game is also very well balanced, with detection for game breaking combos and guards in order to not give a player an unfair advantage.
The gameplay itself is heavily drawn from the Marvel vs. Capcom series of fighters and fans will easily recognize this tie. The tag team is a notable pull from that series, but the game does not feel like a copy. This title has an amazing personality and extremely fun fighting.
Street Fighter X Tekken
Capcom and Namco have set aside their differences to create one of the best gaming crossovers ever. Street Fighter and Tekken are fighting game icons that every gamer has at least heard of. In this title, players can choose from a large roster of fighters in order to brawl in tag team battles.
The fighting itself takes more from Street Fighter than Tekken, with some other new elements thrown in for some nice freshness. The art on the other hand takes more of a note from Namco’s book and all of the characters are beautifully rendered in a nice Tekken style. This mashup is a fun and exciting way to experience two pillars in the fighting game industry.
Persona 4 Arena
This awesome take on the world of Persona is a nice change from the JRPG elements of the mainline Persona games. In this title, players can choose from thirteen different characters from Persona 4 and some from Persona 3 as they brawl in typical fighting game style. Each character includes extremely unique moves and backstories to further immerse the player in the world of Persona.
The game is beautifully rendered in a traditional anime style that players will recognize from other Persona titles. This is a fantastic title for fans of fighting games and a definite must-play for Persona fans.
Virtua Fighter 5
Sega’s Virtua Fighter is back in all of its violent 3D glory. This entry into the long-standing and critically acclaimed series has seventeen different all-star characters to choose from.
Virtua Fighter 5 is a port of the second edition of the original arcade title, but this version includes balancing changes and some new gameplay elements which keep the fighting fresh and exciting. One of these new features is a Clash which allows the player to cancel an enemy’s move with a throw if timed right. This title is a well-deserved return to form for a classic fighting game and makes great additions to the series.
SoulCalibur IV
SoulCalibur is back with its exciting swordplay and interesting characters for the PlayStation 3, with this title bringing the fighting to HD for the first time. While many of the mechanics from previous entries return in this title, there are some new, notable additions to the series that fans should be excited about. There is a new mode called Tower of Lost Souls in which players can battle for rewards.
This title also includes three iconic guest characters from the Star Wars universe - Darth Vader, Yoda, and Starkiller from The Force Unleashed. Each character has special force abilities which will give them an advantage in battle. This is a great update to an awesome franchise that will have fans addicted to it for hours.
