Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

10 to 20 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Amazing"

Throughout their battles against opponents outside of their element (Marvel super heroes, SNK brawlers, etc.), I've seen Capcom characters in some pretty wild match-ups. Perhaps none more wilder than this. Look at it this way--you know you're in for some sheer insanity when Dead Rising's Frank West starts busting out a golf club against an enormous gold-plated anime robot three times his size.....and actually winning. That said, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom was a long time coming---legality hurdles notwithstanding---and it's safe to say that it's the craziest fun you'll ever have on this or any other console.

The game is a throwback to the fighting system of the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise, where you can switch between two or three characters during a single round. Same deal with Tatsunoko vs. Capcom--you're given the enormous opportunity in selecting over 20 or so characters from both the Capcom universe and a company you probably may not have heard of before--unless you really know your anime like the back of your hand. Characters such as Tekkaman, Yatterman-1, Dorongo, Ken the Eagle and Jun the Swan might seem like an unfamiliar bunch, but for the most part, they play extremely well in a fighting game. Some of them even have unique fighting tactics---for example, one of my favorite new characters is Jun the Swan--she has a move where she tosses around an explosive yo-yo that attaches itself up to four times to her opponent and explodes via a trigger-switch that you activate by a backwards-half circle command (i.e., a backwards Hadoken) causing devastating accumulated damage. You can assemble up to a two character team and have at it against a variety of randomized opponent set-ups. As is the case with the Marvel vs. Capcom games, you can call on your partner to assist you at will and switch between them when things get heated. Coordinated dual-super combo attacks, known here as Crossovers, are also possible and can do a great deal of hurt. And there's nothing crazier than earning 5000 Billion Points (yes, BILLION!) just with one super attack alone--provided you racked up all those hits. Such a score is truly deserving of bragging rights.

Surprisingly, the control scheme has been truncated---meaning, punch and kick functionality share one button. While it might make pulling off specific moves in a pinch a bit easier, it also compromises the traditional means a little bit for hardcore fighting fans. There's no option for the old set-up, but in all fairness, given the frenetic nature of the game, the player will grow accustomed to this arrangement in no time split. The game also supports the Wii Remote, Classic Controller and the Gamecube pad assuming you still have it lying around.

Of course, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom would be nothing without multiple modes of play, and in that regard, the game doesn't disappoint one bit. There's the standard Arcade mode, Versus mode, Survival Mode, Time Attack, Wi-Fi Online play--even a shooting mini-game (unlocked by fulfilling specific conditions). Through meritorious play, you'll earn Zenny (typical Capcom currency) that you spend in the game's shop--illustrations, game endings, and costume colors are just a few of the things that you can unlock, so it's definitely worth playing over and over again if you're into enormous collections. There's even a fun mini-game that you can play during the credits.

In essence, there's no shortage of how many ways you can enjoy Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, and all these different modes add enormously to its replay value. Even if you've never heard of Tatsunoko or its storied history, that shouldn't stop you from getting the full-blown fighting game experience. Simply put, this is one fighting game that you shouldn't miss out on--no matter who you are.