by the7k Sun Apr 11, 2010 4:51 am
I went with:
King of Fighters: Lots of characters with well-defined, interlocking histories between them. Also, a combat system that is focused completely on offense.
Also, the decision to go with 3 characters was great for those who like to experiment with characters like myself. It means that you can choose characters you'd like to learn with in competitive environments, while still keeping a strong character in to make sure you aren't totally defenseless.
Samurai Shodown: Lots of great characters (only those with the blackest of hearts can not like Cham Cham and Galford) and a combat system that focuses on counter-attacks, rather than stringing together long combos.
Darkstalkers: I'd actually say this is the second most influential fighting game out there. Air projectiles, Air blocking, chain combos, character-specific gameplay mechanics (Dark Forces), long-form move inputs (such as LP,LP,Forward,LK,HP. It was Morrigan's Darkness Illusion almost a full year before it was Akuma's Shin Goku Satsu!) and various other little things that would be borrowed heavily - and usually incorrectly credited to either Guilty Gear or the Vesus series.
Aside from that, though, it also features some of the most unique and charming character design to come out of Capcom short of Street Fighter III. Add to that the incredible and creative animations, and it's the most undeservingly overlooked fighting franchise out there.