Key points
- X-Men: Children of the Atom laid the foundation for the Marvel vs. Capcom with unique combos.
- Tekken Advance brought Tekken 3 to the Game Boy Advance, but it was limited to just 10 characters.
- Virtua Fighter 3 introduced 3D graphics and complex skill-based combat in the late 1990s.
When it comes to fun game genres to play with friends, few offer as much entertainment as combat. One of the most notable aspects of the fighting genre is that it can come in the form of cartoonish, family-friendly brawls or violent destruction, as seen in every Mortal Kombat game released over the years.
Regardless, fighting games are always great and make up a decent percentage of the gaming market around the world. However, there are some titles that, for whatever reason, are no longer available for purchase, with the exception of some second-hand copies sold by private individuals on online marketplaces. Here are some amazing fighting games that you can't buy anymore.
5 X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994)
A pioneer in Capcom X-Men fighting games
- First Capcom game to feature X-Men characters
- Cool combos, including aerial attacks and super moves
As Capcom's first X-Men fighting game, X-Men: Children of the Atom laid the foundation for future titles in the Marvel vs. Capcom. Focusing on several X-Men characters, such as Magneto, Wolverine, Cyclops, and others, the game offers players a wide variety of combos, including powerful super moves that can be combined in different ways depending on character selection.
This title features hand-drawn 2D animations that help maintain the comic book look, enhancing the experience and providing a more authentic overall style. Unfortunately, as great as the game was, licensing issues eventually led to its removal from several locations, resulting in many forgetting about it over the years.
4 Tekken Advance (2001)
A portable combat masterpiece
- Strongly based on Tekken 3
- The game was never re-released for other platforms
When Tekken Advancement was released, the Tekken The franchise was already very famous among fighting game enthusiasts and arcade game lovers. However, this was the first time that players could actually battle with themselves on their Game Boy Advance no matter where they went. The game was heavily based on its older brother, Tekken 3; however, for obvious reasons, it had to be downgraded in terms of graphics in order to run on the portable Game Boy Advance. That said, this title still featured very similar gameplay mechanics to other entries in the franchise, offering a wonderful experience.
While the game was great overall, it only had 10 characters, which some players often felt was limited. In this case, there were no licensing issues involved in this game's disappearance from stores – it was simply never re-released on other platforms. When the Game Boy Advance became obsolete, it became obsolete Tekken Advancement.
3 Virtua Fighter 3 (1996)
A pioneer game in many sectors
- Platform(s): Dreamcast, arcade video game
- Released: July 26, 1996
- Developer(s): Sega AM2, Hidenori Shoji
- Gender(s): Fighting game
- Pioneer in 3D graphics in the fighting genre
- Complex combos and skill-based combat
Virtua Fighter 3 broke the mold in many ways when it came to fighting games of the late '90s. This title not only featured multi-layered levels, realistic physics, and some of the first 3D graphics of its kind, but also offered players complex skill-based combat. With over 12 different fighters to choose from and a variety of combos and attacks, players had many options at their disposal when it came to developing a fighting style they preferred.
This title was exclusive to the Sega Dreamcast and certain arcade machines, which somewhat limited its potential by closing the door to other markets and consoles thriving at the time. Similar to Tekken Advancementthis game eventually became impossible to purchase in the new condition because it was never released on other platforms, no matter how many fans asked for it.
A fighting game with one of the most complete rosters to date
- The developers opted for a 2D style, even though 3D was the norm at the time
- Over 40 characters with different combos and attacks
Few games have pursued a crossover as ambitious as that of Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium. This title pitted characters from Capcom Street fighter against SNK King of fighterslist members. The game featured six different combat systems that were as complex to learn as they were fun to use. The roster was also great, with over 40 characters that players could choose from based on their preferences.
While Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium was released when most games in the fighting genre were already in 3D, the developers opted for a more conventional 2D style that looks fantastic. Unfortunately, as with many games with ambitious crossovers and popular IPs, this title was ultimately removed from the list due to licensing issues between Capcom and SNK.
A great title with an ambitious crossover
- Platform(s): Wii, arcade video game
- Released: December 11, 2008
- Developer(s): Eighth, Capcom
- Gender(s): Fighting game, action game
- Exclusive to Nintendo Wii
- Fantastic graphics and smooth combat
While not as popular as other fighting games on this list, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars is a gem in Capcom's long-running crossover series. Featuring characters from Capcom and Japan's Tatsunoko Production, this fighting game was exclusive to the Wii, which perhaps contributed to its niche status, as it was limited to a single game console. That said, while it wasn't a traditional game, this title featured fast-paced action with very fun tag team mechanics.
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars it also received high praise due to its smooth gameplay and great graphics, which were difficult to achieve at the time, especially considering the Wii's graphical limitations. Unfortunately, as seems to be the unbreakable curse of ambitious crossover games, this title faced various licensing issues, which made it unsuitable for sale. Nowadays, gamers might be able to get their hands on a used copy, but in most cases the price probably won't be right.